Gunners
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller, Comedy
“Gunners” examines the delusion created by blind ambition. While following two desperate characters on a journey through friendship, rivalry, and possible self-discovery, this comedy-thriller explores what happens when we lose sight of reality.
Gunners
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller, Comedy
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,245 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
106 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
“Gunners” examines the delusion created by blind ambition. While following two desperate characters on a journey through friendship, rivalry, and possible self-discovery, this comedy-thriller explores what happens when we lose sight of reality.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two estranged friends on a road trip to a wedding find their simmering tensions boiling over when an unexpected incident forces them to confront their shared past - and their own egos - in a sharp, darkly comedic tale of rivalry, absurdity and self-discovery.
Alex and Mara used to be close friends, hoping to be the next Amy Poehler and Tina Fey writing duo. Years later, they’re estranged and equally stuck in their writing careers, desperate for forward momentum. Forced to carpool on the way to a wedding, their car hits what they’re certain is a man on a dark, deserted road. Convinced he’s dead, they spiral into a panicked series of absurd decisions to cover their tracks. As the night unravels, their self-absorption turns a simple mistake into a chaotic comedy of errors. "Gunners" is a sharp, darkly funny exploration of what happens when we’re too preoccupied with ourselves to see what’s right in front of us.
We are currently in pre-production, set to film in June. This campaign will help us move forward by allowing us to afford the quality equipment and crew that we need in order to make a great film! In order to make this film we need help and support from our community. That’s you!
As independent filmmakers it’s increasingly difficult to create something that stands out without having some kind of budget. We are asking for the bare minimum and our total budget will be able to cover just enough to shoot in upstate New York, feed our cast and crew, travel to our location, and cover post-production costs.
We plan on finishing post-production by the end of the summer so that we can submit to film festivals. We are proud to be a female/nonbinary team and we want to be able to work with quality artists to bring our story to life.
Alex
A perfectionist with a tightly wound demeanor, Alex clings to control in every aspect of her life. Her obsession with appearances blinds her to the chaos unraveling around her.
Mara
Impulsive and messy, Mara uses humor to deflect from her insecurities. Her carefree attitude collides with Alex’s need for order, sparkling conflict at every turn.
Gunners is a darkly comedic exploration of how self-absorption blinds us to what’s right in front of us. Through sharp humor, surreal visuals, and flawed yet relatable characters, my vision is to craft a story that captures the absurdity and chaos of human ego, while inviting audiences to laugh, cringe, and maybe see a bit of themselves in Alex and Mara’s spiral.
Gunners balances sharp, character-driven comedy with surreal twists, creating a film that’s absurd as it is unsettling. The humor comes from Alex and Mara’s escalating self-delusion, while the tension stems from their inability to confront the reality of their situation.
A blend of biting wit, dark humor and emotional tension. Think Search Party’s suspense meets Palm Springs’ comedic absurdity.
We are scheduled to film over three days in June 2025. In order to do so, we need to raise funds for the above expenses. We have high ambitions for our film and want to tell a quality story while taking care of our team on set!
With your help, we want “Gunners” to be represented at various festivals and midnight short blocks. We aim to gain distribution through platforms like NoBudge, Short of the Week and Film Shortage.
Your financial support for “Gunners” goes beyond just the film - you’re investing in our team of filmmakers and talented artists alike.
CONTRIBUTE
Please please please consider partnering with us financially to help us achieve our goal. Check out our WISHLIST and decide which you can help us achieve, or choose an incentive (on the right of this page) that excites you. You can donate any monetary amount even if it's not listed as an incentive :)
FOLLOW & SHARE
PLEASE FOLLOW our Seed and Spark campaign page and share it with your friends. Any sharing at all helps us reach our goal!
Follow our main instagram account @gunnersthefilm for ALL film updates. Re-share our posts & reels with your friends — seriously, we'd LOVE your followers to know about our film.
THANK YOU!!!!
Love Andrea, Tayler, Talia, Hannah and Neha
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $3,700
This is the most important part of the budget! Without camera, lenses & support systems, we have no movie!
Grip + Electric
Costs $2,500
Grip + Electric will ensure that the quality of our film matches industry standards!
Production Sound
Costs $500
Good sound is vital to any film project. We will use this budget to produce the best sounding version of our film possible.
Art & Set Design
Costs $1,800
Our film takes place in multiple locations, so having an expert set designer will ensure that our visuals really stand out.
Transportation
Costs $500
We're filming in upstate NY, so we need to transport our gear, crew and actors!
Production Staff
Costs $1,450
This budget goes towards paying our hard-working crew.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $400
A talented hair and makeup artist helps tell our films story.
