Under Pressure - A Pilot by David Towne & Sean Kael Williams

Overview

Feeling a little off? Like the world’s a bit much right now?

If so—you’re not alone. We see you. We feel you.

Everyone is going through something. And we all cope differently. Some meditate. Some scream into pillows. Some…write television pilots to pour their thoughts and emotions onto the page, hoping something good comes of it. Which is exactly what we did.

And now, with a finished pilot in hand, we’re facing the challenge of funding it ourselves. And we’ve realized—much like life—we need help.

Our project is titled UNDER PRESSURE. It is a darkly comedic, emotionally grounded workplace dramedy about a veteran named Ryan Callaghan who inherits his late mother’s massage and wellness studio in Dallas, Texas. The irony? He’s the last person who should be in the wellness industry. With PTSD, legal troubles, overwhelming debt, and unresolved grief, Ryan is a ticking time bomb in a space meant to promote calm.

Created by actors-turned-filmmakers David Towne and Sean Kael Williams, Under Pressure tackles the very real tension between what we present on the outside and what we’re dealing with internally. Set entirely within the walls of a struggling wellness center, the show explores how each character copes with pressure—whether through denial, control, or chaos.

And we’re not doing it alone. We’re lucky to be working with an incredible team—some of whom we’ve collaborated with for years, and others who came to us through the generosity of our producers and friends. What we need NOW is YOUR SUPPORT to make it real.

With heart, humor, and unflinching honesty, we ask: what does it really mean to be “well”?

Directors' Statement

We (David Towne & Sean Kael Williams) met in an acting class, but it didn’t take long for us to realize we had a shared obsession with storytelling—and not just performing it, but building it from the ground up. Over the last six years, we’ve written together, worked on each other’s sets, learned from our failures, and created things we’re proud of. Now, we believe we’ve arrived at something truly special.

"Under Pressure" is more than just a dramedy about a wellness studio in chaos—it’s a personal story. It's about the ways people break, cope, survive, and (sometimes) even heal. At its core, this pilot is a tribute to the working class, to veterans re-entering civilian life, and to anyone who’s ever felt like they’re one loud noise away from unraveling.

Our main character, Ryan, doesn’t cope through meditation or journaling—he copes through sheer force of will. That tension between what we need to do to heal and what we actually do is something we see constantly in the real world. This project is our way of honoring that very real struggle, and it’s a story we feel uniquely qualified to tell.

Stylistically, we’ve been hugely inspired by shows like The Bear, Adolescence, and The Studio—all of which use long, uninterrupted takes (“oners”) to pull viewers directly into the sensory experience of the characters. We’re adopting that same immersive approach, allowing the pressure to build organically in real time, which we believe will not only heighten the drama but allow the humanity to shine through.

We see this pilot as our calling card—a piece that speaks for us creatively, emotionally, and professionally. There’s a growing number of festivals and industry initiatives looking specifically for independently produced pilots, and we’re aiming to be in that conversation. This is our chance to show what we can do artistically and what kind of storytellers we are when we have the freedom to do it our way.

Whether you’re here because you believe in the project or because you’ve seen firsthand how hard it can be just to get through the day—we thank you for helping us tell a story that, at its heart, is about exactly that.

Let’s make something meaningful!

— David & Sean

Meet the Creative Team

David Towne – Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, Lead Actor (Ryan)

Sean Kael Williams – Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, Actor (Ethan)

Harrison Bliss – Cinematographer

Fred Parker – Executive Producer, Actor (Mark)

Jerry Silverhardt – Executive Producer

Meredith Vivian - Producer, Actor (Vanessa)

Meet the Cast

David Towne as Ryan Callaghan – A PTSD-stricken ex-military man struggling to stay afloat while running his recently deceased mother’s wellness studio.

Sean Kael Williams as Ethan Callaghan – Ryan’s younger cousin and business-savvy college student. A wishful thinker and a dreamer who thinks selfishly.

Gilli Messer as Sienna Morales – The lead massage therapist with a vision for the studio’s future. Feels that she deserves more than what she is given.

Evan Shafran as Karim Al-Farsi – The quirky landlord who will stop at nothing to get his money… on time.

Fred Parker as Mark Townsend – A wealthy, yet curiously suspicious cowboy with a talent for manipulation.

Jasmine Williams as Willow - The introverted and easily-startled, but wise beyond her years new front desk receptionist.

Jarrod Bogan as Daniel - A nervous prospective employee who’s interview happens on the wrong day, at the wrong time.

Goal: Why Donate? Where Is the Money Going?

We are raising $10,000 to produce the pilot episode of Under Pressure. Here’s how your donation helps:

Cast & Crew Compensation

Camera, Grip, and Lighting Equipment

Post-Production (Editing, Color, Sound)

Insurance & Legal

Catering & On-Set Needs

Festival Submissions

Music Licensing & Score

What we already have:

Location secured: Fred Parker Wellness, donated by EP Fred Parker (friggin legend)

Cast & crew committed

A wicked Cinematographer: Harrison Bliss

Script and schedule in place

We are currently in pre-production, with rehearsals starting soon. Filming is targeted for the week of June 23rd, 2025, and your support gets us one step closer to capturing the magic.

Contribution Perks

$5 - Goes a long way. We deeply appreciate your support.

$25 - Let’s make a pilot! Get email updates on screenings, awards, and progress.

$50 - All the above + Early private link to finished project before festival submissions.

$100 - All the above + Shoutout on social media from the creators.

$250 - All the above + Special thanks in the film credits.

$500+ - All the above + Executive Producer credit on IMDb and in the final cut.

Closing Note

We believe Under Pressure speaks to this exact moment in time—when everyone seems to be holding their breath, trying to stay calm, and praying they don’t explode.

This story is funny. It’s raw. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s honest.

And this pilot? It’s just the beginning.

Our goal is to use it as a proof of concept—a compelling first chapter in what we envision as a full-length, ten-episode series. While we’re already in conversation with decision makers about its future, we also see the festival circuit as a powerful way to get this story in front of audiences and industry champions who believe in fresh, independently made television.

We want to make the absolute best choice for the future of this project—and we want you to be part of that.

With your help, we can get this pilot off the ground and create something that has the power to last for years—reaching people who need to see themselves in stories like this.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re barely holding it together—this one’s for you. Let’s make it real. Together.