Deserteur
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Drama, War
In WWII-torn France, Chajka, a Jewish woman on the run from a nearby concentration camp, encounters Nazi private Friedrich Heimmler standing on top of an active landmine and must herself try to escape.
Deserteur
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Drama, War
3 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $13,030 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
102 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
In WWII-torn France, Chajka, a Jewish woman on the run from a nearby concentration camp, encounters Nazi private Friedrich Heimmler standing on top of an active landmine and must herself try to escape.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The idea for this short came to me(Justin) after my fellow filmmaker colleague Sarah Joy Byington shared this specific location. We'd been talking for some time about collaborating on a project and when I saw the variety of terrain this park had to offer, I just knew we had something here. Sarah and I share a deep fascination and respect for this time period, and characters and stories of redemption, and the strength of human suffering that came from it.
With location inspiration came a new question... What would happen here if a Jewish woman on the run from the horror of concentration camps and a Nazi private on the run from the horrors of war, come face to face?
On a personal note, being of German heritage myself, and with close friends who are of Jewish descent, telling this story is a chance to dive a little deeper on history against the backdrop of WWII-torn France - It is a chance to explore what evil looks like when it’s been cornered like a feral animal, and how evil and cowardice manages to sniff out human desperation in moments of life and death. The relevance to the current state of our world is clear… Particularly the cruelty in Gaza and the Israeli/Hamas conflict. Hate, violence, war, and death often spring from cultural, religious, political, and geographical differences and still exist today — And those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it…
This is a story about what makes us similar and what makes us different, and how powerful forces of fear and evil tore the world apart during World War II. We want to focus our cinematic lens on the exploration of mercy, violence, and justice within the framework of one single, high-stakes, life-and-death situation. It's an exciting, thrilling, character study of two people distanced by hate. Exploring this interrelationship at a moment where the power dynamic shift and roles have been reversed... that is, the Nazi solder is now the one facing imminent death. In this moment, Chajka sees Friedrich for what he is, and what any person is ... nothing more than a scared child.
Even today, landmines are continuously being found in countries around the world, long after conflicts end and the fighting ceases. According to UN.com, in the Middle East, nearly 70 countries around the world are still contaminated with active landmines, and they continue to injure and kill thousands of people globally each year (many of whom are civilians).
Many of you already know, that short films are a labor of love. Projects like this are made possible by friends, family, colleagues, fellow filmmakers, and fans. Our team strongly believes in the story of this project, which is why we have decided to take a risk and crowdfund.
Without you, Deserteur cannot be made to its fullest potential. Every bit of support goes a long way in helping tell this challenging story. By following, pledging, sharing, you give our team every more chance of bringing this story to life.
Read more about some of our stellar cast and crew that will be joining DESERTEUR by clicking the Team tab above!
You can read more details about our "wishlist" items by clicking on the Wishlist tab up above!
Above: Labor + Justice(2022), written and directed by Sarah Joy Byington, Director of Photography Taylor Camarot, Edited by Sam Butler
Above: Play Thing(2023), written and directed by Sarah Joy Byington, Director of Photography Taylor Camarot, Edited by Sam Butler
Above: Milk for Violence(2018), written by Justin Heller & Aaron Levine, Directed by Aaron Levine
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post VFX
Costs $1,000
Make our explosion go BOOM! with helping us achieve a realistic explosion in post-production.
Cast & Crew
Costs $7,000
Because it's the people that really make a film! <3
Wardrobe
Costs $600
Period accurate costumes are a must for a period drama.
Location Fees & Permits
Costs $300
A good setting can make or break a film!
Props & Set Design
Costs $600
Period accurate(but safe) props
SFX Makeup
Costs $500
These legs won't lose themselves! We'll let the pros do that.
Meals & Gas
Costs $820
A fed crew is a happy crew :)
Insurance/Contingency
Costs $1,200
For a protected set
Sound Design, Colorist, & Music Licensing
Costs $2,500
Sound and music can make or break a film!
