AWAKE
Richmond, Virginia | Film Short
Horror, Drama
Every night, Cory goes to sleep, terrified by recurring visions. As they come and go, he surrounds himself with people and places that he believes will bring him comfort. However, Cory slowly realizes that the most frightening things aren’t the ones conjured in his mind, but those that are real.
AWAKE
Richmond, Virginia | Film Short
Horror, Drama
1 Campaigns | Virginia, United States
19 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,570
Goal: $2,500 for pre-production
Every night, Cory goes to sleep, terrified by recurring visions. As they come and go, he surrounds himself with people and places that he believes will bring him comfort. However, Cory slowly realizes that the most frightening things aren’t the ones conjured in his mind, but those that are real.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A young man lost in the midst of his 20's goes to sleep terrified every single night because of visions he has during insomnia-related sleep paralysis episodes. In an attempt to remedy these issues he's having, young Cory confides in both his therapist Aurora and his situationship Roxanne, each with a different input surrounding his sleep. As Cory continues to surround himself with these people and places that he believes will bring him comfort, the visions he's having begin to subside.
However, what Cory fails to realize is that the things that are the most frightening aren't the ones that keep us Awake at night, racking our brains. It's the things that are tangible, real, and based in our own past that are truly terrifying.
CORY
18-25 Caucasian male. Plagued by insomnia-related issues, Cory's development is stunted by a mysterious father figure. Curious and naive, he walks the world trying to rid himself of nightmares, exploring places and things that he believes may provide “comfort.” Wanting control, Cory slowly realizes that the only things that can truly be scary are those based in reality.
DR. AURORA
30-35 any ethnicity female. A knowledgeable therapist with the goal to bring an overall peace that she already possesses, Dr. Aurora approaches Cory with professionalism, factual insight, and an understanding of how his experiences can be explained. However, even with experience and credentials, Cory’s questioning brings out a side of her that she rarely engages with. As Cory pushes back against her methods, she realizes that her professionality and factual insight may not be exactly what Cory needs.
ROXANNE
18-25 any ethnicity female. The ambiguous situationship tied to Cory, Roxanne repeatedly sees him at night, in more ways than one. Composed, articulate, and comforting, Roxanne finds peace in attempting to alleviate Cory’s insomnia. Providing a different perspective from his therapist, Roxanne aims to empathize rather than explain. Instead, she helps him become more comfortable with the idea that he doesn't need to have total control over himself.
Each member of the crew is a second year cinema student at Virginia Commonwealth University. While this film is not attached to the school or any of its affiliates, we are using what we have learned in class to create the best film possible outside of school hours. This crew is a collection of some of the most motivated and creative individuals in our program, all working towards the same vision.
THE CREW
Writer / Director - Nolan Parker
Producer - Lucas Thompson
Producer - Ben Phan
Director of Photography - Paul Finger
Production Designer - Michael Boggs
Assistant Director / Casting - Scott Price
Sound Mixer - Rex Farr
Grip and Electric - Eli Villanueva
Grip and Electric - Grayson Truda
Camera Operator - Jacob Zalenski
1st Assistant Camera - Trudy Hardman
2nd Assistant Camera - Francis Stratton
Steadicam Operator - Henrik Kvenlog
Art Assistant - Sam Park
Boom Operator - Marco Gonzalez
In order to start filming, we need to raise $2500, with the spending being broken down in the graph below. You can also check out our wishlist! Our crew will be working for free, but we will be compensating our actors and location owners for their time and accommodations.
We are confident that with these resources, we can bring this film to life through your support. Even with a small budget, we believe that the combined passion across our crew will create a meaningful product that surpasses lamination. We hope you consider pledging, and thank you for your time.
How Can You Help?
Besides becoming a contributer, we’d appreciate any outreach you can do on your behalf for AWAKE. With more eyes on our project, we’ll be able to reach more potential donors. You can also follow this Seed & Spark campaign and our Instagram, @AWAKE2026FILM.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAST
Costs $750
Without actors, there is no film--we'd like to bring on talented individuals and compensate them for their time and effort.
LOCATIONS
Costs $600
We have some locations locked down, but we need a professional office that will require payment to use the space.
EQUIPMENT + INSURANCE
Costs $500
In order to fulfill the needs of the camera and lighting teams, we need the proper equipment and file storage.
PROPS + DECORATIONS
Costs $400
We need proper set dressing and authentic items to capture the look, feel, and realism of the film.
CRAFT SERVICES + OTHER
Costs $250
Meals and snacks on shooting days for the cast and crew, as well as miscellaneous transportation fees and production supplies.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
NOLAN PARKER - Writer / Director
Nolan Parker is a 19-year-old American filmmaker based in Richmond, Virginia, currently enrolled in the VCUarts Cinema Program. Currently Nolan is working towards a double major in Cinema and Mass Communications with a concentration in journalism + a minor in Media Studies. Nolan grew up in Northern Virginia where he found his passion for the arts through his high school's photojournalism program where he worked as editor in chief of the yearbook staff. Outside of his education, Nolan continues his childhood passion for athletics where he plays for VCU Men's Club Soccer.
LUCAS THOMPSON - Producer
Lucas Thompson is a 23-year-old Japanese-American filmmaker based in Richmond, Virginia who is currently enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a BA in Cinema and a BS in Crime Scene Investigation. Lucas enjoys a variety of different roles on set, and has experience producing short films as well as other below the line roles in camera and sound departments.
