Addiction is one of the most common diseases in the world, yet also one of the least understood. This film provides a window into what the experience of alcoholism and withdrawal really looks like, so that if anyone who watches it is suffering themselves, at least they know they are not alone.
Addiction is one of the most common diseases in the world, yet also one of the least understood. This film provides a window into what the experience of alcoholism and withdrawal really looks like, so that if anyone who watches it is suffering themselves, at least they know they are not alone.
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Story
Mission Statement
I have spent a depressing amount of life feeling lonely and misunderstood. This extended to adulthood when I suffered from my own substance abuse problem. However, it was film that always made me feel not alone. I want to give others who have felt this way the same feeling when they watch my work.About The Project
COLD TURKEY is a short film that uses strong visuals to explore the nature of addiction, and the cycles that the disease can trap a someone in.
After listening to an old message his wife left him, Al, an alcoholic decides to quit drinking. However, when faced with what made him start drinking in the first place, along with withdrawals, he finds that maintaining his sobriety isn't as easy as he thought.
I always tell people that my love for cinema truly began when I was ten years old when my dad showed me the Lord of the Rings Trilogy for the first time. I had enjoyed movies before, but no story had captured my emotions and imagination way those films did. As I continuously watched them again and again, I realized that so much of those movies were spent chronicling the deterioration of its protagonist.
As I got older, I began to get more and more obsessed with films that did this, which led me to directors like Scosese, Fellini, and more recently, Sean Baker. I’m fascinated by stories that follow people trying and failing to keep themselves together as their worlds spiral out of their control. I think many of us are able to empathize with these types of stories more, because we are able to see ourselves in them.
As much as I loved these films, it wasn’t until my own issue with substance abuse that I realized what I could add to that style of filmmaking. Addiction has been portrayed fairly authentically before, however one critical aspect of that cycle I had never seen is the part of the addict that genuinely wants to get better, but doesn’t know how. Ask any addict in the world how many times they tried to stop drinking or using before they were actually able to, most answers' would be in the hundreds, yet this experience is seldom shown. In reality, being drunk or high is the easy part. It's when having to face the physical and emotional lows of sobriety without the help they need that people fall apart. This project is more than just a film, it is a statement that hopefully destroys the stigma that addiction has anything to do with willpower. I also want to show anyone who has suffered, or is currently suffering the way Al has in the film to know that it doesn’t have to be that way.
While we are striving to portray the disease of alcoholism authentically, the goal of the film is not totraumatize or exhauast the audience. There will moments of dark visual comedy organically sprinkled throughout the film that give the film some necessary levity. Much of the film is without dialogue, so physicality and by extension, physical comedy is a huge aspect to making the film work. In my experience, it is uniquely theraputic to either talk about, or in this case, viscerally demonstrate the lengths and struggles an addict will go to either use or not use. There is a catharsis in being able to simply sit back and laugh at the antics Al gets himself in.
I knew I needed a distinct visual style to capture Al’s journey properly. The first decision I made to do this was to shoot the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Keeping this space small was only natural as it makes Al feel trapped within the frame, while isolating him from the rest of the world. This was also done to put the viewer in the same headspace as Al, as when someone is going through the same withdrawal symptoms as him, the rest of the world disappears.
Of course, the visual language doesn't end with the bars on the side of the frame. When looking for inspiraton to capture a feeling of lonliness, I discovered the artwork of Edward Hopper. As soon as I did, I knew I had found the look that I was looking for. All his paintings have a unique look, but not one that ever feels overbearing to the point that the emotion of the piece is lost. More importantly, he has such a unique ability to capture loneliness in his paintings that when I looked at them, I could just as easily see Al in them.
We hope to raise $6,500 through an audience on seed and spark that is hopefully as passionate about bringing this project to life as we are. This will cover the minimum production costs. Prinicpal photogrophy will take place from July 9th-14th in Los Angeles, CA.
Please consider donating or sharing this project on social media, so we can expand our outreach, so that anyone who sees this film is struggling, or knows someone who is struggling the way Al is, they can get the help they need.
Incentives
$25
Pint
This contribution might be pint sized but it comes with plenty of fun stuff. This gets you a special shoutout from the production company's official instagram page, your name added to the film'send credits under the "Seed & Spark Contributors" section, and, best of all a custom liquor label, to be designed by our production designer Marie Jeong, with your face at the center!
$50
Fifth
In addition to the previous incentives, you will receive a copy of the film's original score composed by Mahoganii Montgomery, along with a link to the film with commentary by the cast and director.
$100
Liter
In addition to getting all previous incentives, you will also receive a video message from the films's cast and director telling you how much your support means to us, as well as access to the online library of behind the scenes photos so you can share in all the fun on set!
$500
Handle
In addition to all previous incentives, you will be sent a custom prop sobriety chip, designed by the film's Production Designer Marie Jeong.
Claimed: 0 of 6
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$25
Pint
This contribution might be pint sized but it comes with plenty of fun stuff. This gets you a special shoutout from the production company's official instagram page, your name added to the film'send credits under the "Seed & Spark Contributors" section, and, best of all a custom liquor label, to be designed by our production designer Marie Jeong, with your face at the center!
$50
Fifth
In addition to the previous incentives, you will receive a copy of the film's original score composed by Mahoganii Montgomery, along with a link to the film with commentary by the cast and director.
$100
Liter
In addition to getting all previous incentives, you will also receive a video message from the films's cast and director telling you how much your support means to us, as well as access to the online library of behind the scenes photos so you can share in all the fun on set!
$500
Handle
In addition to all previous incentives, you will be sent a custom prop sobriety chip, designed by the film's Production Designer Marie Jeong.
Claimed: 0 of 6
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Current Team
About This Team
MAX WOODS
ProducerI am an independent film producer for the West America Film Company and I enjoy giving chances to artists with strong visions. That's exactly what this project is: Scott's vision. And I'm going to do everything in my power to bring that to life.
NICOLAS DANOVIZ
ProducerA child at heart, I am a passionate filmmaker pursuing the ability to make my audience cry, laugh, smile and gasp in shock. My films range from dramas to comedies to horror, anything that a creative mind can put a compelling story to. Coincidentally, Scott's story grabbed me by the throat and took me on a ride of hopeless tragedy, a film worth sharing with an audience... and waiting to be made.
SCOTT CRAWFORD
Writer/DirectorGrowing up, I was never happier than when I found myself completely engrossed in a good movie. I knew, even back then that it was my life's dream to be able to make others feel that way. I've been told all my life that I have a unique perspective on things and as a filmmaker, I'm striving to bring that perspective to create stories that move the audience in ways that they have never seen before.
ADAM KINGSLEY
CinematographerGrowing up in Southern Califronia, I was surrounded by a mix of hispanic and native american culture that influenced me throughout my life. Living with my two other siblings and single mother during rough times, I found interest in expression with a camera. Around seven years old, I was given a camera during a family trip to mess with and immediately was fascinated. From then on, through elementry to college, I have always had some camera in my hands whether that be taking photos or creating films.
MARIE JEONG
Production DesignerI am a Production Designer and I love helping directors to visualize their stories and visions with colors, pixels and vectors. Scott’s vision for this short film was aspiring, which is why I chose to participate in this project.
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