Hitchhike
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Adventure
Hitchhike is an offbeat road-trip comedy about what happens when a straightforward journey collides with the wrong person at the wrong time. An Eastern European farm girl picks up a Texan hitchhiker on the run, an unlikely pairing that probably shouldn’t work, but somehow does… for a while.
Hitchhike
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Adventure
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
42 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$12,223
Goal: $15,000 for production
Hitchhike is an offbeat road-trip comedy about what happens when a straightforward journey collides with the wrong person at the wrong time. An Eastern European farm girl picks up a Texan hitchhiker on the run, an unlikely pairing that probably shouldn’t work, but somehow does… for a while.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Irma is traveling across a long, empty highway.
She has a clear plan: find her biological mother, follow the map, keep going.
Simple.
However, Texas has other plans.
On a quiet stretch of road, Irma does something she probably shouldn’t do. She picks up a hitchhiker.
Her name is Dolly.
Dolly doesn’t say much. She doesn’t ask questions. She definitely doesn’t want to connect. Irma does.
What begins as an awkward car ride turns into something less simple.
The two couldn’t be more different: one open and curious, the other guarded and hard to read. But as the miles pass, something begins to shift.
They stop at a roadside diner.
Coffee. Burgers.
Irma has never had a burger...
Dolly has, but not like this. Not with someone asking questions.
Somewhere in between, something almost like connection begins to form.
A sense that this moment matters more than it should.
And then - just as quickly - it’s over.
Because Dolly is not who she seems.
And Irma is not as prepared for the world as she thought...
Why This Story Matters?
We live in a time when it's easier than ever to feel disconnected (ahem… social media). Meeting new people can be awkward. We second-guess ourselves, worry about saying the wrong thing, and often retreat into the familiar.
Hitchhike leans into those moments of discomfort. Through dry humor and an unlikely friendship, the film explores what happens when two people from completely different worlds are forced to share the same road.
An Eastern European farm girl and a Texan drifter may not seem like they have much in common. But beneath our differences, many of us share the same fears, insecurities, and desire for connection.
In essence, it’s a story about loneliness, empathy, and brief, unexpected moments when two lives collide and something meaningful emerges.
Hitchhike takes inspiration from classic American road-trip movies and odd-couple comedies, capturing the vast landscapes, small-town diners, and endless stretches of highway that define the genre. However, rather than celebrating these familiar settings from the inside, the film views them through the eyes of a newcomer encountering them for the very first time.
Visually, the film embraces a vibrant, heightened aesthetic, with rich colors, expansive Texas vistas, and a sense of wonder and possibility.
Irma will be played by Gertruda, a Lithuanian-born writer and actor based in Austin, Texas.
This is what Eastern European farm girl, Irma, may look like in the final film ↓↓↓
Our mysterious hitchhiker, Dolly, and the Waitress characters are yet to be cast.
Dolly is a charismatic drifter with a rebellious streak equal parts charming, unpredictable, and impossible to fully figure out. Beneath her confidence lies someone searching for her own place in the world.
The Waitress serves as a grounded observer of the story's events, bringing warmth, humor, and a distinctly Texan perspective to the world of the film.
Creating films is an extremely collaborative and extensive process, and in order to bring Hitchhike to life, we need a dedicated team of talented people working together.
Our total production budget is $15,000, which will cover every stage of bringing Hitchhike to life - from pre-production and our two-day shoot to post-production and festival submissions.
Your pledge helps us hire and pay professional crew in Austin, secure locations, equipment, production design, sound, insurance, meals, editing, color, and post-production. Every part of the process matters!
One more thing... If we don't reach at least 80% of our Seed&Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of the funds raised.
How can you help?
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM for updates on the film and SHARE THIS PROJECT with your community, it really helps!
Every contribution moves us closer to production. And if you’re unable to pledge, sharing the campaign with friends, family, group chats, or social media helps us reach audiences beyond our immediate network. Word of mouth is powerful, especially for independent films.
From all of us on the team, THANK YOU SO MUCH for checking out our project. We're so excited to share this film with you all!
Instagram: @hitchhikefilm
Seed & Spark: seedandspark.com/fund/hitchhike
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew & Equipment
Costs $9,000
This covers crew wages, camera and lighting gear, sound equipment, production support, and keeping everyone fed during two long days.
Locations & Production Design
Costs $3,000
This will pay for renting a picture car, diner location, props, costumes, permits, insurance, and set dressing.
Post-Production
Costs $2,500
This includes paying for editing, sound design, and color grading.
