EXODUS - A short film by Jack Alexander Cohen

Hey, I’m Jack Alexander Cohen. I’m a Junior at Loyola Marymount University film school and an aspiring filmmaker. I’m fundraising for my Junior year thesis film, EXODUS, which is a project I’m super passionate about and will be shooting in April 2023. I’d love to tell you more about it here so thanks for taking a few minutes to read on….

MISSION STATEMENT

Growing into who I am today, both as a person and as a filmmaker, has been quite an adventure. Of course, I couldn’t have gotten to this point alone. There were a lot of cameos along the way, but there’s been one person who has stuck by my side throughout all 21 seasons of my life: my annoying, charming, and incredibly loyal little sister Molly. This was my starting place for this film.

I wanted to tell the story of a brother and sister growing up together – navigating through the unknown. And what’s more unknown than outer space? I kept coming back to this idea of distance. We all distance ourselves in one way or another. Some of us project, some of us suppress, and some of us journey across the galaxy, searching for salvation. In EXODUS, these all ring true.

I would love for you all to explore the unknown, and be a part of this story that I’m telling…

THE STORY

The day is April 28, 2073. Sarah and her older brother Ben are set to arrive on ANCANA, a habitable planet outside of our solar system. It’s the end of a long journey for both of them, but despite being hours away from their new home, Ben does not seem overly excited. Sarah immediately picks up on this, and with her trademark charm, tries to get him out of his funk. She manages to break through Ben’s stoic facade, but in the process, discovers that he’s been lying to her about the certainty of their arrival and the shocking truth behind their departure from Earth.

WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO

I feel like it’s important you know that I’m not going to take your money and fly to outer space. So let’s talk about where your donations go!

Food!

As you know, making a movie is not something that can be done alone. I’m going to have a lot of people helping me on this project, for free I might add, and they deserve to eat.

Production Design

A film doesn’t need a million-dollar budget to tell a great story. You can do a LOT with very little if you are creative and willing to work with what you have. That said, building a spaceship from scratch is far from the easiest thing to achieve with a small budget.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to work. In fact, I would prefer if it didn’t. Finding someone to operate the camera on Mars is harder than it sounds.

My production designer and I are very excited about the prospect of building a spaceship under these conditions, but are definitely going to need some help. Creating the world of any film is critical, especially in Sci-Fi, and if we want you to be immersed, we’re going to need some things. That means props, decorations, building materials, jet engines! Ok, no jet engines, it doesn’t have to work, Jack…

This isn’t your Mama’s spaceship. Although, it might kind of look like it! Ever seen a bedroom from a kid who grew up in the 70s?! Was it yours? Was it your parents’? Well now imagine if that bedroom could fly – and had a cockpit for a desk! And bunks instead of bunk beds? Okay, that part isn’t that different. The point is, this is the coziest spaceship you’ve ever seen, equipped with everything from ignition cylinders to Billy Joel posters.

Film Festivals

I have put my all into this project and I know it can be great if everything goes to plan. My intention is to submit this to festivals as I believe this story and what I have to say will resonate with a wide audience. Your donation would help pay for the fees to submit this project and hopefully have it seen far and wide.

GRATITUDE

More than anything, this project is about being grateful for the time we all have here on this planet. If you’ve read this far, it already means the world to me that you are taking the time out of your day to learn more about my passion. If you can’t donate anything right now, don’t worry! Send this page around – Be that annoying person on Facebook sharing their colleague’s kid’s short film. I promise you I will come to your defense in the comments.

Seriously, I am so grateful for your interest in this project, and I’m incredibly excited to get started. No matter how much money I raise, you’re all invited to the premiere!

Thank you,

Jack Alexander Cohen