Silverhead, the Movie

My name is Josh Bertwistle, a mask performer and clown. I want to film a movie in a booth at the Calgary Comic Expo, and I'm pretty sure we can do it.

For two years, I've been making videos using a mask character named Silverhead. He's an orc from a magic land who got eaten by a dragon and crapped out into our realm. He's a henchman, producer, and dad.

Now, he's got to travel to Kelowna with two friends, to find out who's been stealing bookmarks from his kid's bookmark business (this was a real thing that happened).

He ends up in a Boston Pizza with his long-lost sister and makes a deal with Ogopogo, which doesn't go well (this is the fiction part).

I want to film the Kelowna story in front of a green screen in a booth at the Calgary Comic Expo. No-one will think we can do it, but I think we can! Plus it's a fun thing for people to watch that won't cost them any money!

Why now: I've got the story, the actors, the inspiration, and the improv experience, and I'm ready to push this character as far as he can go!

Helping fund a booth at the Expo will let us introduce our characters to so many people! And at the end of the weekend, we'll have enough footage with which I can, after finishing film school twenty-five years ago, make my first feature-length movie.

The labour's free, the camera and mic I already have.

Funds pay for a double booth and end-cap at the Calgary Comic Expo, which works out to be about $2856. The green-screen, stands, and flags will cost around $350. $600 for a cameraperson. $100 for a 4-track audio mixer. $80 for a boom mic = $3986. Minus about $1000 for my just-completed indiegogo = $2986

In return, we've got for you Silverhead stickers and pins; he'll call you on your birthday and be excited to meet you. He loves meeting new people!

If we don't make the whole $3986, I'll use whatever we receive to rent a green screen and hire a cameraperson that's not us, and film something on my stepdad's farm. It won't be the same, because we'll be by ourselves, with no input from the crowd, but it'll be at least something.

The Impact

You're helping a dad and his friends craft some art, and create an unforgettable experience for passers-by that won't cost them any money! I guess ambition is a motivator too, but mostly it'll be great to perform with my friends again, because I've been making videos solo since the pandemic started. Also, there'll be a nice record of the whole thing when it's over! When's the last time you saw a movie about a bunch of clowns trying to solve a mystery and, y'know, confront a giant etheric monster?

There are challenges:

Can you make a feature in three days? Maybe not, I mean, I think so. Me and the cast are experienced improvisers, we know how to craft a story, and Silverhead usually produces 10-20 minutes of stream-of-consciousness content a week from an hour or two of filming just by himself. So, to think that we'll have at least three six-hour days to film, with a cast of three, with likely input or inspiration from expo-goers, well- I think it'll really enrich the story, and heighten our performing skills, and entertain some people!

I'll edit the footage myself, and if I need an audio mix or anything in post-production, I'll raise more later.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you're an artist who's supported my improv or Fringe shows before, please pass this along to someone you know in your circle who's got extra funds and a desire to support something kinda weird and wonderful.