Support Carlie McCann's "Town Of Two Suns"

Two men. One house. A dust storm brings truth. A neo-western short on violence and vulnerability.

Hello! I’m Carlie McCann, a filmmaker and artist originally from St Petersburg, Florida, now based in Hollywood, CA.

I’ve been making films for over 8 years, driven by a passion for telling intimate stories that invite self-reflection and offer comfort. Creating has always been my best means of exploring complicated emotions—from drawing as a child to zero-budget handi-cam filmmaking starting at age six, continuing through high school.

From 2018 to 2020, I studied at the New York Film Academy, where I produced my first shorts—END, Sylvia—and my award-winning thesis film Welcome Home Frankie, shot amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. After graduation, I received a filmmaking grant from WEG to produce Homemaker (2022), which premiered at the Miami Film Festival.

Following Homemaker, I began writing and developing Town of Two Suns alongside BASKOIR Films. Production was delayed while I was still in Florida, but now in 2025, with fresh eyes and a re-written script, I’m proud to call this a true passion project.

With the incredible talent of Luke Madsen—son of the late Michael Madsen—taking the lead role of Jimmy, and cinematographer Carlos Arroyo (who also shot Homemaker), we’re creating a dark, introspective neo-Western that speaks to a broad audience through its raw emotional core.

Ultimately, I want audiences to leave feeling introspective and maybe even comforted by a story of lost redemption and the difficult hope of breaking the cycle.

What We Need & What You Get

We’re raising funds to support a 4-day shoot with 2 rehearsal days on location in the California desert. We're currently targeting Newberry Springs, though the location may shift depending on final logistics.

Your contribution will go toward:

Perks will include:

The Impact

Town of Two Suns is more than a Western—it’s a story about emotional survival, identity, and how unresolved wounds carry. With themes of repression, masculinity, and generational pain, it speaks to anyone who’s struggled with who they’re expected to be versus who they truly are.

Visually, the film combines classic Western cinematography with a psychological edge—using dramatic lighting, intimate close-ups, and surreal dream sequences.

Your support helps us not only make a film, but gives life to a story that challenges silence, repression, and the cycles we inherit.

Risks & Challenges

Like any indie production, we face challenges—tight timelines, unpredictable weather, and the limitations of a small budget. But we’ve prepared for these.

With a small experienced team, we’ve built in contingency plans for shoot delays and are prioritizing safety, preparation, and rehearsal to avoid surprises on set. We’re keeping the scale manageable without compromising the emotional or visual integrity of the story.

What qualifies me to lead this? I’ve worked in both post-production and narrative storytelling, and have directed multiple short projects prior to this. I understand how to get the most out of limited resources without sacrificing quality.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you’re not in a place to donate—you can still make a huge difference.

♥︎ Big Thank You to my contributors on Indiegogo

Tyler, Kevin, Karla, Adrian, Felipe, Christian, & Gorbious ♥︎