Aberth
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Fantasy, History
A tale of sacrifice and honor, Aberth follows a squire as he goes to any length to protect his Kingdom from evil, while his former master goes to any length to protect him.
Aberth
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Fantasy, History
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $30,100 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
25 supporters | followers
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A tale of sacrifice and honor, Aberth follows a squire as he goes to any length to protect his Kingdom from evil, while his former master goes to any length to protect him.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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I am thrilled to share my film, Aberth, with the world. In it, we follow a young squire, Joseph, who stands accused of regicide. He is given a choice: face execution, or find and kill his former master, the legendary Anchor. The film follows Joseph, the only man in the Kingdom who can stop this mythical warrior. The film has themes of honor vs love and duty vs family. It also asks, what is one willing to sacrifice to achieve their dreams or the greater good.
The story of Aberth at its core is about fatherhood. "Aberth", is a Welsh word, meaning sacrifice. The story also serves as a metaphor for my relationship with my own father. As a kid he was my hero. He was an army ranger and active duty for most of my childhood. When I got older, I grew to resent him for this. At the time, it felt like I was growing up and he did not care to be there. It was not until I became an adult and that I realized everything he did was for me. He joined the army at 18 years old and left only upon his retirement.
When I went to college, I realized out that he spent months of his life overseas away from his family and friends to give me the life that he never had. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to make movies or pursue my dreams. Thanks to him, I am fortunate enough to be making a film with some of my best friends and truly talented people. Although my story ends up happy compared to Joseph and the Anchor, I wanted to express that the Anchor did everything to ensure Joseph got to live and thrive, just as my father did for me.
.png)
We begin with a nightmare being had by our protagonist, Joseph. He remembers the day he witnessed his mater, The Anchor, murdering King Yekinder, the King of the Kingdom of Osprey. When he wakes up, he approached by the ever-plotting Lord Dulken with a choice: he can face execution for regicide, or he can bring the real killer to justice and clear his name.
As Joseph begins his journey, he struggles with the weight of his situation. As he falls off the path, he realizes a mysterious assassin is trailing him. If he continues to abandon his mission, he will be killed. Joseph has no other option but to face the man who raised him in battle
Life or death, duty over feelings, honor before love.
After the murder of King Yekinder, the Kingdom of Osprey is plunged into chaos. There is no heir, leaving all responsibilities of the Kingdom to Lord Dulken.
If the Kingdom of Osprey were to let a king-slayer escape justice, it would spell the end for the struggling Kingdom. Lord Dulken believes the only one who can kill The Anchor is Joseph.
The people of Osprey are traumatized as well, as The Anchor was a legendary, almost mythical hero within the Kingdom. With this murder, The Anchor has tainted his legacy and put his squire in life-threatening danger.
.png)
Joseph
Joseph's main goal is to find the truth of why his master, The Anchor, killed the King. He views The Anchor as his father and feels betrayed by what he must do. He feels conflicted with his longing to become a knight, but struggles with what he must do to earn it.
The Anchor
Throughout the story, The Anchor is our antagonist. He is one of the greatest warriors to ever life. When he kills the King, it's a true shock to the Kingdom of Osprey, as he is seen as their hero. He believed he did the right thing, and the only goal he had left was to secure his squire, Joseph's, safety. He sacrificed not just his honor, but his own life for his Joseph.
The Stranger
A mysterious assassin character with the appearance of a dark jester that appears and disappears at will. They appear to be an agent of chaos, having no loyalty or stake in the world. They consistently mock and provoke Joseph, acting as a manifestation of his anxiety. They also propose questions to Joseph about what truly happened the night of King Yekinder's murder.
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Aberth will draw on inspiration from a variety of media, but especially Game of Thrones, Highlander, Excalibur, and Metal Gear Solid 3.
.png)
The film will draw heavily from the dark fantasy art-style. We want to play with low lighting and shadows while we create a hazy almost dreamlike atmosphere.
.png)
With your pledge and support, we can bring this special story to life. If we exceed our budget we can ensure even better quality on everything throughout the film. Currently we are in pre-production and building a strong team. The film will then be shot in March. Over the spring and summer, we will work on editing and getting everything perfect. We are looking for a release in August 2025. The film will be posted to Youtube for all to see, and will be announced when it is released on our Instagram @aberthfilm! We will also be entering the film into the film festival circuit where our team is confident we will perform well. My ultimate goal is to see this project turned into a large scale feature film, and with your help I know we can get there.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Stunts
Costs $4,000
With an epic sword fight battle in our film, we need experienced stunt performers, coordinators, and medics to keep our cast and crew safe.
