The Atavist
Pittsfield, Berkshire County | Film Feature
Adventure, Sci-Fi
THE ATAVIST is a sci-fi adventure about two women saving time. Jax, a time traveling young woman from the future, is hooked on nostalgia. Hen, from our present day, believes the best is yet to come. When Jax leaves behind items that alter history, the two of them must team up to set things right.
The Atavist
Pittsfield, Berkshire County | Film Feature
Adventure, Sci-Fi
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $21,915 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
176 supporters | followers
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THE ATAVIST is a sci-fi adventure about two women saving time. Jax, a time traveling young woman from the future, is hooked on nostalgia. Hen, from our present day, believes the best is yet to come. When Jax leaves behind items that alter history, the two of them must team up to set things right.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Update! We are fully funded - so we just need to make sure we stay in the top 10 most followed projects in the #HometownHeroes rally! In the meantime, check out the awesome mood reel made by our editor Anna Rottke to get an idea of what the final film will be like:
Hey there, this is Cameo, the one talking in that video up there. I love science fiction. Sci-fi film at its best imagines that our world is starkly different in some way, and juxtaposes that against familiar elements, and universal themes. Our film is about time travel, girls, and optimism about the future. I invite you to explore the world of The Atavist.
Our story begins a hundred years in the future with Jax, a young woman living in the small working class town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Things are rough in the Pittsfield of the future, especially for Jax. She's living on the streets. The bright and shiny future is not so shiny for her, and she spends her days imagining the past, and particularly the 2010s. One day, Jax is inadvertently transported into her past, our present day. She meets and quickly befriends Henrietta (Hen for short), in present-day Pittsfield. Hen is Jax's perfect complement: she's a scientist trying to research a breakthrough, and she can't stop thinking about the future and how exciting it could be.
Jax finds that people are impressed by technology from her time, and she leaves behind a few things that don't seem very important to her. But the things she leaves behind alter history and put her future in peril. She has to get everything back, but that's easier said than done. Can she retrieve every last item, with the help of Hen and her other new friends? Will the future be restored? Can Hen and Jax make peace with their places in time? Help us make The Atavist and find out!
I have always loved telling stories and acting. I was in the Wizard of Oz as Toto when I was 5, and knew I wanted to be in theater or movies. I only had one movie when I was a kid—Amadeus. I watched nearly every day until I was 11 and my family opened a video store in my hometown. From then on, I watched a few movies every day, and I was lucky enough to watch a huge number of wildly diverse films during the 7 years I worked at the store full time. In high school I was a founding member of a weekly high school television show, MMTV, and I did camera work and editing on VHS for our weekly show, and gained a great deal of experience. 
You read all the way to the end! You're probably wondering how you can help.
First, scroll back to the top and click the blue Follow button. The more followers we get, the better chance we have of being chosen for Hometown Heroes! You may have to spend a bit of time creating an account, but it's a huge help.
If you're able to support us financially, click the green Make a Pledge button.
Finally, tell all your friends! Share our Seed & Spark page on social media, and follow us at @AtavistFilm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Entertainment Attorney
Costs $1,000
Production finance and legal. Making the right attachments and making sure we're legit.
Storyboards
Costs $500
We need a story-board artist to help us visualize the film before production.
Film Accountant
Costs $1,000
We need a frugal and thoughtful accountant for a low budget feature film.
Marketing
Costs $500
Pitch materials and outreach to build audience and connect with potential investors.
Screenwriter
Costs $2,000
Getting a final draft of our screenplay is our full time job. We want to get the story right.
Office Space
Costs $2,000
We have offices at the amazing SFFilm Filmhouse X for $1000 a month!
Travel
Costs $500
We need to travel to LA and Pittsfield to meet with investors and actors.
Share this update!
About This Team
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Update! We are fully funded - so we just need to make sure we stay in the top 10 most followed projects in the #HometownHeroes rally! In the meantime, check out the awesome mood reel made by our editor Anna Rottke to get an idea of what the final film will be like:
Hey there, this is Cameo, the one talking in that video up there. I love science fiction. Sci-fi film at its best imagines that our world is starkly different in some way, and juxtaposes that against familiar elements, and universal themes. Our film is about time travel, girls, and optimism about the future. I invite you to explore the world of The Atavist.
Our story begins a hundred years in the future with Jax, a young woman living in the small working class town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Things are rough in the Pittsfield of the future, especially for Jax. She's living on the streets. The bright and shiny future is not so shiny for her, and she spends her days imagining the past, and particularly the 2010s. One day, Jax is inadvertently transported into her past, our present day. She meets and quickly befriends Henrietta (Hen for short), in present-day Pittsfield. Hen is Jax's perfect complement: she's a scientist trying to research a breakthrough, and she can't stop thinking about the future and how exciting it could be.
Jax finds that people are impressed by technology from her time, and she leaves behind a few things that don't seem very important to her. But the things she leaves behind alter history and put her future in peril. She has to get everything back, but that's easier said than done. Can she retrieve every last item, with the help of Hen and her other new friends? Will the future be restored? Can Hen and Jax make peace with their places in time? Help us make The Atavist and find out!
I have always loved telling stories and acting. I was in the Wizard of Oz as Toto when I was 5, and knew I wanted to be in theater or movies. I only had one movie when I was a kid—Amadeus. I watched nearly every day until I was 11 and my family opened a video store in my hometown. From then on, I watched a few movies every day, and I was lucky enough to watch a huge number of wildly diverse films during the 7 years I worked at the store full time. In high school I was a founding member of a weekly high school television show, MMTV, and I did camera work and editing on VHS for our weekly show, and gained a great deal of experience.
You read all the way to the end! You're probably wondering how you can help.
First, scroll back to the top and click the blue Follow button. The more followers we get, the better chance we have of being chosen for Hometown Heroes! You may have to spend a bit of time creating an account, but it's a huge help.
If you're able to support us financially, click the green Make a Pledge button.
Finally, tell all your friends! Share our Seed & Spark page on social media, and follow us at @AtavistFilm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Entertainment Attorney
Costs $1,000
Production finance and legal. Making the right attachments and making sure we're legit.
Storyboards
Costs $500
We need a story-board artist to help us visualize the film before production.
Film Accountant
Costs $1,000
We need a frugal and thoughtful accountant for a low budget feature film.
Marketing
Costs $500
Pitch materials and outreach to build audience and connect with potential investors.
Screenwriter
Costs $2,000
Getting a final draft of our screenplay is our full time job. We want to get the story right.
Office Space
Costs $2,000
We have offices at the amazing SFFilm Filmhouse X for $1000 a month!
Travel
Costs $500
We need to travel to LA and Pittsfield to meet with investors and actors.
Share this update!
About This Team