THE WYCH ELM - A Short Film by Lukas Gordon

Current Goal: $4,500

 

A short film written & directed by Lukas Gordon. Line Producer Aastha Kannan and Director of Photography Rahul Badoni. Reaching $4,500 will cover production costs including transportation for cast & crew, equipment rentals, accommodations, food, and location permits, as well as pre-production costs for materials, props, and any post-production services we might need.

 

"The Wych Elm" is a magical-realist mystery drama, following a young woman named Rosalie who returns to the dying logging town where she grew up to search for her missing younger brother, Jeffrey, who had disappeared three years earlier. While searching for clues to understand what happened to him, she finds herself drawn into the forest by haunting visions of a mysterious tree - one she's convinced has something to do with her brother's disappearance.

 

"The Wych Elm" is my senior thesis film for Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and features my most ambitious and expansive story to date. It will be filmed on-location in Millers Falls, MA, and Shelburne Falls, MA following COVID-19 safety compliance measures. The cast and crew are comprised of a talented group of actors & creative individuals, most of whom attend Brown University & RISD. 

 

Production will take place between the dates of January 14th and January 28th.

 

About The Filmmaker

 

Hi! My name is Lukas Gordon, and I'm a senior at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). However, I'm originally from Portland, OR. I've been making films ever since I was a little kid, and have recently seen my work recognized by being selected for the 2021-2022 Tiffany Rosen Scholarship for "excellence in live-action filmmaking and overall academic excellence" based on my junior thesis film, "Telephone." RISD has been an incredible place for me to learn and foster my voice as a filmmaker, but currently, they do not offer any financial aid for our film projects.

 

 

 

This short film will be the cumulative work of my entire time here at RISD, and the most ambitious project I've made so far. I've been developing the project since last summer, and can't wait to start principal photography in January. Thank you so much for your generous support, and I can't wait for you to see the film!

 

Rewards

 

$50 Friend of the Production

- Receive a 'Special Thanks' in the film credits

 

$100 Gold Patron

- Hand-written Thank You note

- "Gold Patron" title in film credits

- Continual early access viewing of the film upon completion, and when it is in circulation for film festivals

 

$250 Associate Producer

- Hand-written Thank You note

- Large, high-quality print of the official film poster

- Credit as "Associate Producer" in film credits

- Continual early access viewing of the film upon completion, and when it is in circulation for film festivals

 

$500 Executive Producer

- Hand-written Thank You note

- Large, high-quality print of the official film poster

- Credit as "Executive Producer" in film credits and your name on the official poster

- Continual early access viewing of the film upon completion, and when it is in circulation for film festivals

Cast: Maddie Groff, Julian Robson, Jed Griswold, Kira Bierly, Mark Lainer

 

Crew: Lukas Gordon, Aastha Kannan, Rahul Badoni, Bella Borgh, Jazmyn Babler, Eli Turner,  Sean Huang, Annaliese Grandison, Isabelle Yang, Elysee Barakett, Daniel Fidoten, Doug Fidoten