Neighbor
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy
Supporting Neighbor means helping bring an original, darkly funny, and emotionally sharp film to life. If you’ve ever let something small spiral way out of control, you’ll see yourself in this. Join us and help make something uncomfortably unforgettable.
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,023 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
91 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Supporting Neighbor means helping bring an original, darkly funny, and emotionally sharp film to life. If you’ve ever let something small spiral way out of control, you’ll see yourself in this. Join us and help make something uncomfortably unforgettable.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Neighbor is a dark, nostalgic comedy set in the '80s suburbs, where a tiny neighborly complaint spirals into aggressive hospitality, uncomfortable parenting, and pie. Set in a world of cul-de-sacs and performative neighborliness, Neighbor taps into a specific kind of suburban nostalgia. Back when people rang doorbells, held grudges in silence, and measured moral superiority in baked goods. 
What starts as a simple complaint about a paint-splattered truck turns into something stranger. Bill just wants an explanation. Sam insists on discipline. And Stacey… well, Stacey offers pie. But the longer Bill stays in their living room, the more the social niceties start to curdle. The tension isn’t explosive—it’s simmering, polite, and weirdly uncomfortable.
Neighbor isn’t about a big event. It’s about how small slights, unspoken judgments, and awkward conversations build into something quietly absurd. It's a comedy of restraint—funny because it's true, and funnier because it might be happening on your street right now.
"BILL"
The Everyman Who Doesn't Try Too Hard To Like You Neighbor
He’s not a bad guy. He just wants an explanation. And maybe… a little pie. Bill's sense of fairness clashes hard with the weird energy next door.
What starts as something questionable on his truck spirals into a strange and awkward power struggle.
“I mean, I didn’t want to make it a thing. But it’s kind of a thing.”
Reference: Jake Johnson
"SAM"
The Dad Who Means Business Neighbor
The stern, old-school disciplinarian who might actually be playing mind games. Sam is rigid, watchful, and armed with an unnerving calm.
His sense of order is absolute, but who’s really in control here?
“If you want to talk to me, you come to the front door like a man.”
Reference: J.K. Simmons
"STACEY"
The Hostess Who Knows Too Much Neighbor
Warm, charming, and maybe a little too eager to serve you pie, Stacey is the kind of neighbor who always knows something.
She’s the social glue of the house, but under the sugary surface, there’s something… off.
“You poor thing. You should’ve come over sooner.”
Reference: Elizabeth Banks
"JOSH"
The Dumb Kid Neighbor
A teenage pot-stirrer with a mop of hair and a knack for plausible deniability.
Josh doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s just enough to make things worse.
He’s the spark behind the mess, and at the end of the day… kind of a little punk.
"What?"
Reference: Finn Wolfhard (at 14)
Neighbor is based on a short story by my good friend, David Langlinais: a Pushcart Prize–nominated author known for capturing the quiet complexities of everyday life. His work has appeared in South Dakota Review, Los Angeles Review, Big Muddy, and beyond. His acclaimed collection, Duck Thief and Other Stories, explores themes of identity, family, and disconnection with a voice that’s spare, candid, and deeply human.
When David first shared the story that inspired Neighbor, it immediately struck a nerve. The setup, the tone, the characters. All of it reminded me of the suburban world I grew up in: a place of tidy lawns, polite small talk, and quiet pressure to stay civil. It’s a world where tension hides under the surface, where something seemingly small can expose something much bigger.
Think deep 80s textures drenched in warm light, and just enough unease to make you shift in your seat. The camera lingers. The pie glistens. The silence stretches a little too long. Neighbor isn’t about big moments, it’s about small ones that crack under pressure.
We’re raising $20,000 to shoot Neighbor, with a stretch goal of $30,000 to elevate production design, wardrobe, props, and overall 1989 detail.
We’re in pre-production now, and this campaign will move us into full prep and a summer shoot. If all goes well, you’ll get the finished film later this year, with perks rolling out before that.
Your support helps us:
- Pay our cast and crew fairly
- Lock amazing real-home locations
- Secure badass period-correct cars (yes, Bill’s truck is legit)
- Nail the tone with proper 80s-clad production design
Why now?
The tension at the heart of Neighbor, people failing to see each other clearly, is more relevant than ever. Our world is loud with judgment, and Neighbor is about the quieter, more personal version of that. It’s a period piece, yes, but also a pressure valve. A way to laugh at how little it takes for people to unravel… even when pie is involved.
Why me?
