Coming Out is a proof-of-concept pilot built to test tone, character voice, and whether a strange, darkly comic premise could hold together as a series. This page keeps the pilot itself and the core project context in one place. For the editorial reflection on what the pilot was trying to prove and what the process clarified, read Coming Out Series Pilot.
Coming Out | Series Pilot
“A new pilot from the brain of Leah Kreitz, Coming Out is the story of Sam. Sam was scared of the world. Sam locked herself inside, but the world kept spinning…and spinning…and spinning. Now her friends, her family, and maybe the government are here to give her the push she needs to get back out there – hopefully the world hasn’t spun too far. In the kooky comedy style of “Kimmy Schmidt” meets “The Good Place” with meta conventions à la “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” & “Fleabag”, Coming Out is the story that no one knew they’d be living loving this year. Living is a strikethrough”
The story focuses on a woman named Sam. Her lingering anxiety surrounds the idea of leaving her apartment as a result of steady societal decline.
Originally conceptualized in 2018 with intentions of becoming a dark comedy, this piece became more relatable to 2020’s state of affairs than we could have imagined.
After the series treatment was written, the first episode was independently funded and produced as a real proof-of-concept. The important part was not just finishing a short. It was proving that the character logic, visual tone, and world-building could survive contact with production.
What the project clarified is that a pilot does not need to answer everything. It needs to prove that the world feels specific, the tone feels intentional, and the collaborators can carry the idea far enough for someone else to believe in the next step. That is the standard I still care about most in this kind of work.
…A series that inspires people taking proactive measures in the present so none of us ever live like Sam in the future.
A creative collaboration between Mark Sylvester and Hapa Media.