Help us finish our student short film!

Meghan Atherton is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hi there!

My name is Meghan Atherton, and I'm the writer/co-director and lead actress in "Rip Her to Pieces," my Senior Capstone film at Chico State University in Chico, California. My hope is for this 15-minute short film to be able to serve as a testament to my skills as a director, producer, and actress when I graduate from Chico State and seek professional opportunities within the entertainment industry.

This is a highly ambitious story, including a complicated, psychological storyline, exploring themes of grief set during the April 3rd-4th 1974 Tornado outbreak in the midwest that spawned over 100 tornados in 24 hours. Because of this, the story requires some VFX, 1970's set, and costume design as well as authentic 70's original music.

All funds raised will go towards covering food and lodging for cast and crew, maintaining the magic of the 1970's through our production and costume design. Visual effects and finishing funds including film festival submission and travel.

Rip Her to Pieces, set in 1974 Xenia, Ohio, dives into the intricacies of grief and guilt and how they affect different relationships in our lives against the backdrop of one of the most chaotic and terrifying days in Ohio's history. Principal Photography begins April 3rd, 2025 in Chico, California on the 51st anniversary of the real-life Xenia, Ohio F5 tornado disaster.

Our core crew:

Co-directors: Meghan Atherton and Adynn Rice

Executive Producer: Meghan Atherton

Producers and Associate Producers: Cat McCarthy, Evan Young, Julian Whalen, Jesse Reale

Director of Photography: Andrew Arguello

Gaffer: Greg Klino

1st and 2nd Assistant Camera: Devynn Deutscher and Niko Cornett

On-set sound mixing: Aidan Shaper

Publicity: Heather Atherton

Lead cast:

Alice Preston: Meghan Atherton

Renee Sherman: Summer Giveons

Eva: Rachel Shawver

Daisy: Ashlyn Elise

Attached below are our cast photos as well as a special sneak peek of the opening scene of our short film, right after our protagonist, Alice Preston, runs away from her childhood home in the wake of a nasty argument with her mom about finishing her college degree. Alice and her best friend, Renee Sherman, have been friends for as long as they can remember.