High Strung
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
A New Age meets Old Age comedy about a Sensitive New Age Guy singer songwriter who has left his peaceful hippy life in Northern California to move back in with his elderly, eccentric Mom on the Upper West Side of New York City, and the hilarity that ensues.
High Strung
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $23,540 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
252 supporters | followers
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A New Age meets Old Age comedy about a Sensitive New Age Guy singer songwriter who has left his peaceful hippy life in Northern California to move back in with his elderly, eccentric Mom on the Upper West Side of New York City, and the hilarity that ensues.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
High Strung is a short film that acts as a proof of concept for a TV comedy about what it's like for a California Hippy to move back with and become caregiver for his elderly Mom on the Upper West Side of NYC, and the hilarity that ensues.
The story is based on my experience living with and taking care of my elderly Mom, Carol. I've found myself repeatedly in wildly absurd and dramatic family situations -- moments of humor followed by moments of horror, sometimes at the same time --that have felt so "off-the-hook" that I coulda sworn I was in an actual show. So I started taking notes and fictionalizing a narrative.
Ultimately, this is a love story. Between an elderly mother and her adult middle-aged son and daughter. A love triangle of sorts-- with all the pointy edges. There are moments of love followed by moments of hate, followed by indifference. Yet underneath all the drama and pain, the function and dysfunction, runs a tide of unconditional love and acceptance that keeps all grateful to be alive and together, cherishing the moment, and each other.
Caregiving paired with (dysfunctional) family dynamics is something most of us are going to go through at some point. This is something I've lived, and wanted to face, and face with humor. Laughter opens us up for healing. I hope that the making and viewing of this short film will be a healing experience for all involved.
I also want to shine a light on challenges for caregivers such as finding life balance, pregrieving the loss of a loved one while they're still alive, dealing with the hairy complexities of family money and the estate, and the struggles to have a fruitful social, sexual and creative life while being constantly on-call. I also look at different strategies and beliefs around caregiving, self-sacrifice, cleanliness and food. And comical generational differences around sex, race, body image -- you name it.
Jonathan Green
Writer, director, actor, composer. His short film/music video "Full Q" premiered at the Music Video Awards in Los Angeles, 2021. His album "My Nature" is streaming on all formats. His musical "The Beneficiaries" was staged at Berkeley Rep. He's a SAG actor who appeared in Rebecca Miller's "Florence', Marta Kaufman's "Friends" (yes, that "Friends"!!) and recent credits include the short films "The Balcony" and "31". He's a USC Grad Film School dropout and made his undergraduate thesis film at Amherst College and Hampshire College.
Wolfgang Held
Emmy-winning Director of Photography Wolfgang Held has photographed many indie movies and documentary features. Filming all over the globe, Held has been exploring both documentary and fiction filmmaking, in search of authenticity and truth.
His most recent feature credit is O.G. (HBO), starring Jeffrey Wright, which was shot in an active maximum-security prison. The film mixes inmates and actors as its cast. (The New Yorker review). Held photographed Brüno for Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles and The Fourth Estate, a Showtime doc series about the New York Times.
Held is the co-founder the Kamerakollektiv, a group of New York cameramen and women who share their love for cinematic, socially-conscious filmmaking
David Kubicka
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, David knows good cheese. He is also a person. He is excited to be joining the “High Strung” team as an associate producer. Primarily an actor, David’s recent credits include Showtime’s Billions, and Ethan Hawke’s Tesla. David is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York, has a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. He now runs the Hoboken, NJ-based production company Vivid Signal Films, and recently directed the short film Grass, featured in the Naked Angels Film Festival in August 2024 in New York.
There are so many expenses that go into making a film: Camera, Lighting, Sound, Actors and Hair and Makeup -- each of these has a crew that needs to paid. There also needs to be food to feed everybody, insurance, renting locations, as well as pre and post production! IT'S A LOT!!! Here's a pie chart to give you an idea of where your dollars will be going:
Gratitude in advance for your support - for "coming in on the ground floor"!! We simply can't do it without you! Hopefully this is a win-win experience for all involved -- you included. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Preproduction
Costs $4,000
To pay for production and editing of pitch video, casting, and professional consulting
Film Production
Costs $14,000
To hire a crew and actors, to rent equipment, pay insurance, rent locations, and provide food for cast and crew.
