Ekelbrode
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi
A dieselpunk tale of reckoning chock full of rust, blood and fungus. Cadulbrockt and Malta are POWs on a roaming labor camp. It's his last day, and she plans to use him to carry secret technology out of the camp. Whether he wants to or not. A handcrafted, imaginative look at environmental collapse.
Ekelbrode
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $14,255 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
46 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
A dieselpunk tale of reckoning chock full of rust, blood and fungus. Cadulbrockt and Malta are POWs on a roaming labor camp. It's his last day, and she plans to use him to carry secret technology out of the camp. Whether he wants to or not. A handcrafted, imaginative look at environmental collapse.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Cadulbrockt Craid is a prisoner of war aboard a reclamation wagon, a massive machine that roams a frozen, war-torn world, fertilizing the toxic land.
It's his last day of imprisonment. Mycologist Malta Neftift, a fellow prisoner, approaches him with a plan that is both illegal and potentially world saving. But he has no interest in helping her.
Though a secret from his past may leave him no choice.
This short is a proof of concept for our limited series Bitter Ground Broken and is extracted from the first sequence of the pilot episode. With this film we will be able to garner interest from studios and other filmmakers to bring this story to the screen!
In this tale of reckoning we present an extreme experience shrouded in the ashes of an apocalypse in which a man must find the strength to become good again. With a unique universe and set of characters, we aim to present a new lens through which to view our own world.
Ekelbrode centers around environmental issues, the rise of fascist governments and powerful corporations. These topics are important to us because we are living in a time of great change. Against a backdrop of huge disparities in wealth and power, we worry over the cost of food and shelter, the threat of war, corruption and an ever-increasing number of natural disasters. All setting the tone for our own slow-burn apocalypse. We’re scared and we’re angry. We want to tell a story about it, analyze it, and find a fraught human story within it.
The world of Ekelbrode is bleak, centering on an industrializing society reminiscent of American steel towns or 1890s England. Color is rare. Design favors function over form. The effects of biological warfare have made things like wood a priceless luxury. Plastic, metal and mycelium are the building blocks of the surviving cities. Yet within this dreary landscape, humanity still shines through. This is where you will find the beating heart of our story.
This setting is inspired by the unapologetic perspective of Come and See, the stylized grit of Peaky Blinders and Daniel Plainview’s industrious quest for power in There Will be Blood.
Fully aware of the limitations of our resources, we specifically crafted our scenes to be practical and small. We know our team and we know how incredibly talented they are, so we have full confidence that together we can channel every penny onto the screen.
Most of this fund will go toward production costs including cast and crew, gear, catering etc, as well as fabricating a believable and immersive world with high quality props, sets and visual effects. We will need to create bespoke weapons, tools and costumes that suit our world. We will supplement these with military surplus items that complement our aesthetic.
Post production will play a huge role in developing the look and feel of the story, specifically sound design and scoring as well as some VFX for the opening vista shots. Please also check out our wishlist to see what specific items we need to make this film happen!
STRETCH GOALS
$30,000: Additional shoot days, higher pay for our incredible cast and crew, squibs and other extra special effects.
$45,000: Additional post-production work, including foley and visual effects. We're also hoping to design and create merch, including stickers and t-shirts!
OUR TIMELINE
Summer 2022 - Pre-Production
February 2023 - Production
Spring 2023 - Post Production
Fall 2023- Submit Ekelbrode to the 2024 festival circuit!
COVID SAFETY
This production is going to be covid safe! We will provide regular testing and sanitization equipment on set at all times. Our team has worked on professional sets throughout the last year of the pandemic and are all well versed in the safety protocols. It is a top priority for us to keep everyone safe.
FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN
Follow the campaign on Seed&Spark! You can help us reach a wider audience. The more people that follow, the more perks and services we receive from the platform to help our campaign succeed! Every person matters here.
You can follow us on our Instagram and TikTok @theroadtoekelbrode.
CONTRIBUTE & PLEDGE TO THE FILM
Choose to contribute and receive some terrific incentives! Our most exciting perk is our grow-at-home oyster mushroom kit. These come directly from Fiber of Life Mushrooms, located in Colorado! We also offer custom artwork, stickers, handmade props and costumes from the film and animated screensavers. If you wish to become an associate or executive producer you will also receive official imdb credits and an invitation to our world premiere and after party.
