Alienation
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Sci-Fi, Drama
Alienation is a sci-fi dramedy about digital loneliness, UFOs, and the search for real connection. In an age of influencers and algorithms, this story asks what’s left when the wifi cuts out, and why we still want to believe.
Alienation
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Sci-Fi, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
56 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$12,904
Goal: $20,000 for development
Alienation is a sci-fi dramedy about digital loneliness, UFOs, and the search for real connection. In an age of influencers and algorithms, this story asks what’s left when the wifi cuts out, and why we still want to believe.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The truth is... complicated
Alienation is a sci-fi dramedy about Ashlynn Vallée, a burned-out influencer who borrows a van (#vanlife!), hits the road, and livestreams her search for UFOs in the American Southwest. But the deeper she goes, the more she begins to question: is she chasing aliens? Or running from something else?
This is a film about connection, technology, the unknown, and what it means to feel seen in an online world constantly competing for our eyes.
Ash is known for her digital persona, which she has convinced the world (and herself) is real. After a very public breakup with her celebrity boyfriend and a viral meltdown, she steps away from the digital spotlight, only to return with a bold mission: to document her journey through the desert and prove that we’re not alone.
Along the way, she encounters the wild, varied world of UFO experiencers and tests her road-trip know-how. She’s supported by a strange follower who seems to know more than they should. As Ash livestreams from remote areas and unravels cosmic clues, she begins to feel like the real mystery might be… her.
When she has an extraordinary experience of her own, she is met with a skeptical, AI-saturated world. How can she prove that the truth is out there... or prove to herself that it might actually be within.
The world is asking a lot of questions about social media and mental health. Interest in UFOs has surged, with a new whistleblower or eye-catching headline or video being released almost daily. At the same time, AI-generated images and videos are forcing us to ask: what is real? Is something else out there?
We live in a world where we’re constantly connected, yet we somehow feel lonelier and more divided than ever. I wrote Alienation during the pandemic while I was working as a software engineer at Twitter. So many of us were online all the time, but still deeply isolated. The story began as a contained horror concept: a solo road trip, strange encounters, a disappearance. But as I kept writing, a deeper message emerged.
On top of that, more and more people are turning to vanlife, searching for freedom, simplicity, and meaning.
I've consumed a steady diet of sci-fi from birth. One of my earliest cinematic memories was watching E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. I was terrified. To calm me down, my mom showed me a behind-the-scenes documentary. Someone dreamed all of that up? I could make imagined worlds feel real? Sign me up!
That moment sparked a lifelong obsession with filmmaking. And a lifelong wonder... are we alone? I'm a healthy skeptic of the UFO phenomenon, but I can't deny some of these reports are intriguing. Something is happening... but what? I want to believe. Even more than that, I want to dream!
I’ve paired that creative curiosity with a foundation in science and technology. I studied astrophysics in college, and as a former Twitter engineer, I had a front-row seat to how algorithms shape behavior and perception. Not everything is what it seems and the algorithm is always working...
Alienation is a character-driven road movie with a fantastical sci-fi twist. Think:
- Nomadland meets Contact
- Ingrid Goes West meets The X-Files
- Intimate, offbeat, and just a little weird
We’re shooting in real locations across the desert Southwest— Sedona, Roswell, California — and using a mix of in-camera and practical FX, found footage, visual effects, and social media aesthetics to build a layered, authentic experience. Our AFI cinematographer, David Auner brings a "what if we..." spirit to the life of the moving image. Together we know how to sell emotion and tone with the tools at hand.
It's easy to fall into the usual superficial tropes about influencers, but behind every livestream and sponsored post is a real human with complex feelings. Our tone strikes a balance between comedy and empathy as we understand what drives Ash to chase validation. And what it costs her.
We also explore the many facets of the UFO phenomenon, which is equally easy to dismiss. Why do we want to believe? Along her journey, Ash encounters everything from the "woo" and roadside kitsch to conspiracy theories and serious academic inquiry.
Both influencers and UFOs deserve a deeper look than we often give them!
