Before My Eyes
Chicago, Illinois | Film Feature
Drama, Thriller
Before My Eyes turns loneliness into suspense, following a man whose act of kindness spirals into something darker. Your support helps us create a psychological indie thriller about regret, connection, and the dangerous need to belong.
Before My Eyes
Chicago, Illinois | Film Feature
Drama, Thriller
1 Campaigns | Illinois, United States
14 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$5,215
Goal: $30,000 for production
Before My Eyes turns loneliness into suspense, following a man whose act of kindness spirals into something darker. Your support helps us create a psychological indie thriller about regret, connection, and the dangerous need to belong.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
An erratic retiree rescues a stranded couple, and begins inserting himself into their lives, but as his motives grow increasingly unclear, he starts to lose his grip on reality.
I'm Mike Alongi, the Writer/Director of Before My Eyes. Thank you for considering supporting our film.
At its core, this is a story about family, loss, and the choices we make that define who we become. On the surface, it’s a reality-bending spiral of alcohol-infused suspense.
I wrote this film while watching my friends get married and have kids, questioning what life would be like if none of that happened to me. Because what is the value of life if we have no one to share it with?
When my father retired, he took up acting as a hobby. The day he broke the news to me and the rest of my family, I started writing. As someone who has been shooting, editing and producing videos in the corporate world for 8+ years, I couldn't think of a better way to transition into filmmaking than with my dad by my side.
If you choose to support us financially, you’re helping real people, a real family, make a personal independent film built on the belief that it’s never too late to build bridges and create connections.
This campaign is bigger than financial support, and if money is tight, you can still help us by following this page, sharing the project, and telling someone about the film. That part is free, and it genuinely matters.
Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for even considering being a part of our creative journey.
Watch the full investor trailer below!
Alex has everything he could ever ask for. Except a family. On his way home one day, he comes across a stranded couple in a broken-down car on the verge of having a baby.
He stops to help, and then immediately weaves himself into their lives, offering support, advice and an invasive presence they never asked for.
Through alcohol, depression, and a need to be needed, the more he imagines himself belonging to this makeshift family, the more his reality crumbles into a dreamlike bender.
Can he be trusted? Can he trust himself? This story explores how far someone will go to feel like they belong, and what happens when the life they want begins to replace the one they have.
The film will also feature an original song conceived and written by Writer/Director Mike Alongi and recorded by cousins Joe and Frank Alongi.
Created specifically for the project, the song adds another deeply personal layer to the film.
Before My Eyes is a film that will be dark, soft and dreamy, with a voyeuristic meets bender style aesthetic.
In terms of comps, the film is a blend of The Machinist, The Father and Mullholland Drive, set in a modern-day world that feels closer to the dream-like vibes of Inception, Enter The Void, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
January 2026: Initial Fundraising & Pre-Production
May 2026: Film Investor Trailer
July 2026: Lock-In Cast & Crew
August 2026: Launch our Seed&Spark campaign
September & October 2026: Principal Photography
November - December 2026: Post-Production
Early 2027: Debut Screenings
Summer 2027: Kick Off Festival Run!
Summer/Fall 2027: Distribution + Online Premiere
CAMPAIGN GOAL: $30,000
Why do we need to raise $30K to make this film? Because we believe that great art takes a great team. We have incredible artists participating, from LA to New York, and we want to pay them all. The costs of making an awesome film add up quickly, and we want to do right by our team! Every dollar raised will go directly toward making this film.
The breakdown below shows how we expect to allocate the budget, though it may shift as production needs evolve.
Our goal is to stretch every contribution as far as possible while giving the film, and the people making it, the resources they need to do their best work.
STRETCH GOALS:
$35,000: Gear, Equipment & Set Improvements
$40,000: Level Up VFX & Post-Production
$45,000+: DISTRIBUTION COSTS COVERED + PAY BUMPS FOR CAST/CREW!
Besides financial support, you can also help play a vital role in bringing Before My Eyes to life:
- Amplify our Voice: Follow this campaign and share it with your circle to help us reach new audiences.
- Stay Connected: Follow our journey on Instagram @BeforeMyEyesMovie
- Create New Connections: Is there someone or an organization you think would love to get involved? Send them our way at [email protected]
*Gen-AI was used in the creation of text and visual graphics (BTS & Screengrabs are 100% authentic and captured during filming)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering/Craft
Costs $2,500
Help us keep our cast and crew fueled throughout production by covering meals, snacks, and drinks on set.
Cast & Crew Support
Costs $16,000
Help us compensate the talented cast and crew whose time, skill, and dedication are essential to bringing this film to life.
Locations & Local Production Needs
Costs $1,000
Help us secure filming locations and cover essential local needs like permits, parking, transportation, and on-site logistics.
Wardrobe, Art & Props
Costs $1,500
Help us create the film’s world through wardrobe, set dressing, and props that make every character and location feel authentic.
Equipment
Costs $2,500
Help us secure the cameras, lighting, sound, and support gear needed to capture the film safely and professionally.