Location
Costs $1,150
We need this budget to go towards both our film set location and to house our crew + cast
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
TAYLER HAMILTON, Writer, Alex
Tayler Hamilton is a Canadian-born, NYC-based actress and writer. Her work spans a range of dynamic roles, from a young woman battling addiction in 11th Hour to an egotistical cheese connoisseur in Brie. Tayler created, produced, and starred in the web-series This Time Good, a comedy about two self-absorbed roommates chasing fame in New York. The project was developed alongside the team behind the award-winning film Model Minority. Gunners will mark her first film project where she takes on the roles of writer, producer, and lead actor.
Graduate of the Maggie Flanigan Studio & the PIT. Follow her @taylerhamilton on Instagram!
ANDREA CARDENAS, Writer, Mara
Andrea Cárdenas is a comedian, actor, and writer. Andrea is currently an Artist in Residence at Ars Nova through their CAMP program, creating a brand new show with Nicole Adsit. Andrea has performed her two-woman play Divine Perversions: a sapphic mass, all over NYC and Los Angeles, and her web series, Unhinged, was featured at NewFest. Her other projects have been featured in various festivals including the Women in Comedy Festival, Broad Humor Festival, and Chicago Comedy Film Festival. You can also see Andrea in her first feature film, Dumb Money, on Netflix.
You can follow her on instagram @alittledre.
TALIA LIGHT RAKE, Director
Born & raised in Los Angeles but based in Brooklyn, TALIA LIGHT RAKE is a writer, director & producer working on projects on both coasts. She has served as the lead producer for multiple media production companies including Are You Happy Media, Puff Media, & Gesundheit. She has produced for Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Festival, and New York Fashion Week. She is a 2023 Film Independent Fast Track Fellow and 2023 NYU Development Lab Fellow. She launched her own production company, Heavy Shovel Productions, in 2022 working in the social media, creative development, and video production space with a slate of commercial and narrative projects. She just wrapped directing her latest short film starring Missy Yager and Ellen Tamaki.
HANNAH SCHULMAN, Producer
Hannah Schulman is an independent filmmaker based in New York. She has produced over a dozen short films and music videos, with work showcased at festivals including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Manhattan Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and Americana Film Festival in Barcelona. In addition to producing, she writes, directs, and assistant directs, with her directorial debut, Selling Rabbits, premiering in 2024 at Baltimore’s New/Next Film Festival. Passionate about unconventional storytelling, she is committed to bringing to life bold, nuanced narratives by and about women.
NEHA PALVAI, Production Coordinator
Neha Palvai is the Production Coordinator for Gunners. Originally from California, Neha is a New York City based creative producer with a multidisciplinary background. She has supported integrated Production across live news for Fox, commercials for Energizer, Social and Digital media content for Hulu, short films, and fashion campaigns.
HEAVY SHOVEL PRODUCTIONS, Production Company
Heavy Shovel Productions works in the social media, creative development, and video production space with a slate of commercial and narrative projects.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two estranged friends on a road trip to a wedding find their simmering tensions boiling over when an unexpected incident forces them to confront their shared past - and their own egos - in a sharp, darkly comedic tale of rivalry, absurdity and self-discovery.
Alex and Mara used to be close friends, hoping to be the next Amy Poehler and Tina Fey writing duo. Years later, they’re estranged and equally stuck in their writing careers, desperate for forward momentum. Forced to carpool on the way to a wedding, their car hits what they’re certain is a man on a dark, deserted road. Convinced he’s dead, they spiral into a panicked series of absurd decisions to cover their tracks. As the night unravels, their self-absorption turns a simple mistake into a chaotic comedy of errors. "Gunners" is a sharp, darkly funny exploration of what happens when we’re too preoccupied with ourselves to see what’s right in front of us.
We are currently in pre-production, set to film in June. This campaign will help us move forward by allowing us to afford the quality equipment and crew that we need in order to make a great film! In order to make this film we need help and support from our community. That’s you!
As independent filmmakers it’s increasingly difficult to create something that stands out without having some kind of budget. We are asking for the bare minimum and our total budget will be able to cover just enough to shoot in upstate New York, feed our cast and crew, travel to our location, and cover post-production costs.
We plan on finishing post-production by the end of the summer so that we can submit to film festivals. We are proud to be a female/nonbinary team and we want to be able to work with quality artists to bring our story to life.
Alex
A perfectionist with a tightly wound demeanor, Alex clings to control in every aspect of her life. Her obsession with appearances blinds her to the chaos unraveling around her.
Mara
Impulsive and messy, Mara uses humor to deflect from her insecurities. Her carefree attitude collides with Alex’s need for order, sparkling conflict at every turn.
Gunners is a darkly comedic exploration of how self-absorption blinds us to what’s right in front of us. Through sharp humor, surreal visuals, and flawed yet relatable characters, my vision is to craft a story that captures the absurdity and chaos of human ego, while inviting audiences to laugh, cringe, and maybe see a bit of themselves in Alex and Mara’s spiral.
Gunners balances sharp, character-driven comedy with surreal twists, creating a film that’s absurd as it is unsettling. The humor comes from Alex and Mara’s escalating self-delusion, while the tension stems from their inability to confront the reality of their situation.
