Fog of War

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Horror, War

Steven Lundgren

1 Campaigns | California, United States

Green Light

This campaign raised $28,775 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

178 supporters | followers

Enter the amount you would like to pledge

$

"When his whole family succumbs to the Spanish Flu and his brother is killed in battle, a young soldier in WWI starts having visions of a horrifying creature roaming the battlefield at night..."

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

We are a diverse team of filmmakers setting out to make a film that depicts the deeply personal cost of war. This is coupled with an unavoidable comparison with the early 1900s and the world of today - where we are fighting yet another pandemic and the future is again wrought with uncertainty.

The Story

WE JUST UNLOCKED OUR FIRST STRETCH GOAL!!

The campaign is still ongoing, and because we kicked butt with such vigor, we are able to announce a few modest stretch goals, to further assist us in making this film as good as can be. Please check them out below and consider helping us unlock them!

 

October 20th, 1918 - Meuse-Argonne, France

Private Tommy Atkins is in hell.
He just found out that his entire family has succumbed to the Spanish Flu, while he’s stuck in France fighting a war he doesn’t even understand. When his brother is killed in battle, Tommy starts having visions of a horrifying creature roaming the battlefield at night, devouring the souls of dead soldiers.

As Tommy little by little loses his connection to reality, his mental state turns from that of an innocent boy from Queens, NY with hopes for the future, to a detached young man with nothing left to lose.

A FEW WORDS FROM THE WRITER/DIRECTOR -

When I was 18 years old I was a Corporal in an Infantry Grenade-Rifle platoon in Sweden (it was mandatory back then). During our basic training, we were told by our instructors that our life expectancy in battle, would be a mere 20 seconds. Think about that...an entire life wiped out in less than half a minute...kind of makes everything seem pretty meaningless. At least that's what I felt as a young man. This feeling of hopelessness put me on a different path - that same journey that has led me here today.

When plotting the initial idea, I started to notice a lot of similarities between the first decades of the 19th century and the world of 2021 - a world that is, much the same way 1918 was, ravaged by a deadly pandemic that completely altered everyday life on this planet. To me, it added a sense of importance and deep resonance to the story, which pushed me to want to try to get it made. 

I believe it will be easy for a modern audience to empathize with young Tommy Atkins as he slowly loses his connection to reality, all the while exploring the capacity of the human heart and soul.

Thank you so much for checking out our project!!

Love,

Steve

We are lucky to have so many close friends and collaborators - many of whom are acclaimed filmmakers in their own right, helping us out on this project. We couldn't do it without them.

 

Steven grew up in northern Sweden. He holds an MFA in Literature from Uppsala University and a BFA in Film Studies from Stockholm University. After graduation, he got his first real crash course in Film Production at the “Kulturama Art School". Steven was awarded a Grant of $22,000 from the Swedish-American Foundation to study Film Production at Graduate level at a University in the US. The following year, he got accepted into the MFA program at Chapman University. Steven has to date written 20+ feature-length screenplays, 10 shorts, and a 600-page novel. He has directed music videos, commercials, a slew of short films and has been in development to direct several of his feature-length scripts. He currently has a feature in development and is placing well in various competitions with his pilot script - "American Dreams".

Other than managing her Production company, "FREEMAN CREEK", Aprill is also a film- and TV Director in her own right. To date, she has over twenty credits from such variety of shows as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D", "The 100", and "The Bold Type". Aprill holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from UCSD, which is where her journey as a storyteller began. She spent the first few years pursuing Directing for the Theatre scene in Chicago before coming to Los Angeles, quickly making her mark as a talented and hard-working Script Supervisor, before segueing into Directing.

She may have been an Angelina for the past decade and a half, but Pam is ALL Chicago. She studied Film at Columbia in Chicago in 2005, a few years later, she packed her bags and left for the west coast. In the years that followed, she did everything from being a PA to Script Supervisor and eventually Producer. At this point in her career, she has produced a range of shows from "Wild West Alaska" and "The Real L Word" to "College Humor Originals" and a slew of narrative films. She can tackle anything from reality-based TV to DocuDramas, Short Films to Feature length. She's a peaceful warrior - unless you bash her beloved Bears...

Ashley A Valdez has worked in many different departments and has a diverse understanding of the industry. For the last eight years, she has been kicking butt as a Location Manager/Scout. Her credits include "THEM", "Waco" and "Dreamland". For the past three years, she has been the Location Manager on "Roswell, New Mexico" for the CW. When she's not taking over neighborhoods or closing down streets you can find her bombing down trails on her mountain bike. 

Richard has a long list of varied experiences in the film industry - everything from building the lab sets and making original artwork and murals for the TV show "Breaking Bad", creating Aliens for "Independence Day 2" to teaching Mel Gibson how to be a believable Tattoo Artist in the movie "Blood Father". He is also a talented airbrush artist - skills that will come in very handy when creating the Beast for "Fog of War". When he's not busy making movies look good, Richard plays bass in the indie/alt-rock band "Chimps In Orbit".