If you'd like to help us out with a specific facet of production, please feel free to pledge to one of the categories on our wishlist and cover that cost!
No contribution is too small. We're so grateful and excited to be creating and sharing this film with your help. Thank you!
TELL THE WORLD
You can share this page with anybody you'd like. Copy and paste the project url (www.seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film) and spread the word!
OR you can copy-paste one of these messages!
*Hey everyone! Lend a hand to these filmmakers @roadtoekelbrode by supporting their film EKELBRODE. A dieselfpunk short film about a world saving fungus. Join them @ seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film
*Check out this awesome teaser for the film EKELBRODE! Fungus is the future! Join them @ seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film.
In the link below you will find our website. Please feel free to check out some of our past and future projects there! Thank you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department
Costs $1,970
Our custom sets, costumes and props are essential to creating the dieselpunk world of Ekelbrode.
Locations
Costs $2,015
Studio rental fees for our effects heavy scenes.
Production Costs
Costs $990
This includes catering, admin costs, office supplies and health & safety.
Travel
Costs $1,900
Flights for essential crew to Colorado where we shoot action scenes + transpo for art dept. pieces.
Gear
Costs $1,295
Lighting and camera equipment to produce a high quality cinematic experience.
Actors
Costs $1,830
Compensation for our gifted on-screen talent.
Crew
Costs $7,000
Compensation for our team of 15 filmmakers working hard behind the camera.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Benjamin Pierson | Co Writer, Co Director
Benjamin Pierson writes and directs short films with his partner Sascha Montgomery in Los Angeles, CA. Raised on a farm in eastern Colorado, Benjamin made war and monster movies with his brothers in the woods near their home and took that hands on, big vision/little means approach with him to the University of Colorado where his work received the Grillo award three times. Most recently he and Sascha directed Mouth Sounds, a short film that is part of the Interconnected anthology series. He also works with clients such as Sony, Frontline, PBS, the Windward School and musical artists Nice Ghost and Mike Merchant.
Currently Benjamin, Sascha and their team are developing a limited series Bitter Ground Broken and the proof of concept short Ekelbrode.
Sascha Montgomery | Co Writer, Co Director, Production Designer
Sascha Montgomery is a filmmaker in Los Angeles working with creative partner Benjamin Pierson to visualize and build unique worlds and stories. Practiced in pre-vis, production design, prop creation and color grading, her passion is worldbuilding. She has developed a variety of artistic skills so that she can be present in the filmmaking process from start to finish and ensure that the look and feel of every project is cohesive, unique and meaningful.
Sascha and Benjamin recently wrapped their short film Mouth Sounds, which is part of the Interconnected anthology series. She also recently completed production design on poetic documentary God is a Black Woman and short film Odd Job. Her past projects include Garden Heart, A Savage Reminder, Empire, Saving Grace, and Chevy & Caprice. Sascha and Benjamin are now hard at work on a limited series titled Bitter Ground Broken and its proof of concept short Ekelbrode.
Salem Daniel | Executive Producer
Salem Daniel is an Ethiopian American director and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in short-form content that points the lens at Black and female-centered narratives. Somewhere between growing up first-generation American and moving to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she found film to be a universal language that could transcend language barriers and cultural idioms.
Salem's film career started at VICELAND where she worked in production on the award-winning docuseries My House. She most recently co-directed the poetic documentary God is A Black Woman, a multimedia feature-length piece that showcases the journey of eleven Black women in their realization of the divinity of self. In 2021, Salem launched Cushy Films, where she produces short form content in branded, narrative and documentary spaces. She has since worked with award-winning talent producing for companies such as XTR, HBO and HOORAE, La Mer, Betsey Johnson and more.
Brianna Fish | Line Producer, SFX, MUA
Brianna Fish is a producer, writer, and special effects makeup artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in horror and film noir. Authenticity in all facets of film is the drive behind her passion, which is why she combines her talents of production and SFX makeup. She strives to bring stories and fears to life to provide the audience with the most visceral reactions.
Upon graduating from CU Boulder, Brianna’s feminist documentary Using the F-Word was an official selection in a New Filmmaker’s Festival in Colorado in 2016. She has been the key special effects makeup artist for award-winning short films such as Sonant and The Day Never Dreams in 2020 and 2021. She also wrote and produced the short horror film, Once Inside, under the umbrella of her production company, BriMutations, due to release in 2022.