Festivals & Release
Costs $500
This will cover festival submission costs, promotional materials, and graphic design work.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jean-Louis Droulers is a Venezuelan-French filmmaker and musician. He is best known for executive producing Fucktoys, winner of the SXSW Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature. His experience spans directing, editing, and producing, including editing Citizen Weiner and directing a short selected for the straight8 competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Bridging music and film, Jean Louis brings a unique perspective shaped by technical precision and bold creative vision. Drawn to stories centered on human connection, he is excited to bring Irma’s comedic Texas fish-out-of-water journey to life.
Gertruda Goddard is a Lithuanian-born writer and actor based in Austin, Texas. Having lived between Lithuania, England, and the United States, she draws on her experience navigating different cultures to tell stories about unlikely friendships, unexpected human connection, and the humor that emerges when worlds collide. Her work blends offbeat comedy with emotionally grounded storytelling and a deep affection for bold characters.
Her screen credits include lead roles in the short films Unfollow (2024) and, In The Dark (2023), and her stage work includes London productions of An Unexpected Guest and Stage Door. As a writer, she has developed multiple short films and has written three feature projects.
Megan Penisson is a French-American marketer, unit publicist, and producer working across entertainment and education. She has developed campaigns and digital content for award-winning films, video games, and global entertainment brands, collaborating with industry leaders including Disney, Google, Blizzard, Paramount, Live Nation, and A+E.
She works with the American Pavilion and IndieWire’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, helping connect emerging filmmakers with mentorship and industry opportunities. Passionate about expanding access to the industry, she supports stories that celebrate empathy, unexpected connections, and the communities we build along the way.
Charles Acosta is an independent film producer with a background in finance. He produced the feature Pendulum (2001), securing private equity financing and arranging distribution through Artisan Entertainment. He later worked on Drop Dead Sexy (2005), starring Jason Lee and Crispin Glover, which premiered at SXSW and was acquired by Lionsgate.
He brings extensive experience in financing, packaging, and distribution, supporting the team in advancing the project. He most recently produced a feature Price of Redemption (set for release in 2026), and is currently developing the feature documentary Picasso’s Christ.
Matias Chavez is a Houston-based producer and award-winning composer dedicated to championing independent film. Most recently, he joined the producing team for Hitchhike, continuing his commitment to supporting bold independent storytelling. He received the AMD Emerging Talent Award for Best Trailer in Cinema at the 2026 Global Entertainment Awards for his work on Infinity.
Beyond the music, Matias supports independent filmmaking through organizations including Producers Without Borders and his involvement with the Houston Latino Film Festival, where he has worked alongside filmmakers and creatives both internationally and within the Texas film community.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Irma is traveling across a long, empty highway.
She has a clear plan: find her biological mother, follow the map, keep going.
Simple.
However, Texas has other plans.
On a quiet stretch of road, Irma does something she probably shouldn’t do. She picks up a hitchhiker.
Her name is Dolly.
Dolly doesn’t say much. She doesn’t ask questions. She definitely doesn’t want to connect. Irma does.
What begins as an awkward car ride turns into something less simple.
The two couldn’t be more different: one open and curious, the other guarded and hard to read. But as the miles pass, something begins to shift.
They stop at a roadside diner.
Coffee. Burgers.
Irma has never had a burger...
Dolly has, but not like this. Not with someone asking questions.
Somewhere in between, something almost like connection begins to form.
A sense that this moment matters more than it should.
And then - just as quickly - it’s over.
Because Dolly is not who she seems.
And Irma is not as prepared for the world as she thought...
Why This Story Matters?
We live in a time when it's easier than ever to feel disconnected (ahem… social media). Meeting new people can be awkward. We second-guess ourselves, worry about saying the wrong thing, and often retreat into the familiar.
Hitchhike leans into those moments of discomfort. Through dry humor and an unlikely friendship, the film explores what happens when two people from completely different worlds are forced to share the same road.
An Eastern European farm girl and a Texan drifter may not seem like they have much in common. But beneath our differences, many of us share the same fears, insecurities, and desire for connection.
In essence, it’s a story about loneliness, empathy, and brief, unexpected moments when two lives collide and something meaningful emerges.
Hitchhike takes inspiration from classic American road-trip movies and odd-couple comedies, capturing the vast landscapes, small-town diners, and endless stretches of highway that define the genre. However, rather than celebrating these familiar settings from the inside, the film views them through the eyes of a newcomer encountering them for the very first time.
Visually, the film embraces a vibrant, heightened aesthetic, with rich colors, expansive Texas vistas, and a sense of wonder and possibility.