Everett M Byrom III has been in the business of blowing stuff up on the screen and making even the most impossible effect seem real for the last couple of decades. His long list of credits includes such classics as "Jurassic Park III", "The Majestic", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and "Machete". He's also been busy on the small screen, working on shows like "Friday Night Lights", "The Leftovers", and "Roswell NM". When he's not enjoying the heat of an effects-laded film set, he's the vocalist for the band "Chimps in Orbit".

 

 

Making a film, no matter the size or scope is always an expensive endeavor (not to mention a period piece taking place in a war zone...). We are putting in about half the budget using our own savings, we have also secured a lot of really amazing in-kind favors, but in order to realize our goals and be able to make this film, we humbly ask for your help.

The only way we are able to make this film is with the support of our friends, volunteering their time, equipment, and talent. Because of that, our main budgetary needs can be focused on the things that will appear on screen.

On top of this comes COVID-protocols. Most, if not all, of the Cast and Crew, will be fully vaccinated when we start this project. They will be tested on a weekly basis on other shows, but we will still require that everyone wear a mask and continue to maintain the 6-foot distance rule. We will also have a Covid-officer on set at all times, making sure that everyone is kept comfortable and safe. If there is a need to test someone prior to shooting, we will of course also take care of that.

Should you be so kind as to contribute to this film, we will be one step closer to doing this script the justice it deserves, and make sure that everyone's hard work and contributions pay off in a big way!

 

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Creature Creation

Costs $850

The creature needs to look its best, and we prefer to create it practically - w/ a guy in a suit :-)

Catering

Costs $3,800

Cast and crew (about 30 people) need to be fed two hot, tasty and healthy meals/day for 4 days

Set Construction and Dressing

Costs $3,500

Creating a believable setting in WWI is crucial, with this comes props and dressing

Camera Equipment

Costs $1,000

We already have a camera package, but will need to rent additional support gear, some lenses etc...

Portable Restrooms

Costs $200

The set will not be close to any immediate amenities, we have to bring it all in.

CGI

Costs $1,500

We need to build a few set extensions in VFX to be able to sell the battlefield - and the trench

Lighting

Costs $1,500

We have most of the G/E equipment but for the night scenes we will need to get some additional gear

Sound Mixer and Gear

Costs $800

Sound is one of the most crucial aspects of making a successful film.

Uniforms, prop weapons

Costs $4,000

Replica uniforms w/ webbing are being made (cheaper than renting) We do need to rent the rifles

"Tube of Death" - Fog machines/fans to create the Fog in "Fog of War"

Costs $200

To create a sense of eerieness and to sell the battlefield without having to build everything

SFX Make Up

Costs $250

SFX Make Up artist that can create a believable wound or two

Aerial Crane

Costs $1,400

AKA "Condor". To be able to light the night scenes properly we need to rig a "moonlight" overhead.

Rain Gag

Costs $1,000

We have a couple of scenes that require a rain gag

About This Team

 

We are lucky to have so many close friends and collaborators - all acclaimed filmmakers in their own right, helping us out on this project. We couldn't do it without them:

 

Steven grew up in northern Sweden. After High School, he left his hometown to complete an MFA in Literature at Uppsala University as well as a BFA in Film Studies at Stockholm University. He got his first real crash course in Film Production at the “Kulturama Art School". Steven was awarded a Grant of $22,000 from the Swedish-American Foundation to study Film Production at Graduate level at a University in the US. The following year, he got accepted into the MFA program at Chapman University. Steven has to date written 20+ feature-length screenplays, 10+ shorts, and a 600-page novel. He has directed music videos, commercials, a slew of short films and has been in development to direct several of his feature-length scripts. He currently has a feature in development and is placing well in various competitions with his pilot script - "American Dreams".

 

Growing up in the mountains of the Sequoia National Forest in Central California, Aprill quickly learned to appreciate the beauty of everything around her. Other than managing her Production company, "FREEMAN CREEK", she is also a film- and TV Director in her own right. To date, she has over twenty credits from such a variety of shows as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D", "The 100", and "The Bold Type". Aprill holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from UCSD, which is where her journey as a storyteller began. She spent the first few years pursuing Directing for the Theatre scene in Chicago before coming to Los Angeles, quickly making her mark in Hollywood as a talented and hard-working Script Supervisor, before segueing into Directing.

 

She may have been an Angelina for the past decade and a half, but Pam is ALL Chicago. She studied Film at Columbia in Chicago in 2005, packed her bags and, left for the gold coast. In the years that followed, she did everything from being a PA to Script Supervisor and eventually Producer. At this point in her career, she has produced a range of shows from "Wild West Alaska" and "The Real L Word" to "College Humor Originals" and a slew of narrative short films. She can tackle anything from reality-based TV to DocuDramas, narrative Short Films to Feature length. She's a peaceful warrior - unless you bash her beloved Bears...

 

Everett M Byrom III has been in the business of blowing stuff up on the screen and making even the most impossible effect seem real for the last couple of decades. His long list of credits includes such classics as "Jurassic Park III", "The Majestic", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and "Machete". He's also been busy on the small screen, working on shows like "Friday Night Lights", "The Leftovers", and "Roswell NM". When he's not enjoying the heat of an effects-laded film set, he's the vocalist for the band "Chimps in Orbit".

Current Team

Supporters

Followers

Incentives