Hard Drives
Costs $500
Gotta keep those beautiful shots somewhere!
Platform Fees
Costs $680
We are honored for a platform like Seed & Spark to raise funds for our project. This helps us not dig into our budget for platform fees.
Transportation
Costs $300
We need a reliable vehicle to get cast and crew to set, as well as a relief space w/ a/c in the Texas heat.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JUSTIN HELLER
WRITER/ACTOR
JUSTIN HELLER is a writer, actor, and producer from Austin, TX. He co-wrote, produced and starred in the 2019 revenge western short feature Milk for Violence (where he met and collaborated with Sarah and Sam for the first time) and could last be seen onstage as Jack Worthing in City Theatre's The Importance of Being Earnest. He is currently writing his first full length feature with longtime collaborator Aaron Levine alongside Deserteur. After some time in the post-production/television world, Justin is ecstatic to be collaborating with incredible people on such a challenging, exciting project. He will playing the role of Freidrich.
SARAH JOY BYINGTON
DIRECTOR
SARAH JOY BYINGTON is an actor, director, and screenwriter based in Austin, TX. Beginning her career as an actor, her love for filmmaking quickly expanded as she challenged herself to learn all facets of production. Sarah’s directorial career kicked off when her short Payday won semi-finalist in the final year of Dorito’s Crash the Super Bowl competition. Most recently she has written and directed the award winning short film Labor+Justice which premiered at HollyShorts in 2023 and won the Audience Award at ATX Short Film Showcase 2024 and Best Expressionist Film at Arthouse Film Festival 2024. She has also written and directed the short excerpt film Let Me Do Right By You based off of her feature screenplay of the same name. Sarah has also directed the upcoming short film Somewhere You Feel Free, and a comedic short she wrote and directed entitled Play Thing, both premiering this year.
Sarah is drawn to dark, raw stories and absurd tales of eccentric characters, while unearthing her own fears and flaws into her stories. As a mother of two, her thought provoking and loudly creative work begs us to address many modern day dilemmas and exposes the sufferings of faces outside our own bubble with an urgent message of empathy.
TAYLOR CAMAROT
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
TAYLOR CAMAROT is quickly making a name for himself as he becomes one of the most sought out independent cinematographers in Austin, TX. He graduated from Sedona Film School in 2012 with a certificate in narrative filmmaking. With the combination of sensitive lighting and creative camera moves, Taylor creates award winning cinematography. In addition to creativity, professionalism and communication are top priorities on every project. Having specialized in award winning films and commercials, personally winning Best Cinematography in 2013, Taylor's technical knowledge, experience lighting a wide variety of looks, and creative camera moves will allow you to tell the best story possible. He is best known for his work on The Pizzagate Massacre, Day 5, Lazer Team, Snapchat’s Dead of Night, and Malignant, with many more projects on the way.
JOHN VALLEY
PRODUCER
John Valley is an award winning filmmaker and producer based out of Austin TX. Alongside 70 + music videos, John produced and directed a feature film that was released worldwide by Archstone Entertainment and Raven Banner. He is a frequent collaborator with Robert Rodriguez and teaches a film production course at the Austin School of Film.
SAM BUTLER
EDITOR/PRODUCER
SAM BUTLER is an accomplished editor in both narrative film and commercial industries. He has edited over a dozen award-winning short films, web series, and a number of feature films. He recently wrapping up on Kerstin Karlhuber’s feature entitled After All premiering later this year. Most notably, he was the editor on AJ Edward’s film Age Out that premiered at SXSW 2018 (currently streaming on Prime Video) which won several awards including Best Narrative Feature (Buffalo Intl’ Film Festival) and Best Actor (Shanghai Intl’ Film Festival). Other works include Labor+Justice which played at HollyShorts in 2023, A Thousand Times a Day winning Best Editor at Austin Spotlight Film Festival 2023, and the 6 episode web series entitled HOME from Bob Billiam’s Productions which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2018.