Irma will be played by Gertruda, a Lithuanian-born writer and actor based in Austin, Texas.
This is what Eastern European farm girl, Irma, may look like in the final film ↓↓↓
Our mysterious hitchhiker, Dolly, and the Waitress characters are yet to be cast.
Dolly is a charismatic drifter with a rebellious streak equal parts charming, unpredictable, and impossible to fully figure out. Beneath her confidence lies someone searching for her own place in the world.
The Waitress serves as a grounded observer of the story's events, bringing warmth, humor, and a distinctly Texan perspective to the world of the film.
Creating films is an extremely collaborative and extensive process, and in order to bring Hitchhike to life, we need a dedicated team of talented people working together.
Our total production budget is $15,000, which will cover every stage of bringing Hitchhike to life - from pre-production and our two-day shoot to post-production and festival submissions.
Your pledge helps us hire and pay professional crew in Austin, secure locations, equipment, production design, sound, insurance, meals, editing, color, and post-production. Every part of the process matters!
One more thing... If we don't reach at least 80% of our Seed&Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of the funds raised.
How can you help?
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM for updates on the film and SHARE THIS PROJECT with your community, it really helps!
Every contribution moves us closer to production. And if you’re unable to pledge, sharing the campaign with friends, family, group chats, or social media helps us reach audiences beyond our immediate network. Word of mouth is powerful, especially for independent films.
From all of us on the team, THANK YOU SO MUCH for checking out our project. We're so excited to share this film with you all!
Instagram: @hitchhikefilm
Seed & Spark: seedandspark.com/fund/hitchhike
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew & Equipment
Costs $9,000
This covers crew wages, camera and lighting gear, sound equipment, production support, and keeping everyone fed during two long days.
Locations & Production Design
Costs $3,000
This will pay for renting a picture car, diner location, props, costumes, permits, insurance, and set dressing.
Post-Production
Costs $2,500
This includes paying for editing, sound design, and color grading.
Festivals & Release
Costs $500
This will cover festival submission costs, promotional materials, and graphic design work.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jean-Louis Droulers is a Venezuelan-French filmmaker and musician. He is best known for executive producing Fucktoys, winner of the SXSW Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature. His experience spans directing, editing, and producing, including editing Citizen Weiner and directing a short selected for the straight8 competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Bridging music and film, Jean Louis brings a unique perspective shaped by technical precision and bold creative vision. Drawn to stories centered on human connection, he is excited to bring Irma’s comedic Texas fish-out-of-water journey to life.
Gertruda Goddard is a Lithuanian-born writer and actor based in Austin, Texas. Having lived between Lithuania, England, and the United States, she draws on her experience navigating different cultures to tell stories about unlikely friendships, unexpected human connection, and the humor that emerges when worlds collide. Her work blends offbeat comedy with emotionally grounded storytelling and a deep affection for bold characters.
Her screen credits include lead roles in the short films Unfollow (2024) and, In The Dark (2023), and her stage work includes London productions of An Unexpected Guest and Stage Door. As a writer, she has developed multiple short films and has written three feature projects.
Megan Penisson is a French-American marketer, unit publicist, and producer working across entertainment and education. She has developed campaigns and digital content for award-winning films, video games, and global entertainment brands, collaborating with industry leaders including Disney, Google, Blizzard, Paramount, Live Nation, and A+E.
She works with the American Pavilion and IndieWire’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, helping connect emerging filmmakers with mentorship and industry opportunities. Passionate about expanding access to the industry, she supports stories that celebrate empathy, unexpected connections, and the communities we build along the way.
Charles Acosta is an independent film producer with a background in finance. He produced the feature Pendulum (2001), securing private equity financing and arranging distribution through Artisan Entertainment. He later worked on Drop Dead Sexy (2005), starring Jason Lee and Crispin Glover, which premiered at SXSW and was acquired by Lionsgate.
He brings extensive experience in financing, packaging, and distribution, supporting the team in advancing the project. He most recently produced a feature Price of Redemption (set for release in 2026), and is currently developing the feature documentary Picasso’s Christ.
Matias Chavez is a Houston-based producer and award-winning composer dedicated to championing independent film. Most recently, he joined the producing team for Hitchhike, continuing his commitment to supporting bold independent storytelling. He received the AMD Emerging Talent Award for Best Trailer in Cinema at the 2026 Global Entertainment Awards for his work on Infinity.
Beyond the music, Matias supports independent filmmaking through organizations including Producers Without Borders and his involvement with the Houston Latino Film Festival, where he has worked alongside filmmakers and creatives both internationally and within the Texas film community.