A Vice of Kings
Austin, Texas | Film Short
History, Drama
A Vice of Kings is an act of theatrical stewardship, bridging stage and screen to reclaim the Booth family's legacy. It honors the artists who shaped American theatre while telling the timeless story of a son determined to emerge from his father's shadow.
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$8,480
Goal: $20,000 for pre-production
A Vice of Kings is an act of theatrical stewardship, bridging stage and screen to reclaim the Booth family's legacy. It honors the artists who shaped American theatre while telling the timeless story of a son determined to emerge from his father's shadow.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
November 25th, 1864. Midnight in the Winter Garden Theater. Edwin Booth, the most famous actor in the country, sits on the eve of a grueling, record-breaking run of Hamlet that will either cement his legend or leave him buried under the weight of his late father’s erratic shadow. The legendary Junius Brutus Booth was a titan of the old stage whose genius was matched only by a whiskey-soaked madness.
On this night, the past refuses to stay buried as the ghost of the patriarch emerges from the wings to challenge his son for the soul of their dynasty. What follows is a visceral duel of swords and spirits, where Edwin finally confronts the trauma of a childhood spent as his father’s keeper.
Yet, beneath the clashing steel and resentment lies the beating heart of a son who simply wants out of his father's shadow. A Vice of Kings is a psychological exploration of a dynasty on the brink, where the greatest performance of Edwin Booth’s life is the one he must give to save a legacy that his own blood is about to set on fire.
For as long as I can remember, I knew my life belonged on the stage. That calling naturally bred a deep curiosity within me about the history of theatre and the craft of acting. Like most people, when I was first taught about Abraham Lincoln, the fact that his assassin was an actor caught my attention. But for the general public, that’s usually where the interest ends. History has no idea that John Wilkes Booth was actually the youngest sibling in a dynasty of theatrical titans.
A Vice of Kings is a short film screenplay adaptation of the stage play, The Brutes, written by Casey Wimpee. In 2017, I directed the world premiere of The Brutes, which captured the Booth family just five months before the infamous assassination, chronicling the first and only time all three sons of the late, great Junius Brutus Booth would share a stage.
Diving into the research, discovered a family profoundly divided, their internal fractures deeply mirroring the political polarization we see in households across the country today. Yet, beyond the political turmoil, they were also a family crushed by the weight of their own legacy.
The patriarch who built that legacy is easily one of the most fascinating figures I have ever read about. A volatile mix of genius and madman, the lore surrounding Junius Brutus Booth reads like myth and tales that would be dismissed as pure fiction if they weren't entirely true.
The deeper I immersed myself in their world, the clearer it became: the history behind this family and the dark psychological lore that led to that fateful night in April is a story that absolutely must be told.
COMING SOON!!!
John Wilkes Booth's infamy has acted as a total eclipse, blacking out a family history defined by reverence, honor, madness, and genius. A Vice of Kings is the light before that darkness. Junius Booth built a dynasty, Edwin Booth cemented it, and John Wilkes Booth shattered it. This film tells the story of the Booths before history reduced their name to a single tragic act, restoring the crown to the men who truly earned it and whose artistry helped shape American theater and inspired generations of actors who followed.
You can make a contribution by making a pledge!!
We need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds!
You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget. Seriously, no pledge is too small. Every dollar makes a difference in making our film possible!
The funds we raise will cover all of our production and post-production expenses. To truly recreate the world of 1864, we needed a location that captures the essence of the old Winter Garden Theater, which is why we’ve secured the historic Scottish Rite Theater. Built in 1871, it’s Austin’s oldest theater venue and still houses several hand-painted, 150-year-old backdrops that will give our film the authentic look it needs.
Beyond the setting, these funds will also go toward period-accurate costumes, weapons, and props designed by one of Austin’s best historical costume designers, Jennifer Davis.
**Finally, and most importantly, we’re building a crew from some of Austin’s best local talent, and we want to pay them fairly. Making a movie takes a village of highly skilled individuals, and ensuring everyone gets paid for their hard work is incredibly important to us.
June 2026 - Pre-Production
July 2026 - Crowdfunding Campaign
August 14 & 15 - Production!!
Fall 2026 - Post Production
January 2027 - Festival Circuit Begins!
