Romance is Dead: SDSU Senior Thesis

Romance Is Dead is the first musical to be produced at San Diego State University in last 10 years! We need your help to make it a reality!


In this dark comedic musical, Donovan is a young man who is having difficulties coping with the loss of his fiancé, Ben. Desperate to have the love of his life back, Donovan turns to his best friend, Adam, to implement a crazy scheme to bring Ben back from the dead.


This is a senior thesis film that explores grief and the loss of a loved one, showing there is no right way to handle it. It’s going to be an absolutely memorable film that will get you tapping your feet and hopefully propel us young filmmakers into our film careers!


Like I said, we need your help making this the best film we possibly can!


Every cent raised from this campaign will go to expenses for the film.


This includes:

-Compensation for talented, professional actors
-Location fees
-Equipment rentals
-Production design
-Music composition (it’s a musical after all)
-Film festival submissions

Diversity is important to this filmmaking team (we have a diverse crew with a diverse cast) and we want to bring everyone together with something that anyone can relate with. Any donation is appreciated. Being a college student is tough enough with tuition fees, book costs, and the list goes on. With your help, we can focus exclusively on the production, so your support means the world to us!


We hope this film will touch the hearts of everyone who watches it. It’s our way of leaving our mark before we graduate!


Thanks in advance for your help!



ABOUT OUR CREW

TODD JACKSON - Writer/Director


Todd was born in North Carolina and grew up in Orlando, FL before transplanting to San Diego, CA. He spent most of his youth (and adulthood) drawing comic books, writing, and watching film. He currently attends San Diego State University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Television, Film, and New Media while working as a Video Editing Assistant at Hale Productions, a small production company in South Park, San Diego. Todd is an award-winning screenwriter for his short script 5 Things Not to Feed a Baby and hopes to go on to become a television writer for the next hit CW TV show.

IRIS PULSINGAY - Producer


Iris is a native San Diegan finishing up her last year at San Diego State University. With a background in musical theater, she’s a big fan of big, eye-catching productions. Iris plans to help build up the city’s live entertainment industry. Her hobbies include singing, attending concerts, and going on peaceful night drives.

ALEXIS BEST - Producer


Alexis is actively a senior studying Television, film, and New Media Production at San Diego State University with hopes of pursuing a career as a producer after graduation. Alexis has known that she wanted to pursue a career in film production for as long as she can remember, and decided to move out of her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada to continue following her dream. Growing up as a dancer, she has always had a thirst to be a creative force. She has a love for producing and has produced numerous shorts at San Diego State University, which have received both awards and scholarships. When not making films, she can be found tuning up her dance skills, participating in sorority activities, or chatting with her family back home.

JENNA CASTILLO - Cinematographer


Jenna, hailing from small town Illinois, is currently wrapping up her junior year at San Diego State University in Film, Television, and new Media Production. After graduation Jenna plans on moving to LA or Toronto to pursue cinematography for film and television. Her inspirations are Hoyte Van Hoytema and Reed Moreno. When she is not on set, Jenna enjoys traveling, Muay Thai, photography, and poetry.

TORIA STRIGLER - Editor


Toria, originally from New Jersey, is currently finishing her college career at San Diego State University with a major in Television, Film, and New Media and a minor in Italian Studies. She aspires to be an editor for film and television, but also has a strong passion for animation. Growing up around the arts (such as learning to play instruments, painting, and theatre) has given her a keen eye for small details and factors that go into the art of filmmaking. When she’s not on set, Toria enjoys painting, reading, and traveling.

CAMERON CROSS - Sound Designer


Cameron, born in Illinois, is on his last semester at San Diego State University, getting a Bachelor's Degree in Television, Film, and New Media. His passion is in post-production sound design where he has spent thousands of hours recording, mixing and designing soundscapes for a multitude of short films and documentaries. His strong work ethic and passion earned him Excellence in Sound Design Fall 2017 for the short film Kink.

MITSU MAYASHIMA - Production Designer


Mitsu is currently finishing up her bachelors degree in Film and New Media Production at San Diego State University. Hailing from the state of Utah, her films bring attention to current social issues. She recently wrote and directed a short film titled “Under the Law.”

SAL NAVARRO JR. - Production Designer


Sal is a senior at San Diego State University focusing on production design for film and television. Going into the film program, he found his love for production design when he volunteered as a designer for a scene recreation project. From then on, he’s worked with a team of designers to bring films to life through settings and environments. His biggest accomplishment by far has been working as a set dresser for a feature film. His hopes are to become a professional art director for fantasy films.