A blend of biting wit, dark humor and emotional tension. Think Search Party’s suspense meets Palm Springs’ comedic absurdity.
We are scheduled to film over three days in June 2025. In order to do so, we need to raise funds for the above expenses. We have high ambitions for our film and want to tell a quality story while taking care of our team on set!
With your help, we want “Gunners” to be represented at various festivals and midnight short blocks. We aim to gain distribution through platforms like NoBudge, Short of the Week and Film Shortage.
Your financial support for “Gunners” goes beyond just the film - you’re investing in our team of filmmakers and talented artists alike.
CONTRIBUTE
Please please please consider partnering with us financially to help us achieve our goal. Check out our WISHLIST and decide which you can help us achieve, or choose an incentive (on the right of this page) that excites you. You can donate any monetary amount even if it's not listed as an incentive :)
FOLLOW & SHARE
PLEASE FOLLOW our Seed and Spark campaign page and share it with your friends. Any sharing at all helps us reach our goal!
Follow our main instagram account @gunnersthefilm for ALL film updates. Re-share our posts & reels with your friends — seriously, we'd LOVE your followers to know about our film.
THANK YOU!!!!
Love Andrea, Tayler, Talia, Hannah and Neha
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $3,700
This is the most important part of the budget! Without camera, lenses & support systems, we have no movie!
Grip + Electric
Costs $2,500
Grip + Electric will ensure that the quality of our film matches industry standards!
Production Sound
Costs $500
Good sound is vital to any film project. We will use this budget to produce the best sounding version of our film possible.
Art & Set Design
Costs $1,800
Our film takes place in multiple locations, so having an expert set designer will ensure that our visuals really stand out.
Transportation
Costs $500
We're filming in upstate NY, so we need to transport our gear, crew and actors!
Production Staff
Costs $1,450
This budget goes towards paying our hard-working crew.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $400
A talented hair and makeup artist helps tell our films story.
Location
Costs $1,150
We need this budget to go towards both our film set location and to house our crew + cast
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
TAYLER HAMILTON, Writer, Alex
Tayler Hamilton is a Canadian-born, NYC-based actress and writer. Her work spans a range of dynamic roles, from a young woman battling addiction in 11th Hour to an egotistical cheese connoisseur in Brie. Tayler created, produced, and starred in the web-series This Time Good, a comedy about two self-absorbed roommates chasing fame in New York. The project was developed alongside the team behind the award-winning film Model Minority. Gunners will mark her first film project where she takes on the roles of writer, producer, and lead actor.
Graduate of the Maggie Flanigan Studio & the PIT. Follow her @taylerhamilton on Instagram!
ANDREA CARDENAS, Writer, Mara
Andrea Cárdenas is a comedian, actor, and writer. Andrea is currently an Artist in Residence at Ars Nova through their CAMP program, creating a brand new show with Nicole Adsit. Andrea has performed her two-woman play Divine Perversions: a sapphic mass, all over NYC and Los Angeles, and her web series, Unhinged, was featured at NewFest. Her other projects have been featured in various festivals including the Women in Comedy Festival, Broad Humor Festival, and Chicago Comedy Film Festival. You can also see Andrea in her first feature film, Dumb Money, on Netflix.
You can follow her on instagram @alittledre.
TALIA LIGHT RAKE, Director
Born & raised in Los Angeles but based in Brooklyn, TALIA LIGHT RAKE is a writer, director & producer working on projects on both coasts. She has served as the lead producer for multiple media production companies including Are You Happy Media, Puff Media, & Gesundheit. She has produced for Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Festival, and New York Fashion Week. She is a 2023 Film Independent Fast Track Fellow and 2023 NYU Development Lab Fellow. She launched her own production company, Heavy Shovel Productions, in 2022 working in the social media, creative development, and video production space with a slate of commercial and narrative projects. She just wrapped directing her latest short film starring Missy Yager and Ellen Tamaki.
HANNAH SCHULMAN, Producer
Hannah Schulman is an independent filmmaker based in New York. She has produced over a dozen short films and music videos, with work showcased at festivals including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Manhattan Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and Americana Film Festival in Barcelona. In addition to producing, she writes, directs, and assistant directs, with her directorial debut, Selling Rabbits, premiering in 2024 at Baltimore’s New/Next Film Festival. Passionate about unconventional storytelling, she is committed to bringing to life bold, nuanced narratives by and about women.
NEHA PALVAI, Production Coordinator
Neha Palvai is the Production Coordinator for Gunners. Originally from California, Neha is a New York City based creative producer with a multidisciplinary background. She has supported integrated Production across live news for Fox, commercials for Energizer, Social and Digital media content for Hulu, short films, and fashion campaigns.
HEAVY SHOVEL PRODUCTIONS, Production Company
Heavy Shovel Productions works in the social media, creative development, and video production space with a slate of commercial and narrative projects.