Acedia:

"A state of torpor, of not being connected with one's position or condition in the world."

In 1771, when a British East India opium convoy bound for China wrecks in the Bay of Bengal, Captain Arthur Dawson is left on a secluded isle to safeguard his ship’s cargo. He is alone, sheltering in an abandoned Indian mansion, waiting for a rescue that may never come. As the days stretch on, Arthur clings to duty, empire, and the belief that his suffering still has meaning.

But isolation begins to corrode his finely oiled imperialist mindset. After a traumatic event, he begins using the opium he was meant to protect as a coping method, slowly depleting his supply as the days seem to repeat themselves in an endless liminal night. Arthur is finally drawn out of this listless state into the jungle by a mysterious thief, where he encounters visions of his wife, Grace, and his dead son, Eliot. What begins as a desperate search for stolen cargo becomes something far more terrifying: a confrontation with the violence, denial, and grief Arthur has buried inside himself in his quest for more.

Acedia explores the psyche of a person who has done irreperable things as he struggles to come to terms with their weight. We, as human beings, change, and when we resist that change or cling to an old identity or belief, we dishonor ourselves and who we could be. Arthur’s spiritual journey towards becoming is something that we all must face at different points in our lives. The Buddhist concept of Saṃsāra proposes that life itself is one, all encompassing, cycle of becoming -- not as some kind of eternal punishment, the common misinterpretation, but as a chance for generational healing. It is an outlook on life Arthur has actively worked to destroy during his time in India, yet finds himself strangely succumbing to.

Where Will It Be Filmed?

Our locations are a major inspiration behind the story and mood of Acedia. Nestled in the lush jungle of Kauai, the garden island of Hawaii, these two buildings were shipped piece by piece from India and reassembled where they now stand. Their intricate, hand-carved woodwork is a sight to behold.

The island hosts a thriving Indian community, with various Hindu temples and many working monks. Hawaii's striking topography makes it the perfect location to emulate an enchanting Indian isle.

"Apocolypse Now" directed by Francis Ford Coppola has always been one of my favorite films. I'd be lying if I said Captain Willard's journey deep into the Vietnamese jungle wasn't inspirational in any way in the creation of Arthur's character arc. The opening shot alone, with its stern, dark, mysterious, towering wall of palm trees has lived in my head since I first saw it. The presence these plants posess on film and in illustrations I grew up on, like Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are," stir a wild sense of awe and beauty within me. I couldn't explain it then and I still can't now, but the deep green leafy night landscapes found in its panels are a major influence on my vision for Acedia. The forest acts as a kind of primordial, supernatural space where the laws of life and death are unclear and dreams are often mistaken for reality.

"The Lighthouse" is another cinematic influence for its themes of isolation, substance abuse, all-consuming guilt, as well as its period authenticity. Jarin Blaschke's cinematography expertly depicts the limited spaces we see over and over again in continually new and haunting ways. I seek to replicate the film's visual claustrophobic tactics to highlight Arthur's unnatural state of being.

Why Now?

Kauai's palm and coconut trees are currently facing a crisis due to the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. First detected on O'ahu in December of 2013, it's gone on to rapidly spread across the islands. I grew up surrounded by these trees, which have come to bear sentimental value for many locals. My girlfriend was even born under a specific coconut tree on the side of the road, which she goes back to visit once in awhile with her parents. I want to do my part to immortalize these trees' magic on film before they potentially disappear altogether.

(Photo credit: Honolulu Star Advertiser)

BEN ROBSON as Arthur

Ben Robson was born in Newcastle, England. He attended the University of West of England and graduated with business honors, before moving to Los Angeles to study at the Stella Adler Academy. In Los Angeles, he began his acting career on stage with "The Goldilocks Effect" in 2010, and then performed in more stage roles in 2011. Ben has performed with Janet Montgomery, Matthew Rhys and Jon Voight. Ben is most commonly known for his roles as Craig Cody in Animal Kingdom and Earl Kalf in Vikings. IMDB

ZOE BLEU as Grace

Zoë Bleu Sidel is an American socialite, model, actress and fashion stylist. She is part of the famous Arquette family: the only daughter of actress Rosanna Arquette, granddaughter of actor Lewis Arquette, and the niece of actors Richmond Arquette, Alexis Arquette, David Arquette, and Patricia Arquette. She attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York and was a debutante at the 20th Annual Crillon Ball in Paris, 2012. Zoe is most commonly known for her recent role as Elisabeta in Dracula (2025). IMDB

BEAU GOODMAN as Eliot

Beau Goodman is an actor born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts. Prior to USC, he studied at Kenyon College and the British American Drama Academy in London. He continues his training with the John Hindman Studio while working in theater and independent film. IMDB

We need to collect at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds!

While I'm lucky to have been able to put some cash into the film myself to make sure we can hire our key creative roles and get the ball rolling, there are a lot of factors that go into making a film like this. Every share, follow, or donation to this campaign helps! No amount of contribution is too small.

The funds we raise will cover all of our production and post-production expenses. If you choose to donate, your money will go toward making sure our cast and crew are taken care of as well as they deserve -- from food to housing to pay. The costs for lighting, props, and wardrobe are additional aspects you can specifically pledge to in the wishlist tab.

What's in it for me?

By supporting, there are a range of very fun perks to unlock, with the most exclusive being associate and executive producer credits. On top of the perks, you are becoming part of the Acedia team and backing a spiritually hearted, Kauai-based, independent film. That's bragging rights.

To help us make this dream a reality, please consider donating, spreading the word, following this campaign, or sharing our Instagram page @acedia.short