Ashes Between Us
Allentown, Pennsylvania | Film Short
Drama, Action
After a mission engineered to ensure their failure & elimination and a calculated deception of his wife's murder, former frogman Eli must decide between justice and revenge when the loyalty of brotherhood & love is shattered. Can he decide who deserves his trust when its been broken on all fronts.
Ashes Between Us
Allentown, Pennsylvania | Film Short
Drama, Action
1 Campaigns | Pennsylvania, United States
15 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,010
Goal: $12,000 for production
After a mission engineered to ensure their failure & elimination and a calculated deception of his wife's murder, former frogman Eli must decide between justice and revenge when the loyalty of brotherhood & love is shattered. Can he decide who deserves his trust when its been broken on all fronts.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
As a collective, we want to tell great stories that are authentic, vibrant and dynamic. Led by a team mixed with veterans and newcomers in all aspects of film production; we want our viewers to be left with feeling inspired, encouraged and provoked to change how they think about their everyday lives in a positive and momentous way.
(AI Disclosure: This promo features a sub‑30‑second AI‑generated video split into clips used to strengthen the visual storytelling. Four images in this campaign were created using generative AI to help illustrate the project’s vision. )
Eli - The Vigilante
A soldier haunted by loss, driven by guilt, and willing to risk everything to make things right.
Sarah, The Heart
Strong, capable, and far more than a victim. Her presence drives every decision Eli makes.
Noah, The Betrayer
A trusted brother in arms whose loyalty may not be what it seems
A grief stricken soldier searches for answers after his wife’s disappearance, only to uncover a betrayal that turns brother against brother and forces him to choose between exposing corruption or saving the person he loves most.
ASHES BETWEEN US is a gripping political action thriller about loyalty, betrayal, and the devastating cost of choosing duty over love. When a soldier returns home from service, he discovers his wife has been taken, forcing him into a relentless search for the truth. As he digs deeper, the lines between ally and enemy begin to blur.
What starts as a rescue mission becomes something far more dangerous. Because the real threat is not overseas.
It is one of his own.
WHY THIS STORY
This film explores what happens after the war ends. For many veterans, the battle does not stop when they return home. It evolves. Trauma, pressure, and fractured identity can strain even the strongest relationships.
ASHES BETWEEN US dives into the psychological weight of service, the tension between duty and personal life, and how loyalty can be manipulated, tested, and broken. At its core, this is a story about one powerful idea.
Loyalty can destroy you when it is given to the wrong person.
WHY IT MATTERS
This story goes beyond the military.
It is about moments we all understand.
Choosing between family and ambition.
Trusting someone who does not deserve it.
Realizing too late that loyalty was not mutual.
These are not just plot points. They are human experiences.
We are creating a 15 minute, high intensity proof of concept short film that blends emotional storytelling with grounded action and suspense.
Visually, the film will feature gritty, grounded lighting that reflects Eli’s mental state, tight close ups to heighten tension and emotion, and wide cinematic shots to immerse viewers in the world.
This is not just action. This is psychological tension, grief, and unraveling truth.
There will be plenty of wide lens shots for viewers to see the world we create. Many close-up shots to really feel tense and dramatic moments. Our lighting will provide a grungy feel as you traverse each thought of the characters and their actions. Filming begins in Eastern Pennsylvania and will stretch to parts of Northwest New Jersey. This is ground zero as it holds familiarity for the films creator and is also a military region.
What makes this story unique is that; we not only touch base on possible traumatic experiences and what most veterans
face once returning home from service, but we highlight what they can through in their everyday lives. We challenge the idea that loyalty is honorable until it's no longer beneficial and how trust is easily manipulated.
PRODUCTION PLAN
Filming will take place across Eastern Pennsylvania and Northwest New Jersey, locations that reflect both the realism of the world and the lived experiences behind the story.
Our team is a collaboration of emerging voices and experienced creatives, all committed to telling bold, meaningful stories with impact.
WHY WE NEED YOU
Your support helps us bring this story to life at a high level, pay our cast and crew fairly, and create a powerful proof of concept that can grow into a feature.
We are not just making a short film.
We are building something bigger, and this is the first step.
We truly believe ASHES BETWEEN US is a story that will stay with people long after it ends.
Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us bring it to life. We look forward to bringing you a film you will not forget.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $4,000
Help us make this as authentic as possible from wardrobe to securing locations and everything in between!
Cast & Crew
Costs $3,400
The most crucial part of this project none of this happens without them!
Post Production
Costs $3,200
We need help with piecing it together so we can bring you the best film possible with SFX and much more!