I grew up in the kind of neighborhood where polite small talk masked quiet resentment. The setting of Neighbor, with its lawn etiquette, social rituals, and passive-aggressive smiles, feels like home. As a filmmaker, I’ve spent the last decade honing my visual voice in commercials and music videos, but this story hits closer. It’s my opportunity to slow down, go deeper, and let tension do the talking.
Why you?
If you've ever smiled while grinding your teeth, or baked a pie instead of confronting someone, Neighbor is for you. This film is for anyone who remembers what it felt like to knock on someone’s door instead of DMing them. If you’ve ever dealt with a petty complaint, or been the one making it, you’re already in the story.
Swag, surreal thank-yous, and your name somewhere strange in the film. The Incentives are ridiculous, in the best way. ➡️
Personalized Videogram Sample
Get a weirdly sincere thank-you from a fake 1980s character, generated via AI. These videos are personalized with your name, unpredictable, and gloriously awkward. But don’t worry, the movie will be 100% human-made.
1. PLEDGE WHAT YOU CAN — even $10 gets you in the neighborhood
2. FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN — it boosts us in Seed & Spark’s algorithm
3. SHARE THE LINK — texting a friend or posting on socials works wonders
Copy/paste to share:
- seedandspark.com/fund/neighbor
- “Support this hilarious and weirdly relatable 80s short film, NEIGHBOR. It’s funny, uncomfortable, and looks amazing. #neighborshort”
Hi, I’m Amos David McKay. I direct commercials and music videos for brands like GEICO and McDonald’s, and artists like Leon Bridges and Black Pumas. My work leans into nostalgia, but never sentimentality—always chasing the line between comedy, discomfort, and cinematic polish. With Neighbor, I’m bringing that same sensibility to a story that’s small, awkward, and (hopefully) unforgettable.
Here are a few of my music videos, tonally relevant to Neighbor:
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Labor
Costs $7,000
Pay for our small but mighty camera, lighting, sound, and production crew over 2 days. (Stretch Goal: $8,000 — a little more art dept help)
Location Fee
Costs $2,000
The perfect late-80s suburban home doesn’t rent itself. (Stretch Goal: $3,000 — better house or perfect house for longer)
Equipment Rental
Costs $3,000
Gets us the camera, lenses, and grip gear to make it all sing. (Stretch Goal: $4,500 — better rigging for more scenic camera moves)
Art Department
Costs $1,200
Set dressing, props, period details, and 80s-specific household items to sell the world. (Stretch Goal: $2700 — more 80s magic)
Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Plaid, perms, pastels help us get our characters looking like they belong in 1989. (Stretch Goal: $1,500 — more sweater vest options)
Talent Fees
Costs $3,000
A weird scene only works if the performance lands. (Stretch Goal: $6,500 — More casting flexibility and travel costs)
Meals & Snacks
Costs $1,000
Feed 15+ people for 2 days. Because nothing says mutiny like cold bagels.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Editing, color, sound mix, and music. (Stretch Goal: $2,500 — More time for edit + original music)
Bill's 1980s Pickup Truck
Costs $400
This beast is what kicks off the whole story—parked too close, maybe on purpose.
Sam's Dad-Mobile
Costs $400
Quiet. Beige. And somehow more intimidating than the truck. Sam doesn’t need to raise his voice—his car whispers dread.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amos David McKay - Director
Amos is a commercial and music video director based in Austin, Texas, with over a decade of experience crafting visually striking, character-driven work that leans occasionally toward humor when possible. His directing credits include national campaigns for brands like GEICO, OnStar, RAM, and McDonald’s, as well as music videos for acclaimed artists including Leon Bridges, Black Pumas, and Lukas Nelson. Known for blending humor with tension and a strong eye for composition, Amos’ work often lives in the space between the cinematic and the absurd.
As the founder of boutique production company Two Headed Boy, he’s built a reputation for delivering elevated creative on tight timelines, often writing, shooting, and editing his own work. Neighbor marks a return to his narrative roots—a story that draws on his suburban upbringing and his love of dark comedy.
Taylor Camarot – Director of Photography
We’re thrilled to have Taylor Camarot behind the camera for Neighbor. Based in Austin, Taylor brings serious firepower to the project. His work blends grounded storytelling with expressive, intuitive visuals that elevate every scene. He just wrapped his third feature film, and his reel spans everything from national campaigns to music videos that actually look like music videos. His sense of tone, texture, and composition is exactly what this film needs and we’re lucky to have him.
