Hitchhiker
Houston, Texas | Film Short
Action, Thriller
Sydney, a con artist posing as a damsel in distress, travels a desolate Texas highway for a "family reunion." At a gas station, she meets the lonely attendant Jake, and sparks fly. Their connection takes a twist when an escaped convict appears, forcing Sydney to choose their futures.
Hitchhiker
Houston, Texas | Film Short
Action, Thriller
Green Light
This campaign raised $11,970 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
59 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Sydney, a con artist posing as a damsel in distress, travels a desolate Texas highway for a "family reunion." At a gas station, she meets the lonely attendant Jake, and sparks fly. Their connection takes a twist when an escaped convict appears, forcing Sydney to choose their futures.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
 (Landscape)) - 9.jpg)
"Hitchhiker," a 2022 Austin Film Festival semifinalist, is a gripping thriller about a daughter and her father, a con artist duo who weave a web of deceit. As the daughter seeks to escape her father’s criminal world, she faces a harrowing struggle—will she break free, or will she become ensnared in the very lies she tries to escape?
 (Landscape)) - 2.jpg)
Hitchhiker was inspired by a lone Texas highway sign that read, "Prison Area: Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers." This sparked the question: what if someone didn’t see the sign? From this intriguing thought, a captivating story emerged.
Hitchhiker also draws inspiration from characters like Thelma and Louise and Erin Brokovich. At first, these women seem average, or even less than, but are ultimately revealed to be headstrong, daring, and even guileful, like Hitchhiker's lead character Sydney.
 (Landscape)) - 10.jpg)
Sydney is a woman who expertly uses her looks to get what she wants. While she appears helpless, she's actually a master manipulator, a skill she’s relied on her whole life. Now, exhausted from constantly being on the run, she yearns for peace and stability but struggles to break free from her old ways.
 (Landscape)) - 6.jpg)
In Hitchhiker, the location acts as a character in its own right. The scene unfolds on a desolate Texas highway under a dark, moody night. The summer air is hot and heavy, making each breath a challenge. Shadows stretch ominously across the road, suddenly interrupted by bright flashes of light. A vintage gas station, with its flickering neon sign, stands by the roadside, casting eerie shadows that heighten the sense of unease as the empty highway stretches into the unknown.
A vintage gas station
A desolate road
 (Landscape)) - 15.jpg)
This short film is just the first step. We plan to use it as proof-of-concept footage for a feature film, aiming to secure funding to cover all production costs, including crew and talent rates, equipment, location fees, and music licensing.
With an unwavering commitment to strengthening the independent filmmaking workforce in Texas, we are hiring a Texas-only cast and crew and basing all our locations in the state. Based on our goal of raising $13,000, here’s how your contribution will be distributed:
 (Landscape)) - 14.jpg)
If you’re interested in supporting the film, check out the "Incentives" tab for more details. We’ve got some cool crime-themed perks that you’ll love! With several donation tiers available, there’s a level to fit any budget.
 (Landscape)) - 13.jpg)
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your contribution and sharing with others can make a significant difference. It takes a village to bring a story to life, and we appreciate your support!
If monetary contributions are not possible for you at this moment, you can support us by following this project and spreading the word on social media!
If you would like, you can copy and paste the following sentence into your posts or stories:
Crowdfunding for @hitchhiker.shortfilm is NOW LIVE through @seedandspark. Make a $1 contribution today and help us bring this thrilling film to life. #filmcrowdfunding #seedandspark #filmfinancing #texasfilmmakers
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location fees
Costs $1,000
Set in a vintage-looking Texas gas station, securing the location will ensure we create a film that is authentic and visually captivating.
Lodging and Travel Costs
Costs $700
Texas is a big state y'all & vintage gas stations can be found all over. Securing these funds will help cover travel and accommodation costs
Insurance
Costs $250
Cowboy boots might shield us from rattlesnakes, but insurance will protect us from an even bigger danger: An indie film set.
Music Rights
Costs $500
We need those tunes to build the tension, spark the romance, increase the action!
Cast and Crew
Costs $6,000
This includes payment for our cast, and crew above and below the line!
Share this update!
About This Team
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Samantha Walker is an actor, writer, producer, and yoga teacher from Houston, Texas who has worked professionally in film, commercials, and theatre for the past 12 years. She double majored in Theatre and French at Stephen F. Austin State University. Samantha has studied in Los Angeles with the Will Wallace Acting Company and in New York at the esteemed Bill Esper Studio, but she has always found her way back to Texas, to her roots. Samantha is passionate about creating work in Texas, about Texas, with Texas artists which is one of her biggest motivations for producing her first short film screenplay, Hitchhiker. Samantha is also a dedicated yogi who has taught and practiced yoga for the past 14 years. She teaches yoga and mindfulness techniques for the Houston Police Department through the P.E.A.C.E. program when she's not on stage or set.
