Beneath the Mind
Scotch Plains, New Jersey | Film Short
Drama
Beneath the Mind follows Tyrone before his championship fight as he relives his childhood trauma with Brother Thomas. I want people to see that hiding trauma can cause it to fester over the years and turn you into someone other people may not like, or someone you may not like in the mirror.
8 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$310
Goal: $20,000 for pre-production
Beneath the Mind follows Tyrone before his championship fight as he relives his childhood trauma with Brother Thomas. I want people to see that hiding trauma can cause it to fester over the years and turn you into someone other people may not like, or someone you may not like in the mirror.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story of Beneath the Mind
The Cold Open
Beneath the Mind isn't your typical boxing film, where you see a boxer fighting in the ring, hear the crowd cheering for their favorite, or see a boxer at a press conference talking junk to another boxer. No, this is a film about a 30-year-old boxer named Tyrone Brown who never truly healed from seeing his father being killed right in front of him when he was only 8 years old. Would you want to know if Tyrone faces his trauma head-on or if he lets it consume him?
Why Me / Why This Story
When I was a freshman in college in 2014, I took a screenwriting class. I remember we had to write a script, and we had the whole semester to come up with a story and write it. My first thought was a boxing film, and it was like any other boxing film you've seen in the movies. After my freshman year, I never touched the script again. In 2026, I came back to it and started working on it, and I decided right there that if I keep putting it on hold, I will never get it done, and the reason this script is different from the 2014 script is that it shows the mind of the boxer and his trauma that he never faced head-on.
Why Now?
As spectators of the sport, we always hear how boxers have gotten through their trauma and how they worked so hard to reach the championship by fighting through the pain they’ve endured. Some heal from their trauma, and a lot of them don’t. Tyrone Brown is one of those people who never truly healed, and I wanted to make this film to show boxers that when you put the gloves on and when you take them off, you matter, no matter what.
Why now? Because if I don’t tell the story now, it will just sit in a folder for one year, then two, then five, and it will never be made.
Where We Are Now
Beneath the Mind is currently in the process of casting actors for the film. We are also finding supporters for the film so we can reach our goal of raising $20,000. We are planning to film in October, and once filming is finished, we plan to submit the film to film festivals.
How the Money Will Be Used
The $20,000 budget will help us cover the cost of insurance, cast, crew, meals, travel, production design, post-production, music, festival/publicity costs, camera, lighting, sound, and locations. This budget helps us pay the people working on the film and gives us what we need to bring Beneath the Mind to life.
Timeline
We plan to use the money in October when we start filming, and also for editing the film after production. Once the film is done, we plan to submit it to film festivals. We would love to share the film with people, and we will continue to update supporters throughout the process and everything that will be going on.
How People Can Help
If you are visiting my campaign, any amount you pledge will help us get closer to making this film. If you can’t pledge, that’s okay. We would love it if you shared the campaign, followed the page, checked out our wishlist, or even left words of encouragement. Every bit of support goes a long way, and we would love for you to join us on this journey of making a short film.
Copy & Paste Share Post
Beneath the Mind isn’t your typical boxing film. It’s not about fighting in the ring, records, fans, or holding a belt. It’s about what goes on in a boxer’s mind when they haven’t truly addressed the trauma they are facing in their life. Wouldn’t you want to know what Tyrone is struggling with and if he wins the battle or not? Your support matters a lot to me because this is my first short film, and having people believe in my vision means a lot. Please pledge if you can.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Management & Production Staff
Costs $3,500
Helps cover the producing, scheduling, logistics, production planning, assistants, and set operations.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $4,500
Helps cover cinematography, camera gear, lighting, grip, and visual support for the shoot.
Cast
Costs $1,750
Helps pay actors, background talent, and limited casting support for key roles
Locations, Permits & Insurance
Costs $3,200
Helps secure locations, permits, and production insurance for a safe shoot.
Hair, Makeup, Props & Wardrobe
Costs $1,850
Helps create the look of the characters and the world of Beneath the Mind
Meals, Travel, & Parking
Costs $1,450
Helps feed the cast and crew and cover basic production travel needs.
Post-Production
Costs $1,800
Helps cover editing, sound post-production, color correction, and finishing the film.
Music
Costs $500
Helps create original music and atmosphere for the emotional parts of the film.
Film Festival Submissions & Exhibition Costs
Costs $500
Helps cover festival submission fees, screening fees, and other festival related costs
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Beneath the Mind is written and directed by Elijah J. Fields, who will also star as Tyrone. The project is currently in pre-production, with producer support helping guide the budget, schedule, and team-building process. Additional cast and crew will be announced as they are confirmed.
Team
Elijah -Elijah J. Fields is a New Jersey-based actor, writer, and filmmaker trained in Meisner and Stanislavski techniques. He earned a B.A. from Liberty University in 2019, with studies in Fine Arts and Religion. His acting credits include That’s Not Kool in Newark, NJ, where a scene he performed was featured on News 12, The Amen Corner in Plainfield, NJ, whose final performance sold out in 2025, and Color Me Beautiful: An American Odyssey. Beneath the Mind marks his first short film as writer, director, and lead actor.