Financial contributions definitely aren't the only way you can help. Just sharing our project with your history-buff and theater-enthusiast friends goes a long way. You can also follow us on Instagram at @viceofkingsshortfilm. We’ll be sharing some incredible stories about the Booth family that will make you just as obsessed with them as we are, along with updates on our campaign and the entire production process from start to finish.
We shoot A Vice of Kings on August 14th & 15th. We’re already neck-deep in pre-production and can’t wait to get the cameras rolling. Thank you so much for all the love and support!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign!
We hope you consider being a part of the creation of this short and follow us along on our filmmaking journey.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Scottish Rite Theatre/Meals/Crafty
Costs $6,500
Our location, The Scottish Rite Theatre, is Austin's oldest theatre venue and will serve as a period accurate setting for our story
Cast and Crew
Costs $7,000
No film is made alone. We have a strong team, and we want to make sure they have ample support to make the best film we can.
Fight Choreographer
Costs $500
Spoiler: There is a sword fight in our film! In order to create the most effective fight sequence, we need a great fight choreographer
Post Production
Costs $2,000
A perfect edit, score, and some subtle VFX are imperative to bringing the full vision of this film to life.
Equipment
Costs $4,000
Shooting on high-quality film cameras and lighting set ups will give us the mood and tone we are aiming for.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Devin Finn - (Writer/Director)
Devin is an award-winning Austin-based actor, writer, director, and designer. He earned a BFA in Acting from Texas State University in 2011 and has since worked consistently across the Texas film and theater industries. His directorial debut, Amphibians, was a short film adapted from a one-act play that earned recognition on the festival circuit for its translation of stage narrative to the screen. A veteran of the theater, Devin has appeared in over 45 professional stage productions and numerous films and commercials.
America Archer - (Executive Producer)
America is a seasoned arts administrator, producer, and dramaturg who holds a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh. They specialize in Rasa aesthetics for actor training, hosting workshops, and working independently with performers. Boasting over a decade-long tenure with Theatre Synesthesia, culminating in their role as Executive Producer, America is practiced in securing vital arts funding through grant writing and donor events. A frequent and trusted collaborator of this project's writer/director, America recently produced multiple films with them and is thrilled to serve as both Producer and Dramaturg for this production.
Jessica Vasami - (Producer)
Jessica is a producer, actor, and multidisciplinary creative based in Austin, Texas. With over a decade of experience spanning narrative, reality, commercial, digital, and branded content, she specializes in bridging creative vision with production execution. From independent films featured at SXSW, the Austin Film Festival, and on Issa Rae's YouTube channel to global and national campaigns for Meta, Netflix, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery, Capital One, Bud Light, and more, Jessica has built a career bringing compelling stories to audiences across a wide range of platforms. Jessica is best known for her eight-year tenure at Rooster Teeth Productions, where she served as an actor, on-camera personality, podcaster, and producer across a wide range of projects.
Drake Howard (Producer)
Drake is a filmmaker based in Austin whose work blends dry comedy, stylized visuals, and character-driven storytelling. Since 2014, he has directed music videos, commercials, and short films while producing projects including the feature comedy Pickleheads. His work often explores strange people, awkward moments, and emotionally grounded stories with a distinct visual voice. He is drawn to stories that balance absurd humor with genuine emotion.
Taylor Camerot (Director of Photography)
Born in Seattle, raised in Arizona, Taylor is a cinematographer now based out of Austin, TX, with over 10 years of experience in film. Whether it's grounded or elevated, he specializes in creative, emotional storytelling through lighting and framing. Whether its shooting commercials for Tito's or Capital One, or music videos for Leon Bridges and The Black Pumas, his work maintains exceptionalism throughout. He has had films play at Tribeca, SXSW, Sitges, as well as national commercials and online streaming.
