Here comes the bride, the groom (the bride's sister's ex), and the drug dealing boyfriend. For Angie, what could go wrong?
Here comes the bride, the groom (the bride's sister's ex), and the drug dealing boyfriend. For Angie, what could go wrong?
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Story
Mission Statement
Not every relationship can be "the one." Rarely in movies do we see couples that are doomed from the start or "dead on arrival." This film explores the part of us that desperately wants to be loved. It encapsulates the comedy of a bad tinder date story with the beauty of stylized retro film.About The Project
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I think everyone is fascinated by death. Death of relationships, death of confidence, death of people. It's called morbid curiosity for a reason-- just something we can't look away from. That's what Dead on Arrival explores. Angie is a mortician at her family's small-town funeral home and the maid of honor at her sister's wedding to her ex-fiance, Doug. This sets our story.
As if the wedding isn't bad enough, she gets a call from her boyfriend Jasper and learns that he isn't really in "pharmaceuticals" per se. Angie doesn't know what to do; he needs her help, and she desperately wants to feel loved. So here's where the challenge comes in. What do you do with a relationship that was dead from the start?
Dead on Arrival draws inspiration from dark comedies like 9 to 5, Harold and Maude, Bernie, and Little Miss Sunshine. It visually leans into warmth when the film takes place in a sterile environment; there's a juxtaposition of the dead and the living, the welcoming and the inhospitable. These are what Angie ultimately has to pick from when it comes to the longevity of her relationship.
This is a film about love in its own twisted way. About finding one's self and knowing what you deserve. It explores love outside of a romantic sense because I believe we need more movies like that. We need movies with women taking charge of their lives and no longer being passive players. I want to make movies with strong, campy, female leads, and there's no time like the present.
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Angie is a mortician, a big sister, an aging lady with a swallowing pool of options and a big heart to give. She wants to love but has had bad luck with men but she believes Jasper is the one.
Diane is Angie's mother and the mother of the bride! This is her daughter's big day. She wants to be there for both of her girls when they need it most and hopes that by being a straight shooter she can be.
Jasper is Angie's man, a pharmacist-- of sorts-- and is causing chaos. He's been able to keep his life in two separate spheres but when they combine, he isn't sure what the results will be.
I've always been someone who's been obsessed with love. This was a story born from high school me: a girl that had never been on a date, held hands, been kissed. I was obsessed with the idea that people could feel so strongly about someone else that they would go to the ends of the Earth to show it. As I've gotten older and been able to experience love and relationships, this understanding has gained nuance; but the core of it still holds true. I am obsessed with the obsession of love, and I wanted to be able to portray women doing radical acts of love in a way that isn't Fatal Attraction but isn't Rom-Com either. I wanted to find a more realistic way to show feelings and came to that through an incredibly unrealistic story.
Love is something that defies logic and reason and I want to showcase characters that do the same. I want characters that love love despite it not always working in their favor. Because that means I get to see myself, and other women get to see themselves, on screen.
A creative writing teacher I had years ago once said that every storyteller only writes about six things. For me, this senior project is not only a culmination of my time in film school but of me figuring out what "my six things" are. relationships; strong-willed but unsure female characters; small, southern towns, death, awkward conversations, and the worst dating stories you've ever seen.
In the midst of COVID-19, we've seen just how important relationships are. At its core, Dead on Arrival is a short about relationships and the level of necessity Angie puts on them in her life. This is a story for now, made now, but is also one that has a lasting impact.
Luckily, our entire film school experience has been making films during a pandemic. So this is something that our team knows intimately and effectively. We plan on following industry-outlined safety protocol (go, Kaytlyn-- our producer-- also being a COVID compliance officer), and feel confident moving forward with production in early October
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We are currently in pre-production of this film! Your support will help us through the production stage and we bring this film from script to screen.
March 2022- September 2022: Pre-production
Beginning of October 2022: Production
End of October 2022- May 2023: Post-Production
Fall 2023: Festival Circuit
We are excited to be preparing everything for production in a few months! After production, we will be in post for several months to make this film as wonderful as we know it can be. Starting mid-2023, we will be premiering this film at festivals, specifically looking at festivals that showcase comedies and women filmmakers. If you want to watch our entire journey, make sure to follow us on Instagram @doa_thefilm so you don't miss any updates!
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Pledge!
Your financial support helps us make this movie!
Spread the word!