Sam Bear | 1rst Assistant Director
Samuel Bear is a writer, director, and assistant director from Los Angeles, CA. Being raised in a tumultuous and impoverished environment, Samuel learned to escape with the help of his trusty camcorder; processing his thoughts and feelings through nonlinear visual clusters turbulently clashing with one another, Samuel didn’t realize at the early age of 6 that he was creating experimental films. Being taken from his original home by child protective services and placed in a highschool film academy allowed him to understand and reconnoiter the art of filmmaking. It was here that Samuel began to refine his thematic habits with politically ambitious horror films. As a screenwriter and director, Samuel was awarded a Presidential Scholarship in pursuit of his film BFA. In college, Samuel found a passion for the role of assistant director, which he would later explore as a production assistant for Netflix, Paramount+, and Nickelodeon projects.
Daniel Kleen | Director of Photography
Daniel Kleen has always been wholeheartedly addicted to the pursuit of knowledge and incredible experiences that only media Creation provides. Over the last 15 years, He has had the privilege of being involved with several studios including Sony, Universal Studios, and Paramount, in multiple aspects and roles of film production. Upon enrolling at the California Institute of the Arts, He shifted his focus entirely to cinematography and is now CEO of Model 05 Productions and Black Axe Media. Creating new media in both narrative and commercial fields with the goal of offering high-quality media to everyone who is passionate about what they set out to create.
Connor Pierson | Composer
Connor Pierson is a foley artist, sound designer, composer, and musician based in Denver, CO. Brother of Ben and Spencer Pierson, they grew up making movies and roleplaying in the woods. In college Connor simultaneously discovered a passion for songwriting and experimental soundscape composition as well as foley recording and SFX, working on a number of his brother Spencer’s film projects in school. His most recent project was Mouth Sounds, a short film that’s part of the Interconnected anthology series, and Garden Heart, serving as foley artist, composer and mixer.
Spencer Pierson | 1st Assistant Camera
Spencer Pierson found his love for filmmaking alongside his brothers, friends and with a flip video camera. He grew up in the country with plenty of room for the imagination to run wild. Several years of making home movies led him to study film production at the University of Colorado. Now based in Denver, Spencer is working as a freelance videographer and has done visual effect/cinematography work on a number of short films.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Cadulbrockt Craid is a prisoner of war aboard a reclamation wagon, a massive machine that roams a frozen, war-torn world, fertilizing the toxic land.
It's his last day of imprisonment. Mycologist Malta Neftift, a fellow prisoner, approaches him with a plan that is both illegal and potentially world saving. But he has no interest in helping her.
Though a secret from his past may leave him no choice.
This short is a proof of concept for our limited series Bitter Ground Broken and is extracted from the first sequence of the pilot episode. With this film we will be able to garner interest from studios and other filmmakers to bring this story to the screen!
In this tale of reckoning we present an extreme experience shrouded in the ashes of an apocalypse in which a man must find the strength to become good again. With a unique universe and set of characters, we aim to present a new lens through which to view our own world.
Ekelbrode centers around environmental issues, the rise of fascist governments and powerful corporations. These topics are important to us because we are living in a time of great change. Against a backdrop of huge disparities in wealth and power, we worry over the cost of food and shelter, the threat of war, corruption and an ever-increasing number of natural disasters. All setting the tone for our own slow-burn apocalypse. We’re scared and we’re angry. We want to tell a story about it, analyze it, and find a fraught human story within it.
The world of Ekelbrode is bleak, centering on an industrializing society reminiscent of American steel towns or 1890s England. Color is rare. Design favors function over form. The effects of biological warfare have made things like wood a priceless luxury. Plastic, metal and mycelium are the building blocks of the surviving cities. Yet within this dreary landscape, humanity still shines through. This is where you will find the beating heart of our story.
This setting is inspired by the unapologetic perspective of Come and See, the stylized grit of Peaky Blinders and Daniel Plainview’s industrious quest for power in There Will be Blood.
Fully aware of the limitations of our resources, we specifically crafted our scenes to be practical and small. We know our team and we know how incredibly talented they are, so we have full confidence that together we can channel every penny onto the screen.
