As Easy As Closing Your Eyes
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes is a short sci-fi drama that tells the story of Lila, a grieving mother who battles her addiction to Amesten, a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost.
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $25,000 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
69 supporters | followers
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As Easy As Closing Your Eyes is a short sci-fi drama that tells the story of Lila, a grieving mother who battles her addiction to Amesten, a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE SYNOPSIS
On the eve of her dead son’s birthday, LILA attends a group meeting for people addicted to Amesten, a new blackmarket drug that gives its users life-like dreams about the ones they've lost. Although the drug has exacted a terrible toll on her, her sobriety still only hangs by a thread. As she prepares to celebrate BODIE’s birthday with her brother KIERAN, the temptation to see Bodie again begins to overwhelm her and she must choose whether to finally let go of an impossible dream or follow the light of her life into darkness.
THE AMESTEN EPIDEMIC
A near-future Los Angeles at the dawn of the Amesten crisis. The dangerous new drug, which gives its users vivid dreams of their dead loved ones, has crept from the back alleys of Seoul to the mansions of Beverly Hills and it's only getting more popular. It's not uncommon to see someone walking naked in the street or asleep at the wheel in traffic.
As hospitals and rehabs struggle with the burgeoning crisis, its grief-stricken users slowly lose whatever they have left as the insidious drug preys on their heartbreak. If you're lucky, you get clean before it's too late, but then you find that picture of a deceased parent or that letter from a lost love and then...
Maybe you see them one last time?
THE JOURNEY
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes began with a quote and a question.
"Death is a tragedy ... when people speak of losing a part of themselves when a loved one dies, they are speaking quite literally, since we lose the ability to effectively use the neural patterns in our brain that had self-organized to interact with that person." - Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near
Essentially, there is a part of our brain dedicated to each and every person in our lives. There's a little part for your mom, a little part for your favorite teacher, even a little part for that neighbor who's name you can barely remember.
Now, these little areas of our brain are unique because they only light up when we're with the person they're dedicated to. Consequently, these areas also go dormant for the rest of our lives when that person dies. There is literally a part of us that is lost forever when we lose someone we know.
The question was ... what if we could get it back?
What if we could actually spend time with that piece of our loved ones that lives within us? What if death was no longer the end of our relationships? What if we could take a drug that targeted those little parts of our brain, close our eyes, and be with that person in our dreams? The time we spend with those we love is our most precious treasure and Amesten is the fictional key to unlocking more of it.
THE DIRECTION
This film is a visceral, heartbreaking experience that loses itself in the void of grief as it struggles to find hope in tragedy. It's a tender, oneiric journey into a broken heart that explores some of life's most difficult questions. Although it gives little in the way of answers, I would say it does provide something of a warning: if you can't let go of what is truly gone, you will only lose more.
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes is an ambitious project that will need a dedicated and talented group of producers, actors, department heads, and crew to bring this film to life. We will need to draw from the collective decades of experience of our most trusted colleagues, as well as exploring the vast pool talent we've yet to work with.
Everyone I've shared this story with has given the same answer when asked if they would take Amesten to see a lost loved one. It's the same as my own answer, an undeniable "yes". That dream, that pull into darkness to be with the ones we've lost, is a stunning revelation of the human heart and a story that needs to be told.
THE TIMELINE
- Pre-production - May to June 2023
- Production - July 2023
- Post-production - August to September 2023
- Begin festival submissions - September 2023
- Film is completed - October 2023
- Festival run - January to December 2024
THE STRETCH GOALS
Once we surpass our initial target, every dollar that comes into the campaign will be used to pursue our stretch goals of sharing the film with a wider audience, which means more festival submissions, more screenings, and more opportunities to see the film.
THE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE FILM
There are many ways to support our film without spending a dime. One of the best ways is by sharing our project in whichever way resonates with you—be it via social media, email, word-of-mouth, or any other avenue you choose. If we’re going to achieve our goal, we’re going to have to reach out beyond our own immediate networks and your help will make all the difference.
