What if you knew the exact day you were going to die? What if you stopped waiting for death to arrive, but instead chose to confront it in hopes of defying its test?

Sebastian, our protagonist, is the man to confront this illusion. In the midst of a confrontation with Death, Sebastian is given one final chance to justify his life not through words, but through a dance.

Then Death comes to meet Sebastian, not as a monster, but a mere man named Eugene. He’s charming, strange, funny, lonely, and perhaps more human than Sebastian has allowed himself to be.

Dance Away is a short film about the uncomfortable space between knowing that life ends and actually allowing yourself to live it.

It’s about the things we regret, the people we fail to appreciate, the fear that keeps us from becoming who we want to be, and the strange possibility that accepting our mortality might actually be what finally sets us free.

I don’t want to make a film that tells people not to be afraid of death, I would rather spend time with characters asking: “what happens when we stop letting that fear dictate how we live?”

I’ve always been fascinated by how strange it is that we know we’re going to die and still manage to live as though we have unlimited time. And then something happens - a loss, a birthday, a conversation, a moment when you suddenly realize how quickly time has passed - and you remember that “someday” isn’t guaranteed.

I often think of the quote: “Many people die at twenty-five and aren't buried until they are seventy-five.” Especially since I am 26 years old, wishing to honestly share my voice with the world, with my youthful concerns of regret, allows me to build a world of this supernatural approach to question the importance of identity.

Coming from a small town in Texas, I’ve always asked permission to pursue my dreams. With this theme of dancing away, I’m hoping to give grace to that moment when we as an audience decide to take that uncomfortable first step.

We wanted to take that feeling and turn it into a relationship between two people: a man desperately trying to outrun the fact that his life is temporary, and the one person who knows exactly how temporary it is.

For me, Eugene is what makes the idea personal. I don’t see Death as a monster, instead I see him as someone who has witnessed every possible version of a human life and has become lonely in the process.

And Sebastian doesn’t necessarily need Death to save him. Sebastian’s guilt just needs someone to sit with him long enough for him to realize that he has been wasting the life he’s trying so desperately to preserve.

I’m making this film now because I feel increasingly aware of how easy it is to wait for the “right” time to do something. The right amount of money, the right opportunity, the right people, and - the scariest one - the right version of yourself.

I’m making the film because I don’t have everything figured out. But this story, along with an audience that it can speak to, can attempt confront these feelings instead of waiting for them to disappear.

Dance Away is currently in pre-production here in Austin, Texas.

The screenplay, along with an entire pitch deck, is complete, and I’ve already begun assembling the production. I have an extremely talented cinematographer (Daniel Onderdonk), producer (Lisa Dreher), and gaffer (Dean Garcia) attached, along with super supportive PAs, grips, friends, etc. wanting to bring this dream to fruition as much as I do! My team and I are currently working day and night to scout the perfect/most affordable locations, right cast, and rehearsal schedules via mixers, film meetups, and classes. The visual identity of the film has also begun to take shape through the project’s visual manifesto and development materials.

This campaign will help us close the gap between having the film on paper and actually putting it in front of a camera.

Is to raise $1,000. The money will go toward the practical necessities of production: locations, equipment, and most importantly, crew expenses. I’m intentionally keeping the production small and independent, and I’m already contributing my own resources to make technicalities happen such as locations, props, etc. This isn’t about building the biggest production possible. It’s about giving a small group of people the resources to make something we’re eternally proud of.

MOST of this in-kind support is dedicated to the crew that made it happen, and the festival circuit.

• WHY CREW? I’m glad you asked! Here in Austin (and most places) we’re expected to volunteer. I totally understand that mentality - we do this because we love it. BUT, one of the things I’ve become increasingly aware of while putting this project together is how often independent filmmakers - and the people who work alongside them - are expected to contribute enormous amounts of time and talent for little or no compensation. Crew members are asked to show up early, stay late, bring their own equipment, solve problems on the fly, and pour themselves into a project because they believe in it. I don’t want to take that for granted. This campaign is not just about getting Dance Away made. It’s about being able to give the people helping me make it something in return for their time and talent.

• WHY FESTIVAL CIRCUIT? To get our voices heard, silly!

We begin production in Austin in mid-November 2026, with the completed film moving into post-production immediately afterward. Once finished, Dance Away will be submitted to film festivals and made available to the audience that helped bring it into existence.

If we surpass our goal, additional funding will go directly back into the film—allowing us to better compensate the people who make it, improve our production and post-production resources, and give the finished film the strongest festival run possible.

If you believe in what we’re trying to make, there are three simple ways you can help:

1. Pledge to the campaign. Even a small contribution gets us closer to the finish line.

2. Follow the project. If you can’t contribute financially, following @danceawayfilm on Instagram helps us build an audience before the film even exists. If you don’t have Instagram, not to worry, keep updated with my Linktree!

3. Share it. Tell someone about the project. Send them this page. Post it somewhere. Independent films survive because people decide they’re worth talking about.

If you can’t contribute financially, you can still be apart of the Dance Away family!

Share this campaign with a friend. Send it to someone who loves independent film. Post it to your story. Follow the project! Even if you just tell someone about it, you can say something as simple as:

• Help filmmaker @danceawayfilm by supporting his surrealist short film about life and death, Dance Away!

• Join them on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/dance-away?token=6104783de8c51af869e7bf2effcc6bd5f0cb069dac20105a1b045ce0366cc360

And if you’re a filmmaker, actor, musician, artist, or someone who simply believes in independent storytelling, I’d love for you to follow along as we make this thing. I’ll be documenting the process from pre-production through production and, eventually, the finished film.

Most importantly, your support isn’t just helping me make a movie. It’s helping me pay the people who are making it with me.

So whether you pledge, share, follow, or simply tell somebody about Dance Away:

You’re helping us make history. You’re directly apart of the team.

Let’s make this f’ing movie!!

I don’t often retain the confidence in saying something like this, but I genuinely believe this is the first step in making something historically moving within the medium of film, and I’d forever love anyone who supports in the slightest. Again, thank you, and I can’t wait to see you at the premiere!