Ripple, a swimming story.
Donation protected
Help us bring the film "Ripple" is life!
Logline:
A college swimmer prodigy's new coach pushes him to his absolute limits: at a price. As he begins to lose both his passion for the sport and himself, he’s forced to question everything he’s ever known.
About the film:
Written and directed by Jackson Brauer, Ripple is a student-produced short film being created by an ambitious team of filmmakers at Ithaca College. The film tells the powerful story of a college swimmer, Sean Casper, grappling with identity, mental health, and pressure from a relentless coach who pushes him beyond his breaking point. As he begins to lose touch with the sport that once defined him and had passion for, the film plunges us into his internal struggle. He, in turn, embarks on a journey not just to meet certain expectations—but to discover the strength, purpose, and the true passion that lies within.
One of the film's most compelling elements will be its underwater cinematography, which elevates the visual language by allowing our team to explore themes of isolation
A director's note from Jackson:
“For better or worse, people often go to great lengths to please others. In Sean’s case, he finds himself consumed by the expectations of his relentless coach, who envisions him as and pushes him to become ‘one of the greats’, demanding that he shape his entire life around the sport. Driven by the human instinct to seek approval—whether out of loyalty, fear, or hope - Sean presses on, and as the pressure mounts, the sport is no longer just a game—it becomes Sean’s entire identity. This causes him to withdraw from other interests, unravel relationships, even sever ties with close friends, and in the end, causes him to lose the passion for the thing that he truly loved. Having grown up in the swim world, the story of burnout rings true for so many people, myself included. But Sean’s journey goes beyond the pool. It’s for anyone with a passion that becomes clouded by pressure or expectation. But in the end, Sean learns that it’s okay to go down a different path. One of the bravest things you can do is live on your own terms.”
Why We Need Your Support:
This project is a bold undertaking, both creatively and with real-world resources, in order to pull off underwater sequences and multiple locations. We are asking for your help to make this story come true at the highest level.
Your contributions will go directly towards:
- Food & Crafty Services - to keep our crew and cast fed throughout our shoots.
- Locations - Securing a swimming pool and other vital spaces.
- Specialized Equipment - Especially underwater cinematography (air tanks, life vests, etc.)
- Actors & Extras - Supporting both professional and student performers.
- On-set safety - our most vital final need that will include trained lifeguards, safety tools, and crew to keep everyone safe on-set.
Meet The Crew:
The team behind this project is beyond driven and experienced student filmmakers who have worked on numerous film and media productions. Some of our crew include:
- Ethan Wilson
- Jeff Hauck
- Parker Devine
- John Stillwaggon
- Leah Waessa
- Angelina Pardiso
- Micheal Peters
- Sofia Soto
- Logan Thompson
... and many, many more passionate artists working behind the scenes!
PERKS:
Final Remarks:
Thank you for supporting this film. It's not just a student film, but a future generation of storytelling!
Organizer
Ethan Wilson
Organizer
Peru, NY