Costumes
Costs $4,000
It is important for us to be able to use period accurate costumes for our cast (and suits of armor aren't cheap to rent!)
Cast
Costs $2,000
Help us pay our fabulous cast for their hard work and dedication!
Set Decoration
Costs $3,000
Just like costumes, dressing up a 21st century building as an 15th century one takes a little work!
Catering and Crafty
Costs $2,500
Help keep our cast and crew well fed as they work hard to bring this film to life!
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $1,000
Help us bring Aberth to viewers across the world!
Crew
Costs $4,000
We will be using both professional and student talent to help bring this film to life, and want to insure they are paid fairly.
Contingency
Costs $3,000
In film making as in life, sometimes the unexpected happens. Our contingency fund will help to provide a safety net to our production.
Camera Gear
Costs $500
While we do have some equipment, we will need additional equipment to fully bring our film to life.
Locations
Costs $1,000
It's all about location! We will need funds for locations and permits.
Insurance
Costs $2,000
With the use of stunts and fire on set, we need specialized insurance to keep our cast, crew, and locations safe.
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
The work doesn't end when the camera stops rolling! We'll need help with VFX, color correction, and music.
Swords
Costs $1,000
What's a knight without a sword? Help us provide accurate (and safe!) swords to our film, as well as an experienced armorer.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jesse Scales, Director
Jesse Scales is an award-winning director pursuing his master's degree in Film, Television, and Digital Media at the University of Georgia. He received his bachelor's degree in Film Production at the University of North Florida. He is a co-owner of J and J Pictures. His most recent work was as a production assistant for the upcoming Blumhouse film, The Women in the Yard.
Elizabeth-Grace (EG) Mitchell, Producer
Elizabeth-Grace (EG) Mitchell is orginally from Blacksburg, Virginia, but has been happy to call Georgia her home for the past several years. A proud Double-Dawg at the University of Georgia, EG is a screenwriter and producer, with a passion for period pieces, and is thrilled to be working on bringing Aberth to life.
Elizabeth Wampler, Director of Photography
Elizabeth Wampler is the creator of Red Limelight Productions and a passionate cinematographer and storyteller. Born and raised in Fayetteville, GA, she developed a love for film early on, becoming inseparable from her 30-gig camcorder by the age of eight.
Elizabeth holds a double major in Mass Communication and Liberal Studies from Georgia College and State University, with minors in International Studies and Photography. She recently completed her Master's in Film, Television, and Digital Media at the University of Georgia, where her thesis film, The Day of Eternal Sun, is making waves on the film festival circuit.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
I am thrilled to share my film, Aberth, with the world. In it, we follow a young squire, Joseph, who stands accused of regicide. He is given a choice: face execution, or find and kill his former master, the legendary Anchor. The film follows Joseph, the only man in the Kingdom who can stop this mythical warrior. The film has themes of honor vs love and duty vs family. It also asks, what is one willing to sacrifice to achieve their dreams or the greater good.
The story of Aberth at its core is about fatherhood. "Aberth", is a Welsh word, meaning sacrifice. The story also serves as a metaphor for my relationship with my own father. As a kid he was my hero. He was an army ranger and active duty for most of my childhood. When I got older, I grew to resent him for this. At the time, it felt like I was growing up and he did not care to be there. It was not until I became an adult and that I realized everything he did was for me. He joined the army at 18 years old and left only upon his retirement.
When I went to college, I realized out that he spent months of his life overseas away from his family and friends to give me the life that he never had. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to make movies or pursue my dreams. Thanks to him, I am fortunate enough to be making a film with some of my best friends and truly talented people. Although my story ends up happy compared to Joseph and the Anchor, I wanted to express that the Anchor did everything to ensure Joseph got to live and thrive, just as my father did for me.
We begin with a nightmare being had by our protagonist, Joseph. He remembers the day he witnessed his mater, The Anchor, murdering King Yekinder, the King of the Kingdom of Osprey. When he wakes up, he approached by the ever-plotting Lord Dulken with a choice: he can face execution for regicide, or he can bring the real killer to justice and clear his name.
As Joseph begins his journey, he struggles with the weight of his situation. As he falls off the path, he realizes a mysterious assassin is trailing him. If he continues to abandon his mission, he will be killed. Joseph has no other option but to face the man who raised him in battle
Life or death, duty over feelings, honor before love.
After the murder of King Yekinder, the Kingdom of Osprey is plunged into chaos. There is no heir, leaving all responsibilities of the Kingdom to Lord Dulken.
If the Kingdom of Osprey were to let a king-slayer escape justice, it would spell the end for the struggling Kingdom. Lord Dulken believes the only one who can kill The Anchor is Joseph.