Post-Production
Costs $5,000
Help cover editing, sound design, color grading, music, and final delivery so the finished film reaches its full potential.
Festivals/Marketing
Costs $1,500
Help cover festival submissions, promotional materials, press outreach, and marketing so the film can reach audiences beyond production.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Mike Alongi
Mike is a Chicago-based writer, director, producer, videographer and editor, as well as the founder and executive producer of ForFront Media. Through his company, he has produced projects for world-renowned brands and organizations including Advocate, EY, SNAP, Eckerd, Aunt Martha's, Grecian Delight Kronos, Association of Defense Communities and beyond.
While building a career in the Corporate/Docu space, his passion has always been with creative projects.
Before My Eyes is his debut feature film that he wrote and will direct with his father playing the lead.
Bob Alongi | "ALEX"
Bob Alongi, father of Writer/Director Mike Alongi, began pursuing acting after retiring from a career as an optometrist. Since stepping in front of the camera, he has appeared in Deli Boys, Jon Bragg, Super Adam Sitcom, Reverie, and 219 (The Series).
Kristen McCabe | "EMILY"
Kristen is an award-winning Chicago-based actor and producer with experience across film, television, theatre, and commercial work. A Wisconsin native who previously lived and performed in Sydney, Australia, she has appeared in productions including Deadly Women, Inferior Decorating, Pole Climb, Sanguine Teeth on a Driftless Road, and The Perfectionist. Her work as both a performer and producer has earned more than 40 festival laurels and multiple acting awards, including recognition for her lead performances in Pole Climb and Cheesecake & Rainbow Tights.
Adolfo Alvarez Jr. | "ETHAN"
Adolfo is an actor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran with experience in film, commercial, and print work. He played Marco in Mistletoe Mansion and has appeared in campaigns for Pittsburgh Dental Spa, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Montico Group, Employee of the Decade, and Good Foods. Adolfo is fluent in Spanish and has additional experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fencing, weightlifting, firearms, programming, and trumpet.
Angela Kingova | "SUZANNE"
Angela is a SAG-AFTRA actor, writer, director, producer, singer, and dancer with experience across film, television, theatre, and choreography. Her credits include Sweet Spiral, Single Dad Hunt, Caution, Cute Baby Alert!, Jon Bragg, and The Disturbance at Dinner. She is fluent in Russian and trained in acting, voice, improv, dance, and movement.
David Wenzel | "JOE"
David is an award-winning actor, director, and producer with more than 30 years of experience across film, television, daytime serials, and Off-Broadway theatre. His credits include A Complete Unknown, The Irishman, On the Rocks, Hustlers, Blue Bloods, FBI, Power, and Ray Donovan. A two-time national full-contact karate champion and member of the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, David has also worked on and off as Brad Pitt's stand-in/photo double for the last ten years, beginning with the film Sleepers.
The performers featured above represent our principal cast, but our full ensemble includes approximately 20 talented actors who will each play an important role in bringing this story to life.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
An erratic retiree rescues a stranded couple, and begins inserting himself into their lives, but as his motives grow increasingly unclear, he starts to lose his grip on reality.
I'm Mike Alongi, the Writer/Director of Before My Eyes. Thank you for considering supporting our film.
At its core, this is a story about family, loss, and the choices we make that define who we become. On the surface, it’s a reality-bending spiral of alcohol-infused suspense.
I wrote this film while watching my friends get married and have kids, questioning what life would be like if none of that happened to me. Because what is the value of life if we have no one to share it with?
When my father retired, he took up acting as a hobby. The day he broke the news to me and the rest of my family, I started writing. As someone who has been shooting, editing and producing videos in the corporate world for 8+ years, I couldn't think of a better way to transition into filmmaking than with my dad by my side.
If you choose to support us financially, you’re helping real people, a real family, make a personal independent film built on the belief that it’s never too late to build bridges and create connections.
This campaign is bigger than financial support, and if money is tight, you can still help us by following this page, sharing the project, and telling someone about the film. That part is free, and it genuinely matters.
Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for even considering being a part of our creative journey.
Watch the full investor trailer below!
Alex has everything he could ever ask for. Except a family. On his way home one day, he comes across a stranded couple in a broken-down car on the verge of having a baby.
He stops to help, and then immediately weaves himself into their lives, offering support, advice and an invasive presence they never asked for.
Through alcohol, depression, and a need to be needed, the more he imagines himself belonging to this makeshift family, the more his reality crumbles into a dreamlike bender.
Can he be trusted? Can he trust himself? This story explores how far someone will go to feel like they belong, and what happens when the life they want begins to replace the one they have.
The film will also feature an original song conceived and written by Writer/Director Mike Alongi and recorded by cousins Joe and Frank Alongi.
Created specifically for the project, the song adds another deeply personal layer to the film.
Before My Eyes is a film that will be dark, soft and dreamy, with a voyeuristic meets bender style aesthetic.