BEN PHAN - Producer
Ben Phan is a Vietnamese-American producer based in Richmond, Virginia, currently at VCUarts in pursuit of a BA in Cinema. He is most known for directing How To Live In Living Rooms (2026), a coming-of-age film tackling the complex experience of being an artist raised by immigrant parents. Growing up in suburbia, he blends diaspora, creativity, and yearning into his stories, tapping into the needs we often feel more than anything else.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A young man lost in the midst of his 20's goes to sleep terrified every single night because of visions he has during insomnia-related sleep paralysis episodes. In an attempt to remedy these issues he's having, young Cory confides in both his therapist Aurora and his situationship Roxanne, each with a different input surrounding his sleep. As Cory continues to surround himself with these people and places that he believes will bring him comfort, the visions he's having begin to subside.
However, what Cory fails to realize is that the things that are the most frightening aren't the ones that keep us Awake at night, racking our brains. It's the things that are tangible, real, and based in our own past that are truly terrifying.
CORY
18-25 Caucasian male. Plagued by insomnia-related issues, Cory's development is stunted by a mysterious father figure. Curious and naive, he walks the world trying to rid himself of nightmares, exploring places and things that he believes may provide “comfort.” Wanting control, Cory slowly realizes that the only things that can truly be scary are those based in reality.
DR. AURORA
30-35 any ethnicity female. A knowledgeable therapist with the goal to bring an overall peace that she already possesses, Dr. Aurora approaches Cory with professionalism, factual insight, and an understanding of how his experiences can be explained. However, even with experience and credentials, Cory’s questioning brings out a side of her that she rarely engages with. As Cory pushes back against her methods, she realizes that her professionality and factual insight may not be exactly what Cory needs.
ROXANNE
18-25 any ethnicity female. The ambiguous situationship tied to Cory, Roxanne repeatedly sees him at night, in more ways than one. Composed, articulate, and comforting, Roxanne finds peace in attempting to alleviate Cory’s insomnia. Providing a different perspective from his therapist, Roxanne aims to empathize rather than explain. Instead, she helps him become more comfortable with the idea that he doesn't need to have total control over himself.
Each member of the crew is a second year cinema student at Virginia Commonwealth University. While this film is not attached to the school or any of its affiliates, we are using what we have learned in class to create the best film possible outside of school hours. This crew is a collection of some of the most motivated and creative individuals in our program, all working towards the same vision.
THE CREW
Writer / Director - Nolan Parker
Producer - Lucas Thompson
Producer - Ben Phan
Director of Photography - Paul Finger
Production Designer - Michael Boggs
Assistant Director / Casting - Scott Price
Sound Mixer - Rex Farr
Grip and Electric - Eli Villanueva
Grip and Electric - Grayson Truda
Camera Operator - Jacob Zalenski
1st Assistant Camera - Trudy Hardman
2nd Assistant Camera - Francis Stratton
Steadicam Operator - Henrik Kvenlog
Art Assistant - Sam Park
Boom Operator - Marco Gonzalez
In order to start filming, we need to raise $2500, with the spending being broken down in the graph below. You can also check out our wishlist! Our crew will be working for free, but we will be compensating our actors and location owners for their time and accommodations.
We are confident that with these resources, we can bring this film to life through your support. Even with a small budget, we believe that the combined passion across our crew will create a meaningful product that surpasses lamination. We hope you consider pledging, and thank you for your time.
How Can You Help?
Besides becoming a contributer, we’d appreciate any outreach you can do on your behalf for AWAKE. With more eyes on our project, we’ll be able to reach more potential donors. You can also follow this Seed & Spark campaign and our Instagram, @AWAKE2026FILM.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
CAST
Costs $750
Without actors, there is no film--we'd like to bring on talented individuals and compensate them for their time and effort.
LOCATIONS
Costs $600
We have some locations locked down, but we need a professional office that will require payment to use the space.
EQUIPMENT + INSURANCE
Costs $500
In order to fulfill the needs of the camera and lighting teams, we need the proper equipment and file storage.
PROPS + DECORATIONS
Costs $400
We need proper set dressing and authentic items to capture the look, feel, and realism of the film.
CRAFT SERVICES + OTHER
Costs $250
Meals and snacks on shooting days for the cast and crew, as well as miscellaneous transportation fees and production supplies.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
NOLAN PARKER - Writer / Director
Nolan Parker is a 19-year-old American filmmaker based in Richmond, Virginia, currently enrolled in the VCUarts Cinema Program. Currently Nolan is working towards a double major in Cinema and Mass Communications with a concentration in journalism + a minor in Media Studies. Nolan grew up in Northern Virginia where he found his passion for the arts through his high school's photojournalism program where he worked as editor in chief of the yearbook staff. Outside of his education, Nolan continues his childhood passion for athletics where he plays for VCU Men's Club Soccer.
LUCAS THOMPSON - Producer
Lucas Thompson is a 23-year-old Japanese-American filmmaker based in Richmond, Virginia who is currently enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a BA in Cinema and a BS in Crime Scene Investigation. Lucas enjoys a variety of different roles on set, and has experience producing short films as well as other below the line roles in camera and sound departments.
BEN PHAN - Producer
Ben Phan is a Vietnamese-American producer based in Richmond, Virginia, currently at VCUarts in pursuit of a BA in Cinema. He is most known for directing How To Live In Living Rooms (2026), a coming-of-age film tackling the complex experience of being an artist raised by immigrant parents. Growing up in suburbia, he blends diaspora, creativity, and yearning into his stories, tapping into the needs we often feel more than anything else.