The film opens with Tommix swiping on a dating app and landing on Mercury, a seemingly familiar woman. Soon we’re near the end of their date, when Tommix and Mercury realize that Mercury’s dead boyfriend, Rian, was Tommix’s best friend. This changes everything for both of them: although Tommix and Mercury previously never met and the date wasn’t going that well, Mercury asks if Tommix will walk her home. On the way home they discuss each of their close relationships to Rian. At Mercury’s apartment they talk more, and Mercury tries to sleep with Tommix in an attempt to get over Rian. Tommix refuses, thinking it’d be a betrayal of his dead best friend. Eventually, as a compromise, Mercury and Tommix video call each other from within the same room to engage in intimacy in a way that doesn't feel like a direct betrayal to their dead friend. Yet the plan doesn't work to resolve their feelings and in the end only the grief remains.

I came to writing Connecting Tissue by thinking of a way to talk about the way the internet has affected my generation. I didn’t want to completely condemn or celebrate. The internet as it exists today can be incredibly isolating, foster feelings of loneliness, and increase likelihood of mental illness. Yet frequently, and more often amongst my generation, it allows for unfiltered and seemingly impossible moments of real connection. Technology brings Tommix and Mercury together, and it could be what ultimately drives them apart. I want audiences to come to their own conclusions, and wonder how they relate or differ to these characters.

These are incredibly important ideas to explore today, and this project being my thesis film means it's the best possible time for me to explore them onscreen.

The main visual approach we plan to take with Connecting Tissue is to use film emulation to create a analog feel, which contrasts with the digital feel of the story. An analog feel for this story is important because it attaches us to the more concrete emotions of the characters, and not the digital world they live in. Also, the film will contrast the color-coded costumes of the protagonists with duller backgrounds. Tommix will be coded with blue, representing his depression and sadness as a response to the loss of his best friend. Mercury, who has more anger mixed with her grief and is the more passionate of the two, will be coded with red. For the interior scenes in the restaurant and the apartments we want to have a duller color palette - muted yellows & light browns. Tommix and Mercury have strong responses to their grief, but the world around them doesn’t seem to care.

Image Credit: Blow Out

The Ask

We're asking for $8,150 for production and post-production costs. This goes towards everything needed to bring this film to life including cast, locations, meals for crew, insurance, and more. If Connecting Tissue's themes regarding technology, connection, and grief seem worthwhile to you, please consider supporting this project either by donating or sharing the campaign.

Image Credit: Nymphomaniac