Hello!

I'm Jaden McDonald. I produce films because I believe stories, when made with real care, can change how people see themselves and each other. Returning from our award-winning short film at UCSB’s renowned film festival, my Director Carlo DiFiore, Actor Travers Tobis, and I are looking to make our mark as filmmakers in Los Angeles with this new short film.

The Story

Charlie Buckets is about a young man escaping his criminal upbringing who must embark on a desperate hunt to save himself and the new life he’s found solace in. His goal: collect 50 thousand dollars in one night under the bright lights of Los Angeles or face immeasurable consequences. The only tool he has: the ability to become whoever the moment demands.

We invite you into a world that symbolizes the one in which we filmmakers feel so threatened by. An industry with walls that are shrinking more and more around us by the day. A world that demands urgency, determination, and above all, perseverance. All at the highest of stakes, our future.

Our character has one night to collect $50,000 to save everything he loves. We have one month to raise $10,000 to make the film that tells his story. Different numbers, different clocks, same desperation. Same belief that the life you want is worth whatever it takes to get there.

Influences

Our inspiration is drawn from filmmakers who understand the high-octane energy of what it means to hustle. It’s also drawn from filmmakers who capture the beauty of LA’s nightlife; the dangers, the opportunity, the absurdity. Josh Safide's most recent Marty Supreme informs the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of our story. Heat by Michael Mann captures the grittiness and atmosphere of LA’s neon-lit landscapes. And then there’s Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch Drunk Love that shows us the strength that love in our lives can bring, and the places we’ll go to keep it.

Production Team

Here’s the amazing team coming together to bring this vision to life!

Carlo DiFiore- Director/Editor/Writer

Travers Tobis - Actor/Writer

Christy Knudson - Cinematographer

Jaden McDonald- Producer

Sebastian Pollard - Producer

Aria Mahmoud - Associate Producer

Eva Solis - 1st Assistant Director

Kylie Gagnon - 2nd Assistant Director

BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE

How can you help?

While we are self-funding a portion of this film, we are here seeking any additional support we can secure to complete our financing. Any donation, no matter the size, helps us meet our crowdfunding campaign goal. So, join us as part of our creative journey and help a couple of passionate filmmakers capture a personal and roller coaster experience.

Where is the budget going? (Estimate)

Equipment (45%)

Legal & Insurance (5%)

Post Production (10%)

Actor (22%)

Production Design (8%)

Craft Services (10%)

Check us out and share the vision to help us reach a wider audience! Thank you so much!

*Share this page on Instagram or Facebook.

*Send it to a friend or a family member who might be down to support this film.

*Have time to spare? Help us out as an extra on set or a production assistant. Just DM me if you want to support in this way! (@carlo.difiore on Instagram)

*Like and Comment on the posts about this campaign; interaction boosts the post so the right people can see it.

*We're also open to any other ideas or ways of supporting any of the areas listed in the breakdown, like food/transportation/props, etc.

No monetary returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to your GoFundMe.