Baby Blue
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Western, Drama
A lonely and emotionally withdrawn long-haul truck driver returns home to San Francisco for a drunken weekend with his hypermasculine friends. Back on the road, he is forced to do something he has never allowed himself to do before: ask for help.
Baby Blue
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Western, Drama
2 Campaigns | California, United States
41 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$12,110
Goal: $12,500 for production
A lonely and emotionally withdrawn long-haul truck driver returns home to San Francisco for a drunken weekend with his hypermasculine friends. Back on the road, he is forced to do something he has never allowed himself to do before: ask for help.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Owen is a mid-20s long-haul truck driver with a struggling engine and diminishing mental state. Spending his days driving through endless highways and vast landscapes, he lives a painfully solitary life. He turns to unhealthy vices and entertains the idea of ending it all.
Owen returns to his home city of San Francisco for a long weekend with friends. He is slow to adjust to the city’s neon, quick-paced nightlife, brief sexual escapades, and the drunken, toxic masculinity of his friends. After an eventful night out, emotional facades are peeled back, secrets are shared, and Owen develops a deeper understanding of the people he thought he had fully left behind.
Back on the road, Owen receives an alarming voicemail from a friend back home. He swerves out of control, and just like his engine, he finally breaks down. Owen steps slowly and closer into the highway as the cars blur by. He lifts his thumb and waits... he waits for someone to help.
Artist Statement
I view long-haul truckers as the contemporary version of cowboys today; a long-held symbol of masculinity in our culture. I hope to tell this story under the veil of a Neo-Western road film, shot in a documentary style to feel as truthful, intimate, and immersive as possible for the audience.
Baby Blue is an exploration of modern masculinity, mental health, and the nuances of men’s friendships and relationships. The film aims to present an intimate and detailed narrative of how men behave behind closed doors through an unapologetic lens while still maintaining empathy for the characters. The film is not only a critique of modern masculinity, but a call to action for men seeking emotional help.
The Reach/Impact
Our primary goal for this project is to submit to higher-tier film festivals and fellowships such as the Sundance X Adobe Ignite Fellowship (open to filmmakers ages 18-25), Austin Film Festival, SF Indie Fest, Mill Valley Festival, and many more.
The screenplay for Baby Blue is currently in the running for several script competitions and festivals, having so far been selected by the Cannes Script Festival and the Chicago Film Awards.
We are currently securing partnerships with Men's/Mental Health organizations and other impact campaigns. We hope this will not only expand the film's reach, but also allow it to serve as a meaningful resource for those navigating the issues and experiences explored in the film.
Your Support
Baby Blue is currently in consideration for several film grants and fellowships. Since these outlets tend to be extremely competitive, we are aware of the fact that the majority of our funding will need to come from our crowdfunding campaign and personal networks. Here is how your support will be allocated if you choose to donate to our campaign:
We truly appreciate and welcome any amount you are willing to contribute, and we are immensely grateful for your support. If you happen to discover our campaign and are unable to make a monetary contribution at this time, we would truly appreciate it if you would share our campaign with your network!
Previous Work
Curious about my prior work? Check out the previous films I wrote and directed below!
Crossroads (2025)
A love letter to Santa Cruz, CA. Shot on 16mm film in the summer of 2024.
Official Premiere and Selection at the 25th Annual Santa Cruz Film Festival. View here!
The Art of Moving People (2023)
Best Narrative Short at the San Francisco International Film Awards. Official Selection at over 8 festivals. View here!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment & Gear Rental
Costs $1,500
This covers equipment/gear rental for the duration of our shoot (camera, lighting, sound, etc)
Cast & Crew Compensation
Costs $6,250
This covers compensation for our cast and crew members
Location Rental
Costs $500
This covers the cost of renting specific locations for our shoot days
Food and Craft Services
Costs $750
This covers food and craft services for our cast and crew
Editing & Post-Production
Costs $3,000
This covers costs for an editor, colorist, and sound designer
Distribution & Festival Fees
Costs $500
This covers the cost of applying to film festivals, fellowships, and future grants
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Christopher Lawrence (Writer-Director)
Christopher Lawrence is a Taiwanese-American, award-winning filmmaker and educator from San Francisco, California. He works full-time at SFFILM, where he programs films for their annual film festival, coordinates filmmaker school visits, and instructs their high school-level filmmaking intensive. His work has won multiple awards and has screened at festivals in the Bay Area and nationwide, with his latest short film currently on its festival run. Christopher graduated from UC Santa Cruz with degrees in Film Production and Education, and is headed to UT Austin for an MFA in Film Production and Directing this fall.
Emily Broderick (Producer)
Emily Broderick is a Filipino-American program logistics manager by day and artist/film producer by night. Originally from the Bay Area, she is a graduate of The Los Angeles Film School with a B.S. in Entertainment Business. She has spent the last 10 years building her career at the intersection of the non-profit, philanthropic, and entertainment sectors. She has furthered her education via programs at Berklee College of Music and Cornell University. Her experience includes work with organizations such as Film Independent, All Def Media, Cinequest, and The Bridgespan Group.