Michael Spicer
GAFFER/PRODUCER
I aim to block the Sun, then light the world in a manner such that nobody notices... I love the thrill of on set problem solving and the satisfaction of effective pre-production blocking and preparation. I try to think thirty steps ahead and over to the left- plan for one thing but be prepared for its opposite; gaff happens, gaff matters...
MATT GODWIN
2ND CAMERA
From the age of 19, Matt Godwin knew that his place was behind the camera. With over a decade of filming experience, Matt has worked with prestigious directors and companies from around the globe.
PHILLIP RIOS
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Phillip Rio is an established Production Designer in the Austin Film industry. He began his film career working in the Art Department in 2014 on the Emmy winning NBC series "American Crime" which became the foundation for his understanding and execution in Art Direction under Production Designer Warren Allen Young. Over the course of his career he would work on several more television series and feature films [ The Leftovers, Fear the Walking Dead, Walker Texas Ranger, The Dark and The Wicked, Clock] in various positions amongst the Art Department where he refined his knowledge of narrative filmmaking and visual storytelling Employing his experience he has worked along side Directors across media platforms and budget scales to create visualLy distinct looks for each project. He plans to execute his vision of his original concept heavily inspired by the films of his youth armed with the knowledge he has acquired over his almost decade long career to create a fresh take on cyberpunk with influences of classic film noir. His creative resources will make this high concept short possible with professional prodution value and execution.
JESSI ROSE
COSTUME DESIGNER
Jessi Rose is a Costuming and Wardrobe Professional working in Austin, TX. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology in 2010, and has applied it towards a career in Costuming. Rose earned 4 Trades Certificates in Costume Technology and Application before moving to Texas to pursue a Masters Degree. She graduated from UT Austin in 2019 with her MFA in Costume Design. Her recent Design credits include DRT: Points of Intersection (UT Austin), Fall For Dance (UT Austin) Matilda the Musical (Zilker Hillside Theatre), Big Fish (Austin Playhouse), Ride the Cyclone (Southwestern University), Up on the Housetop (Red Herring Productions). She has also served in technical and support roles for Tulsa King (Ager/Dyer, Paramount+), Love&Death (Set Costumer, HBOMax), Match Me if You Can (Stitcher/Set Costumer, Match Me LLC.), and 1883 (Stitcher, Paramount+).
DAKOTA MILLETT
ART DIRECTOR
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The idea for this short came to me(Justin) after my fellow filmmaker colleague Sarah Joy Byington shared this specific location. We'd been talking for some time about collaborating on a project and when I saw the variety of terrain this park had to offer, I just knew we had something here. Sarah and I share a deep fascination and respect for this time period, and characters and stories of redemption, and the strength of human suffering that came from it.
With location inspiration came a new question... What would happen here if a Jewish woman on the run from the horror of concentration camps and a Nazi private on the run from the horrors of war, come face to face?
On a personal note, being of German heritage myself, and with close friends who are of Jewish descent, telling this story is a chance to dive a little deeper on history against the backdrop of WWII-torn France - It is a chance to explore what evil looks like when it’s been cornered like a feral animal, and how evil and cowardice manages to sniff out human desperation in moments of life and death. The relevance to the current state of our world is clear… Particularly the cruelty in Gaza and the Israeli/Hamas conflict. Hate, violence, war, and death often spring from cultural, religious, political, and geographical differences and still exist today — And those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it…
This is a story about what makes us similar and what makes us different, and how powerful forces of fear and evil tore the world apart during World War II. We want to focus our cinematic lens on the exploration of mercy, violence, and justice within the framework of one single, high-stakes, life-and-death situation. It's an exciting, thrilling, character study of two people distanced by hate. Exploring this interrelationship at a moment where the power dynamic shift and roles have been reversed... that is, the Nazi solder is now the one facing imminent death. In this moment, Chajka sees Friedrich for what he is, and what any person is ... nothing more than a scared child.
Even today, landmines are continuously being found in countries around the world, long after conflicts end and the fighting ceases. According to UN.com, in the Middle East, nearly 70 countries around the world are still contaminated with active landmines, and they continue to injure and kill thousands of people globally each year (many of whom are civilians).
