Eden's Shadow
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Feature
Horror, Mystery
What's the longest you've ever kept a secret? What happened when the truth was revealed? At the heart of Eden's Shadow is a secret... one that will shatter a young woman's understanding of herself, her past, and her future...
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$1,531
Goal: $15,000 for production
What's the longest you've ever kept a secret? What happened when the truth was revealed? At the heart of Eden's Shadow is a secret... one that will shatter a young woman's understanding of herself, her past, and her future...
In Partnership With
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Eden's Shadow is a micro-budget modern gothic horror film centering on the relationship between an 18 year old girl, her stepmother, and the painful past between their families that forces its way into the present.
On the eve of her 18th birthday, Victoria discovers the work of a well-known photographer that mimics a recurring nightmare; a murder taking place in her own home. As Victoria develops a mentorship with the photographer, she connects her dream with family secrets hidden by Donna, her stepmother, that reveal the truth about Victoria’s dead mother and their shared, sinister nature.
The film builds from grounded reality to quiet invasions of fantasy that redefine the character’s understanding of themselves and their world, providing a unique and surprising viewing experience.
THEMES
As a filmmaker, I start with questions I want to ask and ideas to explore rather than something concrete I want to say...
- What do the people I surround myself with really mean to me? What do I mean to them? What are the obligations and roles we fulfill for each other? Eden's Shadow focuses on the relationship between a daughter and stepmother, conscious of the roles they're supposed to play for each other, encountering the haziness of how their connection develops as the daughter enters adulthood and their lives begin to split in different directions.
- Memory has been a recurring story focus for me, never something I consciously plan to include but one that always shows up anyway. There's a precarious nature of our own memories - I read a study once about how memories aren't really "stored" in our minds like a computer file but rather when we recall a memory our brains recreate it each time - meaning the memory is always a little different; the details always shifting... they're something so ephemeral and we draw on them for motivation and inspiration, but they can also haunt us deeply.
MICRO-BUDGET FILMMAKING
There are certain images of "filmmaking" planted in people's minds - directors sitting on cranes next to a 35mm camera with big bullhorns and wide pants, a convoy of trucks and trailers soldiered on a city street, grids of mega wattage lights suspended from the air - that show one type of filmmaking; the big budget, Hollywood production. They're the images we see in magazines, articles, and books with black and white photos of glamorous old school studio movies. And these are the kinds of films placed most prominently in front of us - billboards, posters at a bus stop, those annoying ads on the margins of websites that you click on accidentally...
But there is the flip side; a small band of filmmakers with nothing but a camera and microphone racing to catch the perfect sunset shot, or crammed in a convenience store to film two characters argue about Star Wars and relationships, or building an apartment set inside the director's garage.
This is the micro-budget side - where guerilla and backyard filmmakers roam, using the people, places, and equipment they have, along with whatever money they can scrounge up, to create hand-crafted independent films held together with duct tape and a passionate team. These films can find their audience too (maybe not as extensive as their big budget cousins) and the filmmakers can, over time, build that audience into fans who are engaging not only with the individual films but with a filmmaking band that embodies an independent, DIY spirit.
As part of the Micro-Budget Narrative Feature Lab at the University of North Georgia, Eden's Shadow is one of five projects that embraces spirit of DIY micro-budget filmmaking to not only complete films on manageable budgets but to foster a community model for independent filmmakers to connect, share resources, and grow together. With the industry landscape constantly changing, it is one of the Lab's goals to develop sustainable methods of production, marketing, and exhibition outside of established traditional systems.
STYLISTIC INFLUENCES
Since Eden's Shadow deals with themes of dreams, memories, and the past, I began to reflect on my own childhood and periods of growing up during the 1990's. As I recalled places and images from that time, I decided to incorporate their stylistic touches into the wardrobe and set decoration; a touch of the past slipping into the future. Although Eden's Shadow takes place in the present, these influences will give the film a distinct and memorable visual identity.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Meals & Crafty
Costs $3,000
Outside of working wages, nothing on set is more important than a well-stocked craft services table and hot meals.
Festivals & Distribution
Costs $5,000
Once the film is done, we need to show it to everyone! Submission costs, mastering, promotional materials; it all helps get the word out.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Locations are such an important part of the visual design - these funds allow us to secure the perfect spots for the story to unfold.
