Ben Franklin and the End of the World
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Fantasy, Musical
Filmed across 13 years, 7 states, and 3 countries, "Ben Franklin..." is a surreal memory film that combines documentary and narrative techniques to create a living diary. It explores religious and family trauma, loss of meaning, and the deep need we all have for community.
Ben Franklin and the End of the World
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Fantasy, Musical
1 Campaigns | Virginia, United States
28 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$5,658
Goal: $10,000 for production
Filmed across 13 years, 7 states, and 3 countries, "Ben Franklin..." is a surreal memory film that combines documentary and narrative techniques to create a living diary. It explores religious and family trauma, loss of meaning, and the deep need we all have for community.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
^^play to set the mood^^
On the eve of his 35th birthday, a lonely man's soul is ripped in two (literally)...
when no one shows up to his Birthday Party.
"The Pilgrim" sets off on foot across the New Zealand wilderness,
with plans to take his own life at the top of a mountain.
The same Mountain he promised his dying father he'd climb one day.
"The Storyteller" stays behind, sharing the
funny, embarrassing, and tragic tales
that lead Ben Franklin...
to the End of the World.
"BEN FRANKLIN and the END of the WORLD"
by David Porter
is a surreal memory film, compiled from over a decades worth of shorts, documentaries, and visual poems.
I grew up on Lord of the Rings, like a lot of kids my age.
The 18-hour "Appendices" about making those movies was THE reason I pursued filmmaking.
I always dreamt one day I'd make an epic of my own.
But at 30 I found myself without the resources or vision to do so.
In 2025, my girlfriend found flash sale flights for less than $600 round trip.
And I saw an opportunity to make my childhood dreams come true.
Ben's epic journey illustrate the depth of emotion
Rolling hills and hobbit holes underscore nostalgic ruminations on childhood...
Jagged rock and and barren waste illustrate his creeping isolation and despair.
Questions of whether the "Storyteller" is imagining the "Pilgrim", or vise versa,
fade away as the audience is swept along into his stream of consciousness.
We move fluidly from past to present, with softly spoken stories and
deep-cut needle drops sending the audience into an almost trance-like state.
Carrying both the audience and Ben
closer and closer to
that final climb.
Aiming to be the first ever "Mumblecore Epic",
this film was made over 13 years,
in 3 countries
and 7 states,
by me,
on my own...
...and with my friends.
MY FRIENDS
So much of this film was made by me, about me, and starring me.
The arc of the film is a character's journey
away from self and towards community.
To that end, I'm bringing back actor friends
from shorts made 10 years ago.
Mateo Rosales Fertig
as "Leo"
Mateo is a Mexican-American, multi-media artist and activist, born in the Rio Grande valley. Having come out as Trans since the initial short we shot, they've generously agreed to allow our old footage to be used AND to reprise their role as "Leo", Ben's first kiss and unrequited love interest.
Jon Tlapek
as "Peter"
Jon is an extremely charismatic actor from Chicago, whose scenes were cut from a short we made in college. l always liked the footage and am excited to present it, reworked to tell the Story of Ben's college roommate who died of an overdose their junior year.
Andrew Koenig
as "Mark"
A poetic actor, with a brooding edge, Andrew plays the object of Ben's envy epitomizing everything he feels he isn't... sharp jaw and hairline included.
Will Carter
as "Levi"
A passionate actor and songwriter out of Fort Worth, I've always been able to count on Will as a crucial asset both in front of the camera and behind it. No matter the scene, Will always gives it his all. In our film, he plays Peter's secret lover and the last of our friends see Pete alive.
Alyssa Dossett
as "Anna"
A fixture in the Texas theater scene, Alyssa is the hardest working woman I know. I'm excited to bring her back to confront my character about their unspoken chemistry in New York.
Shelby Hirschberg
as "Heather"
A talented dancer and actress, Shelby's bubbly personality and sunny smile will bring a much needed joy and levity to a story about suicidal ideation.
Kaitlin Sacco
as "Stacey"
One of my most frequent collaborators in college, Kaitlin has always brought an air of "no-bullshit" to set that has pushed our work to greater heights. Her dry wit and snarky sense of humor will helps cut through any pretentiousness.
$ 1 0 , 0 0 0
is all we need to
finish this film
and bring these people together
$500 for FOOD
Feeds me, my crew, and my cast for our 10 day shoot.
$2,000 for LODGING
Almost all of my actors live out of state and will be taking
time away from work and family to help me complete this story.
$3,000 for SOUND
Sound is an element I've historically struggled with, as a one-man-band.
I'm determined to capture these stories in crisp, podcast fidelity,
so that they melt into the background as you're whisked away
through the character's stream of consciousness.
$3000 for CINEMATOGRAPHY
Up to this point, I've served as my own DP on every short for the last 10 years.
I think it's time to upgrade from running back and forth to my old-ass camera,
making micro-adjustments to the focus only to lie back down in a slightly different spot.
STRETCH GOALS
for $ 2 0 , 0 0 0
I feel confident I could interest
some B-list Name celebrities
to cameo as Ben's Mom and Dad
This would give our film legitimacy and
a better shot at bigger festivals like Sundance and SXSW!
Thanks for reading,
C H E C K O U T O U R P E R K S !
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LODGING
Costs $2,000
We're treating this film shoot like a theater camp, renting an air b&b and working day and night to capture friendships remembered!
TRAVEL
Costs $1,500
Having actors from decades-old footage reprise their roles necessitates them leaving their families and traveling across country.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Costs $3,000
I feel this material deserves a professional crew, and professionals require professional pay.