Tobie Minor (Choreographer)
Tobie Minor is Director of Stage Combat and Intimacy and teaches Movement and Acting at The School of Theatre, Dance, and Film at Texas State University, is Co-founder of Violent Crown, and is Co-Artistic Director of Crown Theatre ATX. He has been a certified Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) for 26 years. He has choreographed violence at Texas State, Zach Theatre, Austin Shakespeare, Austin Playhouse, Hidden Room Theatre, Penfold Theatre, St. Edwards University, and UT Austin to name a few. He has been nominated and won several awards both locally (B. Iden Payne) and internationally (Falstaff Award) for stage and screen, most recently winning “Best Fight Choreography” at the Prison City Film Festival. His choreography has been featured at the Blackfriars conference and on The Globe stage in London.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
November 25th, 1864. Midnight in the Winter Garden Theater. Edwin Booth, the most famous actor in the country, sits on the eve of a grueling, record-breaking run of Hamlet that will either cement his legend or leave him buried under the weight of his late father’s erratic shadow. The legendary Junius Brutus Booth was a titan of the old stage whose genius was matched only by a whiskey-soaked madness.
On this night, the past refuses to stay buried as the ghost of the patriarch emerges from the wings to challenge his son for the soul of their dynasty. What follows is a visceral duel of swords and spirits, where Edwin finally confronts the trauma of a childhood spent as his father’s keeper.
Yet, beneath the clashing steel and resentment lies the beating heart of a son who simply wants out of his father's shadow. A Vice of Kings is a psychological exploration of a dynasty on the brink, where the greatest performance of Edwin Booth’s life is the one he must give to save a legacy that his own blood is about to set on fire.
For as long as I can remember, I knew my life belonged on the stage. That calling naturally bred a deep curiosity within me about the history of theatre and the craft of acting. Like most people, when I was first taught about Abraham Lincoln, the fact that his assassin was an actor caught my attention. But for the general public, that’s usually where the interest ends. History has no idea that John Wilkes Booth was actually the youngest sibling in a dynasty of theatrical titans.
A Vice of Kings is a short film screenplay adaptation of the stage play, The Brutes, written by Casey Wimpee. In 2017, I directed the world premiere of The Brutes, which captured the Booth family just five months before the infamous assassination, chronicling the first and only time all three sons of the late, great Junius Brutus Booth would share a stage.
Diving into the research, discovered a family profoundly divided, their internal fractures deeply mirroring the political polarization we see in households across the country today. Yet, beyond the political turmoil, they were also a family crushed by the weight of their own legacy.
The patriarch who built that legacy is easily one of the most fascinating figures I have ever read about. A volatile mix of genius and madman, the lore surrounding Junius Brutus Booth reads like myth and tales that would be dismissed as pure fiction if they weren't entirely true.
The deeper I immersed myself in their world, the clearer it became: the history behind this family and the dark psychological lore that led to that fateful night in April is a story that absolutely must be told.
COMING SOON!!!
John Wilkes Booth's infamy has acted as a total eclipse, blacking out a family history defined by reverence, honor, madness, and genius. A Vice of Kings is the light before that darkness. Junius Booth built a dynasty, Edwin Booth cemented it, and John Wilkes Booth shattered it. This film tells the story of the Booths before history reduced their name to a single tragic act, restoring the crown to the men who truly earned it and whose artistry helped shape American theater and inspired generations of actors who followed.
You can make a contribution by making a pledge!!
We need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds!
You can choose an incentive or make a pledge to a specific wishlist item. You decide what fits your budget. Seriously, no pledge is too small. Every dollar makes a difference in making our film possible!
The funds we raise will cover all of our production and post-production expenses. To truly recreate the world of 1864, we needed a location that captures the essence of the old Winter Garden Theater, which is why we’ve secured the historic Scottish Rite Theater. Built in 1871, it’s Austin’s oldest theater venue and still houses several hand-painted, 150-year-old backdrops that will give our film the authentic look it needs.
Beyond the setting, these funds will also go toward period-accurate costumes, weapons, and props designed by one of Austin’s best historical costume designers, Jennifer Davis.
**Finally, and most importantly, we’re building a crew from some of Austin’s best local talent, and we want to pay them fairly. Making a movie takes a village of highly skilled individuals, and ensuring everyone gets paid for their hard work is incredibly important to us.
June 2026 - Pre-Production
July 2026 - Crowdfunding Campaign
August 14 & 15 - Production!!
Fall 2026 - Post Production
January 2027 - Festival Circuit Begins!
Financial contributions definitely aren't the only way you can help. Just sharing our project with your history-buff and theater-enthusiast friends goes a long way. You can also follow us on Instagram at @viceofkingsshortfilm. We’ll be sharing some incredible stories about the Booth family that will make you just as obsessed with them as we are, along with updates on our campaign and the entire production process from start to finish.