Production Design
Costs $4,000
From wardrobe to decorations to the tiny touches in the corners, every on-screen element must be carefully found and selected.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Building on the team we assembled for our previous film Waking State, Eden's Shadow brings together a dedicated band of filmmakers who are no stranger to the micro-budget model.
We will be updating this section with cast and crew members as our roster grows!
ANDREW SALERNO
(Writer / Director)
Filmmaker, art director, comic book illustrator, train conductor, Jedi Knight: these are all things Andrew has aspired to be. Some he has achieved, others have been deemed unrealistic. He's from Bristol, PA but also lived in Los Angeles. He currently teaches film production at the University of North Georgia in Oakwood, GA while continuing to develop micro-budget features.
ISABEL PULLIAM
(Producer)
Isabel Pulliam is a passionate and versatile filmmaker with a focus on production, screenwriting, and directing. With a strong storytelling sensibility and a collaborative spirit, she brings a creative and organized approach to every stage of production. She also has experience in assistant directing, cinematography, assistant camera work, digital photography, and editing for both photo and video.
CAST
Cady Jean Walls is a dynamic artist with a hunger to create! This creative now splits her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles, working bi-coastally across stages, screens, and recording studios. She began her journey with volunteer work at Momentum Arts, where her passion for storytelling and community took root. A multifaceted musician, Cady wrote and co-produced her recent single, “Is That Enough For You”(2025), and can be seen showing off her kazoo and beatboxing skills on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark. On stage, Cady made her regional theatre debut in The Alliance Theatre’s The Heart and the Bottle, and later premiered her original full-length play, The Beans, The Beans(AMDA, 2024). The show’s run at Momentum Arts, which Cady starred in, earned her Broadway World Regional nominations for Best Play and Best Lead Performance. As a digital creator with over 40,000 followers across platforms, Cady’s vibrant social media content has reached millions. Since earning her BFA in Musical Theatre from the AMDA College, she has continued to create bold work that inspires and challenges the world around her.
Insta: @cadyjeanwalls -- Cady's Linktree
Philena Gilmer is Atlanta based actress, writer, and producer. She spent 12 years in the Chicago theatre scene before moving back home to the southeast. You can currently catch her on Amazon Prime in "My Little Renaissance Girl" and Hallmark's "A Biltmore Christmas". Coming soon you can see her in the dark comedy "The Primrose Inn" and the film "Stages". Philena loves the magic making of storytelling, especially in the creative collaboration of indie film. She is delighted to be a part of the "Eden's Shadow" journey!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Eden's Shadow is a micro-budget modern gothic horror film centering on the relationship between an 18 year old girl, her stepmother, and the painful past between their families that forces its way into the present.
On the eve of her 18th birthday, Victoria discovers the work of a well-known photographer that mimics a recurring nightmare; a murder taking place in her own home. As Victoria develops a mentorship with the photographer, she connects her dream with family secrets hidden by Donna, her stepmother, that reveal the truth about Victoria’s dead mother and their shared, sinister nature.
The film builds from grounded reality to quiet invasions of fantasy that redefine the character’s understanding of themselves and their world, providing a unique and surprising viewing experience.
THEMES
As a filmmaker, I start with questions I want to ask and ideas to explore rather than something concrete I want to say...
- What do the people I surround myself with really mean to me? What do I mean to them? What are the obligations and roles we fulfill for each other? Eden's Shadow focuses on the relationship between a daughter and stepmother, conscious of the roles they're supposed to play for each other, encountering the haziness of how their connection develops as the daughter enters adulthood and their lives begin to split in different directions.
- Memory has been a recurring story focus for me, never something I consciously plan to include but one that always shows up anyway. There's a precarious nature of our own memories - I read a study once about how memories aren't really "stored" in our minds like a computer file but rather when we recall a memory our brains recreate it each time - meaning the memory is always a little different; the details always shifting... they're something so ephemeral and we draw on them for motivation and inspiration, but they can also haunt us deeply.
MICRO-BUDGET FILMMAKING
There are certain images of "filmmaking" planted in people's minds - directors sitting on cranes next to a 35mm camera with big bullhorns and wide pants, a convoy of trucks and trailers soldiered on a city street, grids of mega wattage lights suspended from the air - that show one type of filmmaking; the big budget, Hollywood production. They're the images we see in magazines, articles, and books with black and white photos of glamorous old school studio movies. And these are the kinds of films placed most prominently in front of us - billboards, posters at a bus stop, those annoying ads on the margins of websites that you click on accidentally...