- A female-led sci-fi film with a deeply emotional core
- Built for a micro-budget but visually rich and cinematic
- Combines UFO mythology, influencer culture, and personal healing
- Explores digital identity, loneliness, and belief in an age of algorithms and AI
- Features immersive practical and digital VFX
- Rooted in my own experience as both a filmmaker and someone who’s worked in tech and social media
- Experienced crew who knows how to stretch available resources to their fullest capacity
We’ve completed our script, shot teaser footage, scouted locations, developed our visual language, and assembled an incredible team. With your support, we’ll fund the next stages of development to ensure a smooth production:
- Casting
- Script breakdown and rights clearances
- Storyboards
- Van acquisition (our primary set!)
- Locations, permits and so much more!
We’re ready to go, just waiting for launch!
Independent films don’t happen in a vacuum, they happen in communities. That’s where you come in.
By supporting Alienation, you’re not just helping make a movie, you’re becoming part of something strange, special, and deeply human. Whether you pledge $10 or $1,000, share our campaign, or simply follow along, we’re so grateful to have you with us on this journey.
We're raising $20,000 in development funds to give this movie the solid launchpad it deserves. Anything above and beyond will go toward securing our cinematic #vanlife van, attracting our perfect cast, and SO MUCH MORE!
The real star of Alienation? You! (Literally) We are rekindling our love of the Internet of Yesteryear with our own interactive website for this movie.
Every supporter will become a part of our Constellation of Support- a living, breathing website that highlights our connectedness by giving each of you a star or other celestial object. As the project grows, so will our sky!
Because the truth is out there. And none of us are alone.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Story and Script Development
Costs $3,000
While our script has received great feedback, we want to keep pushing the envelope with detailed feedback and a table read!
Visualization
Costs $4,000
Story boards, animatics, everything that keeps our vision intact and our crew rolling smoothly through production.
Legal Fees
Costs $2,000
Clearances, contracts, business setup, and all the legal fun stuff.
Pitch Deck and Outreach
Costs $1,500
Polish our pitch decks both for investors and for potential partnership with van builders, carmakers, etc.
Locations and Production Planning
Costs $3,000
Scouting, preliminary permits, and pursuing local incentives.
Casting and Packaging
Costs $4,000
Reaching out to casting director (development phase), actor outreach and attachment process, and casting materials
Online Promotion
Costs $500
Hosting our site and all of the details that go into our Constellation of Support!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The driver behind the wheel of this UFO road trip, Courtney Hoskins is a writer/director based in Los Angeles. Her short films have aired on the IFC channel and have been featured in dozens of film festivals around the world, including The New York Film Festival, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Ann Arbor, and BFI London. She's won awards for her projects such as the Slusho!! Commercial Contest of Joy with her short, Slusho! Zoom!!! (with Robots.
She's recently completed and is currently screening her 35mm short film, The Not, shot with David Auner.
Courtney has also worked as a software engineer across diverse industries. Most notably, her four years at Twitter gave her a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions that drive social media algorithms and her three years at Fox Television gave her experience on the digital teams of some of the including Fringe, Terra Nova, and the 20th anniversary reunion celebration of The X-Files.
Her same curiosity and diversity of interestsnow drives Alienation’s exploration of technology, belief, and identity.
The eyes of our open-road adventure, David Auner, aac is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He was born and raised in Graz, Austria. His grandfather, a retired photographer, started teaching him the "Art of Seeing" and film photography at an early age. After high school he moved to Vienna where he worked as a photographer and in film, beginning as a sound recordist and camera assistant for TV news and corporate and industrial films.
Over the next 15 years, he spent hundreds of hours behind the camera. He found his true passion in narrative feature, episodic television, and long form documentary projects. He graduated from Middlesex University, London, with a BA in Digital Film Arts and moved to Los Angeles, where he earned an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI). David has been a proud member of the Austrian Association of Cinematographers since 2015.
David has worked with Courtney on several projects and the two are in perfect harmony when it comes to finding the most compelling way to visually convey a mood or a whole story. They recently shot The Not, a short film, on 35mm.
The Swiss army knife of any cinematic journey, Jose Infante is an actor and filmmaker. Originally from Cleveland, where he worked as a professional freelance photographer for twelve years, honing his skills and establishing a reputation in the industry. His extensive experience in photography laid a strong foundation for his later ventures into filmmaking.
