Best friends Cliff and Otis plan to get rich quick by stealing from some of the most dangerous foes in the business: drug dealers. Going against the plan, the two spend the night partying, allowing the audience to see that, in a certain light, the bad guys really aren’t all that bad!
Best friends Cliff and Otis plan to get rich quick by stealing from some of the most dangerous foes in the business: drug dealers. Going against the plan, the two spend the night partying, allowing the audience to see that, in a certain light, the bad guys really aren’t all that bad!
Participating In
Hometown Heroes 2017
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Story
Mission Statement
We're just a couple Alaska Natives exploring the world of addiction, which has not only been a central issue in Native lives, but in the lives of everyone we’ve met, regardless of ethnicity or gender. We're bringing Native voices into the film world and it is our hope that you join us!About The Project
My brother and I dreamed up this project about a year ago. We wanted to film something on a micro-budget, using local actors from Seattle and the San Juan Islands up in Washington State. In one sentence, our film is about two friends that take matters into their own hands to help pay for the medical bills of a family member.
The film follows our two leads as they journey into a basement filled with drug dealers, only to find out that the people they intend to rob have just as many problems as they do. Simply put, this film is just a druggie, dramedy, indie musical that’s filled with Germans, Jesus, banjos, bongos, beers, and bongs. We're hoping it has a little something for everyone!
Being huge fans of the way music can influence and even elevate an image being displayed before an audience, we wanted to create this project because we have always felt that there was something missing from the world of musicals. That isn’t to say that we aren’t a fan of musicals (our oldest brother’s favorite movie growing up was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), but they never really told a story that we could relate to. This is where our film comes into play. It highlights the world of addiction and situations that people have gone through with a certain lightheartedness. We are going to make something dark and gritty and funny and beautiful because that is how we see the world. And we would like you to be apart of it.
OUR MESSAGE
We want to convey to the audience that certain vices like drinking, smoking, and drug use affect all of us, especially so for the people in our family. We have always felt that shying away from the subject of addiction never really accomplishes much, so our story focuses on how these characters came into their “druggie” situations by going through each one of their backstories. We want to show the audience that the lines between Good and Evil, or more importantly between moral and immoral, blur heavily within each and every one of us. Our goal isn't to exploit the use of drugs. Our goal is to tell a story that we think millions of people have gone through. The only difference is that we want to tell it through song and dance!
OUR INFLUENCES
Our influences lean heavily toward Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, and David Lynch, but in reality, almost any film we’ve seen has inspired us or influenced us in one way or another. Filmmaking is an art, so it’s hard for us to tell someone whether or not something is good, or whether something is bad. If you like the filmmakers that we named, then you will most likely enjoy this project. If they aren’t your cup of tea, then hopefully we can change your mind in the future when it gets completed! If you don't believe in this project, then don't sweat it. There are many other projects out there that need help. Investing into the arts is why we are all here!
OUR TIMELINE
We will continue doing our pre-production from now until the end of November. Starting in December, we will start production for about seven days straight, with post-production through the middle of February. Our plan is to premiere it at our local theatre here in Friday Harbor, WA February 23rd.
And finally, a BIG thank you to everyone who helped us make the trailer!
Incentives
$1
First
With this pledge, we will (or will not if you don't want us to lol) comment First on your very next post on social media! Message one of us and let us know and we will make it happen!
$5
Danke Schön
With this pledge, you get a Thank You in the Credits! See your name highlighted in gold on the big screen!
$10
That's a Wrap!
Come join the party! With this pledge, you are invited to spend the evening sharing drinks and laughs with the cast and crew after they have wrapped principle photography!
$15
Photoshop Me
With this pledge, you can get yourself photoshopped into the Behind the Scenes featurette! Be apart of the set in spirit!
$20
Background Player
Become a vital part of the film by becoming an extra for us! Get that beautiful mug of yours seen by the masses!
Claimed: 2 of 30
$25
Final Cut
With this pledge, you get a digital download of the film once it's complete!
$35
Behind the Scenes
With this pledge, you get a digital download of the film, and a behind the scenes featurette with it!
$50
TEE ME EVERYTHING
With this pledge, you get your very own High Note Crew tee shirt, as well as everything above! You will be considered an official member of our team when you wear one of these bad boys!
