BEST LAID PLANS Senior Thesis Film
Donation protected
Hi! My name is CJ Garrett and if you’re reading this, you’re interested in learning more about the film Best Laid Plans.
Best Laid Plans is an independent short film currently in production at San Diego State University. The crew is a group of dedicated group of seniors working to create a unique, festival-worthy film that both the crew and our donors will be proud of.
The film is a heist comedy, a combination of the slickness of Ocean’s Eleven and the visual gags
of Mr. Bean. We want audiences to be completely convinced they’re watching a Hollywood-produced crime film, and get caught off guard by the slapstick nature of the film.
That’s where you come in! In order to make this film the best, most polished film possible, we need the best equipment, actors, and locations possible. And that costs money. We have some money, but it’s not enough, and that’s why we’re looking for donors.
Your donations will go towards a camera rental package, Screen Actors Guild fees, location permits, props, costumes, and more. In return, you’ll get your name in the credits, as well as all the rewards for your funding level. Plus, you’ll get the sense of pride that only supporting aspiring artists following their dreams can give you.
At the end of the day, this is a dream film for me and the rest of us on the Best Laid Plans crew.
We want to create a senior thesis film that doesn’t look like a student film, doesn’t sound like a student film, and doesn’t fade into obscurity like a student film.
We can’t thank you enough for helping make that dream come true.
Now let's introduce you to our team:
CJ GARRETT - Writer and Director
CJ Garrett is the writer and director of Best Laid Plans. He likes the smell of rain, long walks on the beach, and copying his bio from online dating profiles. He has a background of improv and stand-up comedy, voice acting experience, and a face for radio. His dream is to become a comedy writer in Hollywood and eventually have his own sitcom.
DEVON KANE - Producer
Devon is a junior TFM production student at San Diego State. With a background in theatre and improv comedy, she has worked on a variety of productions on both the stage and screen. Devon has produced multiple projects for 314 and 361, and is the main producer for the on-campus production team The State Report. The State Report is a comedy news show on YouTube for Associated Students. Being a part of it for three years, she has played a major role in building it into the multi-department organization it is today. Her biggest influences are Lorne Michaels, Matthew Weiner, and Mary Tyler Moore. Devon wants to see this project succeed and will do anything she can to make sure her team has all the tools they need to make a quality final product they can be proud of and submit to festivals.
JARED KLEBER - Director of Photography
Jared is a senior at SDSU and an aspiring TV Writer. He is currently majoring in TFM Production. He has been involved in multiple short film productions in every aspect. Most recently, he has had two films featured in SDSU Best of the Best Film Festival and worked in Reality Television Development in New York City. His influences include Hoyt Van Hoytema, Roger Deakins, Steven Soderbergh, Emmanuel Lubezki and Edgar Wright. He especially hopes to channel the style of Edgar Wright and combine it with Emmanuel Lubezki’s style in order this film to make a truly visual comedy, but with the slickness of a Hollywood film.
VIRGINIA EASTWOOD - Production Designer
Virginia is a senior at San Diego State University. She is currently majoring in TFM- Emphasis in Production, and minoring in Business Management. She has worked for the American Language Institute creating short videos for them. She also has experience writing from being accepted into the CSU Summer Arts Triple-Threat Writing Program, and interning for "The Odyssey", an online national newspaper for universities. Most recently, a film she acted in and helped with, "Sororities Stories", won the coveted Jury Award at the Campus Movie Fest. After graduation, she plans on moving to Los Angeles.
CLEVEEN DOMINGUEZ - Sound Designer
Cleveen Dominguez was born and raised in San Diego. He grew up watching films and took an interest in filmmaking at a young age. His biggest influences are Tim and Eric and Edgar Wright. He has studied film abroad in Singapore and self produced a documentary in the Philippines.
MICHAEL LEIMBACH - Editor
This is Michael's last semester and final film at San Diego State. Over the course of his SDSU career he has worked on a number festival films, mainly as an editor or sound designer. He is excited to ride out into the sunset as a part of CJ Garett's "Best Laid Plans" crew, and showcase the skills he has acquired over his time at State.
