HELP US BRING NETHERWOOD TO LIFE

A young man losing his battle with cancer confronts the loss of family and friends leading up to his passing. Home alone, he is confronted by a strange creature, who leads him into the unknown.

Netherwood is a dark, imaginative short film about grief, identity, and crossing over. Set in rural Arkansas, the story follows Jacob, a 19-year-old with terminal cancer, as he confronts the emotional weight of isolation, fading relationships, and dying young. But when he begins to see a strange creature in the woods behind his home, Jacob steps into something far beyond the physical world.

This isn’t just a film about death. It’s about letting go, being remembered, and confronting the parts of ourselves we’re most afraid to face.

WHY THIS STORY MATTERS

Writer and director Erin Mitchell drew from her own deeply personal experiences with trauma and caregiving to shape Netherwood. From surviving a near-fatal car accident to caring for her grandmother in her final months, Erin’s own story gives Netherwood its emotional weight. It’s about the unspoken pain of being forgotten too soon and the moments of beauty that can still emerge in that loss.

SHOT IN ARKANSAS, WITH LOCAL TALENT & CREW

We’re filming in Arkansas using local cast and crew. From Jacob’s home to the dense, mystical woods, the film’s rural setting is essential to its tone and emotional core. We’re also working with an Arkansas-based VFX artist to bring the story’s haunting creatures and dreamlike visuals to life. Every creative and technical decision is rooted in authenticity, place, and care.

WHAT WE NEED

While a portion of our $14,000 budget has already been secured, we still need $7,000 to make Netherwood the best it can be. Your support will help us:

This is Erin’s final student film and the most ambitious one yet.

MEET THE TEAM

Director – Erin Mitchell

Erin Mitchell is an artist and filmmaker based in the Central Arkansas area. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Erin has been making films for the past 2 years. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Erin has worked previously at various agencies, Marketing for brands like L’Oreal, Abbvie, and Boehringer Ingelheim. She is now pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Film at the University of Central Arkansas, where she plans to graduate next Spring.

Erin is the Writer and Director of the film, Netherwood. Drawing from deeply personal experiences with death in her past, this story navigates feelings of guilt, loneliness, and tests of character. This is Erin’s first foray into Visual Effects design and implementation in film, and she hopes to do more in the future.

Most notably, Erin wrote and Directed the breakout film, Trixie, Darling, which was featured at The Rocky City Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Student Short.

When Erin is not Directing, she loves working in Production Design. She is influenced by the the dark fairytales of Guillermo del Toro, the vibrant style of Pedro Almodóvar, and the cinematic art of Yorgos Lanthimos.

Upon graduation, Erin plans to leverage her new skills towards her Marketing career, as she continues to create in her free time.

Producer – Paula Blanco Pérez

Paula Blanco Pérez, an award-winning filmmaker from Madrid, Spain, has been creating films in Arkansas for the past 8 years. She holds a bachelor's in digital filmmaking and a master's in film from the University of Central Arkansas. Paula previously served as Director of Education at Fayetteville Public TV, where she won a Telly Award for her Cinematic Rig FPTV Promo.

Her films, including Dust, Mirona, Greed and Dandelion have earned recognition at international festivals, and her latest project, Canchas, was shot in Spain as UCA's first international student production and had its premiere at DWF in New York 2024. It was also recently awarded Best Student Film and Best Actress at the Rock City Film Festival 2025. Now, she loves working as a videographer and photographer for events, while still focusing on narrative filmmaking in her free time. With a blend of Spanish and American influences, Paula continues to push boundaries in filmmaking.

Erin and Paula are experienced filmmakers with award-winning, festival-selected work. Erin’s recent short Trixie Darling was recognized locally, while Paula’s films Canchas and Greed have screened nationally and internationally. This is a team that knows how to finish strong and how to tell stories that stay with you.

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

“This film is a goodbye letter. It’s about the people we lose, and what we find in the process. If you’ve ever felt like you were disappearing too soon, or watched someone fade before you were ready to say goodbye, I hope this story resonates with you.”

EVERY DOLLAR HELPS

Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to making this film a reality. Every backer will receive behind-the-scenes updates and a thank-you in the credits.

Thank you for supporting local artists, independent film, and stories that make space for the hard parts of life.

Follow our journey on Instagram (@netherwood_film) and Facebook (Netherwood Film) to keep up with our progress!