In terms of comps, the film is a blend of The Machinist, The Father and Mullholland Drive, set in a modern-day world that feels closer to the dream-like vibes of Inception, Enter The Void, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
January 2026: Initial Fundraising & Pre-Production
May 2026: Film Investor Trailer
July 2026: Lock-In Cast & Crew
August 2026: Launch our Seed&Spark campaign
September & October 2026: Principal Photography
November - December 2026: Post-Production
Early 2027: Debut Screenings
Summer 2027: Kick Off Festival Run!
Summer/Fall 2027: Distribution + Online Premiere
CAMPAIGN GOAL: $30,000
Why do we need to raise $30K to make this film? Because we believe that great art takes a great team. We have incredible artists participating, from LA to New York, and we want to pay them all. The costs of making an awesome film add up quickly, and we want to do right by our team! Every dollar raised will go directly toward making this film.
The breakdown below shows how we expect to allocate the budget, though it may shift as production needs evolve.
Our goal is to stretch every contribution as far as possible while giving the film, and the people making it, the resources they need to do their best work.
STRETCH GOALS:
$35,000: Gear, Equipment & Set Improvements
$40,000: Level Up VFX & Post-Production
$45,000+: DISTRIBUTION COSTS COVERED + PAY BUMPS FOR CAST/CREW!
Besides financial support, you can also help play a vital role in bringing Before My Eyes to life:
- Amplify our Voice: Follow this campaign and share it with your circle to help us reach new audiences.
- Stay Connected: Follow our journey on Instagram @BeforeMyEyesMovie
- Create New Connections: Is there someone or an organization you think would love to get involved? Send them our way at [email protected]
*Gen-AI was used in the creation of text and visual graphics (BTS & Screengrabs are 100% authentic and captured during filming)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering/Craft
Costs $2,500
Help us keep our cast and crew fueled throughout production by covering meals, snacks, and drinks on set.
Cast & Crew Support
Costs $16,000
Help us compensate the talented cast and crew whose time, skill, and dedication are essential to bringing this film to life.
Locations & Local Production Needs
Costs $1,000
Help us secure filming locations and cover essential local needs like permits, parking, transportation, and on-site logistics.
Wardrobe, Art & Props
Costs $1,500
Help us create the film’s world through wardrobe, set dressing, and props that make every character and location feel authentic.
Equipment
Costs $2,500
Help us secure the cameras, lighting, sound, and support gear needed to capture the film safely and professionally.
Post-Production
Costs $5,000
Help cover editing, sound design, color grading, music, and final delivery so the finished film reaches its full potential.
Festivals/Marketing
Costs $1,500
Help cover festival submissions, promotional materials, press outreach, and marketing so the film can reach audiences beyond production.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Mike Alongi
Mike is a Chicago-based writer, director, producer, videographer and editor, as well as the founder and executive producer of ForFront Media. Through his company, he has produced projects for world-renowned brands and organizations including Advocate, EY, SNAP, Eckerd, Aunt Martha's, Grecian Delight Kronos, Association of Defense Communities and beyond.
While building a career in the Corporate/Docu space, his passion has always been with creative projects.
Before My Eyes is his debut feature film that he wrote and will direct with his father playing the lead.
Bob Alongi | "ALEX"
Bob Alongi, father of Writer/Director Mike Alongi, began pursuing acting after retiring from a career as an optometrist. Since stepping in front of the camera, he has appeared in Deli Boys, Jon Bragg, Super Adam Sitcom, Reverie, and 219 (The Series).
Kristen McCabe | "EMILY"
Kristen is an award-winning Chicago-based actor and producer with experience across film, television, theatre, and commercial work. A Wisconsin native who previously lived and performed in Sydney, Australia, she has appeared in productions including Deadly Women, Inferior Decorating, Pole Climb, Sanguine Teeth on a Driftless Road, and The Perfectionist. Her work as both a performer and producer has earned more than 40 festival laurels and multiple acting awards, including recognition for her lead performances in Pole Climb and Cheesecake & Rainbow Tights.
Adolfo Alvarez Jr. | "ETHAN"
Adolfo is an actor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran with experience in film, commercial, and print work. He played Marco in Mistletoe Mansion and has appeared in campaigns for Pittsburgh Dental Spa, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Montico Group, Employee of the Decade, and Good Foods. Adolfo is fluent in Spanish and has additional experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fencing, weightlifting, firearms, programming, and trumpet.
Angela Kingova | "SUZANNE"
Angela is a SAG-AFTRA actor, writer, director, producer, singer, and dancer with experience across film, television, theatre, and choreography. Her credits include Sweet Spiral, Single Dad Hunt, Caution, Cute Baby Alert!, Jon Bragg, and The Disturbance at Dinner. She is fluent in Russian and trained in acting, voice, improv, dance, and movement.
David Wenzel | "JOE"
David is an award-winning actor, director, and producer with more than 30 years of experience across film, television, daytime serials, and Off-Broadway theatre. His credits include A Complete Unknown, The Irishman, On the Rocks, Hustlers, Blue Bloods, FBI, Power, and Ray Donovan. A two-time national full-contact karate champion and member of the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, David has also worked on and off as Brad Pitt's stand-in/photo double for the last ten years, beginning with the film Sleepers.