Hsi/Producer/Line Producer- Hsi Cheng is a producer, filmmaker based in New York City whose work spans across narrative and documentary filmmaking. Her award-winning short documentary FIND ME won the 2024 DOC NYC U Competition and screened at multiple film festivals. She was also the associate producer of the feature documentary Voices of Deoli, now streaming on Tubi and Kanopy.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story of Beneath the Mind
The Cold Open
Beneath the Mind isn't your typical boxing film, where you see a boxer fighting in the ring, hear the crowd cheering for their favorite, or see a boxer at a press conference talking junk to another boxer. No, this is a film about a 30-year-old boxer named Tyrone Brown who never truly healed from seeing his father being killed right in front of him when he was only 8 years old. Would you want to know if Tyrone faces his trauma head-on or if he lets it consume him?
Why Me / Why This Story
When I was a freshman in college in 2014, I took a screenwriting class. I remember we had to write a script, and we had the whole semester to come up with a story and write it. My first thought was a boxing film, and it was like any other boxing film you've seen in the movies. After my freshman year, I never touched the script again. In 2026, I came back to it and started working on it, and I decided right there that if I keep putting it on hold, I will never get it done, and the reason this script is different from the 2014 script is that it shows the mind of the boxer and his trauma that he never faced head-on.
Why Now?
As spectators of the sport, we always hear how boxers have gotten through their trauma and how they worked so hard to reach the championship by fighting through the pain they’ve endured. Some heal from their trauma, and a lot of them don’t. Tyrone Brown is one of those people who never truly healed, and I wanted to make this film to show boxers that when you put the gloves on and when you take them off, you matter, no matter what.
Why now? Because if I don’t tell the story now, it will just sit in a folder for one year, then two, then five, and it will never be made.
Where We Are Now
Beneath the Mind is currently in the process of casting actors for the film. We are also finding supporters for the film so we can reach our goal of raising $20,000. We are planning to film in October, and once filming is finished, we plan to submit the film to film festivals.
How the Money Will Be Used
The $20,000 budget will help us cover the cost of insurance, cast, crew, meals, travel, production design, post-production, music, festival/publicity costs, camera, lighting, sound, and locations. This budget helps us pay the people working on the film and gives us what we need to bring Beneath the Mind to life.
Timeline
We plan to use the money in October when we start filming, and also for editing the film after production. Once the film is done, we plan to submit it to film festivals. We would love to share the film with people, and we will continue to update supporters throughout the process and everything that will be going on.
How People Can Help
If you are visiting my campaign, any amount you pledge will help us get closer to making this film. If you can’t pledge, that’s okay. We would love it if you shared the campaign, followed the page, checked out our wishlist, or even left words of encouragement. Every bit of support goes a long way, and we would love for you to join us on this journey of making a short film.
Copy & Paste Share Post
Beneath the Mind isn’t your typical boxing film. It’s not about fighting in the ring, records, fans, or holding a belt. It’s about what goes on in a boxer’s mind when they haven’t truly addressed the trauma they are facing in their life. Wouldn’t you want to know what Tyrone is struggling with and if he wins the battle or not? Your support matters a lot to me because this is my first short film, and having people believe in my vision means a lot. Please pledge if you can.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Management & Production Staff
Costs $3,500
Helps cover the producing, scheduling, logistics, production planning, assistants, and set operations.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $4,500
Helps cover cinematography, camera gear, lighting, grip, and visual support for the shoot.
Cast
Costs $1,750
Helps pay actors, background talent, and limited casting support for key roles
Locations, Permits & Insurance
Costs $3,200
Helps secure locations, permits, and production insurance for a safe shoot.
Hair, Makeup, Props & Wardrobe
Costs $1,850
Helps create the look of the characters and the world of Beneath the Mind
Meals, Travel, & Parking
Costs $1,450
Helps feed the cast and crew and cover basic production travel needs.
Post-Production
Costs $1,800
Helps cover editing, sound post-production, color correction, and finishing the film.
Music
Costs $500
Helps create original music and atmosphere for the emotional parts of the film.
Film Festival Submissions & Exhibition Costs
Costs $500
Helps cover festival submission fees, screening fees, and other festival related costs
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Beneath the Mind is written and directed by Elijah J. Fields, who will also star as Tyrone. The project is currently in pre-production, with producer support helping guide the budget, schedule, and team-building process. Additional cast and crew will be announced as they are confirmed.
Team
Elijah -Elijah J. Fields is a New Jersey-based actor, writer, and filmmaker trained in Meisner and Stanislavski techniques. He earned a B.A. from Liberty University in 2019, with studies in Fine Arts and Religion. His acting credits include That’s Not Kool in Newark, NJ, where a scene he performed was featured on News 12, The Amen Corner in Plainfield, NJ, whose final performance sold out in 2025, and Color Me Beautiful: An American Odyssey. Beneath the Mind marks his first short film as writer, director, and lead actor.
Hsi/Producer/Line Producer- Hsi Cheng is a producer, filmmaker based in New York City whose work spans across narrative and documentary filmmaking. Her award-winning short documentary FIND ME won the 2024 DOC NYC U Competition and screened at multiple film festivals. She was also the associate producer of the feature documentary Voices of Deoli, now streaming on Tubi and Kanopy.