Many of you already know, that short films are a labor of love. Projects like this are made possible by friends, family, colleagues, fellow filmmakers, and fans. Our team strongly believes in the story of this project, which is why we have decided to take a risk and crowdfund.
Without you, Deserteur cannot be made to its fullest potential. Every bit of support goes a long way in helping tell this challenging story. By following, pledging, sharing, you give our team every more chance of bringing this story to life.
Read more about some of our stellar cast and crew that will be joining DESERTEUR by clicking the Team tab above!
You can read more details about our "wishlist" items by clicking on the Wishlist tab up above!
Above: Labor + Justice(2022), written and directed by Sarah Joy Byington, Director of Photography Taylor Camarot, Edited by Sam Butler
Above: Play Thing(2023), written and directed by Sarah Joy Byington, Director of Photography Taylor Camarot, Edited by Sam Butler
Above: Milk for Violence(2018), written by Justin Heller & Aaron Levine, Directed by Aaron Levine
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post VFX
Costs $1,000
Make our explosion go BOOM! with helping us achieve a realistic explosion in post-production.
Cast & Crew
Costs $7,000
Because it's the people that really make a film! <3
Wardrobe
Costs $600
Period accurate costumes are a must for a period drama.
Location Fees & Permits
Costs $300
A good setting can make or break a film!
Props & Set Design
Costs $600
Period accurate(but safe) props
SFX Makeup
Costs $500
These legs won't lose themselves! We'll let the pros do that.
Meals & Gas
Costs $820
A fed crew is a happy crew :)
Insurance/Contingency
Costs $1,200
For a protected set
Sound Design, Colorist, & Music Licensing
Costs $2,500
Sound and music can make or break a film!
Hard Drives
Costs $500
Gotta keep those beautiful shots somewhere!
Platform Fees
Costs $680
We are honored for a platform like Seed & Spark to raise funds for our project. This helps us not dig into our budget for platform fees.
Transportation
Costs $300
We need a reliable vehicle to get cast and crew to set, as well as a relief space w/ a/c in the Texas heat.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JUSTIN HELLER
WRITER/ACTOR
JUSTIN HELLER is a writer, actor, and producer from Austin, TX. He co-wrote, produced and starred in the 2019 revenge western short feature Milk for Violence (where he met and collaborated with Sarah and Sam for the first time) and could last be seen onstage as Jack Worthing in City Theatre's The Importance of Being Earnest. He is currently writing his first full length feature with longtime collaborator Aaron Levine alongside Deserteur. After some time in the post-production/television world, Justin is ecstatic to be collaborating with incredible people on such a challenging, exciting project. He will playing the role of Freidrich.
SARAH JOY BYINGTON
DIRECTOR
SARAH JOY BYINGTON is an actor, director, and screenwriter based in Austin, TX. Beginning her career as an actor, her love for filmmaking quickly expanded as she challenged herself to learn all facets of production. Sarah’s directorial career kicked off when her short Payday won semi-finalist in the final year of Dorito’s Crash the Super Bowl competition. Most recently she has written and directed the award winning short film Labor+Justice which premiered at HollyShorts in 2023 and won the Audience Award at ATX Short Film Showcase 2024 and Best Expressionist Film at Arthouse Film Festival 2024. She has also written and directed the short excerpt film Let Me Do Right By You based off of her feature screenplay of the same name. Sarah has also directed the upcoming short film Somewhere You Feel Free, and a comedic short she wrote and directed entitled Play Thing, both premiering this year.
Sarah is drawn to dark, raw stories and absurd tales of eccentric characters, while unearthing her own fears and flaws into her stories. As a mother of two, her thought provoking and loudly creative work begs us to address many modern day dilemmas and exposes the sufferings of faces outside our own bubble with an urgent message of empathy.
