In the late 2030s, a civil-war fractured United States has been drawn and quartered by global powers. Two envoys from the Chinese-Canadian coalition are sent to deliver a ceasefire ultimatum to one of the last American resistance camps—only to find it transformed into a fanatical, syncretic cult under the hand of an inscrutable leader.

What is "America"? How much can America change until it isn't "American" anymore? I intend to ask these questions in this independent, entirely student-produced film. Drawing deeply from themes in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, this project examines the relativity of conflict—and how it dredges out the darkness intrinsic in human nature—through the lens of a near-future American dystopia.

This ambitious project is the apotheosis of the creative discipline and logistical stamina that I’ve worked hard for years to build. It will require elaborate set constructions, props, and costumes, and support for a devoted crew shooting outdoors in the unrelenting Vermont winter—and to make this project a reality, I need your support.

I'm asking for $8,850 to produce this film. Please donate $1000, $500, $250, $100, $50, or even $10. Any amount will help bring this project to fruition.

Budget Breakdown

Here’s where your contribution will go, by percent allocation:

22% Props and Costumes: Custom, Versatile, Weather-resistant pieces

21% Set Construction: Main exterior set, interior sets, set dressing

19% Crew: External DP and Assistant Stipend

18% Cast and Crew Support: Meals, Crafts, Warmth Support

10% Equipment Rentals: School equipment plus additional rented items

6% Contingency: Flexibility for unexpected needs

4% Marketing: Promotional materials

Why your support matters

Middlebury offers resources of all kinds, but in my brief moment here I have learned that whatever you don’t buy with money, you buy with time. Institutional grants come with strings that very quickly tangle into shackles when urgent problems need immediate solutions. Big goals go beyond business hours—to support a project of this scale on our timeframe, unburdened funding is critical in making our production efficient and flexible. With your help, we will have the freedom to move with both speed and strength to make this film happen.

What if we fall short?

The movie will still be made—whatever we raise, even if we fall short, will be distributed proportionally among line items. But, with your support, we can propel this project from “pretty good” to “unbelievable”.

But will it get done?

In summer 2022, I wrote a three-act play, Rospo. I had no serious theater experience, but I had this burning feeling that it could be done, so I assembled a team of volunteer students and a shoestring budget, and went for it.

For months, we rehearsed into late school nights, completely in our free time. We printed and cut one thousand paper frogs in a guerrilla marketing campaign that was so ridiculous the college had to revise its postering rules. We even hand-built a five-by-ten-foot wood rowboat—I inhaled so many fumes from that chestnut varnish that I lost feeling in my right big toe for six months.

The result? We sold out all three showings in less than two hours. I had one student come up to me claiming it was the best play they’ve ever seen (perhaps it was the only play they’d ever seen).

Tony (Alex Halaby) and John (Peter McClearn) argue over the existence of Divine Intervention – March 31, 2023

My time on Rospo proved to me that pretty much anything is possible if you’re willing to suffer a few papercuts. Nearly two restless years have elapsed since that curtain went down, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to get it there again. This project is my top priority, and nothing short of hospitalization will stop me from delivering it by May 31, 2025.

Thank you for your time and consideration towards a contribution. We are simply raring to go on this project, and we are extremely grateful for any support you can provide.