Jerry Bland - Production Designer
Originally from Australia by way of London, she’s now based in Austin, Texas, where she’s spent the last 15 years designing, sourcing, scouting, and art directing for commercials, music videos, and film. Her clients have included Ford, Facebook, AT&T, and Whataburger, and she’s styled for artists like Lily Allen and Kygo. Equally at home with bold, stylized palettes or quiet, character-driven spaces, she’s obsessed with ambience and all the tiny details that make a space feel real. We can’t wait for her to bring her impeccable 1980s production style to Neighbor.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Neighbor is a dark, nostalgic comedy set in the '80s suburbs, where a tiny neighborly complaint spirals into aggressive hospitality, uncomfortable parenting, and pie. Set in a world of cul-de-sacs and performative neighborliness, Neighbor taps into a specific kind of suburban nostalgia. Back when people rang doorbells, held grudges in silence, and measured moral superiority in baked goods.
What starts as a simple complaint about a paint-splattered truck turns into something stranger. Bill just wants an explanation. Sam insists on discipline. And Stacey… well, Stacey offers pie. But the longer Bill stays in their living room, the more the social niceties start to curdle. The tension isn’t explosive—it’s simmering, polite, and weirdly uncomfortable.
Neighbor isn’t about a big event. It’s about how small slights, unspoken judgments, and awkward conversations build into something quietly absurd. It's a comedy of restraint—funny because it's true, and funnier because it might be happening on your street right now.
"BILL"
The Everyman Who Doesn't Try Too Hard To Like You Neighbor
He’s not a bad guy. He just wants an explanation. And maybe… a little pie. Bill's sense of fairness clashes hard with the weird energy next door.
What starts as something questionable on his truck spirals into a strange and awkward power struggle.
“I mean, I didn’t want to make it a thing. But it’s kind of a thing.”
Reference: Jake Johnson
"SAM"
The Dad Who Means Business Neighbor
The stern, old-school disciplinarian who might actually be playing mind games. Sam is rigid, watchful, and armed with an unnerving calm.
His sense of order is absolute, but who’s really in control here?
“If you want to talk to me, you come to the front door like a man.”
Reference: J.K. Simmons
"STACEY"
The Hostess Who Knows Too Much Neighbor
Warm, charming, and maybe a little too eager to serve you pie, Stacey is the kind of neighbor who always knows something.
She’s the social glue of the house, but under the sugary surface, there’s something… off.
“You poor thing. You should’ve come over sooner.”
Reference: Elizabeth Banks
"JOSH"
The Dumb Kid Neighbor
A teenage pot-stirrer with a mop of hair and a knack for plausible deniability.
Josh doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s just enough to make things worse.
He’s the spark behind the mess, and at the end of the day… kind of a little punk.
"What?"
Reference: Finn Wolfhard (at 14)
Neighbor is based on a short story by my good friend, David Langlinais: a Pushcart Prize–nominated author known for capturing the quiet complexities of everyday life. His work has appeared in South Dakota Review, Los Angeles Review, Big Muddy, and beyond. His acclaimed collection, Duck Thief and Other Stories, explores themes of identity, family, and disconnection with a voice that’s spare, candid, and deeply human.
When David first shared the story that inspired Neighbor, it immediately struck a nerve. The setup, the tone, the characters. All of it reminded me of the suburban world I grew up in: a place of tidy lawns, polite small talk, and quiet pressure to stay civil. It’s a world where tension hides under the surface, where something seemingly small can expose something much bigger.
Think deep 80s textures drenched in warm light, and just enough unease to make you shift in your seat. The camera lingers. The pie glistens. The silence stretches a little too long. Neighbor isn’t about big moments, it’s about small ones that crack under pressure.
We’re raising $20,000 to shoot Neighbor, with a stretch goal of $30,000 to elevate production design, wardrobe, props, and overall 1989 detail.
We’re in pre-production now, and this campaign will move us into full prep and a summer shoot. If all goes well, you’ll get the finished film later this year, with perks rolling out before that.
Your support helps us:
- Pay our cast and crew fairly
- Lock amazing real-home locations
- Secure badass period-correct cars (yes, Bill’s truck is legit)
- Nail the tone with proper 80s-clad production design
Why now?
The tension at the heart of Neighbor, people failing to see each other clearly, is more relevant than ever. Our world is loud with judgment, and Neighbor is about the quieter, more personal version of that. It’s a period piece, yes, but also a pressure valve. A way to laugh at how little it takes for people to unravel… even when pie is involved.
Why me?
I grew up in the kind of neighborhood where polite small talk masked quiet resentment. The setting of Neighbor, with its lawn etiquette, social rituals, and passive-aggressive smiles, feels like home. As a filmmaker, I’ve spent the last decade honing my visual voice in commercials and music videos, but this story hits closer. It’s my opportunity to slow down, go deeper, and let tension do the talking.
Why you?