Phil Elleston, II (Director of Photography)
Phil Elleston, II is a cinematographer born and raised in San Francisco, California. He is passionate about collaborating with filmmakers and artists to bring creative visions to life through thoughtful lighting, composition, and visual storytelling. His work often explores themes of inclusion, alienation, and social justice, and he is grateful for every opportunity to reflect these ideas through the arts. Whether working on narrative films, documentaries, music videos, or commercial projects, Phil strives to create images that are both emotionally resonant and visually compelling.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Owen is a mid-20s long-haul truck driver with a struggling engine and diminishing mental state. Spending his days driving through endless highways and vast landscapes, he lives a painfully solitary life. He turns to unhealthy vices and entertains the idea of ending it all.
Owen returns to his home city of San Francisco for a long weekend with friends. He is slow to adjust to the city’s neon, quick-paced nightlife, brief sexual escapades, and the drunken, toxic masculinity of his friends. After an eventful night out, emotional facades are peeled back, secrets are shared, and Owen develops a deeper understanding of the people he thought he had fully left behind.
Back on the road, Owen receives an alarming voicemail from a friend back home. He swerves out of control, and just like his engine, he finally breaks down. Owen steps slowly and closer into the highway as the cars blur by. He lifts his thumb and waits... he waits for someone to help.
Artist Statement
I view long-haul truckers as the contemporary version of cowboys today; a long-held symbol of masculinity in our culture. I hope to tell this story under the veil of a Neo-Western road film, shot in a documentary style to feel as truthful, intimate, and immersive as possible for the audience.
Baby Blue is an exploration of modern masculinity, mental health, and the nuances of men’s friendships and relationships. The film aims to present an intimate and detailed narrative of how men behave behind closed doors through an unapologetic lens while still maintaining empathy for the characters. The film is not only a critique of modern masculinity, but a call to action for men seeking emotional help.
The Reach/Impact
Our primary goal for this project is to submit to higher-tier film festivals and fellowships such as the Sundance X Adobe Ignite Fellowship (open to filmmakers ages 18-25), Austin Film Festival, SF Indie Fest, Mill Valley Festival, and many more.
The screenplay for Baby Blue is currently in the running for several script competitions and festivals, having so far been selected by the Cannes Script Festival and the Chicago Film Awards.
We are currently securing partnerships with Men's/Mental Health organizations and other impact campaigns. We hope this will not only expand the film's reach, but also allow it to serve as a meaningful resource for those navigating the issues and experiences explored in the film.
Your Support
Baby Blue is currently in consideration for several film grants and fellowships. Since these outlets tend to be extremely competitive, we are aware of the fact that the majority of our funding will need to come from our crowdfunding campaign and personal networks. Here is how your support will be allocated if you choose to donate to our campaign:
We truly appreciate and welcome any amount you are willing to contribute, and we are immensely grateful for your support. If you happen to discover our campaign and are unable to make a monetary contribution at this time, we would truly appreciate it if you would share our campaign with your network!
Previous Work
Curious about my prior work? Check out the previous films I wrote and directed below!
Crossroads (2025)
A love letter to Santa Cruz, CA. Shot on 16mm film in the summer of 2024.
Official Premiere and Selection at the 25th Annual Santa Cruz Film Festival. View here!
The Art of Moving People (2023)
Best Narrative Short at the San Francisco International Film Awards. Official Selection at over 8 festivals. View here!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment & Gear Rental
Costs $1,500
This covers equipment/gear rental for the duration of our shoot (camera, lighting, sound, etc)
Cast & Crew Compensation
Costs $6,250
This covers compensation for our cast and crew members
Location Rental
Costs $500
This covers the cost of renting specific locations for our shoot days
Food and Craft Services
Costs $750
This covers food and craft services for our cast and crew
Editing & Post-Production
Costs $3,000
This covers costs for an editor, colorist, and sound designer
Distribution & Festival Fees
Costs $500
This covers the cost of applying to film festivals, fellowships, and future grants
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Christopher Lawrence (Writer-Director)
Christopher Lawrence is a Taiwanese-American, award-winning filmmaker and educator from San Francisco, California. He works full-time at SFFILM, where he programs films for their annual film festival, coordinates filmmaker school visits, and instructs their high school-level filmmaking intensive. His work has won multiple awards and has screened at festivals in the Bay Area and nationwide, with his latest short film currently on its festival run. Christopher graduated from UC Santa Cruz with degrees in Film Production and Education, and is headed to UT Austin for an MFA in Film Production and Directing this fall.
Emily Broderick (Producer)
Emily Broderick is a Filipino-American program logistics manager by day and artist/film producer by night. Originally from the Bay Area, she is a graduate of The Los Angeles Film School with a B.S. in Entertainment Business. She has spent the last 10 years building her career at the intersection of the non-profit, philanthropic, and entertainment sectors. She has furthered her education via programs at Berklee College of Music and Cornell University. Her experience includes work with organizations such as Film Independent, All Def Media, Cinequest, and The Bridgespan Group.
Phil Elleston, II (Director of Photography)
Phil Elleston, II is a cinematographer born and raised in San Francisco, California. He is passionate about collaborating with filmmakers and artists to bring creative visions to life through thoughtful lighting, composition, and visual storytelling. His work often explores themes of inclusion, alienation, and social justice, and he is grateful for every opportunity to reflect these ideas through the arts. Whether working on narrative films, documentaries, music videos, or commercial projects, Phil strives to create images that are both emotionally resonant and visually compelling.