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
Editing the short film
Share this update!
About This Team
Jonathan Green (Writer, Director, Actor, Composer)
His short film/music video "Full Q" premiered at the Music Video Awards in Los Angeles, 2021. His album "My Nature" is streaming on all formats. His musical "The Beneficiaries" was staged at Berkeley Rep. He's a SAG actor who appeared in Rebecca Miller's "Florence', Marta Kaufman's "Friends" (yes, that "Friends"!!) and recent credits include the short films "The Balcony" and "31". He's a USC Grad Film School dropout and made his undergraduate thesis film at Amherst College and Hampshire College.
Wolfgang Held (Director of Photography)
has photographed many indie movies and documentary features, and has received an Emmy for his work. Filming all over the globe, Held has been exploring both documentary and fiction filmmaking, in search of authenticity and truth.
His most recent feature credit is O.G. (HBO), starring Jeffrey Wright, which was shot in an active maximum-security prison. The film mixes inmates and actors as its cast. (The New Yorker review). Held photographed Brüno for Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles and The Fourth Estate, a Showtime doc series about the New York Times.
Held is the co-founder the Kamerakollektiv, a group of New York cameramen and women who share their love for cinematic, socially-conscious filmmaking
Justin Giddings (Consultant)
is an actor and director, known for Bite Me (2010), Outpost (2020) and Shameless (2011). Known as "The Kickstarter Guy", he's also a crowdfunding coach that has helped 325+ clients successfully raise over 11 million dollars.
David Kubicka (Associate Producer)
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, David knows good cheese. He is also a person. He is excited to be joining the “High Strung” team as an associate producer. Primarily an actor, David’s recent credits include Showtime’s Billions, and Ethan Hawke’s Tesla. David is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York, has a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. He now runs the Hoboken, NJ-based production company Vivid Signal Films, and recently directed the short film Grass, featured in the Naked Angels Film Festival in August 2024 in New York.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
High Strung is a short film that acts as a proof of concept for a TV comedy about what it's like for a California Hippy to move back with and become caregiver for his elderly Mom on the Upper West Side of NYC, and the hilarity that ensues.
The story is based on my experience living with and taking care of my elderly Mom, Carol. I've found myself repeatedly in wildly absurd and dramatic family situations -- moments of humor followed by moments of horror, sometimes at the same time --that have felt so "off-the-hook" that I coulda sworn I was in an actual show. So I started taking notes and fictionalizing a narrative.
Ultimately, this is a love story. Between an elderly mother and her adult middle-aged son and daughter. A love triangle of sorts-- with all the pointy edges. There are moments of love followed by moments of hate, followed by indifference. Yet underneath all the drama and pain, the function and dysfunction, runs a tide of unconditional love and acceptance that keeps all grateful to be alive and together, cherishing the moment, and each other.
Caregiving paired with (dysfunctional) family dynamics is something most of us are going to go through at some point. This is something I've lived, and wanted to face, and face with humor. Laughter opens us up for healing. I hope that the making and viewing of this short film will be a healing experience for all involved.
I also want to shine a light on challenges for caregivers such as finding life balance, pregrieving the loss of a loved one while they're still alive, dealing with the hairy complexities of family money and the estate, and the struggles to have a fruitful social, sexual and creative life while being constantly on-call. I also look at different strategies and beliefs around caregiving, self-sacrifice, cleanliness and food. And comical generational differences around sex, race, body image -- you name it.