$100
DAS PREMIERE
With this pledge, you get an invite for two to the premiere on San Juan Island, WA, and a dinner with the cast and crew beforehand!! Also includes everything above!
(Does not include transportation costs to Washington State unfortunately)
Claimed: 8 of 20
$1,000
ISLAND LIVIN'
With this pledge, you get a 7-Night Stay on the San Juan Islands for two in the house where we film, while we film!! Also includes everything above!
(Does not include transportation costs from out of state unfortunately. We can pick you up from within Washington State however)
Claimed: 1 of 4
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$1
First
With this pledge, we will (or will not if you don't want us to lol) comment First on your very next post on social media! Message one of us and let us know and we will make it happen!
$5
Danke Schön
With this pledge, you get a Thank You in the Credits! See your name highlighted in gold on the big screen!
$10
That's a Wrap!
Come join the party! With this pledge, you are invited to spend the evening sharing drinks and laughs with the cast and crew after they have wrapped principle photography!
$15
Photoshop Me
With this pledge, you can get yourself photoshopped into the Behind the Scenes featurette! Be apart of the set in spirit!
$20
Background Player
Become a vital part of the film by becoming an extra for us! Get that beautiful mug of yours seen by the masses!
Claimed: 2 of 30
$25
Final Cut
With this pledge, you get a digital download of the film once it's complete!
$35
Behind the Scenes
With this pledge, you get a digital download of the film, and a behind the scenes featurette with it!
$50
TEE ME EVERYTHING
With this pledge, you get your very own High Note Crew tee shirt, as well as everything above! You will be considered an official member of our team when you wear one of these bad boys!
$100
DAS PREMIERE
With this pledge, you get an invite for two to the premiere on San Juan Island, WA, and a dinner with the cast and crew beforehand!! Also includes everything above!
(Does not include transportation costs to Washington State unfortunately)
Claimed: 8 of 20
$1,000
ISLAND LIVIN'
With this pledge, you get a 7-Night Stay on the San Juan Islands for two in the house where we film, while we film!! Also includes everything above!
(Does not include transportation costs from out of state unfortunately. We can pick you up from within Washington State however)
Claimed: 1 of 4
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
My little brother, Jacob Royce Gustafson (co-writer, producer, slightly resembles Adam Sandler's love child, and who chooses to use his middle name because it connects him to his son, which in turn forces me to use my middle name so our names don't look so weird together on screen), is the brains of the operation. He is a film student at UC Santa Cruz and has produced many different film shorts and film projects, as well as written many different scripts individually (and with his lovely older brother!). You can find some of the projects he has worked on at his Vimeo Page here.
Our Director of Photography, sound recordist, handsomeness supervisor (and pretty much any other job that helps make a movie) is "The" Carl Billington. He's a local boy with great ideas about what we want the movie to look like. Carl has many different film projects under his belt after attending the one and magnificent Seattle Film Institute. All of those beautiful images you see are of his making.
Between the two of them, they have almost all of the equipment needed to make the film.
Our two sisters, Amy and Jenny, are the backbones of the production process. They keep us in check and make sure we hit each and every deadline. Without them, we would be lost. They are two of the strongest and smartest women that we've ever known, and will push this film into existence from sheer will if they have to. Amy, being a college professor, handles the organizational efforts that help lock down certain aspects of the production process. Jenny, who has gotten her degree in the field of Arts, teaches us and contributes to all of the aspects involving the art department. From the poster to the storyboards to the production design, Jenny handles it all.
For the rest of our cast and crew, pretty much all have been volunteers. We have gathered a great collection of actors, ranging from those experienced in film, to musicians with theatre experience, to first timers; all have helped bring this dream into a reality. The movie will have all original songs written by Molly Elder, who is the female lead in the trailer. The song used in the trailer is her brilliance. Our island has a lot of talent and we are excited to showcase it to the world!
As for myself, I am just one big humble pie. I don't know too much about anything, but I know stories. I know hardships, and I want to express them out to the world for everyone to see and feel and experience. This film is about the journey of the human spirit and I want you to be apart of it with me. When you cry, I want to be crying. When you laugh, I want to be laughing. And most importantly, when you are singin' and dancin' to your heart's content, I want to be right there with you doing my world famous Chicken Dance, beltin' out the words with my deep rumbling voice (slightly off tune, of course).
We'll see you out there!
Much love,
David James Gustafson
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