TAYLOR CAMAROT
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
TAYLOR CAMAROT is quickly making a name for himself as he becomes one of the most sought out independent cinematographers in Austin, TX. He graduated from Sedona Film School in 2012 with a certificate in narrative filmmaking. With the combination of sensitive lighting and creative camera moves, Taylor creates award winning cinematography. In addition to creativity, professionalism and communication are top priorities on every project. Having specialized in award winning films and commercials, personally winning Best Cinematography in 2013, Taylor's technical knowledge, experience lighting a wide variety of looks, and creative camera moves will allow you to tell the best story possible. He is best known for his work on The Pizzagate Massacre, Day 5, Lazer Team, Snapchat’s Dead of Night, and Malignant, with many more projects on the way.
JOHN VALLEY
PRODUCER
John Valley is an award winning filmmaker and producer based out of Austin TX. Alongside 70 + music videos, John produced and directed a feature film that was released worldwide by Archstone Entertainment and Raven Banner. He is a frequent collaborator with Robert Rodriguez and teaches a film production course at the Austin School of Film.
SAM BUTLER
EDITOR/PRODUCER
SAM BUTLER is an accomplished editor in both narrative film and commercial industries. He has edited over a dozen award-winning short films, web series, and a number of feature films. He recently wrapping up on Kerstin Karlhuber’s feature entitled After All premiering later this year. Most notably, he was the editor on AJ Edward’s film Age Out that premiered at SXSW 2018 (currently streaming on Prime Video) which won several awards including Best Narrative Feature (Buffalo Intl’ Film Festival) and Best Actor (Shanghai Intl’ Film Festival). Other works include Labor+Justice which played at HollyShorts in 2023, A Thousand Times a Day winning Best Editor at Austin Spotlight Film Festival 2023, and the 6 episode web series entitled HOME from Bob Billiam’s Productions which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2018.
Michael Spicer
GAFFER/PRODUCER
I aim to block the Sun, then light the world in a manner such that nobody notices... I love the thrill of on set problem solving and the satisfaction of effective pre-production blocking and preparation. I try to think thirty steps ahead and over to the left- plan for one thing but be prepared for its opposite; gaff happens, gaff matters...
MATT GODWIN
2ND CAMERA
From the age of 19, Matt Godwin knew that his place was behind the camera. With over a decade of filming experience, Matt has worked with prestigious directors and companies from around the globe.
PHILLIP RIOS
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Phillip Rio is an established Production Designer in the Austin Film industry. He began his film career working in the Art Department in 2014 on the Emmy winning NBC series "American Crime" which became the foundation for his understanding and execution in Art Direction under Production Designer Warren Allen Young. Over the course of his career he would work on several more television series and feature films [ The Leftovers, Fear the Walking Dead, Walker Texas Ranger, The Dark and The Wicked, Clock] in various positions amongst the Art Department where he refined his knowledge of narrative filmmaking and visual storytelling Employing his experience he has worked along side Directors across media platforms and budget scales to create visualLy distinct looks for each project. He plans to execute his vision of his original concept heavily inspired by the films of his youth armed with the knowledge he has acquired over his almost decade long career to create a fresh take on cyberpunk with influences of classic film noir. His creative resources will make this high concept short possible with professional prodution value and execution.
JESSI ROSE
COSTUME DESIGNER
Jessi Rose is a Costuming and Wardrobe Professional working in Austin, TX. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology in 2010, and has applied it towards a career in Costuming. Rose earned 4 Trades Certificates in Costume Technology and Application before moving to Texas to pursue a Masters Degree. She graduated from UT Austin in 2019 with her MFA in Costume Design. Her recent Design credits include DRT: Points of Intersection (UT Austin), Fall For Dance (UT Austin) Matilda the Musical (Zilker Hillside Theatre), Big Fish (Austin Playhouse), Ride the Cyclone (Southwestern University), Up on the Housetop (Red Herring Productions). She has also served in technical and support roles for Tulsa King (Ager/Dyer, Paramount+), Love&Death (Set Costumer, HBOMax), Match Me if You Can (Stitcher/Set Costumer, Match Me LLC.), and 1883 (Stitcher, Paramount+).