Future Tense
Hamden, Connecticut | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
In a world where it’s becoming exceedingly difficult to discern what’s real and what’s fake, Future Tense sheds light on the importance of preserving the truth. In our film, we hope to capture the threat of controlled narratives, and the consequences of failing to recognize them.
Future Tense
Hamden, Connecticut | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
1 Campaigns | Connecticut, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,300 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
113 supporters | followers
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In a world where it’s becoming exceedingly difficult to discern what’s real and what’s fake, Future Tense sheds light on the importance of preserving the truth. In our film, we hope to capture the threat of controlled narratives, and the consequences of failing to recognize them.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the year 2057, Future Tense follows the story of Willow, a young archivist responsible for the transfer of print media to digital. Through her new job at The Archives, she is surrounded by those who seek to destroy physical media and prioritize corporate ideals over integrity. Within the comfort of her own home, Willow finds solace in her massive collection of books, DVDs, vinyl records, and home videos that call back to a more connected reality. In a world where everyone relies on a brain chip for internet access and physical media is becoming obsolete, Willow seems to be the only one trying to preserve her own history.
This story is a dystopian drama that sheds light on the potential dangers of anti-intellectualism. It is a cautionary tale that ties together nostalgia with the impact of the ever-changing digital age. We believe that with the impending consequences of AI and the looming disruption of our media landscape, this film is a crucial look into the impact of human censorship. Through this film, we seek to provide a snapshot of what it means to protect the flow of information.
I have always been fascinated by the tangibility of physical media. As a kid, I would collect it all — books, video games, CDs, movies. Regardless of the medium, having a material gateway to all of my favorite stories excited me, and it still does to this very day. When I’m searching for inspiration, sometimes I’ll walk to my movie shelf and peruse the films that have shaped me as I have gotten older. I’ll stare at the cases and reminisce on when I first discovered them, the memories of experiencing them, and how they made me feel. They become little time capsules within themselves. A ritual continuously threatened by the rise of digital content, regulated by companies through streaming rights and licensing agreements. There’s nothing worse than wanting to watch a movie and finding that it’s not readily available on any of the streaming platforms you pay for. I’m always pursuing the goal of becoming my own personal media archive, with a roomful of shelves sprawling with artful media pieces that are meaningful to me. I love physical media – so when Marjae shared her script with me, I was immediately on board to direct it.
film focuses on the value of having a personal archive – and the important role media, history, and memory play in our lives. Willow is nostalgic; a character who constantly reflects on the past in a world that only makes time for the future. She prioritizes the preservation of history, in terms of others and her own. She’s also working a job in which she feels very out of place, overwhelmed by the rigid regulations she’s forced to abide by daily. Films like Mike Nichols’ Closer, Bob Rafelson’s Five Easy Pieces, and Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals are deep inspirations for filmically representing one’s disconnection to their own environment. Other films like Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade and Ned Benson’s The Greatest Hits inspire through their futuristic backdrop and significance placed on media in our lives, respectively. I have always been passionate towards the potential of storytelling – and the power it holds in making memories. Inspired by some of our own memories, I look forward to sharing the world we’ve created with you in our upcoming project, Future Tense.
The Greatest Hits (2024)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Marjae and JJ began writing Future Tense in the Spring of 2025. Our team was put together around then, and we all backed the story with excitement. Soft pre-production was in early Fall, with us doing rewrites and planning the campaign. During our fundraising, we will begin locking locations and start the casting process. Once January 2026 comes around, we will be done with our campaign and will be preparing for production in early February. Post-production will begin soon after, in late February, when we will begin the editing process. We will also be getting the film professionally composed, which will happen during that time. Once we are picture locked, we will be in the process of sound mixing and color grading to ensure the best-looking and sounding product. The film will be done by May 2026, where we hope to have it do a festival run, both local and beyond!
THANK YOU!
From all of us working on Future Tense, thank you so much for taking the time to check out our page! Please make sure to spread the word about our campaign. Support us by following and keeping up to date with our posts on Instagram and YouTube, as well as contributing. Anything helps!
Instagram: @futuretensemovie
Youtube: @futuretensemovie
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $4,500
In order to bring this story to life, we are gonna need the best locations!
Casting
Costs $4,000
The characters in our story are very important to us, and casting the right people is going to make the difference!
Equipment
Costs $1,500
In order to have the greatest-looking film possible, we're going to need the best equipment possible!
Production Design
Costs $1,000
The design of this world is a huge aspect of the story we're telling, and we need to capture the look of Willow's reality the best we can.
Hard Drives
Costs $500
We will be needing back-ups of back-ups, and we'll need your help to do so!
Festivals
Costs $500
We are going to need some help to do a festival run!
Catering
Costs $750
I'm going to get really hungry... and our crew/actors.
Lodging/Travel
Costs $750
When we film, the crew and actors are going to need somewhere to stay.