SOUND RECORDIST
Costs $3,000
All my movies are well shot, but sound has been dodgy in the past. I want to make sure this sounds as pretty as it looks!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
David Porter | Director, Writer, Editor
Born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD, David... Err, I mean... Me? It's me typing this up. Spoiler alert. But yeah, uuuh, I started making movies when I was like 9 years old, my parents bought me a DV camcorder for Christmas
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
^^play to set the mood^^
On the eve of his 35th birthday, a lonely man's soul is ripped in two (literally)...
when no one shows up to his Birthday Party.
"The Pilgrim" sets off on foot across the New Zealand wilderness,
with plans to take his own life at the top of a mountain.
The same Mountain he promised his dying father he'd climb one day.
"The Storyteller" stays behind, sharing the
funny, embarrassing, and tragic tales
that lead Ben Franklin...
to the End of the World.
"BEN FRANKLIN and the END of the WORLD"
by David Porter
is a surreal memory film, compiled from over a decades worth of shorts, documentaries, and visual poems.
I grew up on Lord of the Rings, like a lot of kids my age.
The 18-hour "Appendices" about making those movies was THE reason I pursued filmmaking.
I always dreamt one day I'd make an epic of my own.
But at 30 I found myself without the resources or vision to do so.
In 2025, my girlfriend found flash sale flights for less than $600 round trip.
And I saw an opportunity to make my childhood dreams come true.
Ben's epic journey illustrate the depth of emotion
Rolling hills and hobbit holes underscore nostalgic ruminations on childhood...
Jagged rock and and barren waste illustrate his creeping isolation and despair.
Questions of whether the "Storyteller" is imagining the "Pilgrim", or vise versa,
fade away as the audience is swept along into his stream of consciousness.
We move fluidly from past to present, with softly spoken stories and
deep-cut needle drops sending the audience into an almost trance-like state.
Carrying both the audience and Ben
closer and closer to
that final climb.
Aiming to be the first ever "Mumblecore Epic",
this film was made over 13 years,
in 3 countries
and 7 states,
by me,
on my own...
...and with my friends.
MY FRIENDS
So much of this film was made by me, about me, and starring me.
The arc of the film is a character's journey
away from self and towards community.
To that end, I'm bringing back actor friends
from shorts made 10 years ago.
Mateo Rosales Fertig
as "Leo"
Mateo is a Mexican-American, multi-media artist and activist, born in the Rio Grande valley. Having come out as Trans since the initial short we shot, they've generously agreed to allow our old footage to be used AND to reprise their role as "Leo", Ben's first kiss and unrequited love interest.
Jon Tlapek
as "Peter"
Jon is an extremely charismatic actor from Chicago, whose scenes were cut from a short we made in college. l always liked the footage and am excited to present it, reworked to tell the Story of Ben's college roommate who died of an overdose their junior year.
Andrew Koenig
as "Mark"
A poetic actor, with a brooding edge, Andrew plays the object of Ben's envy epitomizing everything he feels he isn't... sharp jaw and hairline included.
Will Carter
as "Levi"
A passionate actor and songwriter out of Fort Worth, I've always been able to count on Will as a crucial asset both in front of the camera and behind it. No matter the scene, Will always gives it his all. In our film, he plays Peter's secret lover and the last of our friends see Pete alive.
Alyssa Dossett
as "Anna"
A fixture in the Texas theater scene, Alyssa is the hardest working woman I know. I'm excited to bring her back to confront my character about their unspoken chemistry in New York.
Shelby Hirschberg
as "Heather"
A talented dancer and actress, Shelby's bubbly personality and sunny smile will bring a much needed joy and levity to a story about suicidal ideation.
Kaitlin Sacco
as "Stacey"
One of my most frequent collaborators in college, Kaitlin has always brought an air of "no-bullshit" to set that has pushed our work to greater heights. Her dry wit and snarky sense of humor will helps cut through any pretentiousness.
$ 1 0 , 0 0 0
is all we need to
finish this film
and bring these people together
$500 for FOOD
Feeds me, my crew, and my cast for our 10 day shoot.
$2,000 for LODGING
Almost all of my actors live out of state and will be taking
time away from work and family to help me complete this story.
$3,000 for SOUND
Sound is an element I've historically struggled with, as a one-man-band.
I'm determined to capture these stories in crisp, podcast fidelity,
so that they melt into the background as you're whisked away
through the character's stream of consciousness.
$3000 for CINEMATOGRAPHY
Up to this point, I've served as my own DP on every short for the last 10 years.
I think it's time to upgrade from running back and forth to my old-ass camera,
making micro-adjustments to the focus only to lie back down in a slightly different spot.
STRETCH GOALS
for $ 2 0 , 0 0 0
I feel confident I could interest
some B-list Name celebrities
to cameo as Ben's Mom and Dad
This would give our film legitimacy and
a better shot at bigger festivals like Sundance and SXSW!
Thanks for reading,
C H E C K O U T O U R P E R K S !
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LODGING
Costs $2,000
We're treating this film shoot like a theater camp, renting an air b&b and working day and night to capture friendships remembered!
TRAVEL
Costs $1,500
Having actors from decades-old footage reprise their roles necessitates them leaving their families and traveling across country.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Costs $3,000
I feel this material deserves a professional crew, and professionals require professional pay.
SOUND RECORDIST
Costs $3,000
All my movies are well shot, but sound has been dodgy in the past. I want to make sure this sounds as pretty as it looks!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
David Porter | Director, Writer, Editor
Born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD, David... Err, I mean... Me? It's me typing this up. Spoiler alert. But yeah, uuuh, I started making movies when I was like 9 years old, my parents bought me a DV camcorder for Christmas