We can't make our movie without you!

Hey there Saftronauts! My name is Nicholas Safier and I am an actor, writer, producer, and social media influencer based in Brooklyn, NY with over 10 Million Followers (YouTube/Facebook: Safier Universe; TikTok: @nickyandgabe; Instagram: @nicksafier) banding from every state within the US and 70+ countries around the globe, in support of my positive videos spreading love, compassion, hope, and awareness with my younger brother Gabriel, who has Down syndrome. My platform is all about family values, breaking boundaries, shooting for the stars and soaring past expectations and limits, while normalizing and mainstreaming life and the realities of living with someone who has Down syndrome; and by extension, people who have special needs.

The outpouring of support and love across the globe prompted me to write a movie script about a man and his younger brother who has Down syndrome; a story that only I could know; one that would empower my brother’s voice in a way only I could share. Inspired by my brother and the huge support he and I were receiving across social media, I wrote a feature length screenplay that went on to become a Semi-Finalist at the prestigious Austin Film Festival. My screenplay was one of 37 selected from over 15,000 scripts.

GABRIEL: Haunted by his past, a young man serves as guardian to his younger brother who has Down syndrome in the aftermath of their father’s disappearance.

Isolated from a cold, desolate small town in the Midwest and those who live within it, our story follows Paul Nolan, a recluse who makes just enough money to get by from shoveling neighboring homes, at his family cabin, where he takes care of his younger brother Gabriel, who has Down syndrome. Although the relationship between the brothers is heartwarming, tender, and pure, as Gabriel is a light of hope, unconditional love, and innocence within the dark world Paul shields him from; the mysterious events of their past surrounding the disappearance of their father, Eddie Nolan, casts a ghostly shadow over them and their home.

This would be the first film in history centered around someone who has Down syndrome within a thriller genre. At its core, Gabriel is a dramatic tale about unconditional love and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood through the relationship of a man and his younger brother. It’s about the realities, complexities, and nature of living life with a Down syndrome person who is heavily dependent on his caretaker. In this way, my screenplay breaks boundaries and expands the Down syndrome narrative because the reality is that many people who have Down syndrome do not possess the capacity and functioning skill sets to live independently. Many people who have Down syndrome cannot write their name, understand the use of money, button a shirt, or understand how to safely cross a street. My film seeks to capture the nuanced beauty in human dependency, provide a more holistic account of the Down syndrome spectrum, and capture a story that has not been in a film before.

WHAT IS THE GOAL & HOW CAN YOU HELP?

 

In order to make this film in the way I hope and on the scale I imagine, we would need a production budget of $3-5 Million minimum (based on budgets of other films of this genre, nature, and tone). Any additional financing above this figure would aid the quality of production value and post production marketing, advertising and distribution. With a budget of this size and with your help, we would then approach our ideal production company, director, and star talent to attach them to the film to star alongside Gabriel and myself. If each one of our Saftronaut's across social media; across the Safier Universe, donated just $1, we would surpass the minimum total budget needed to produce this film together.

In this last year, more projects than ever have featured people with intellectual disabilities. First Champions starring Woody Harrelson, then James Martin receiving the award for Best Live-Action Short — becoming the first actor who has Down syndrome to win an Oscar, and most recently, Sofia Sanchez co-starring in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The momentum is growing quickly, and I see a positive trajectory in the stories that are being filmed. This is the moment — and a pivotal time in film history for my story. I would go so far to say that, with the right team, there are no limits to how far this project can go and the global impact it will have. I believe with the right strategy and team involved, this is a potential film for Best Picture given the subject matter, style, and films that have thrived at The Academy in the past five years.

Of greater importance, we would be sending the world a powerful message about diversity and inclusion while giving voice to people and families who share our experiences and the joys, richness, and unconditional love of our Down syndrome community.

Thank you in advance for your support and for helping us to share this story.

With my deepest gratitude,

Nick