HEARTBEAT Short Film !!!
Donation protected
CAMPAIGN ENDS: July 20th, 2017
STORY BACKGROUND
HEARTBEAT is a short-film written by myself as well as my talented friend/writer, Joseph Joyce. I will be Directing and responsible for much of the Producing aspect of this short-film. This story was created years ago after the passing of my beloved grandmother. During her final days and moments, I recounted the tremendous impact she had on my life, which made the acceptance of her passing very difficult for me. In those moments of holding her hand, I especially perceived her restlessness and inability to fully comprehend her surroundings within that dismal hospital room. I wondered what she might be experiencing. A part of me sought to justify her pain, restlessness, and fading cognition as her own subconscious struggle – the struggle of accepting one’s own death and having to say goodbye to those you love the most.
In time, those difficult moments with my grandmother provoked a curiosity regarding the dying process, and I came to deal with the event as I often tend to work through many things in this world – through filmmaking.
This event eventually spawned an idea for a film of a young man trapped in his subconscious whilst in a comatose state moments before his passing. I was left with these overarching questions… How do you come to accept death when you aren't fully aware of it? How do you say goodbye to those you love?
SYNOPSIS
HEARTBEAT is an exploration of the Kubler-Ross model, and is my interpretation of the struggle of grief acceptance. The main character, Owen Hartley, is a writer trying to make a big deadline before he loses the contract of a lifetime. Stuck in a motel room until his work is done, he starts to recognize the eerie truth of his surrounding environment - it's a representation of his decaying body and intellect. But how do you accept your own mortality when you’re trapped in your own subconscious?
PURPOSE
The purpose of this story is to showcase a common yet incredibly individualized life event: death. What we witness and experience as a grieving onlooker is vastly different than the experience of the dying individual. I have wanted to explore this other perspective, the perspective of the dying, since the unfortunate passing of my grandmother. I think this story will offer new insight that may help others to look at the dying process as a beautiful journey and expression of acceptance.
YOUR INVESTMENT
I believe in this story, and believe it ought to be told well. Though with any quality product, cost follows closely in suit. Over the years, I have saved my own money so that this story can be told.
If you too would like to participate in bringing this story to life, I would forever be humbled and grateful for your generosity.
Costs for this 20-30 minute short-film would be as follows:
- Building the motel room ($2000-$3000)
- Dressing the motel room ($2000-$3000)
- Renting a filming location for 5 days ($3000-$5000)
- Lighting, Camera, Truck, and other equipment rental (~$5000)
Anything else will go to post-production expenses, my amazing core of volunteer crew members who have graciously agreed to assist in filming this project, and film festival submissions.
PAYOUT?
I will be offering "perks" in exchange for investment in this short-film. Everyone who donates will get a link to the film when it's completed. But I would most like to share the film watching experience with everyone when it's done, and hope to set up a screening that will be open to everyone who assisted in creating this film.
Thank you for your support, encouragement, and undertaking a role in helping make this dream of mine into a reality. I am very grateful. Thank you.
STORY BACKGROUND
HEARTBEAT is a short-film written by myself as well as my talented friend/writer, Joseph Joyce. I will be Directing and responsible for much of the Producing aspect of this short-film. This story was created years ago after the passing of my beloved grandmother. During her final days and moments, I recounted the tremendous impact she had on my life, which made the acceptance of her passing very difficult for me. In those moments of holding her hand, I especially perceived her restlessness and inability to fully comprehend her surroundings within that dismal hospital room. I wondered what she might be experiencing. A part of me sought to justify her pain, restlessness, and fading cognition as her own subconscious struggle – the struggle of accepting one’s own death and having to say goodbye to those you love the most.
In time, those difficult moments with my grandmother provoked a curiosity regarding the dying process, and I came to deal with the event as I often tend to work through many things in this world – through filmmaking.
This event eventually spawned an idea for a film of a young man trapped in his subconscious whilst in a comatose state moments before his passing. I was left with these overarching questions… How do you come to accept death when you aren't fully aware of it? How do you say goodbye to those you love?
SYNOPSIS
HEARTBEAT is an exploration of the Kubler-Ross model, and is my interpretation of the struggle of grief acceptance. The main character, Owen Hartley, is a writer trying to make a big deadline before he loses the contract of a lifetime. Stuck in a motel room until his work is done, he starts to recognize the eerie truth of his surrounding environment - it's a representation of his decaying body and intellect. But how do you accept your own mortality when you’re trapped in your own subconscious?
PURPOSE
The purpose of this story is to showcase a common yet incredibly individualized life event: death. What we witness and experience as a grieving onlooker is vastly different than the experience of the dying individual. I have wanted to explore this other perspective, the perspective of the dying, since the unfortunate passing of my grandmother. I think this story will offer new insight that may help others to look at the dying process as a beautiful journey and expression of acceptance.
YOUR INVESTMENT
I believe in this story, and believe it ought to be told well. Though with any quality product, cost follows closely in suit. Over the years, I have saved my own money so that this story can be told.
If you too would like to participate in bringing this story to life, I would forever be humbled and grateful for your generosity.
Costs for this 20-30 minute short-film would be as follows:
- Building the motel room ($2000-$3000)
- Dressing the motel room ($2000-$3000)
- Renting a filming location for 5 days ($3000-$5000)
- Lighting, Camera, Truck, and other equipment rental (~$5000)
Anything else will go to post-production expenses, my amazing core of volunteer crew members who have graciously agreed to assist in filming this project, and film festival submissions.
PAYOUT?
I will be offering "perks" in exchange for investment in this short-film. Everyone who donates will get a link to the film when it's completed. But I would most like to share the film watching experience with everyone when it's done, and hope to set up a screening that will be open to everyone who assisted in creating this film.
Thank you for your support, encouragement, and undertaking a role in helping make this dream of mine into a reality. I am very grateful. Thank you.
Organizer
Michael Sanaiha
Organizer
Burbank, CA