Most of this fund will go toward production costs including cast and crew, gear, catering etc, as well as fabricating a believable and immersive world with high quality props, sets and visual effects. We will need to create bespoke weapons, tools and costumes that suit our world. We will supplement these with military surplus items that complement our aesthetic.
Post production will play a huge role in developing the look and feel of the story, specifically sound design and scoring as well as some VFX for the opening vista shots. Please also check out our wishlist to see what specific items we need to make this film happen!
STRETCH GOALS
$30,000: Additional shoot days, higher pay for our incredible cast and crew, squibs and other extra special effects.
$45,000: Additional post-production work, including foley and visual effects. We're also hoping to design and create merch, including stickers and t-shirts!
OUR TIMELINE
Summer 2022 - Pre-Production
February 2023 - Production
Spring 2023 - Post Production
Fall 2023- Submit Ekelbrode to the 2024 festival circuit!
COVID SAFETY
This production is going to be covid safe! We will provide regular testing and sanitization equipment on set at all times. Our team has worked on professional sets throughout the last year of the pandemic and are all well versed in the safety protocols. It is a top priority for us to keep everyone safe.
FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN
Follow the campaign on Seed&Spark! You can help us reach a wider audience. The more people that follow, the more perks and services we receive from the platform to help our campaign succeed! Every person matters here.
You can follow us on our Instagram and TikTok @theroadtoekelbrode.
CONTRIBUTE & PLEDGE TO THE FILM
Choose to contribute and receive some terrific incentives! Our most exciting perk is our grow-at-home oyster mushroom kit. These come directly from Fiber of Life Mushrooms, located in Colorado! We also offer custom artwork, stickers, handmade props and costumes from the film and animated screensavers. If you wish to become an associate or executive producer you will also receive official imdb credits and an invitation to our world premiere and after party.
If you'd like to help us out with a specific facet of production, please feel free to pledge to one of the categories on our wishlist and cover that cost!
No contribution is too small. We're so grateful and excited to be creating and sharing this film with your help. Thank you!
TELL THE WORLD
You can share this page with anybody you'd like. Copy and paste the project url (www.seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film) and spread the word!
OR you can copy-paste one of these messages!
*Hey everyone! Lend a hand to these filmmakers @roadtoekelbrode by supporting their film EKELBRODE. A dieselfpunk short film about a world saving fungus. Join them @ seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film
*Check out this awesome teaser for the film EKELBRODE! Fungus is the future! Join them @ seedandspark.com/fund/ekelbrode-film.
In the link below you will find our website. Please feel free to check out some of our past and future projects there! Thank you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department
Costs $1,970
Our custom sets, costumes and props are essential to creating the dieselpunk world of Ekelbrode.
Locations
Costs $2,015
Studio rental fees for our effects heavy scenes.
Production Costs
Costs $990
This includes catering, admin costs, office supplies and health & safety.
Travel
Costs $1,900
Flights for essential crew to Colorado where we shoot action scenes + transpo for art dept. pieces.
Gear
Costs $1,295
Lighting and camera equipment to produce a high quality cinematic experience.
Actors
Costs $1,830
Compensation for our gifted on-screen talent.
Crew
Costs $7,000
Compensation for our team of 15 filmmakers working hard behind the camera.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Benjamin Pierson | Co Writer, Co Director
Benjamin Pierson writes and directs short films with his partner Sascha Montgomery in Los Angeles, CA. Raised on a farm in eastern Colorado, Benjamin made war and monster movies with his brothers in the woods near their home and took that hands on, big vision/little means approach with him to the University of Colorado where his work received the Grillo award three times. Most recently he and Sascha directed Mouth Sounds, a short film that is part of the Interconnected anthology series. He also works with clients such as Sony, Frontline, PBS, the Windward School and musical artists Nice Ghost and Mike Merchant.
Currently Benjamin, Sascha and their team are developing a limited series Bitter Ground Broken and the proof of concept short Ekelbrode.
Sascha Montgomery | Co Writer, Co Director, Production Designer
Sascha Montgomery is a filmmaker in Los Angeles working with creative partner Benjamin Pierson to visualize and build unique worlds and stories. Practiced in pre-vis, production design, prop creation and color grading, her passion is worldbuilding. She has developed a variety of artistic skills so that she can be present in the filmmaking process from start to finish and ensure that the look and feel of every project is cohesive, unique and meaningful.
