We believe that art is a light in the darkness, and we need that now more than ever. We hope that Abandoned inspires people to create no matter what, to find beauty in the imperfect, and to never give up on something that means everything to them.

 

Synopsis: Our film follows a young artist, Michael, who is struggling to finish her masterpiece: a self-portrait. Crippled by her need for perfection and fear of failure, she eventually abandons her artwork to a dusty corner of the studio, unable to complete it. As time passes, the unfinished portrait grows restless to be completed, eventually freeing herself of her canvas prison and confronting her maker and demanding once and for all to be finished.

Current Stage of Production: Right now we are in the final stages of pre-production. We already have a wonderful cast and crew ready to go and are locking down final locations. With this campaign it is our primary goal to ensure that we can feed and compensate all of the people who are working with us. We believe in supporting the artists! Once our film is done, we have a plan to submit to larger festivals including SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Sundance, and a few others. 

 

 

 

 

The VFX Challenge: Did we mention that we are literally bringing a painting to life in this film? Okay, well maybe not LITERALLY, but she is sure going to look like she's alive! Our writer/director, Tim, comes from a virtual effects background and will be doing some of the animation himself, but it is going to take a small team to bring her to life. Part of what of what your pledge will assist with is hiring animators to add those special post-production touches that will bring Michael's self-portrait to life within the confines of her canvas. We are going to give her the ability to move, react, and express emotion. 

But wait, there's more! In a haunting turn of events, the portrait breaks free from her canvas after growing angry with her state of abandonment and confronts Michael in an epic showdown. Our lead actress, Sarah, is going to be playing BOTH the artist and the living art, so we will be working with animatics on set in order to transform Sarah into a painted version of herself, as well as to create the scenes where the art and artist are interacting with one another. Perhaps a less ambitious team would just toss some paint on their actor and call it a day, but not us! If we are doin' this thing, we are doin' it right!

 

 

 

COVID-19 Response: Rest assured that our entire team is well aware of the implications of financing and making a film in the midst of a global pandemic and national economic recession. Going out and making a movie might not feel like the obvious response to either of those events, but we truly believe in the power that art has to be a light in a dark place. We think it is important, now more than ever, to keep creating and keep shining light into the darkness.

As of now, our production is set to begin at the end of January 2021. We will be monitoring the situation with COVID-19 and will make any required adjustments needed to ensure the safety of our cast and crew, including rescheduling if necessary. Making sure everyone is safe and healthy is our number one priority.

Ahead of filming, anyone who will be on set will be required to get a COVID test. We will never have more than ten people on set in one location at any given time and will require that everyone wear a mask. We will have sanitation stations set up complete with soap and sanitizer. Our Producer, Marissa, has been Safe Set Certified and will ensure that all COVID procedures will be followed in accordance with state and federal guidelines!