Any donation you give us will get your name in the "Special Thanks" portion of our credits!
Best Laid Plans is an independent short film currently in production at San Diego State University. The crew is a group of dedicated group of seniors working to create a unique, festival-worthy film that both the crew and our donors will be proud of.
The film is a heist comedy, a combination of the slickness of Ocean’s Eleven and the visual gags
of Mr. Bean. We want audiences to be completely convinced they’re watching a Hollywood-produced crime film, and get caught off guard by the slapstick nature of the film.
That’s where you come in! In order to make this film the best, most polished film possible, we need the best equipment, actors, and locations possible. And that costs money. We have some money, but it’s not enough, and that’s why we’re looking for donors.
Your donations will go towards a camera rental package, Screen Actors Guild fees, location permits, props, costumes, and more. In return, you’ll get your name in the credits, as well as all the rewards for your funding level. Plus, you’ll get the sense of pride that only supporting aspiring artists following their dreams can give you.
At the end of the day, this is a dream film for me and the rest of us on the Best Laid Plans crew.
We want to create a senior thesis film that doesn’t look like a student film, doesn’t sound like a student film, and doesn’t fade into obscurity like a student film.
We can’t thank you enough for helping make that dream come true.
Now let's introduce you to our team:
CJ GARRETT - Writer and Director
CJ Garrett is the writer and director of Best Laid Plans. He likes the smell of rain, long walks on the beach, and copying his bio from online dating profiles. He has a background of improv and stand-up comedy, voice acting experience, and a face for radio. His dream is to become a comedy writer in Hollywood and eventually have his own sitcom.
DEVON KANE - Producer
Devon is a junior TFM production student at San Diego State. With a background in theatre and improv comedy, she has worked on a variety of productions on both the stage and screen. Devon has produced multiple projects for 314 and 361, and is the main producer for the on-campus production team The State Report. The State Report is a comedy news show on YouTube for Associated Students. Being a part of it for three years, she has played a major role in building it into the multi-department organization it is today. Her biggest influences are Lorne Michaels, Matthew Weiner, and Mary Tyler Moore. Devon wants to see this project succeed and will do anything she can to make sure her team has all the tools they need to make a quality final product they can be proud of and submit to festivals.
JARED KLEBER - Director of Photography
Jared is a senior at SDSU and an aspiring TV Writer. He is currently majoring in TFM Production. He has been involved in multiple short film productions in every aspect. Most recently, he has had two films featured in SDSU Best of the Best Film Festival and worked in Reality Television Development in New York City. His influences include Hoyt Van Hoytema, Roger Deakins, Steven Soderbergh, Emmanuel Lubezki and Edgar Wright. He especially hopes to channel the style of Edgar Wright and combine it with Emmanuel Lubezki’s style in order this film to make a truly visual comedy, but with the slickness of a Hollywood film.
VIRGINIA EASTWOOD - Production Designer
Virginia is a senior at San Diego State University. She is currently majoring in TFM- Emphasis in Production, and minoring in Business Management. She has worked for the American Language Institute creating short videos for them. She also has experience writing from being accepted into the CSU Summer Arts Triple-Threat Writing Program, and interning for "The Odyssey", an online national newspaper for universities. Most recently, a film she acted in and helped with, "Sororities Stories", won the coveted Jury Award at the Campus Movie Fest. After graduation, she plans on moving to Los Angeles.
CLEVEEN DOMINGUEZ - Sound Designer
Cleveen Dominguez was born and raised in San Diego. He grew up watching films and took an interest in filmmaking at a young age. His biggest influences are Tim and Eric and Edgar Wright. He has studied film abroad in Singapore and self produced a documentary in the Philippines.
MICHAEL LEIMBACH - Editor
This is Michael's last semester and final film at San Diego State. Over the course of his SDSU career he has worked on a number festival films, mainly as an editor or sound designer. He is excited to ride out into the sunset as a part of CJ Garett's "Best Laid Plans" crew, and showcase the skills he has acquired over his time at State.
Any donation you give us will get your name in the "Special Thanks" portion of our credits!
Organizer
Devon Kane
Organizer
San Diego, CA