If you've ever smiled while grinding your teeth, or baked a pie instead of confronting someone, Neighbor is for you. This film is for anyone who remembers what it felt like to knock on someone’s door instead of DMing them. If you’ve ever dealt with a petty complaint, or been the one making it, you’re already in the story.
Swag, surreal thank-yous, and your name somewhere strange in the film. The Incentives are ridiculous, in the best way. ➡️
Personalized Videogram Sample
Get a weirdly sincere thank-you from a fake 1980s character, generated via AI. These videos are personalized with your name, unpredictable, and gloriously awkward. But don’t worry, the movie will be 100% human-made.
1. PLEDGE WHAT YOU CAN — even $10 gets you in the neighborhood
2. FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN — it boosts us in Seed & Spark’s algorithm
3. SHARE THE LINK — texting a friend or posting on socials works wonders
Copy/paste to share:
- seedandspark.com/fund/neighbor
- “Support this hilarious and weirdly relatable 80s short film, NEIGHBOR. It’s funny, uncomfortable, and looks amazing. #neighborshort”
Hi, I’m Amos David McKay. I direct commercials and music videos for brands like GEICO and McDonald’s, and artists like Leon Bridges and Black Pumas. My work leans into nostalgia, but never sentimentality—always chasing the line between comedy, discomfort, and cinematic polish. With Neighbor, I’m bringing that same sensibility to a story that’s small, awkward, and (hopefully) unforgettable.
Here are a few of my music videos, tonally relevant to Neighbor:
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Labor
Costs $7,000
Pay for our small but mighty camera, lighting, sound, and production crew over 2 days. (Stretch Goal: $8,000 — a little more art dept help)
Location Fee
Costs $2,000
The perfect late-80s suburban home doesn’t rent itself. (Stretch Goal: $3,000 — better house or perfect house for longer)
Equipment Rental
Costs $3,000
Gets us the camera, lenses, and grip gear to make it all sing. (Stretch Goal: $4,500 — better rigging for more scenic camera moves)
Art Department
Costs $1,200
Set dressing, props, period details, and 80s-specific household items to sell the world. (Stretch Goal: $2700 — more 80s magic)
Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Plaid, perms, pastels help us get our characters looking like they belong in 1989. (Stretch Goal: $1,500 — more sweater vest options)
Talent Fees
Costs $3,000
A weird scene only works if the performance lands. (Stretch Goal: $6,500 — More casting flexibility and travel costs)
Meals & Snacks
Costs $1,000
Feed 15+ people for 2 days. Because nothing says mutiny like cold bagels.
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Editing, color, sound mix, and music. (Stretch Goal: $2,500 — More time for edit + original music)
Bill's 1980s Pickup Truck
Costs $400
This beast is what kicks off the whole story—parked too close, maybe on purpose.
Sam's Dad-Mobile
Costs $400
Quiet. Beige. And somehow more intimidating than the truck. Sam doesn’t need to raise his voice—his car whispers dread.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amos David McKay - Director
Amos is a commercial and music video director based in Austin, Texas, with over a decade of experience crafting visually striking, character-driven work that leans occasionally toward humor when possible. His directing credits include national campaigns for brands like GEICO, OnStar, RAM, and McDonald’s, as well as music videos for acclaimed artists including Leon Bridges, Black Pumas, and Lukas Nelson. Known for blending humor with tension and a strong eye for composition, Amos’ work often lives in the space between the cinematic and the absurd.
As the founder of boutique production company Two Headed Boy, he’s built a reputation for delivering elevated creative on tight timelines, often writing, shooting, and editing his own work. Neighbor marks a return to his narrative roots—a story that draws on his suburban upbringing and his love of dark comedy.
Taylor Camarot – Director of Photography
We’re thrilled to have Taylor Camarot behind the camera for Neighbor. Based in Austin, Taylor brings serious firepower to the project. His work blends grounded storytelling with expressive, intuitive visuals that elevate every scene. He just wrapped his third feature film, and his reel spans everything from national campaigns to music videos that actually look like music videos. His sense of tone, texture, and composition is exactly what this film needs and we’re lucky to have him.
Jerry Bland - Production Designer
Originally from Australia by way of London, she’s now based in Austin, Texas, where she’s spent the last 15 years designing, sourcing, scouting, and art directing for commercials, music videos, and film. Her clients have included Ford, Facebook, AT&T, and Whataburger, and she’s styled for artists like Lily Allen and Kygo. Equally at home with bold, stylized palettes or quiet, character-driven spaces, she’s obsessed with ambience and all the tiny details that make a space feel real. We can’t wait for her to bring her impeccable 1980s production style to Neighbor.