42 Seconds
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama
A grief stricken woman and uninspired man meet on their daily commute. Their encounter is strange, profound, and changing. 42 Seconds explores connectedness & decency politics. What makes us compassionate? Who deserves it? What judgements inform our standards? Questions we hope to answer & unpack.
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This campaign raised $5,260 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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A grief stricken woman and uninspired man meet on their daily commute. Their encounter is strange, profound, and changing. 42 Seconds explores connectedness & decency politics. What makes us compassionate? Who deserves it? What judgements inform our standards? Questions we hope to answer & unpack.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
42 Seconds is a hyperbolic interpretation of a brief but profound happening. It is two human experiences colliding and trying to make sense of it the best way they know how. The story is set in the present, in an everyday city. On their commute, a despondent woman sits next to a polite man reading a book. Rummaging through her bag, she accidentally hits him several times. The polite man closes his book deciding to just sit; eventually he notices the woman is distraught, near tears. Things take an unexpected turn. Not long after, he comes across a news story about this woman and the terrible thing that transpired to cause her grief. With this knowledge of what she has done and the emotional moment they shared, he is left to wade through conflicting emotions and his own ideology, to reconcile his understanding of who she is and what has taken place.
The tone of 42 Seconds is heavy but the theme of human connectedness and compassion are warm and universal. The script has minimal dialogue and relies distinctly on the actors’ physicality and evocative cinematography. This type of storytelling paints a picture and a point of view, while giving the audience permission to feel what they believe without telling them what is right or wrong. The audience will feel an emotional gut punch, while feeling compelled to reason through our collective black and white judgement system. This film will evoke empathy and critical thinking as our audience is left to decide how one of our characters must be feeling; cognitive dissonance is expected and frankly, is the beauty of the experience.
In my humble yet sure summation, our world is growing increasingly farther apart. Now more than ever human beings can be connected even across the globe, yet people find basic human interaction more awkward and our bonds increasingly tenuous. 42 Seconds explores what it means to be human, to go outside of the norm of what is appropriate or acceptable to connect with another human being. I want to indict what culture has accepted as boundaries, to call into question our motives for not getting involved when we see another person hurting. To beg the question, why are we so quick to place blame or assign fault when we intellectually and experientially understand that life is full of grey area? Is it fair, ethical even, to color a person good or bad based upon one event? As time, humanity, and science progress are we forfeiting empathy and compassion, the very essence of what makes us human? 42 Seconds aims to spur an internal dialogue and inspire more human connection and understanding.
Why now? Why this film? Well, aside from the old adage that there's no time quite like the present, Hollywood is paying attention now more than ever to women, people of color, and content creators. Think Issa Rae -HBO's Insecure, Ava Duvernay-Selma, Barry Jenkins-Moonlight, and Patty Jenkins-Wonder Woman. Hollywood is realizing that there is viability and demand for stories told for and by these typically overlooked groups. This film's cast and crew reflects those values of diversity and inclusion.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Beach House in or Near GA
Costs $400
A pivotal scene is on waterfront property. You can get producer & location manager credit in return
Crew Meals
Costs $300
A well fed crew is essential for a successful shoot.
Filming locations
Costs $600
Set locations will bring the setting of the film to life.
Festival Run
Costs $500
Festivals have entry fees that can really add up into the thousands. This will be a helpful start.
Post Production
Costs $1,250
This will be for all our needs after principal shooting, including post & publicity.
Crew/Filming
Costs $2,050
This includes filming and crew salaries.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
Mignon Von- Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Actress of 42 Seconds
I am one of the few lucky people that can say they’ve always known their passion and purpose. It began with acting and as I got older I realized more stories needed telling. The characters that looked like me, I didn’t recognize them. I wanted to see a middle class, suburban, awkward, smart, loved, black girl that went on fools’ errands and found herself in ridiculous quagmires or experienced drama that didn’t surround teenage pregnancy, jail, drugs, or “da hood”. Not that these narratives aren’t valid; the problem is the lack of spectrum and limited representation of experience among the African diaspora. Longing to see these stories told properly, I graduated from Pepperdine University in 2012 with a B.A. in Film Studies and a few student projects that were, well, student projects. Shooting from the hip here, I cannot wait to lock that garbage up in a dark vault and set it ablaze, freeze the ashes, and store them in a box that can only be opened with elven magic. Though in fairness, glimmers of my potential hide between the frames and at the very least, I stepped into the arena and got them done. That much I am proud of.