But there is the flip side; a small band of filmmakers with nothing but a camera and microphone racing to catch the perfect sunset shot, or crammed in a convenience store to film two characters argue about Star Wars and relationships, or building an apartment set inside the director's garage.
This is the micro-budget side - where guerilla and backyard filmmakers roam, using the people, places, and equipment they have, along with whatever money they can scrounge up, to create hand-crafted independent films held together with duct tape and a passionate team. These films can find their audience too (maybe not as extensive as their big budget cousins) and the filmmakers can, over time, build that audience into fans who are engaging not only with the individual films but with a filmmaking band that embodies an independent, DIY spirit.
As part of the Micro-Budget Narrative Feature Lab at the University of North Georgia, Eden's Shadow is one of five projects that embraces spirit of DIY micro-budget filmmaking to not only complete films on manageable budgets but to foster a community model for independent filmmakers to connect, share resources, and grow together. With the industry landscape constantly changing, it is one of the Lab's goals to develop sustainable methods of production, marketing, and exhibition outside of established traditional systems.
STYLISTIC INFLUENCES
Since Eden's Shadow deals with themes of dreams, memories, and the past, I began to reflect on my own childhood and periods of growing up during the 1990's. As I recalled places and images from that time, I decided to incorporate their stylistic touches into the wardrobe and set decoration; a touch of the past slipping into the future. Although Eden's Shadow takes place in the present, these influences will give the film a distinct and memorable visual identity.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Meals & Crafty
Costs $3,000
Outside of working wages, nothing on set is more important than a well-stocked craft services table and hot meals.
Festivals & Distribution
Costs $5,000
Once the film is done, we need to show it to everyone! Submission costs, mastering, promotional materials; it all helps get the word out.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Locations are such an important part of the visual design - these funds allow us to secure the perfect spots for the story to unfold.
Production Design
Costs $4,000
From wardrobe to decorations to the tiny touches in the corners, every on-screen element must be carefully found and selected.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Building on the team we assembled for our previous film Waking State, Eden's Shadow brings together a dedicated band of filmmakers who are no stranger to the micro-budget model.
We will be updating this section with cast and crew members as our roster grows!
ANDREW SALERNO
(Writer / Director)
Filmmaker, art director, comic book illustrator, train conductor, Jedi Knight: these are all things Andrew has aspired to be. Some he has achieved, others have been deemed unrealistic. He's from Bristol, PA but also lived in Los Angeles. He currently teaches film production at the University of North Georgia in Oakwood, GA while continuing to develop micro-budget features.
ISABEL PULLIAM
(Producer)
Isabel Pulliam is a passionate and versatile filmmaker with a focus on production, screenwriting, and directing. With a strong storytelling sensibility and a collaborative spirit, she brings a creative and organized approach to every stage of production. She also has experience in assistant directing, cinematography, assistant camera work, digital photography, and editing for both photo and video.
CAST
Cady Jean Walls is a dynamic artist with a hunger to create! This creative now splits her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles, working bi-coastally across stages, screens, and recording studios. She began her journey with volunteer work at Momentum Arts, where her passion for storytelling and community took root. A multifaceted musician, Cady wrote and co-produced her recent single, “Is That Enough For You”(2025), and can be seen showing off her kazoo and beatboxing skills on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark. On stage, Cady made her regional theatre debut in The Alliance Theatre’s The Heart and the Bottle, and later premiered her original full-length play, The Beans, The Beans(AMDA, 2024). The show’s run at Momentum Arts, which Cady starred in, earned her Broadway World Regional nominations for Best Play and Best Lead Performance. As a digital creator with over 40,000 followers across platforms, Cady’s vibrant social media content has reached millions. Since earning her BFA in Musical Theatre from the AMDA College, she has continued to create bold work that inspires and challenges the world around her.
Insta: @cadyjeanwalls -- Cady's Linktree
Philena Gilmer is Atlanta based actress, writer, and producer. She spent 12 years in the Chicago theatre scene before moving back home to the southeast. You can currently catch her on Amazon Prime in "My Little Renaissance Girl" and Hallmark's "A Biltmore Christmas". Coming soon you can see her in the dark comedy "The Primrose Inn" and the film "Stages". Philena loves the magic making of storytelling, especially in the creative collaboration of indie film. She is delighted to be a part of the "Eden's Shadow" journey!