Sascha and Benjamin recently wrapped their short film Mouth Sounds, which is part of the Interconnected anthology series. She also recently completed production design on poetic documentary God is a Black Woman and short film Odd Job. Her past projects include Garden Heart, A Savage Reminder, Empire, Saving Grace, and Chevy & Caprice. Sascha and Benjamin are now hard at work on a limited series titled Bitter Ground Broken and its proof of concept short Ekelbrode.
Salem Daniel | Executive Producer
Salem Daniel is an Ethiopian American director and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in short-form content that points the lens at Black and female-centered narratives. Somewhere between growing up first-generation American and moving to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she found film to be a universal language that could transcend language barriers and cultural idioms.
Salem's film career started at VICELAND where she worked in production on the award-winning docuseries My House. She most recently co-directed the poetic documentary God is A Black Woman, a multimedia feature-length piece that showcases the journey of eleven Black women in their realization of the divinity of self. In 2021, Salem launched Cushy Films, where she produces short form content in branded, narrative and documentary spaces. She has since worked with award-winning talent producing for companies such as XTR, HBO and HOORAE, La Mer, Betsey Johnson and more.
Brianna Fish | Line Producer, SFX, MUA
Brianna Fish is a producer, writer, and special effects makeup artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in horror and film noir. Authenticity in all facets of film is the drive behind her passion, which is why she combines her talents of production and SFX makeup. She strives to bring stories and fears to life to provide the audience with the most visceral reactions.
Upon graduating from CU Boulder, Brianna’s feminist documentary Using the F-Word was an official selection in a New Filmmaker’s Festival in Colorado in 2016. She has been the key special effects makeup artist for award-winning short films such as Sonant and The Day Never Dreams in 2020 and 2021. She also wrote and produced the short horror film, Once Inside, under the umbrella of her production company, BriMutations, due to release in 2022.
Sam Bear | 1rst Assistant Director
Samuel Bear is a writer, director, and assistant director from Los Angeles, CA. Being raised in a tumultuous and impoverished environment, Samuel learned to escape with the help of his trusty camcorder; processing his thoughts and feelings through nonlinear visual clusters turbulently clashing with one another, Samuel didn’t realize at the early age of 6 that he was creating experimental films. Being taken from his original home by child protective services and placed in a highschool film academy allowed him to understand and reconnoiter the art of filmmaking. It was here that Samuel began to refine his thematic habits with politically ambitious horror films. As a screenwriter and director, Samuel was awarded a Presidential Scholarship in pursuit of his film BFA. In college, Samuel found a passion for the role of assistant director, which he would later explore as a production assistant for Netflix, Paramount+, and Nickelodeon projects.
Daniel Kleen | Director of Photography
Daniel Kleen has always been wholeheartedly addicted to the pursuit of knowledge and incredible experiences that only media Creation provides. Over the last 15 years, He has had the privilege of being involved with several studios including Sony, Universal Studios, and Paramount, in multiple aspects and roles of film production. Upon enrolling at the California Institute of the Arts, He shifted his focus entirely to cinematography and is now CEO of Model 05 Productions and Black Axe Media. Creating new media in both narrative and commercial fields with the goal of offering high-quality media to everyone who is passionate about what they set out to create.
Connor Pierson | Composer
Connor Pierson is a foley artist, sound designer, composer, and musician based in Denver, CO. Brother of Ben and Spencer Pierson, they grew up making movies and roleplaying in the woods. In college Connor simultaneously discovered a passion for songwriting and experimental soundscape composition as well as foley recording and SFX, working on a number of his brother Spencer’s film projects in school. His most recent project was Mouth Sounds, a short film that’s part of the Interconnected anthology series, and Garden Heart, serving as foley artist, composer and mixer.
Spencer Pierson | 1st Assistant Camera
Spencer Pierson found his love for filmmaking alongside his brothers, friends and with a flip video camera. He grew up in the country with plenty of room for the imagination to run wild. Several years of making home movies led him to study film production at the University of Colorado. Now based in Denver, Spencer is working as a freelance videographer and has done visual effect/cinematography work on a number of short films.