Since 2015, Jose has flourished in Los Angeles as a full-time professional actor, starring and appearing in film and television, commercials, shorts and print. His contributions to the world of film extend beyond acting. His work has been widely recognized in the film festival circuit, earning him 5 wins and 7 nominations. He has worn multiple hats as a filmmaker, demonstrating his skills as a director, director of photography, and editor. His notable works include the short films - Nomad (2x Winner / 3x Nominee), Ride in Peace (2x Nominee), This Is Not My Beautiful House (2x Nominee), and The Work.
Jose has worked with David and Courtney, co-starring in The Not, and conspiring on the development of Alienation. His dedication to the collaborative aspect of visual storytelling makes him an invaluable ally, development partner, and creative consultant.
Isabel Hepburn lends her amazing acting talent to bring Ash to life in our Alienation campaign. She is quickly emerging as one of the industry’s rising talents.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Isabel has built her career from the ground up, appearing in dozens of productions across the United States and earning award nominations along the way. She is also a relative of legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, adding another layer of Hollywood history to her growing career.
With an exciting slate ahead, Isabel recently wrapped filming on Lurking, where she stars as Cassidee, and is currently leading the feature California Baseball as Kate Patterson.
Later this year, she will travel to Colorado for another highly anticipated production before making her international feature debut in Portugal as Sam, the lead role in Heritage.
Drawing attention from audiences around the world, Isabel continues to establish herself as a standout new presence on screen.
Shiloh is a writer and actor who has appeared in a number of award winning indie and short films. Alienation is Shiloh's first Associate Producer role, and she couldn't be more excited to be on this UFO road trip. Some of Shiloh's acting credits include Deep Time, a sci-fi film about a strange time-warping phenomenon, that was an official selection at the May the 4th Sci-Fi Film Festival and winner of best ensemble; Spectrophilia, a horror about a ghost that feeds on depression; and Meeting Her Mother, a twist on the classic meet-the-parents where the mom might just turn you to stone, that won for best short and best supporting actress at multiple film festivals. Shiloh has also written her own short and feature-length scripts, and is currently writing book four of her debut sci-fi series. Shiloh's also worked at a number of tech start-ups in product management and digital marketing roles, and currently offers web development and digital marketing consulting services.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The truth is... complicated
Alienation is a sci-fi dramedy about Ashlynn Vallée, a burned-out influencer who borrows a van (#vanlife!), hits the road, and livestreams her search for UFOs in the American Southwest. But the deeper she goes, the more she begins to question: is she chasing aliens? Or running from something else?
This is a film about connection, technology, the unknown, and what it means to feel seen in an online world constantly competing for our eyes.
Ash is known for her digital persona, which she has convinced the world (and herself) is real. After a very public breakup with her celebrity boyfriend and a viral meltdown, she steps away from the digital spotlight, only to return with a bold mission: to document her journey through the desert and prove that we’re not alone.
Along the way, she encounters the wild, varied world of UFO experiencers and tests her road-trip know-how. She’s supported by a strange follower who seems to know more than they should. As Ash livestreams from remote areas and unravels cosmic clues, she begins to feel like the real mystery might be… her.
When she has an extraordinary experience of her own, she is met with a skeptical, AI-saturated world. How can she prove that the truth is out there... or prove to herself that it might actually be within.
The world is asking a lot of questions about social media and mental health. Interest in UFOs has surged, with a new whistleblower or eye-catching headline or video being released almost daily. At the same time, AI-generated images and videos are forcing us to ask: what is real? Is something else out there?
We live in a world where we’re constantly connected, yet we somehow feel lonelier and more divided than ever. I wrote Alienation during the pandemic while I was working as a software engineer at Twitter. So many of us were online all the time, but still deeply isolated. The story began as a contained horror concept: a solo road trip, strange encounters, a disappearance. But as I kept writing, a deeper message emerged.
On top of that, more and more people are turning to vanlife, searching for freedom, simplicity, and meaning.