Feel free to copy and paste:
What if you could visit your lost loved ones whenever you wanted? AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES is a short, sci-fi drama that tells the story of LILA, a grieving mother who battles her addiction to AMESTEN, a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost. Check it out at seedandspark.com/fund/as-easy-as-closing-your-eyes and @aseasyasclosingyoureyes and be a part of bringing the film to life. #amesten
THANK YOU FROM OUR ENTIRE TEAM
Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback, we'd love to hear from you, and we can't wait to share updates on the movie's progress.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $3,000
A film’s primary creative instrument for capturing stunning imagery and bringing the story to life.
Cast
Costs $2,400
The heart and soul of any great film, actors allow audiences to be transported into the film.
Color Grading
Costs $3,000
Establishes the mood and atmosphere of a film, helping to convey emotions and enhance storytelling.
ADR / VO Recording, Foley, Dialog Editing, Effects Editing, Sound Design, 5.1 Mix
Costs $3,000
Brings a film to life by adding depth, realism, and emotional impact to the film's audio elements.
9mm FX Theatrical Contact lenses
Costs $1,900
Our SFX contacts will transform our actors, conveying the most visible symptom of Amesten addiction.
Catering
Costs $1,500
Essential to ensure the well-being of the cast and crew throughout long and demanding shooting days.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $2,000
Increases the visibility and exposure of a film, connecting it to audiences all around the world.
Insurance
Costs $2,300
Mitigates financial risks and protects against unforeseen circumstances that could halt production.
Crew
Costs $2,900
The nuts and bolts of filmmaking, working collaboratively to execute every aspect of the production.
Locations
Costs $2,000
Create a believable and immersive world within the movie, setting the stage for the story.
Film Score
Costs $1,000
Establishes the film's identity, amplifying the tension, excitement, or poignancy of key moments.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
PARKER CROFT
Director, Writer
Parker Croft is a writer-director with a deep background in acting and cinematography. His short Suncatcher received sixty-two festivals selections, winning thirteen awards with an additional twenty nominations.
He has directed content for the NBA, FIBA Basketball World Cup, Shiseido, Better Booch, Happier Living, and numerous music videos for artists ranging from Vader the Villin to the All-American Rejects.
He co-wrote the feature film Falling Overnight which won the Special Jury Prize at Cinequest before streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
His past credits as an actor include Big Little Lies, Once Upon A Time, American Horror Story, Roadies, and Nip / Tuck.
AARON GOLDEN
Writer
Aaron Golden is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. He co-wrote and executive produced Falling Overnight, which won fifteen awards at twenty-six festivals before a successful run on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
A Bluecat and Scriptshadow contest quarter-finalist, he co-wrote and produced the short film Suncatcher, which received sixty-two festival selections, winning thirteen awards with an additional twenty nominations. His play To Tree received its world premiere at Chicago's Brown Box Theatre Company where it received a Best New Play Nomination from Broadway in Chicago.
In addition to his creative work, he is an accomplished sound mixer, having run the audio departments on the feature films The Resurrection of Charles Manson and Step Aside, both due for release in 2023.
MAX LOEB
Producer
Max is a seasoned entertainment industry professional with years of experience in development and production working on a range of film and television projects.
He produced Fear and Loathing in Aspen directed by Bobby Kennedy IIl, The Long Shore for PBS, Come Hungry for Magnolia, and worked in television on the CWs' Jane the Virgin and Adult Swim's Dream Corp, LLC.
He is currently the Director of Development at Pressman Films, where he is responsible for identifying and acquiring projects that align with the company's vision and ethos.
CHRIS BLIM
Producer
Chris Blim is known for Mondo Hollywoodland (2019), Water for Elephants (2011) and Nightmoon City (2022).
ROBBIE KAY
Co-Producer
Robbie Kay is an internationally renowned British actor with 17 years of experience in the film industry.
Based in Los Angeles, Robbie has worked on productions of all sizes across the globe. Credits include ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Times’ (Disney), ‘Once Upon A Time’ (ABC) and ‘Heroes: Reborn’ (NBC), to name a few.
Since Robbie arrived on the scene with the feature “Fugitive Pieces” - his first lead that opened TIFF in 2007 - his work has garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, resulting in a dedicated following.