Collateral
Costs $1,000
Additional fees
Wardrobe
Costs $500
Our actors will be teleported into the world through each set of clothing!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director - Josh Brazinski
Josh Brazinski is the director of Future Tense and is in his third year at Quinnipiac University as a Film, Television, and Media Arts major. Hailing from the small town of Westford, Massachusetts, he grew up enamored by the filmmaking process, hoping one day to be behind the camera himself. As a ceaseless fan of movies, he’s excited to put his skills to the test to create something that will resonate with audiences just as his favorite films do with him.
Co-Writer/Assistant Director - Marjae Beasley
Marjae Beasley is the Assistant Director and Co-Writer of Future Tense. She’s in her fourth year at Quinnipiac University, double-majoring in Film, Television, & Media Arts and Behavioral Neuroscience. Coming from the small town of Norwich, Connecticut, Marjae has always had a love for the arts. She’s classically trained in multiple instruments, absolutely in love with theater and television, and always focused on connection via creativity. Once she hit college, she found her footing in Quinnipiac’s film program. Through passion, storytelling, and social impact, Marjae is so excited to bring her creative work to your screens with her team.
Producer - Michael Rodda
Michael Rodda is the producer of this project and is in his fourth year at Quinnipiac University. He is a double major in Film, Television, and Media Arts with Communications and Media Studies. Originally from Miller Place, New York, he always had a love for filmmaking. Throughout his years in college, he gained a lot of experience and can’t wait to put his knowledge and skills to work with his team!
Co-Writer - JJ Darconte
Jessica "JJ" Darconte is the Co-Writer for Future Tense. She is a senior Film, Television, and Media Arts major at Quinnipiac University with a concentration in Creative Writing. JJ has been a lifelong fan of the creative process behind filmmaking, constantly finding new ways to express herself and make audiences feel seen and understood. JJ believes that Future Tense is the perfect culmination of her passions, and bringing them to life on screen will be incredibly rewarding.
Director of Photography - Presley Schmitt
Presley Schmitt is the director of photography for Future Tense and a fourth-year Film, Media & Television Arts student at Quinnipiac University. Born and raised in the northwest Chicagoland area, Presley is a lifelong tech enthusiast with a passion for cameras and cinematic composition. With experience shooting promotional, documentary, and narrative productions, he seeks to inject Future Tense with a fresh visual perspective.
Production Designer - Lindsey Franco
Lindsey Franco is the Production Designer for Future Tense. She's in her third year at Quinnipiac University, majoring in Film, Television, and Media Arts. She hails from Old Saybrook, Connecticut, where she spent years in music and theater programs—before discovering a passion for film at Quinnipiac. She's excited to put her skills, old and new, to work on bringing the world of this film to life.
Editor - Grace Maldonado
Grace Maldonado is the editor of this project. She's a third-year student at Quinnipiac University and is majoring in Film, Television, and Media Arts. Coming from the small town of Seymour, Connecticut, film expanded her world into a plethora of experiences, skills, and creative passion. With everything that she's gained throughout her years in college, she's eager to put everything she's learned to good use and be a part of her team.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the year 2057, Future Tense follows the story of Willow, a young archivist responsible for the transfer of print media to digital. Through her new job at The Archives, she is surrounded by those who seek to destroy physical media and prioritize corporate ideals over integrity. Within the comfort of her own home, Willow finds solace in her massive collection of books, DVDs, vinyl records, and home videos that call back to a more connected reality. In a world where everyone relies on a brain chip for internet access and physical media is becoming obsolete, Willow seems to be the only one trying to preserve her own history.
This story is a dystopian drama that sheds light on the potential dangers of anti-intellectualism. It is a cautionary tale that ties together nostalgia with the impact of the ever-changing digital age. We believe that with the impending consequences of AI and the looming disruption of our media landscape, this film is a crucial look into the impact of human censorship. Through this film, we seek to provide a snapshot of what it means to protect the flow of information.
I have always been fascinated by the tangibility of physical media. As a kid, I would collect it all — books, video games, CDs, movies. Regardless of the medium, having a material gateway to all of my favorite stories excited me, and it still does to this very day. When I’m searching for inspiration, sometimes I’ll walk to my movie shelf and peruse the films that have shaped me as I have gotten older. I’ll stare at the cases and reminisce on when I first discovered them, the memories of experiencing them, and how they made me feel. They become little time capsules within themselves. A ritual continuously threatened by the rise of digital content, regulated by companies through streaming rights and licensing agreements. There’s nothing worse than wanting to watch a movie and finding that it’s not readily available on any of the streaming platforms you pay for. I’m always pursuing the goal of becoming my own personal media archive, with a roomful of shelves sprawling with artful media pieces that are meaningful to me. I love physical media – so when Marjae shared her script with me, I was immediately on board to direct it.
film focuses on the value of having a personal archive – and the important role media, history, and memory play in our lives. Willow is nostalgic; a character who constantly reflects on the past in a world that only makes time for the future. She prioritizes the preservation of history, in terms of others and her own. She’s also working a job in which she feels very out of place, overwhelmed by the rigid regulations she’s forced to abide by daily. Films like Mike Nichols’ Closer, Bob Rafelson’s Five Easy Pieces, and Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals are deep inspirations for filmically representing one’s disconnection to their own environment. Other films like Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade and Ned Benson’s The Greatest Hits inspire through their futuristic backdrop and significance placed on media in our lives, respectively. I have always been passionate towards the potential of storytelling – and the power it holds in making memories. Inspired by some of our own memories, I look forward to sharing the world we’ve created with you in our upcoming project, Future Tense.
