Washed ashore after a narrow escape, Master’s Mate of Sampson’s Revenge, Edward Thatcher, and confidant Henslowe Smith find themselves at the end of each other’s rope. A dispute over gold exposes old wounds as the two are intercepted by an ego-driven naval officer.

Hello! And thank you for your interest in our project. My name is Julia O’Toole and I am the co-writer and director of the thesis short film ‘Weight in Gold’. This is an MFA thesis for our co-writer, actor, and fight captain, Andrew Hobbie. This project is currently scheduled to go into production early 2026 with a release projected for spring of the same year.

This comedy takes place in 1735 on the shores of a young, colonial Georgia. Edward Thatcher has recently deserted The Sampson’s Revenge, a pirate ship that has been terrorizing the coast and testing the patience of the local Navy. Henslowe Smith is Edward’s best friend and partner. The two planned to rob Captain Sampson of all his gold and escape into the colonies to start a new life. However, in the last hour, Henslowe betrayed Edward, stealing the gold and leaving Thatcher to fend for himself. These are the events that take us to the beginning of the film. This short film explores themes of friendship, betrayal, miscommunication and more.

This project involves extremely meticulous costuming, planning, and intense combat rehearsals. The film will depict duels among two and three men at a time, unarmed combat on the shoreline, and much more.

Funds will go toward:

• Location fees

• Crew and production support

• Editing and visual effects

• Props and equipment

• Film festival submission fees

With all that said, we cannot make this happen the way it deserves to happen without your help. With your donations, we will be able to honor the history of the Georgia Coast and make a short film worth its weight in gold. Thank you so much for your consideration :)