Alongside his acting career, Robbie has developed into a writer and producer with an affinity for drama in both feature film and limited series format. He has written multiple scripts and created pitches for new shows, currently being shopped around Hollywood.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE SYNOPSIS
On the eve of her dead son’s birthday, LILA attends a group meeting for people addicted to Amesten, a new blackmarket drug that gives its users life-like dreams about the ones they've lost. Although the drug has exacted a terrible toll on her, her sobriety still only hangs by a thread. As she prepares to celebrate BODIE’s birthday with her brother KIERAN, the temptation to see Bodie again begins to overwhelm her and she must choose whether to finally let go of an impossible dream or follow the light of her life into darkness.
THE AMESTEN EPIDEMIC
A near-future Los Angeles at the dawn of the Amesten crisis. The dangerous new drug, which gives its users vivid dreams of their dead loved ones, has crept from the back alleys of Seoul to the mansions of Beverly Hills and it's only getting more popular. It's not uncommon to see someone walking naked in the street or asleep at the wheel in traffic.
As hospitals and rehabs struggle with the burgeoning crisis, its grief-stricken users slowly lose whatever they have left as the insidious drug preys on their heartbreak. If you're lucky, you get clean before it's too late, but then you find that picture of a deceased parent or that letter from a lost love and then...
Maybe you see them one last time?
THE JOURNEY
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes began with a quote and a question.
"Death is a tragedy ... when people speak of losing a part of themselves when a loved one dies, they are speaking quite literally, since we lose the ability to effectively use the neural patterns in our brain that had self-organized to interact with that person." - Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near
Essentially, there is a part of our brain dedicated to each and every person in our lives. There's a little part for your mom, a little part for your favorite teacher, even a little part for that neighbor who's name you can barely remember.
Now, these little areas of our brain are unique because they only light up when we're with the person they're dedicated to. Consequently, these areas also go dormant for the rest of our lives when that person dies. There is literally a part of us that is lost forever when we lose someone we know.
The question was ... what if we could get it back?
What if we could actually spend time with that piece of our loved ones that lives within us? What if death was no longer the end of our relationships? What if we could take a drug that targeted those little parts of our brain, close our eyes, and be with that person in our dreams? The time we spend with those we love is our most precious treasure and Amesten is the fictional key to unlocking more of it.
THE DIRECTION
This film is a visceral, heartbreaking experience that loses itself in the void of grief as it struggles to find hope in tragedy. It's a tender, oneiric journey into a broken heart that explores some of life's most difficult questions. Although it gives little in the way of answers, I would say it does provide something of a warning: if you can't let go of what is truly gone, you will only lose more.
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes is an ambitious project that will need a dedicated and talented group of producers, actors, department heads, and crew to bring this film to life. We will need to draw from the collective decades of experience of our most trusted colleagues, as well as exploring the vast pool talent we've yet to work with.
Everyone I've shared this story with has given the same answer when asked if they would take Amesten to see a lost loved one. It's the same as my own answer, an undeniable "yes". That dream, that pull into darkness to be with the ones we've lost, is a stunning revelation of the human heart and a story that needs to be told.
THE TIMELINE
- Pre-production - May to June 2023
- Production - July 2023
- Post-production - August to September 2023
- Begin festival submissions - September 2023
- Film is completed - October 2023
- Festival run - January to December 2024
THE STRETCH GOALS
Once we surpass our initial target, every dollar that comes into the campaign will be used to pursue our stretch goals of sharing the film with a wider audience, which means more festival submissions, more screenings, and more opportunities to see the film.
THE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE FILM
There are many ways to support our film without spending a dime. One of the best ways is by sharing our project in whichever way resonates with you—be it via social media, email, word-of-mouth, or any other avenue you choose. If we’re going to achieve our goal, we’re going to have to reach out beyond our own immediate networks and your help will make all the difference.
Feel free to copy and paste:
What if you could visit your lost loved ones whenever you wanted? AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES is a short, sci-fi drama that tells the story of LILA, a grieving mother who battles her addiction to AMESTEN, a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost. Check it out at seedandspark.com/fund/as-easy-as-closing-your-eyes and @aseasyasclosingyoureyes and be a part of bringing the film to life. #amesten
THANK YOU FROM OUR ENTIRE TEAM
Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback, we'd love to hear from you, and we can't wait to share updates on the movie's progress.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $3,000
A film’s primary creative instrument for capturing stunning imagery and bringing the story to life.