The people of Osprey are traumatized as well, as The Anchor was a legendary, almost mythical hero within the Kingdom. With this murder, The Anchor has tainted his legacy and put his squire in life-threatening danger.
Joseph
Joseph's main goal is to find the truth of why his master, The Anchor, killed the King. He views The Anchor as his father and feels betrayed by what he must do. He feels conflicted with his longing to become a knight, but struggles with what he must do to earn it.
The Anchor
Throughout the story, The Anchor is our antagonist. He is one of the greatest warriors to ever life. When he kills the King, it's a true shock to the Kingdom of Osprey, as he is seen as their hero. He believed he did the right thing, and the only goal he had left was to secure his squire, Joseph's, safety. He sacrificed not just his honor, but his own life for his Joseph.
The Stranger
A mysterious assassin character with the appearance of a dark jester that appears and disappears at will. They appear to be an agent of chaos, having no loyalty or stake in the world. They consistently mock and provoke Joseph, acting as a manifestation of his anxiety. They also propose questions to Joseph about what truly happened the night of King Yekinder's murder.
Aberth will draw on inspiration from a variety of media, but especially Game of Thrones, Highlander, Excalibur, and Metal Gear Solid 3.
The film will draw heavily from the dark fantasy art-style. We want to play with low lighting and shadows while we create a hazy almost dreamlike atmosphere.
With your pledge and support, we can bring this special story to life. If we exceed our budget we can ensure even better quality on everything throughout the film. Currently we are in pre-production and building a strong team. The film will then be shot in March. Over the spring and summer, we will work on editing and getting everything perfect. We are looking for a release in August 2025. The film will be posted to Youtube for all to see, and will be announced when it is released on our Instagram @aberthfilm! We will also be entering the film into the film festival circuit where our team is confident we will perform well. My ultimate goal is to see this project turned into a large scale feature film, and with your help I know we can get there.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Stunts
Costs $4,000
With an epic sword fight battle in our film, we need experienced stunt performers, coordinators, and medics to keep our cast and crew safe.
Costumes
Costs $4,000
It is important for us to be able to use period accurate costumes for our cast (and suits of armor aren't cheap to rent!)
Cast
Costs $2,000
Help us pay our fabulous cast for their hard work and dedication!
Set Decoration
Costs $3,000
Just like costumes, dressing up a 21st century building as an 15th century one takes a little work!
Catering and Crafty
Costs $2,500
Help keep our cast and crew well fed as they work hard to bring this film to life!
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $1,000
Help us bring Aberth to viewers across the world!
Crew
Costs $4,000
We will be using both professional and student talent to help bring this film to life, and want to insure they are paid fairly.
Contingency
Costs $3,000
In film making as in life, sometimes the unexpected happens. Our contingency fund will help to provide a safety net to our production.
Camera Gear
Costs $500
While we do have some equipment, we will need additional equipment to fully bring our film to life.
Locations
Costs $1,000
It's all about location! We will need funds for locations and permits.
Insurance
Costs $2,000
With the use of stunts and fire on set, we need specialized insurance to keep our cast, crew, and locations safe.
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
The work doesn't end when the camera stops rolling! We'll need help with VFX, color correction, and music.
Swords
Costs $1,000
What's a knight without a sword? Help us provide accurate (and safe!) swords to our film, as well as an experienced armorer.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jesse Scales, Director
Jesse Scales is an award-winning director pursuing his master's degree in Film, Television, and Digital Media at the University of Georgia. He received his bachelor's degree in Film Production at the University of North Florida. He is a co-owner of J and J Pictures. His most recent work was as a production assistant for the upcoming Blumhouse film, The Women in the Yard.
Elizabeth-Grace (EG) Mitchell, Producer
Elizabeth-Grace (EG) Mitchell is orginally from Blacksburg, Virginia, but has been happy to call Georgia her home for the past several years. A proud Double-Dawg at the University of Georgia, EG is a screenwriter and producer, with a passion for period pieces, and is thrilled to be working on bringing Aberth to life.
Elizabeth Wampler, Director of Photography
Elizabeth Wampler is the creator of Red Limelight Productions and a passionate cinematographer and storyteller. Born and raised in Fayetteville, GA, she developed a love for film early on, becoming inseparable from her 30-gig camcorder by the age of eight.
Elizabeth holds a double major in Mass Communication and Liberal Studies from Georgia College and State University, with minors in International Studies and Photography. She recently completed her Master's in Film, Television, and Digital Media at the University of Georgia, where her thesis film, The Day of Eternal Sun, is making waves on the film festival circuit.