MIRAGE
Boise, Idaho | Film Feature
Film-Noir, Western
MIRAGE is a noir neo-western about local news, cowboys, reclusive billionaires, and the death of TRUE WEST. Most of all, it’s a movie about IDAHO and the people who live here.
MIRAGE
Boise, Idaho | Film Feature
Film-Noir, Western
1 Campaigns | Idaho, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $40,210 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
56 supporters | followers
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MIRAGE is a noir neo-western about local news, cowboys, reclusive billionaires, and the death of TRUE WEST. Most of all, it’s a movie about IDAHO and the people who live here.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
With this Seed&Spark campaign we want to give any and all Idahoans a chance to partner with us and to have a sense of ownership in telling our collective story.
___________________________________________________________________________
MIRAGE is a story about fences.
About new borders cutting up old west. Once open land, now owned. Controlling the valuable resources in the soil and below it. Cutting off access to the public, to people… It’s a noir neo-western about local news, cowboys, reclusive billionaires, and the death of TRUE WEST. Most of all, it’s a movie about IDAHO.
(Following in the footsteps of character-driven mysteries like Fargo and Chinatown.)
TINK. TINK. TINK. A NO TRESPASSING SIGN is hammered into dirt.
A patchwork of Idahoans and their early morning routines: Quiet North End Neighborhood still asleep, Overnight janitorial workers at the Capital building, we work our way out of the city, into farmland. Farmers greet the day. Somewhere on a remote road, A CAR swerves, capsizing into a dry irrigation ditch. Moments later, a man climbs out of the ditch covered in blood. Takes off...
Enter DEAN STANTON a young Idaho news videographer who gets a lead on the story of the century. A story about fences, the reclusive Texas Billionaire responsible, and the drastic ripple-effect they have on lives across the state. With a reluctant green light from his boss & surrogate father, James Hawley, Dean embarks on a trip that traces the border of the land grab: a plot of land the size of New York City. He meets dozens of affected Idahoans along his route, reporting their stories, and picking up leads about the reclusive Billionaire who’s name is on the deed: TILTON
Dean finds that the pain of the working class, one family in particular, reaches far beyond the complaints of Tilton’s restrictive easements, or his lobbying for higher trespassing fees. Why did he buy this much land? What is he building? Subdivisions? The City of the Future? Who is Tilton and what does he want with Idaho? Dean knows Boise is a small town, and whether you're new money, old money, or no money, word spreads fast. However, he becomes so wrapped up on telling the news story, he ends up becoming apart of the story. There are people out there paying attention to Dean, following his reporting, following him. People with the worst kind of intentions: unknown.
Dean follows every lead, breaking rules... into houses, losing sleep while recklessly pursuing the truth? Questions lead to more questions, forcing Dean to query more than his decision to pursue Tilton: his career, life choices, but most of all the meaning of home.
There's one truth that becomes undeniable: Regardless of intention, Tilton’s indirect actions will have direct and deadly consequences.
Mirage is an all-encompassing Idaho narrative where the state, for the first time plays itself, alongside a colorful cast of characters, and an examination of what it means to be a westerner long after the west has been won.
What do you know about Fargo, ND? If the first thing that comes to mind is the Coen Brothers film... the accent, you're not alone. At this moment Idaho is at a crossroads, a pivotal moment where our state is transitioning from what it is to what it will become. Pop culture dictates how we see and view our world, and Idaho hasn't been given the voice or identity it deserves.
PAST WORKS
MERIDIAN - Winner 2022 Sun Valley Film Festival "Gem State Award"
MORAY (2011) A 1950s Sci-fi Noir set in Chicago (Via Justin Benzel)
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NORAH JONES "TRAGEDY"
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ALIEN: NIGHT SHIFT. (DIRECTOR'S CUT. 20TH CENTURY FOX)
STRFKR "OPEN YOUR EYES"
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
16mm Film!
Costs $30,000
Each 400ft roll gives us 11 more minutes of storytelling. $450 per roll (including processing)
Locally Sourced Wardrobe
Costs $5,000
Mirage is set in 2006, which means every actor on-screen (including extras) must dress the part.
Idaho Catering
Costs $10,000
Can't film on an empty stomach. All cast/crew meals on set will be provided by local vendors.
Idahoan Interviews
Costs $5,000
Farmers, cowboys, politicians, Idahoans! Tell us your story. It could make it into the final film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Aidan Brezonick // Writer & Director
An Emmy-winning filmmaker from Idaho. His narrative works have been showcased at SXSW, NBC, NPR, Rolling Stone, Salon, Pitchfork, and NASA in space! All that’s to say, Aidan loves telling stories about the frontier — the nature of change, and the characters that shape our world. Growing up in the Gem State, Aidan split his time between the North End of Boise, and Eagle, ID. From a family of film enthusiasts and hard-boiled fiction, Many nights were spent watching Turner Classic Movies. His first and favorite job (outside film) was as a news videographer for KTVB.
Ross Sauriol // Producer:
A frequent collaborator with iconic horror filmmaker John Carpenter, with a strong screenwriting background, Ross Sauriol approaches Producing as a storyteller first. He is the Idaho Producer that keeps our team on track, on schedule, on budget, and fights to make sure the vision and scope of the project is never compromised. Responsible for some of the largest commercial shoots in Idaho, Ross comes to our project after two successful collaborations with Brezonick and Supencheck, winning best short (Gem State Award) at the 2022 Sun Valley Film Festival.