I've consumed a steady diet of sci-fi from birth. One of my earliest cinematic memories was watching E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. I was terrified. To calm me down, my mom showed me a behind-the-scenes documentary. Someone dreamed all of that up? I could make imagined worlds feel real? Sign me up!
That moment sparked a lifelong obsession with filmmaking. And a lifelong wonder... are we alone? I'm a healthy skeptic of the UFO phenomenon, but I can't deny some of these reports are intriguing. Something is happening... but what? I want to believe. Even more than that, I want to dream!
I’ve paired that creative curiosity with a foundation in science and technology. I studied astrophysics in college, and as a former Twitter engineer, I had a front-row seat to how algorithms shape behavior and perception. Not everything is what it seems and the algorithm is always working...
Alienation is a character-driven road movie with a fantastical sci-fi twist. Think:
- Nomadland meets Contact
- Ingrid Goes West meets The X-Files
- Intimate, offbeat, and just a little weird
We’re shooting in real locations across the desert Southwest— Sedona, Roswell, California — and using a mix of in-camera and practical FX, found footage, visual effects, and social media aesthetics to build a layered, authentic experience. Our AFI cinematographer, David Auner brings a "what if we..." spirit to the life of the moving image. Together we know how to sell emotion and tone with the tools at hand.
It's easy to fall into the usual superficial tropes about influencers, but behind every livestream and sponsored post is a real human with complex feelings. Our tone strikes a balance between comedy and empathy as we understand what drives Ash to chase validation. And what it costs her.
We also explore the many facets of the UFO phenomenon, which is equally easy to dismiss. Why do we want to believe? Along her journey, Ash encounters everything from the "woo" and roadside kitsch to conspiracy theories and serious academic inquiry.
Both influencers and UFOs deserve a deeper look than we often give them!
- A female-led sci-fi film with a deeply emotional core
- Built for a micro-budget but visually rich and cinematic
- Combines UFO mythology, influencer culture, and personal healing
- Explores digital identity, loneliness, and belief in an age of algorithms and AI
- Features immersive practical and digital VFX
- Rooted in my own experience as both a filmmaker and someone who’s worked in tech and social media
- Experienced crew who knows how to stretch available resources to their fullest capacity
We’ve completed our script, shot teaser footage, scouted locations, developed our visual language, and assembled an incredible team. With your support, we’ll fund the next stages of development to ensure a smooth production:
- Casting
- Script breakdown and rights clearances
- Storyboards
- Van acquisition (our primary set!)
- Locations, permits and so much more!
We’re ready to go, just waiting for launch!
Independent films don’t happen in a vacuum, they happen in communities. That’s where you come in.
By supporting Alienation, you’re not just helping make a movie, you’re becoming part of something strange, special, and deeply human. Whether you pledge $10 or $1,000, share our campaign, or simply follow along, we’re so grateful to have you with us on this journey.
We're raising $20,000 in development funds to give this movie the solid launchpad it deserves. Anything above and beyond will go toward securing our cinematic #vanlife van, attracting our perfect cast, and SO MUCH MORE!
The real star of Alienation? You! (Literally) We are rekindling our love of the Internet of Yesteryear with our own interactive website for this movie.
Every supporter will become a part of our Constellation of Support- a living, breathing website that highlights our connectedness by giving each of you a star or other celestial object. As the project grows, so will our sky!
Because the truth is out there. And none of us are alone.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Story and Script Development
Costs $3,000
While our script has received great feedback, we want to keep pushing the envelope with detailed feedback and a table read!
Visualization
Costs $4,000
Story boards, animatics, everything that keeps our vision intact and our crew rolling smoothly through production.
Legal Fees
Costs $2,000
Clearances, contracts, business setup, and all the legal fun stuff.
Pitch Deck and Outreach
Costs $1,500
Polish our pitch decks both for investors and for potential partnership with van builders, carmakers, etc.
Locations and Production Planning
Costs $3,000
Scouting, preliminary permits, and pursuing local incentives.