Cast
Costs $2,400
The heart and soul of any great film, actors allow audiences to be transported into the film.
Color Grading
Costs $3,000
Establishes the mood and atmosphere of a film, helping to convey emotions and enhance storytelling.
ADR / VO Recording, Foley, Dialog Editing, Effects Editing, Sound Design, 5.1 Mix
Costs $3,000
Brings a film to life by adding depth, realism, and emotional impact to the film's audio elements.
9mm FX Theatrical Contact lenses
Costs $1,900
Our SFX contacts will transform our actors, conveying the most visible symptom of Amesten addiction.
Catering
Costs $1,500
Essential to ensure the well-being of the cast and crew throughout long and demanding shooting days.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $2,000
Increases the visibility and exposure of a film, connecting it to audiences all around the world.
Insurance
Costs $2,300
Mitigates financial risks and protects against unforeseen circumstances that could halt production.
Crew
Costs $2,900
The nuts and bolts of filmmaking, working collaboratively to execute every aspect of the production.
Locations
Costs $2,000
Create a believable and immersive world within the movie, setting the stage for the story.
Film Score
Costs $1,000
Establishes the film's identity, amplifying the tension, excitement, or poignancy of key moments.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
PARKER CROFT
Director, Writer
Parker Croft is a writer-director with a deep background in acting and cinematography. His short Suncatcher received sixty-two festivals selections, winning thirteen awards with an additional twenty nominations.
He has directed content for the NBA, FIBA Basketball World Cup, Shiseido, Better Booch, Happier Living, and numerous music videos for artists ranging from Vader the Villin to the All-American Rejects.
He co-wrote the feature film Falling Overnight which won the Special Jury Prize at Cinequest before streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
His past credits as an actor include Big Little Lies, Once Upon A Time, American Horror Story, Roadies, and Nip / Tuck.
AARON GOLDEN
Writer
Aaron Golden is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. He co-wrote and executive produced Falling Overnight, which won fifteen awards at twenty-six festivals before a successful run on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
A Bluecat and Scriptshadow contest quarter-finalist, he co-wrote and produced the short film Suncatcher, which received sixty-two festival selections, winning thirteen awards with an additional twenty nominations. His play To Tree received its world premiere at Chicago's Brown Box Theatre Company where it received a Best New Play Nomination from Broadway in Chicago.
In addition to his creative work, he is an accomplished sound mixer, having run the audio departments on the feature films The Resurrection of Charles Manson and Step Aside, both due for release in 2023.
MAX LOEB
Producer
Max is a seasoned entertainment industry professional with years of experience in development and production working on a range of film and television projects.
He produced Fear and Loathing in Aspen directed by Bobby Kennedy IIl, The Long Shore for PBS, Come Hungry for Magnolia, and worked in television on the CWs' Jane the Virgin and Adult Swim's Dream Corp, LLC.
He is currently the Director of Development at Pressman Films, where he is responsible for identifying and acquiring projects that align with the company's vision and ethos.
CHRIS BLIM
Producer
Chris Blim is known for Mondo Hollywoodland (2019), Water for Elephants (2011) and Nightmoon City (2022).
ROBBIE KAY
Co-Producer
Robbie Kay is an internationally renowned British actor with 17 years of experience in the film industry.
Based in Los Angeles, Robbie has worked on productions of all sizes across the globe. Credits include ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Times’ (Disney), ‘Once Upon A Time’ (ABC) and ‘Heroes: Reborn’ (NBC), to name a few.
Since Robbie arrived on the scene with the feature “Fugitive Pieces” - his first lead that opened TIFF in 2007 - his work has garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, resulting in a dedicated following.
Alongside his acting career, Robbie has developed into a writer and producer with an affinity for drama in both feature film and limited series format. He has written multiple scripts and created pitches for new shows, currently being shopped around Hollywood.