Jonathan Green
Writer, director, actor, composer. His short film/music video "Full Q" premiered at the Music Video Awards in Los Angeles, 2021. His album "My Nature" is streaming on all formats. His musical "The Beneficiaries" was staged at Berkeley Rep. He's a SAG actor who appeared in Rebecca Miller's "Florence', Marta Kaufman's "Friends" (yes, that "Friends"!!) and recent credits include the short films "The Balcony" and "31". He's a USC Grad Film School dropout and made his undergraduate thesis film at Amherst College and Hampshire College.
Wolfgang Held
Emmy-winning Director of Photography Wolfgang Held has photographed many indie movies and documentary features. Filming all over the globe, Held has been exploring both documentary and fiction filmmaking, in search of authenticity and truth.
His most recent feature credit is O.G. (HBO), starring Jeffrey Wright, which was shot in an active maximum-security prison. The film mixes inmates and actors as its cast. (The New Yorker review). Held photographed Brüno for Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles and The Fourth Estate, a Showtime doc series about the New York Times.
Held is the co-founder the Kamerakollektiv, a group of New York cameramen and women who share their love for cinematic, socially-conscious filmmaking
David Kubicka
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, David knows good cheese. He is also a person. He is excited to be joining the “High Strung” team as an associate producer. Primarily an actor, David’s recent credits include Showtime’s Billions, and Ethan Hawke’s Tesla. David is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York, has a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. He now runs the Hoboken, NJ-based production company Vivid Signal Films, and recently directed the short film Grass, featured in the Naked Angels Film Festival in August 2024 in New York.
There are so many expenses that go into making a film: Camera, Lighting, Sound, Actors and Hair and Makeup -- each of these has a crew that needs to paid. There also needs to be food to feed everybody, insurance, renting locations, as well as pre and post production! IT'S A LOT!!! Here's a pie chart to give you an idea of where your dollars will be going:
Gratitude in advance for your support - for "coming in on the ground floor"!! We simply can't do it without you! Hopefully this is a win-win experience for all involved -- you included. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Preproduction
Costs $4,000
To pay for production and editing of pitch video, casting, and professional consulting
Film Production
Costs $14,000
To hire a crew and actors, to rent equipment, pay insurance, rent locations, and provide food for cast and crew.
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
Editing the short film
Share this update!
About This Team
Jonathan Green (Writer, Director, Actor, Composer)
His short film/music video "Full Q" premiered at the Music Video Awards in Los Angeles, 2021. His album "My Nature" is streaming on all formats. His musical "The Beneficiaries" was staged at Berkeley Rep. He's a SAG actor who appeared in Rebecca Miller's "Florence', Marta Kaufman's "Friends" (yes, that "Friends"!!) and recent credits include the short films "The Balcony" and "31". He's a USC Grad Film School dropout and made his undergraduate thesis film at Amherst College and Hampshire College.
Wolfgang Held (Director of Photography)
has photographed many indie movies and documentary features, and has received an Emmy for his work. Filming all over the globe, Held has been exploring both documentary and fiction filmmaking, in search of authenticity and truth.
His most recent feature credit is O.G. (HBO), starring Jeffrey Wright, which was shot in an active maximum-security prison. The film mixes inmates and actors as its cast. (The New Yorker review). Held photographed Brüno for Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles and The Fourth Estate, a Showtime doc series about the New York Times.
Held is the co-founder the Kamerakollektiv, a group of New York cameramen and women who share their love for cinematic, socially-conscious filmmaking
Justin Giddings (Consultant)
is an actor and director, known for Bite Me (2010), Outpost (2020) and Shameless (2011). Known as "The Kickstarter Guy", he's also a crowdfunding coach that has helped 325+ clients successfully raise over 11 million dollars.
David Kubicka (Associate Producer)
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, David knows good cheese. He is also a person. He is excited to be joining the “High Strung” team as an associate producer. Primarily an actor, David’s recent credits include Showtime’s Billions, and Ethan Hawke’s Tesla. David is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York, has a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. He now runs the Hoboken, NJ-based production company Vivid Signal Films, and recently directed the short film Grass, featured in the Naked Angels Film Festival in August 2024 in New York.