In this short film, two paranormal investigators are brought in to deal with a ghost and soon discover the haunting is queerer than anticipated.

SYNOPSIS:

After more than a week of bizarre disturbances centered on her teenage son Roland, a worried mother hires two YouTube-famous paranormal investigators: Nicole, an enthusiastic believer, and Wyatt, her skeptical, deadpan partner—to cleanse their home.

As Roland describes the haunting, the investigators learn the encounters started as crude pranks but escalated into intense, undeniably physical interactions with an invisible presence. While Roland’s mother believes he’s being attacked, Roland secretly confides to Nicole that the encounters were consensual—and that the ghost has “unfinished business.”

Roland convinces the investigators to distract his mother so he can finish what he started with the spirit. During the improvised “ritual,” Roland reconnects with the ghost, but the plan falls apart when his mother rushes upstairs mid-ritual. The ghost vanishes, leaving Roland exhausted and coated in “ectoplasm,” proudly declaring the haunting over.

A raunchy horror-comedy, “Erectoplasm” plays with paranormal tropes through a chaotic, queer, and irreverent lens.

WHAT YOU'RE FUNDING:

OUR TEAM:

Ben Schmidt - Director, Producer, Director of Photography

Benjamin Schmidt is a filmmaker born, raised, and based in Eastern Iowa. He developed a love for film at an early age and taught himself all he could by picking up a camera and shooting. He has gone on to work as a PA, grip, assistant camera, and cinematographer on everything from narrative films, commercials, documentaries, and music videos.

Ben also produces his own work under his Midnight Bloom Films banner. Working in a variety of genres, his main goal with every film is to put character at the forefront, telling each story from a humanist perspective. ‘Inheritance’, his most recent directorial effort, won a Golden Eddy at the 2025 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. His first feature length film, ‘Ellie and Xavier’ premiered earlier this year and is now touring film festivals.

On every project, Ben seeks to push the envelope and expand the skills of the teams he works with to create poignant, genuine stories.

R.M. Brands - Writer, Producer

R.M. Brands has a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature from Loras College. He has been published in the Limestone Review and Chamber Magazine. Erectoplasm is his first film project.

Julia Medina - Producer, Assistant Camera

Julia Medina is a Chicago-based filmmaker who thrives in the chaos of set life, having worn nearly every crew hat along the way. With a strong foundation as a production assistant and camera assistant, she brings a hands-on, from-the-ground-up understanding of how films are built. She is now stepping fully into directing and screenwriting, driven by a deep love for narrative storytelling.

Her experience spans commercials, corporate campaigns, and music videos, but her heart lives in bold, character-driven narratives. Her debut script, End of an Era, was named a semifinalist at this year’s Chicago Script Awards.

Julia tells wild, unapologetic stories that center underrepresented communities, crafting vivid worlds and boundary-pushing characters that invite audiences to see themselves on screen. Her work lives at the intersection of grit, heart, and imagination — stories that don’t ask for permission and refuse to be forgotten.

Benji Gordon - Producer, Assistant Director

Benji Gordon is an Assistant Director and filmmaker with a BA in Film and Media Studies and a minor in Business of Entertainment from American University. He currently works as a part-time project manager at an independent film company while continuing to spend as much time on set as he can.

As a queer, Jewish, disabled trans man, Benji is drawn to stories about identity, found family, and belonging, often through unexpected lenses like sports and workplace dynamics. He is currently in development on several films and is writing two episodic series with a focus on character-driven narratives that center voices too often pushed to the margins. Learn more at benjigordon.com.