Marketing
Costs $400
Help us get this out in front of as many eyes as possible ! Including festivals.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chris Kusiappouh
Creator | Lead Actor | Executive Producer
Maddox Sullivan
Actor | Executive Producer | Writer
Chris Robinson
Fight Choreographer
Aaron Sterling
Director
Christina Colgan
Producer
Jon Dhamiri
DP | Cinematographer
MJ
Actress
Adrian Sterling
Producer
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
As a collective, we want to tell great stories that are authentic, vibrant and dynamic. Led by a team mixed with veterans and newcomers in all aspects of film production; we want our viewers to be left with feeling inspired, encouraged and provoked to change how they think about their everyday lives in a positive and momentous way.
(AI Disclosure: This promo features a sub‑30‑second AI‑generated video split into clips used to strengthen the visual storytelling. Four images in this campaign were created using generative AI to help illustrate the project’s vision. )
Eli - The Vigilante
A soldier haunted by loss, driven by guilt, and willing to risk everything to make things right.
Sarah, The Heart
Strong, capable, and far more than a victim. Her presence drives every decision Eli makes.
Noah, The Betrayer
A trusted brother in arms whose loyalty may not be what it seems
A grief stricken soldier searches for answers after his wife’s disappearance, only to uncover a betrayal that turns brother against brother and forces him to choose between exposing corruption or saving the person he loves most.
ASHES BETWEEN US is a gripping political action thriller about loyalty, betrayal, and the devastating cost of choosing duty over love. When a soldier returns home from service, he discovers his wife has been taken, forcing him into a relentless search for the truth. As he digs deeper, the lines between ally and enemy begin to blur.
What starts as a rescue mission becomes something far more dangerous. Because the real threat is not overseas.
It is one of his own.
WHY THIS STORY
This film explores what happens after the war ends. For many veterans, the battle does not stop when they return home. It evolves. Trauma, pressure, and fractured identity can strain even the strongest relationships.
ASHES BETWEEN US dives into the psychological weight of service, the tension between duty and personal life, and how loyalty can be manipulated, tested, and broken. At its core, this is a story about one powerful idea.
Loyalty can destroy you when it is given to the wrong person.
WHY IT MATTERS
This story goes beyond the military.
It is about moments we all understand.
Choosing between family and ambition.
Trusting someone who does not deserve it.
Realizing too late that loyalty was not mutual.
These are not just plot points. They are human experiences.
We are creating a 15 minute, high intensity proof of concept short film that blends emotional storytelling with grounded action and suspense.
Visually, the film will feature gritty, grounded lighting that reflects Eli’s mental state, tight close ups to heighten tension and emotion, and wide cinematic shots to immerse viewers in the world.
This is not just action. This is psychological tension, grief, and unraveling truth.
There will be plenty of wide lens shots for viewers to see the world we create. Many close-up shots to really feel tense and dramatic moments. Our lighting will provide a grungy feel as you traverse each thought of the characters and their actions. Filming begins in Eastern Pennsylvania and will stretch to parts of Northwest New Jersey. This is ground zero as it holds familiarity for the films creator and is also a military region.
What makes this story unique is that; we not only touch base on possible traumatic experiences and what most veterans
face once returning home from service, but we highlight what they can through in their everyday lives. We challenge the idea that loyalty is honorable until it's no longer beneficial and how trust is easily manipulated.
PRODUCTION PLAN
Filming will take place across Eastern Pennsylvania and Northwest New Jersey, locations that reflect both the realism of the world and the lived experiences behind the story.
Our team is a collaboration of emerging voices and experienced creatives, all committed to telling bold, meaningful stories with impact.
WHY WE NEED YOU
Your support helps us bring this story to life at a high level, pay our cast and crew fairly, and create a powerful proof of concept that can grow into a feature.
We are not just making a short film.
We are building something bigger, and this is the first step.
We truly believe ASHES BETWEEN US is a story that will stay with people long after it ends.
Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us bring it to life. We look forward to bringing you a film you will not forget.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $4,000
Help us make this as authentic as possible from wardrobe to securing locations and everything in between!
Cast & Crew
Costs $3,400
The most crucial part of this project none of this happens without them!
Post Production
Costs $3,200
We need help with piecing it together so we can bring you the best film possible with SFX and much more!
Marketing
Costs $400
Help us get this out in front of as many eyes as possible ! Including festivals.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chris Kusiappouh
Creator | Lead Actor | Executive Producer
Maddox Sullivan
Actor | Executive Producer | Writer
Chris Robinson
Fight Choreographer
Aaron Sterling
Director
Christina Colgan
Producer
Jon Dhamiri
DP | Cinematographer
MJ
Actress
Adrian Sterling
Producer