Casting and Packaging
Costs $4,000
Reaching out to casting director (development phase), actor outreach and attachment process, and casting materials
Online Promotion
Costs $500
Hosting our site and all of the details that go into our Constellation of Support!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
The driver behind the wheel of this UFO road trip, Courtney Hoskins is a writer/director based in Los Angeles. Her short films have aired on the IFC channel and have been featured in dozens of film festivals around the world, including The New York Film Festival, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Ann Arbor, and BFI London. She's won awards for her projects such as the Slusho!! Commercial Contest of Joy with her short, Slusho! Zoom!!! (with Robots.
She's recently completed and is currently screening her 35mm short film, The Not, shot with David Auner.
Courtney has also worked as a software engineer across diverse industries. Most notably, her four years at Twitter gave her a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions that drive social media algorithms and her three years at Fox Television gave her experience on the digital teams of some of the including Fringe, Terra Nova, and the 20th anniversary reunion celebration of The X-Files.
Her same curiosity and diversity of interestsnow drives Alienation’s exploration of technology, belief, and identity.
The eyes of our open-road adventure, David Auner, aac is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He was born and raised in Graz, Austria. His grandfather, a retired photographer, started teaching him the "Art of Seeing" and film photography at an early age. After high school he moved to Vienna where he worked as a photographer and in film, beginning as a sound recordist and camera assistant for TV news and corporate and industrial films.
Over the next 15 years, he spent hundreds of hours behind the camera. He found his true passion in narrative feature, episodic television, and long form documentary projects. He graduated from Middlesex University, London, with a BA in Digital Film Arts and moved to Los Angeles, where he earned an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI). David has been a proud member of the Austrian Association of Cinematographers since 2015.
David has worked with Courtney on several projects and the two are in perfect harmony when it comes to finding the most compelling way to visually convey a mood or a whole story. They recently shot The Not, a short film, on 35mm.
The Swiss army knife of any cinematic journey, Jose Infante is an actor and filmmaker. Originally from Cleveland, where he worked as a professional freelance photographer for twelve years, honing his skills and establishing a reputation in the industry. His extensive experience in photography laid a strong foundation for his later ventures into filmmaking.
Since 2015, Jose has flourished in Los Angeles as a full-time professional actor, starring and appearing in film and television, commercials, shorts and print. His contributions to the world of film extend beyond acting. His work has been widely recognized in the film festival circuit, earning him 5 wins and 7 nominations. He has worn multiple hats as a filmmaker, demonstrating his skills as a director, director of photography, and editor. His notable works include the short films - Nomad (2x Winner / 3x Nominee), Ride in Peace (2x Nominee), This Is Not My Beautiful House (2x Nominee), and The Work.
Jose has worked with David and Courtney, co-starring in The Not, and conspiring on the development of Alienation. His dedication to the collaborative aspect of visual storytelling makes him an invaluable ally, development partner, and creative consultant.
Isabel Hepburn lends her amazing acting talent to bring Ash to life in our Alienation campaign. She is quickly emerging as one of the industry’s rising talents.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Isabel has built her career from the ground up, appearing in dozens of productions across the United States and earning award nominations along the way. She is also a relative of legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, adding another layer of Hollywood history to her growing career.
With an exciting slate ahead, Isabel recently wrapped filming on Lurking, where she stars as Cassidee, and is currently leading the feature California Baseball as Kate Patterson.
Later this year, she will travel to Colorado for another highly anticipated production before making her international feature debut in Portugal as Sam, the lead role in Heritage.
Drawing attention from audiences around the world, Isabel continues to establish herself as a standout new presence on screen.
Shiloh is a writer and actor who has appeared in a number of award winning indie and short films. Alienation is Shiloh's first Associate Producer role, and she couldn't be more excited to be on this UFO road trip. Some of Shiloh's acting credits include Deep Time, a sci-fi film about a strange time-warping phenomenon, that was an official selection at the May the 4th Sci-Fi Film Festival and winner of best ensemble; Spectrophilia, a horror about a ghost that feeds on depression; and Meeting Her Mother, a twist on the classic meet-the-parents where the mom might just turn you to stone, that won for best short and best supporting actress at multiple film festivals. Shiloh has also written her own short and feature-length scripts, and is currently writing book four of her debut sci-fi series. Shiloh's also worked at a number of tech start-ups in product management and digital marketing roles, and currently offers web development and digital marketing consulting services.