Dead Weight - A Short Film by Anthony-Michael Herrera
Donativo protegido
My name is Anthony-Michael Herrera, I’m a 23-year-old college student, filmmaker, and creative trying to carve out a space in an industry that often overlooks voices like mine.
My latest project, Dead Weight, is a short film born from personal experience along with friends and family around me; this is a reflection of what it feels like to do “everything right” and still find yourself broke, burned out, and on the brink of losing.
What Is Dead Weight?
Dead Weight follows Roman, a recent college grad drowned by student debt, family expectations, and the pressure to succeed in a system that feels rigged. As rejection letters pile up and resources run dry, he faces a choice: to keep grinding toward a dream that seems further away every day… or to take a risk that might cost him everything.
This story is personal. It echoes the struggle my peers and I faced—trying to survive while chasing creative work that matters. It’s the weight we carry when no one sees what we’re going through.
What the Funds Will Cover
We’re seeking $2,000 to help make this project a reality. Your support will directly go toward:
- Camera gear rentals—to ensure professional-level production quality
- Meals and support for our amazing cast & crew
- Production design, props & location costs—to build a world that feels real and lived-in
Every dollar raised brings us closer to giving this story—and everyone who sees themselves in it—the spotlight it deserves.
Why This Means So Much
There are so many stories about success, but Dead Weight is about everything that happens before that—the rejection, the depression, the anger, and the survival. This film gives voice to the quiet desperation that so many of us face behind closed doors.
Keep in mind, this film is not-for-profit. By supporting this project, you’re not just funding a film. You’re helping my crew of hardworking, creative individuals alongside an independent artist share a story that often goes untold.
Help Us Out
Whether you can donate $5, $50, or simply share this campaign—you’re a part of this journey. And for that, I’m forever grateful.
Thank you for believing in the story. Thank you for believing in me.
—Anthony-Michael Herrera
Writer/Director of Dead Weight
Organizador
Anthony Herrera
Organizador
Los Angeles, CA