Since bursting forth from my college bubble I production assisted on several short films and an independent feature. I worked for meals and IMDB credit, also known as, for free; I fully recognize that my experience is not singular. So many of us are fighting for opportunity, even the opportunity to be a slave. In all sincerity, each project was very meaningful for me and I am earnestly grateful for all that I learned and experienced. I took a detour producing in reality television for some time, (girl’s gotta eat); all the while, I joined grass roots film cohorts and regularly binged on cinema, old and new. Prior to breaking into entertainment, I worked for next to nothing in nonprofit education. Though the work was honorable and a passion, my purpose was still calling. It was during this period 42 Seconds, was born. 42 Seconds has undergone iteration after iteration. We are finally at the picture ready version and I am so stinking excited to bring it to you.
L. Alexandria Williams (Alex)- Unit Production Manager
Alex is a Georgia native forging her way in the flourishing film industry in Atlanta. She is new to the Unit Production Manager role but has been active in the Arts since 2007. Alex is an up and coming producer. Her first short film produced “After You Leave” will be premiering in the Way Down Film Festival next month. She is a brilliant young talent with so much to offer. She came up to me at a monthly film event and expressed her interest in helping me bring 42 Seconds to fruition. I know this production is in good hands with her as our UPM.
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Sherouk Omara- Assistant Director
Sherouk is a transplant to Atlanta from the Midwest. She currently runs support at a tech startup and moonlights as an assistant director. Currently, she's writing a web series with plans to direct it. She loves old British sitcoms, grew up on black and white Egyptian films, and enjoys international travel. Outside of work, you can find her scouring Spotify for obscure music, watching weird (and not-so-weird) shows on Netflix, and exploring coffee shops. She's looking forward to helping make '42 seconds' a hit and is super pumped to be on the team! We bonded at a french cafe over our love of foriegn film and realizing we are both Anglophiles. Humble and capable, I'm proud to have her as my general for 42 Seconds.
Jason Cermak- Director of Photography
Jason graduated from Georgia State University in December 2013 with a BA in Film and Visual Media.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
42 Seconds is a hyperbolic interpretation of a brief but profound happening. It is two human experiences colliding and trying to make sense of it the best way they know how. The story is set in the present, in an everyday city. On their commute, a despondent woman sits next to a polite man reading a book. Rummaging through her bag, she accidentally hits him several times. The polite man closes his book deciding to just sit; eventually he notices the woman is distraught, near tears. Things take an unexpected turn. Not long after, he comes across a news story about this woman and the terrible thing that transpired to cause her grief. With this knowledge of what she has done and the emotional moment they shared, he is left to wade through conflicting emotions and his own ideology, to reconcile his understanding of who she is and what has taken place.
The tone of 42 Seconds is heavy but the theme of human connectedness and compassion are warm and universal. The script has minimal dialogue and relies distinctly on the actors’ physicality and evocative cinematography. This type of storytelling paints a picture and a point of view, while giving the audience permission to feel what they believe without telling them what is right or wrong. The audience will feel an emotional gut punch, while feeling compelled to reason through our collective black and white judgement system. This film will evoke empathy and critical thinking as our audience is left to decide how one of our characters must be feeling; cognitive dissonance is expected and frankly, is the beauty of the experience.
In my humble yet sure summation, our world is growing increasingly farther apart. Now more than ever human beings can be connected even across the globe, yet people find basic human interaction more awkward and our bonds increasingly tenuous. 42 Seconds explores what it means to be human, to go outside of the norm of what is appropriate or acceptable to connect with another human being. I want to indict what culture has accepted as boundaries, to call into question our motives for not getting involved when we see another person hurting. To beg the question, why are we so quick to place blame or assign fault when we intellectually and experientially understand that life is full of grey area? Is it fair, ethical even, to color a person good or bad based upon one event? As time, humanity, and science progress are we forfeiting empathy and compassion, the very essence of what makes us human? 42 Seconds aims to spur an internal dialogue and inspire more human connection and understanding.