Dustin Supencheck // Director of Photography
From Grand Island Nebraska, Dustin and Aidan share a love of far-flung places. Dustin has lensed music videos, commercials, and features for some of the leading creators in the entertainment business. His most recent feature Hypochondriac premiered at 2022 SXSW and will be in theaters July 29th.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
With this Seed&Spark campaign we want to give any and all Idahoans a chance to partner with us and to have a sense of ownership in telling our collective story.
___________________________________________________________________________
MIRAGE is a story about fences.
About new borders cutting up old west. Once open land, now owned. Controlling the valuable resources in the soil and below it. Cutting off access to the public, to people… It’s a noir neo-western about local news, cowboys, reclusive billionaires, and the death of TRUE WEST. Most of all, it’s a movie about IDAHO.
(Following in the footsteps of character-driven mysteries like Fargo and Chinatown.)
TINK. TINK. TINK. A NO TRESPASSING SIGN is hammered into dirt.
A patchwork of Idahoans and their early morning routines: Quiet North End Neighborhood still asleep, Overnight janitorial workers at the Capital building, we work our way out of the city, into farmland. Farmers greet the day. Somewhere on a remote road, A CAR swerves, capsizing into a dry irrigation ditch. Moments later, a man climbs out of the ditch covered in blood. Takes off...
Enter DEAN STANTON a young Idaho news videographer who gets a lead on the story of the century. A story about fences, the reclusive Texas Billionaire responsible, and the drastic ripple-effect they have on lives across the state. With a reluctant green light from his boss & surrogate father, James Hawley, Dean embarks on a trip that traces the border of the land grab: a plot of land the size of New York City. He meets dozens of affected Idahoans along his route, reporting their stories, and picking up leads about the reclusive Billionaire who’s name is on the deed: TILTON
Dean finds that the pain of the working class, one family in particular, reaches far beyond the complaints of Tilton’s restrictive easements, or his lobbying for higher trespassing fees. Why did he buy this much land? What is he building? Subdivisions? The City of the Future? Who is Tilton and what does he want with Idaho? Dean knows Boise is a small town, and whether you're new money, old money, or no money, word spreads fast. However, he becomes so wrapped up on telling the news story, he ends up becoming apart of the story. There are people out there paying attention to Dean, following his reporting, following him. People with the worst kind of intentions: unknown.
Dean follows every lead, breaking rules... into houses, losing sleep while recklessly pursuing the truth? Questions lead to more questions, forcing Dean to query more than his decision to pursue Tilton: his career, life choices, but most of all the meaning of home.
There's one truth that becomes undeniable: Regardless of intention, Tilton’s indirect actions will have direct and deadly consequences.
Mirage is an all-encompassing Idaho narrative where the state, for the first time plays itself, alongside a colorful cast of characters, and an examination of what it means to be a westerner long after the west has been won.
What do you know about Fargo, ND? If the first thing that comes to mind is the Coen Brothers film... the accent, you're not alone. At this moment Idaho is at a crossroads, a pivotal moment where our state is transitioning from what it is to what it will become. Pop culture dictates how we see and view our world, and Idaho hasn't been given the voice or identity it deserves.
PAST WORKS
MERIDIAN - Winner 2022 Sun Valley Film Festival "Gem State Award"
MORAY (2011) A 1950s Sci-fi Noir set in Chicago (Via Justin Benzel)
NORAH JONES "TRAGEDY"
ALIEN: NIGHT SHIFT. (DIRECTOR'S CUT. 20TH CENTURY FOX)
STRFKR "OPEN YOUR EYES"
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
16mm Film!
Costs $30,000
Each 400ft roll gives us 11 more minutes of storytelling. $450 per roll (including processing)
Locally Sourced Wardrobe
Costs $5,000
Mirage is set in 2006, which means every actor on-screen (including extras) must dress the part.
Idaho Catering
Costs $10,000
Can't film on an empty stomach. All cast/crew meals on set will be provided by local vendors.
Idahoan Interviews
Costs $5,000
Farmers, cowboys, politicians, Idahoans! Tell us your story. It could make it into the final film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Aidan Brezonick // Writer & Director
An Emmy-winning filmmaker from Idaho. His narrative works have been showcased at SXSW, NBC, NPR, Rolling Stone, Salon, Pitchfork, and NASA in space! All that’s to say, Aidan loves telling stories about the frontier — the nature of change, and the characters that shape our world. Growing up in the Gem State, Aidan split his time between the North End of Boise, and Eagle, ID. From a family of film enthusiasts and hard-boiled fiction, Many nights were spent watching Turner Classic Movies. His first and favorite job (outside film) was as a news videographer for KTVB.
Ross Sauriol // Producer:
A frequent collaborator with iconic horror filmmaker John Carpenter, with a strong screenwriting background, Ross Sauriol approaches Producing as a storyteller first. He is the Idaho Producer that keeps our team on track, on schedule, on budget, and fights to make sure the vision and scope of the project is never compromised. Responsible for some of the largest commercial shoots in Idaho, Ross comes to our project after two successful collaborations with Brezonick and Supencheck, winning best short (Gem State Award) at the 2022 Sun Valley Film Festival.
Dustin Supencheck // Director of Photography
From Grand Island Nebraska, Dustin and Aidan share a love of far-flung places. Dustin has lensed music videos, commercials, and features for some of the leading creators in the entertainment business. His most recent feature Hypochondriac premiered at 2022 SXSW and will be in theaters July 29th.