Camille is introduced to a group of defiant young adults who use a ritualistic form of therapy to hide a traumatic secret...

Camille, a troubled young woman, meets Maggie in a session of weekly group therapy. Maggie is fun, fearless and takes charge. She decides to take Camille under her wing and Camille decides to take a chance on Maggie, especially when Maggie introduces Camille to her friends. Camille discovers this group’s unique form of coping with trauma; they wear animal masks and make the most of the suburbia they are stuck in by Running at nightfall. As she grows closer to the group, Camille gets her own animal mask and finally finds a place to be herself. But when new secrets start to arise and Maggie’s actions start to become more erratic, Camille feels unsure about her place among her new friends. Camille has to make a difficult decision: turn a blind eye, or risk losing the only friends she has in the world.

Animal Face explores themes of friendship, navigating grief, emotional dependance, and asks the question: can we help others if we don’t know how to help ourselves?

Animal Face is Written and Directed by Anika Whalen-McKean, and produced by Ruth Dolan. This portfolio film will be shot in the late fall, put through the post-production process in winter, and screened in May. All funds raised for this project will go towards Production Design, such as props and costumes, locations, transportation, feeding cast and crew, film distribution and more.

Anika writes: Over the past year or so of my life, I have been revisiting memories and moments of my childhood in order to feel more in touch with myself. I have been consuming more of what made me happy in my youth, and trying to integrate some of that into my current day to day. When I was told in March that my parents were considering a divorce, it turned my whole world on its head. My family suddenly transformed from the picture perfect facade I cultivated in my childhood, into a cold and harsh reality I wasn’t prepared for. That’s what gave me the idea for Animal Face. I wanted to see what it would be like for someone to take my mentality of thinking a little bit too far, as well as exploring the other side of that story in the character of Camille. I wanted to explore how themes of friendship, grief, relationships, emotional intimacy, and mental health all hid themselves in nostalgia, and how we can use that nostalgia as a tool or a crutch.

We feel like this film will speak to a young adult audience, especially those who have had to navigate difficult and sudden changes in their home lives, or who have faced outsized challenges in their youth. We believe that they will be able to see themselves in Camille’s isolation, as well as her coming of age and persistence through adversity.

With our dedicated crew, we are very excited to put this film into production and see it completed. Thank you for all of your support!!