Please Consider Contributing to a Powerful Thesis Film

My name is Grace Drury and I am a senior Cinema major at Ithaca College raising funds for my thesis film, "Ubiquitous".

The film follows Lee Brown, who is severely depressed and believes the only way to save herself is by winning Best Picture at a prestigious film festival. She navigates her depression and recent breakup through therapy and some other (not quite as healthy) coping mechanisms. The film explores unhealthy attachment, self-harm, loneliness, artist obsession, and chronic emptiness.

$1,500 will go to the necessary locations and their fees. $1,000 will go to the necessary props needed for the film. $200 will be for wardrobe. $1,000 will be used to keep the crew fed during the days of filming. $4,000 will go for casting a SAG/Union actress to play the main role, Lee. $500 will go to the other two adult actresses required to hire for the film. $500 will go to festivals/submissions. $6,000 will go to outside equipment needed to accomplish certain shots of the film and assist with the overall look. The rest is contingency for any other items we might need at the last minute.

Some of the cinematic influences that inspired this film are Black Swan, I Saw the TV Glow, Manchester by the Sea, and My First Film. If we are able to raise our $15,000 budget, I plan to shoot on the Arri Alexa Mini with anamorphic lenses to assist in raising the tension and drama that this film is built on. There is a cinematic and gritty feel that this specific camera gives that I have fell in love with. I also have extensive plans with lighting and the use of color to also further convey the emotional themes within the film.

At the very least, I hope the audience is moved by this film. I hope that it is relatable in some aspect and that the character’s flaws and strengths can become a comfort. I made Lee a very imperfect character to show the realistic balance in all of us. I want the audience to feel as empty and lonely as Lee does when they watch this so they can understand her better. I hope the audience can come to understand Lee for me because I felt so misunderstood during certain times of my life. I hope this film brings hope for those who are in a similar position and I hope at least one person can feel seen by this.