Why now? Why this film? Well, aside from the old adage that there's no time quite like the present, Hollywood is paying attention now more than ever to women, people of color, and content creators. Think Issa Rae -HBO's Insecure, Ava Duvernay-Selma, Barry Jenkins-Moonlight, and Patty Jenkins-Wonder Woman. Hollywood is realizing that there is viability and demand for stories told for and by these typically overlooked groups. This film's cast and crew reflects those values of diversity and inclusion.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Beach House in or Near GA
Costs $400
A pivotal scene is on waterfront property. You can get producer & location manager credit in return
Crew Meals
Costs $300
A well fed crew is essential for a successful shoot.
Filming locations
Costs $600
Set locations will bring the setting of the film to life.
Festival Run
Costs $500
Festivals have entry fees that can really add up into the thousands. This will be a helpful start.
Post Production
Costs $1,250
This will be for all our needs after principal shooting, including post & publicity.
Crew/Filming
Costs $2,050
This includes filming and crew salaries.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
Mignon Von- Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Actress of 42 Seconds
I am one of the few lucky people that can say they’ve always known their passion and purpose. It began with acting and as I got older I realized more stories needed telling. The characters that looked like me, I didn’t recognize them. I wanted to see a middle class, suburban, awkward, smart, loved, black girl that went on fools’ errands and found herself in ridiculous quagmires or experienced drama that didn’t surround teenage pregnancy, jail, drugs, or “da hood”. Not that these narratives aren’t valid; the problem is the lack of spectrum and limited representation of experience among the African diaspora. Longing to see these stories told properly, I graduated from Pepperdine University in 2012 with a B.A. in Film Studies and a few student projects that were, well, student projects. Shooting from the hip here, I cannot wait to lock that garbage up in a dark vault and set it ablaze, freeze the ashes, and store them in a box that can only be opened with elven magic. Though in fairness, glimmers of my potential hide between the frames and at the very least, I stepped into the arena and got them done. That much I am proud of.
Since bursting forth from my college bubble I production assisted on several short films and an independent feature. I worked for meals and IMDB credit, also known as, for free; I fully recognize that my experience is not singular. So many of us are fighting for opportunity, even the opportunity to be a slave. In all sincerity, each project was very meaningful for me and I am earnestly grateful for all that I learned and experienced. I took a detour producing in reality television for some time, (girl’s gotta eat); all the while, I joined grass roots film cohorts and regularly binged on cinema, old and new. Prior to breaking into entertainment, I worked for next to nothing in nonprofit education. Though the work was honorable and a passion, my purpose was still calling. It was during this period 42 Seconds, was born. 42 Seconds has undergone iteration after iteration. We are finally at the picture ready version and I am so stinking excited to bring it to you.
L. Alexandria Williams (Alex)- Unit Production Manager
Alex is a Georgia native forging her way in the flourishing film industry in Atlanta. She is new to the Unit Production Manager role but has been active in the Arts since 2007. Alex is an up and coming producer. Her first short film produced “After You Leave” will be premiering in the Way Down Film Festival next month. She is a brilliant young talent with so much to offer. She came up to me at a monthly film event and expressed her interest in helping me bring 42 Seconds to fruition. I know this production is in good hands with her as our UPM.
Sherouk Omara- Assistant Director
Sherouk is a transplant to Atlanta from the Midwest. She currently runs support at a tech startup and moonlights as an assistant director. Currently, she's writing a web series with plans to direct it. She loves old British sitcoms, grew up on black and white Egyptian films, and enjoys international travel. Outside of work, you can find her scouring Spotify for obscure music, watching weird (and not-so-weird) shows on Netflix, and exploring coffee shops. She's looking forward to helping make '42 seconds' a hit and is super pumped to be on the team! We bonded at a french cafe over our love of foriegn film and realizing we are both Anglophiles. Humble and capable, I'm proud to have her as my general for 42 Seconds.
Jason Cermak- Director of Photography
Jason graduated from Georgia State University in December 2013 with a BA in Film and Visual Media.