The Accident, a Thesis Film by Jared Wiedmeyer

Hello! My name is Jared, and I'm raising funds for The Accident, my thesis film at Columbia University.

I have been working on this story for over two years and am thrilled to bring it to life. Coming to film school, I wanted to develop my artistic voice and find ways to tell compelling stories that explore the ethical questions that interest me.

The Accident is the culmination of this exploration, an ethical thriller that combines my love of high-stakes, tense drama and ordinary people caught in moral dilemmas.

Click here to see the lookbook and learn more about the film and production team.

Making a short film is no small feat, especially this story, which requires SAG actors, shooting on location, using prop boats, and securing the right crew. These steps are crucial to complete my Master's Degree, kickstart my career, and most importantly, make the best film possible.

But in order to achieve this, I need your help.

Below is our Budget Breakdown:

Talent Costs: Pays our cast the SAG Short Film Rate + Room & Board to stay at the location for the duration of the shoot.

Location Costs: Rental Fees for the shooting locations + Room & Board for crew members + Cast & Crew meals, and most importantly, Safety Precautions

Set Costs: Hard Drives + Props + Crew Rates

Camera Costs: Equipment Rental + Crew Rates + Camera & Supply Rental

Sound: Mixer + Equipment Rental

Post Production: Editor + Colorist + VFX

Contingency: Emergency Fund

So far, we have won two grants: the Katharina Otto-Bernstein Mentorship and Development Prize and the Dean's List Grant. I have also been saving personal funds to put toward the film. With the current amount, we are still looking for $9,500.

As we approach Pre-Production, we need YOUR help to get things moving. There are still locations to be secured, props to be purchased, and scouting to be done to make this film the best it can be!

What's next, you ask?

After completing "The Accident" through pre-production, shooting, and post-production, we'll showcase it at the Columbia University Film Festival. From there, I will submit to film festivals around the world, aiming for distribution so that as many people as possible can see what we've created! I will also use this as a proof of concept to pitch the feature-length version of the film.

I appreciate your time and generosity in supporting "The Accident." All contributors will have a personal thank you in the credits for helping make this film a reality. Thank you!