Reagan Ellis spent her entire life feeling encouraged and supported by her Lake Norman community to pursue her passion for the arts and storytelling. After publishing her debut book as a senior in high school, she moved to Georgia, where she currently studies filmmaking and gender studies as an aspiring director. Now in her junior year at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Reagan is working to make her filmmaking dreams a reality—and is turning to the community that raised her for support.
After experiencing paranoia at a young age, Reagan learned early on how to transform fear into stories of empowerment. That instinct led to her latest project, Entomology. The idea emerged during a casual conversation with her roommate, when Reagan recalled her childhood fear of praying mantises—known for killing their mates. As soon as the words left her mouth, she rushed to her computer, where the script for the psychological thriller was born.
What began as a space to explore an idea soon evolved into a deeply personal coping mechanism. Through Entomology, Ellis processed a recent breakup and a feeling many women know all too well: being in a relationship with a partner who doesn’t take them—or their ambitions—seriously. The film draws inspiration from the 1950s, a time marked by tension and constraint for women that ultimately helped spark second-wave feminism. That era mirrors the transformation of the film’s main character as she struggles to reclaim her identity and voice.
In early test readings with classmates, Reagan discovered that neither she nor her protagonist were alone in this experience. Alongside its 1950s aesthetic, Entomology also pays homage to Reagan’s first love of storytelling: fairytales. Through a blend of live action, animation, and visual effects, she plans to bring a surreal, fever-dream interpretation to classic archetypes.
While Reagan has been elected by her peers to write and direct small-scale class projects, Entomology marks her first large-scale passion project through her emerging production company, Dirty Blonde Film. One day, she hopes the company will grow into an organization that elevates female filmmakers and women-centered stories in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Reagan plans to film much of the project in her home state of North Carolina to spotlight local sponsors and creatives. To bring Entomology to life, she must cover the costs of props, costumes, meals for cast and crew, transportation, equipment rentals, and all the details that make movie magic possible.
Those interested in supporting the story of an entomologist whose career is jeopardized by paranoid hallucinations can donate through the project’s QR code. All funds go directly toward the student film. Donors interested in contributing a larger amount and receiving an executive producer credit can email [email protected] for more information. To follow the journey, visit Instagram @entomologyfilm.