Tell everyone you know about this project! Here are a couple ways you can copy and paste to share:
For the person who left you at the altar:
Hey, I found this story I think will resonate with you. Check it out! https://seedandspark.com/fund/doa-the-film#story
For the friends you tell all your bad date stories to:
Finally, someone with worse taste in men than me. You can only hear Angie's story if you support on https://seedandspark.com/fund/doa-the-film#story
For the filmmakers:
Help southern filmmaker Anna Butcher make a short dark comedy about love, family, small towns, and hearses. https://seedandspark.com/fund/doa-the-film#story
For the Texans:
Help SMU Senior Anna Butcher make her thesis film, Dead on Arrival, https://seedandspark.com/fund/doa-the-film#story
And of course, follow our journey on Instagram @doa_thefilm
Incentives
$10
Wedding DJ
Every good wedding needs a good playlist, and we have the perfect one for this film! With ths pledge, receive access to an inspiration playlist for the film currated by our director herself!
$25
Party Favor
With this pledge, receive a personalized digital postcard with designs inspired by the film! Choose from several of our designs, and have a special message written just for you from the production team!
$50
"VIG" (Very Important Guest)
For your generous support of the film, you will be personally reccognized in the credits of the film under the "Special Thanks" category. You will also receive every incentive up until this prize point!
$75
Attend the Wedding
Want a chance to be a part of the film? With this pledge, your picture will hang somewhere in the wedding venue to be seen in shots of the film!
Claimed: 1 of 15
$100
Wedding Photographer
With this pledge, receive all previous incentives and a full behind-the-scenes package including photos, storyboards, shots from the film, an exert from the script, and more! See what it takes to bring a film from script to screen!
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Claimed: 1 of 50
$250
Best Man/Maid of Honor
Earn your very own ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on this film with this pledge, along with the thank you card, playlist, and the full behind-the-scenes package!
Claimed: 1 of 6
$500
Parent of the Bride
Receive your very own EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on this film with this pledge, along with the thank you card, playlist, and the full behind-the-scenes package!
Claimed: 0 of 3
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Wedding DJ
Every good wedding needs a good playlist, and we have the perfect one for this film! With ths pledge, receive access to an inspiration playlist for the film currated by our director herself!
$25
Party Favor
With this pledge, receive a personalized digital postcard with designs inspired by the film! Choose from several of our designs, and have a special message written just for you from the production team!
$50
"VIG" (Very Important Guest)
For your generous support of the film, you will be personally reccognized in the credits of the film under the "Special Thanks" category. You will also receive every incentive up until this prize point!
$75
Attend the Wedding
Want a chance to be a part of the film? With this pledge, your picture will hang somewhere in the wedding venue to be seen in shots of the film!
Claimed: 1 of 15
$100
Wedding Photographer
With this pledge, receive all previous incentives and a full behind-the-scenes package including photos, storyboards, shots from the film, an exert from the script, and more! See what it takes to bring a film from script to screen!
Claimed: 1 of 50
$250
Best Man/Maid of Honor
Earn your very own ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on this film with this pledge, along with the thank you card, playlist, and the full behind-the-scenes package!
Claimed: 1 of 6
$500
Parent of the Bride
Receive your very own EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on this film with this pledge, along with the thank you card, playlist, and the full behind-the-scenes package!
Claimed: 0 of 3
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
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Anna Butcher (Director/writer) is jumping into her senior year at Southern Methodist University ready to shoot her senior thesis film! Anna has experience in several departments of film, and she has worked as a producer, assistant director, production designer, script supervisor, and more. She directed her first short film, "Heavenly Bodies," in 2021, and recently produced a feature film, "I Want a Body of My Own" that will premiere in 2023. Anna's vast experience on countless sets has prepared her to make "Dead On Arrival"! She is a lover of older, dark comedies like Harold and Maude and Little Miss Sunshine, and she can't wait to bring her love of familial dramas and hopeless romantic spirit to this fun and daring film!
Kaytlyn Bunting (Producer) is a junior Film and Media Arts B.F.A. with a minor in business at Southern Methodist University. She has worked in a variety of positions across multiple film sets, including as a director, production designer, assistant director, editor, and more, but her passion lies in producing. Kaytlyn recently wrapped production on the feature film "I Want a Body of My Own," for which she was one of three producers. She has also produced multiple short films including "Sound Off" and "The End." Kaytlyn thinks of producing as the opportunity to turn the words of a script into a real-life work of art. She is excited to continue producing films with interesting characters and thought-provoking themes, and "Dead On Arrival" is a great example of this type of film.
Autumn Beck (Assistant Director) is a recent SMU film grad in Dallas, TX. She is passionate about logistics and enjoys collaborating with others to bring their stories to life. This has led her to assistant direct and produce on a number projects, including AD two feature length films. Outside of filmmaking, Autumn enjoys studying law and hopes to one day bridge these two passions. She is excited and grateful to be a part of telling such a fun and original story.
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