We shoot A Vice of Kings on August 14th & 15th. We’re already neck-deep in pre-production and can’t wait to get the cameras rolling. Thank you so much for all the love and support!
Thank you so much for checking out our campaign!
We hope you consider being a part of the creation of this short and follow us along on our filmmaking journey.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Scottish Rite Theatre/Meals/Crafty
Costs $6,500
Our location, The Scottish Rite Theatre, is Austin's oldest theatre venue and will serve as a period accurate setting for our story
Cast and Crew
Costs $7,000
No film is made alone. We have a strong team, and we want to make sure they have ample support to make the best film we can.
Fight Choreographer
Costs $500
Spoiler: There is a sword fight in our film! In order to create the most effective fight sequence, we need a great fight choreographer
Post Production
Costs $2,000
A perfect edit, score, and some subtle VFX are imperative to bringing the full vision of this film to life.
Equipment
Costs $4,000
Shooting on high-quality film cameras and lighting set ups will give us the mood and tone we are aiming for.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Devin Finn - (Writer/Director)
Devin is an award-winning Austin-based actor, writer, director, and designer. He earned a BFA in Acting from Texas State University in 2011 and has since worked consistently across the Texas film and theater industries. His directorial debut, Amphibians, was a short film adapted from a one-act play that earned recognition on the festival circuit for its translation of stage narrative to the screen. A veteran of the theater, Devin has appeared in over 45 professional stage productions and numerous films and commercials.
America Archer - (Executive Producer)
America is a seasoned arts administrator, producer, and dramaturg who holds a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh. They specialize in Rasa aesthetics for actor training, hosting workshops, and working independently with performers. Boasting over a decade-long tenure with Theatre Synesthesia, culminating in their role as Executive Producer, America is practiced in securing vital arts funding through grant writing and donor events. A frequent and trusted collaborator of this project's writer/director, America recently produced multiple films with them and is thrilled to serve as both Producer and Dramaturg for this production.
Jessica Vasami - (Producer)
Jessica is a producer, actor, and multidisciplinary creative based in Austin, Texas. With over a decade of experience spanning narrative, reality, commercial, digital, and branded content, she specializes in bridging creative vision with production execution. From independent films featured at SXSW, the Austin Film Festival, and on Issa Rae's YouTube channel to global and national campaigns for Meta, Netflix, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery, Capital One, Bud Light, and more, Jessica has built a career bringing compelling stories to audiences across a wide range of platforms. Jessica is best known for her eight-year tenure at Rooster Teeth Productions, where she served as an actor, on-camera personality, podcaster, and producer across a wide range of projects.
Drake Howard (Producer)
Drake is a filmmaker based in Austin whose work blends dry comedy, stylized visuals, and character-driven storytelling. Since 2014, he has directed music videos, commercials, and short films while producing projects including the feature comedy Pickleheads. His work often explores strange people, awkward moments, and emotionally grounded stories with a distinct visual voice. He is drawn to stories that balance absurd humor with genuine emotion.
Taylor Camerot (Director of Photography)
Born in Seattle, raised in Arizona, Taylor is a cinematographer now based out of Austin, TX, with over 10 years of experience in film. Whether it's grounded or elevated, he specializes in creative, emotional storytelling through lighting and framing. Whether its shooting commercials for Tito's or Capital One, or music videos for Leon Bridges and The Black Pumas, his work maintains exceptionalism throughout. He has had films play at Tribeca, SXSW, Sitges, as well as national commercials and online streaming.
Tobie Minor (Choreographer)
Tobie Minor is Director of Stage Combat and Intimacy and teaches Movement and Acting at The School of Theatre, Dance, and Film at Texas State University, is Co-founder of Violent Crown, and is Co-Artistic Director of Crown Theatre ATX. He has been a certified Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) for 26 years. He has choreographed violence at Texas State, Zach Theatre, Austin Shakespeare, Austin Playhouse, Hidden Room Theatre, Penfold Theatre, St. Edwards University, and UT Austin to name a few. He has been nominated and won several awards both locally (B. Iden Payne) and internationally (Falstaff Award) for stage and screen, most recently winning “Best Fight Choreography” at the Prison City Film Festival. His choreography has been featured at the Blackfriars conference and on The Globe stage in London.