The Greatest Hits (2024)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Marjae and JJ began writing Future Tense in the Spring of 2025. Our team was put together around then, and we all backed the story with excitement. Soft pre-production was in early Fall, with us doing rewrites and planning the campaign. During our fundraising, we will begin locking locations and start the casting process. Once January 2026 comes around, we will be done with our campaign and will be preparing for production in early February. Post-production will begin soon after, in late February, when we will begin the editing process. We will also be getting the film professionally composed, which will happen during that time. Once we are picture locked, we will be in the process of sound mixing and color grading to ensure the best-looking and sounding product. The film will be done by May 2026, where we hope to have it do a festival run, both local and beyond!
THANK YOU!
From all of us working on Future Tense, thank you so much for taking the time to check out our page! Please make sure to spread the word about our campaign. Support us by following and keeping up to date with our posts on Instagram and YouTube, as well as contributing. Anything helps!
Instagram: @futuretensemovie
Youtube: @futuretensemovie
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $4,500
In order to bring this story to life, we are gonna need the best locations!
Casting
Costs $4,000
The characters in our story are very important to us, and casting the right people is going to make the difference!
Equipment
Costs $1,500
In order to have the greatest-looking film possible, we're going to need the best equipment possible!
Production Design
Costs $1,000
The design of this world is a huge aspect of the story we're telling, and we need to capture the look of Willow's reality the best we can.
Hard Drives
Costs $500
We will be needing back-ups of back-ups, and we'll need your help to do so!
Festivals
Costs $500
We are going to need some help to do a festival run!
Catering
Costs $750
I'm going to get really hungry... and our crew/actors.
Lodging/Travel
Costs $750
When we film, the crew and actors are going to need somewhere to stay.
Collateral
Costs $1,000
Additional fees
Wardrobe
Costs $500
Our actors will be teleported into the world through each set of clothing!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director - Josh Brazinski
Josh Brazinski is the director of Future Tense and is in his third year at Quinnipiac University as a Film, Television, and Media Arts major. Hailing from the small town of Westford, Massachusetts, he grew up enamored by the filmmaking process, hoping one day to be behind the camera himself. As a ceaseless fan of movies, he’s excited to put his skills to the test to create something that will resonate with audiences just as his favorite films do with him.
Co-Writer/Assistant Director - Marjae Beasley
Marjae Beasley is the Assistant Director and Co-Writer of Future Tense. She’s in her fourth year at Quinnipiac University, double-majoring in Film, Television, & Media Arts and Behavioral Neuroscience. Coming from the small town of Norwich, Connecticut, Marjae has always had a love for the arts. She’s classically trained in multiple instruments, absolutely in love with theater and television, and always focused on connection via creativity. Once she hit college, she found her footing in Quinnipiac’s film program. Through passion, storytelling, and social impact, Marjae is so excited to bring her creative work to your screens with her team.
Producer - Michael Rodda
Michael Rodda is the producer of this project and is in his fourth year at Quinnipiac University. He is a double major in Film, Television, and Media Arts with Communications and Media Studies. Originally from Miller Place, New York, he always had a love for filmmaking. Throughout his years in college, he gained a lot of experience and can’t wait to put his knowledge and skills to work with his team!
Co-Writer - JJ Darconte
Jessica "JJ" Darconte is the Co-Writer for Future Tense. She is a senior Film, Television, and Media Arts major at Quinnipiac University with a concentration in Creative Writing. JJ has been a lifelong fan of the creative process behind filmmaking, constantly finding new ways to express herself and make audiences feel seen and understood. JJ believes that Future Tense is the perfect culmination of her passions, and bringing them to life on screen will be incredibly rewarding.
Director of Photography - Presley Schmitt
Presley Schmitt is the director of photography for Future Tense and a fourth-year Film, Media & Television Arts student at Quinnipiac University. Born and raised in the northwest Chicagoland area, Presley is a lifelong tech enthusiast with a passion for cameras and cinematic composition. With experience shooting promotional, documentary, and narrative productions, he seeks to inject Future Tense with a fresh visual perspective.
Production Designer - Lindsey Franco
Lindsey Franco is the Production Designer for Future Tense. She's in her third year at Quinnipiac University, majoring in Film, Television, and Media Arts. She hails from Old Saybrook, Connecticut, where she spent years in music and theater programs—before discovering a passion for film at Quinnipiac. She's excited to put her skills, old and new, to work on bringing the world of this film to life.
Editor - Grace Maldonado
Grace Maldonado is the editor of this project. She's a third-year student at Quinnipiac University and is majoring in Film, Television, and Media Arts. Coming from the small town of Seymour, Connecticut, film expanded her world into a plethora of experiences, skills, and creative passion. With everything that she's gained throughout her years in college, she's eager to put everything she's learned to good use and be a part of her team.