Scott Rice is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and commercial director whose clients include Shell, Time Warner Cable, MasterCard and Sears. He’s worked with talent like Glenn Close, Brett Favre, and Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey with whom he co-teaches a film course at the University of Texas. Scott’s narrative work holds a staggering film festival record of 300 Official Selections and 85 Awards, including two Student Academy Award nominations. Comedy Central, Hulu, Showtime, Blockbuster and PBS have distributed his films. He has also directed projects for A&E, the Mental Health Channel, MTV Networks and Sony Pictures. After studying under world-renowned film scholar David Bordwell, Scott began his career as an animator and art director for Activision. He scripted the groundbreaking hit game Soldier of Fortune and has since written on assignment for Elizabeth Avellan (Spy Kids) among others. He owns two production companies and serves as creative director for Arcos Films. Known as an actor’s director, Scott’s areas of expertise include comedy, documentary and animation/VFX. He is represented by the Brant Rose Agency in Los Angeles for film/television and Two Shot West Productions for commercials.
David Wells became a Cinematographer after receiving a bachelors in Architecture from the University of Oklahome. As a lifelong film lover, David decided to jump feet first into the film world and has now spent a decade in the industry as a cinematographer. Perspective, problem solving, and framework learned during his career in architecture have formed his cinematic style. David's portfolio of work includes commercial, music videos, and narrative projects spanning multiple genres. He is represented by Radiant Artists.
Alec Franco started acting in 1982 in Santa Barbara, CA but finished his studies at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy. He apprenticed at the Los Angeles Theatre Center where he worked and learned by watching a great pool of talent on stage. Actors like Deirdre O'Connell (Stars in the Morning Sky) and Philip Baker Hall (The Inspector General). He also worked with Marie Crosby and Judd Nelson in a production of The Seagull. During a break from acting, Mr. Franco became an award-winning western saddlemaker and participated in a National Endowment of the Arts project for saddlery that took him to Hawaii. Since his return to acting in 2014, Alec has starred in numerous commercials and films. In his most recent feature film, Wonder London, he starred alongside Vivica A. Fox. You can follow him @alecrfranco
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"Hitchhiker," a 2022 Austin Film Festival semifinalist, is a gripping thriller about a daughter and her father, a con artist duo who weave a web of deceit. As the daughter seeks to escape her father’s criminal world, she faces a harrowing struggle—will she break free, or will she become ensnared in the very lies she tries to escape?
Hitchhiker was inspired by a lone Texas highway sign that read, "Prison Area: Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers." This sparked the question: what if someone didn’t see the sign? From this intriguing thought, a captivating story emerged.
Hitchhiker also draws inspiration from characters like Thelma and Louise and Erin Brokovich. At first, these women seem average, or even less than, but are ultimately revealed to be headstrong, daring, and even guileful, like Hitchhiker's lead character Sydney.
Sydney is a woman who expertly uses her looks to get what she wants. While she appears helpless, she's actually a master manipulator, a skill she’s relied on her whole life. Now, exhausted from constantly being on the run, she yearns for peace and stability but struggles to break free from her old ways.
In Hitchhiker, the location acts as a character in its own right. The scene unfolds on a desolate Texas highway under a dark, moody night. The summer air is hot and heavy, making each breath a challenge. Shadows stretch ominously across the road, suddenly interrupted by bright flashes of light. A vintage gas station, with its flickering neon sign, stands by the roadside, casting eerie shadows that heighten the sense of unease as the empty highway stretches into the unknown.
A vintage gas station
A desolate road
This short film is just the first step. We plan to use it as proof-of-concept footage for a feature film, aiming to secure funding to cover all production costs, including crew and talent rates, equipment, location fees, and music licensing.
With an unwavering commitment to strengthening the independent filmmaking workforce in Texas, we are hiring a Texas-only cast and crew and basing all our locations in the state. Based on our goal of raising $13,000, here’s how your contribution will be distributed:
If you’re interested in supporting the film, check out the "Incentives" tab for more details. We’ve got some cool crime-themed perks that you’ll love! With several donation tiers available, there’s a level to fit any budget.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your contribution and sharing with others can make a significant difference. It takes a village to bring a story to life, and we appreciate your support!
If monetary contributions are not possible for you at this moment, you can support us by following this project and spreading the word on social media!
If you would like, you can copy and paste the following sentence into your posts or stories:
Crowdfunding for @hitchhiker.shortfilm is NOW LIVE through @seedandspark. Make a $1 contribution today and help us bring this thrilling film to life. #filmcrowdfunding #seedandspark #filmfinancing #texasfilmmakers
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location fees
Costs $1,000
Set in a vintage-looking Texas gas station, securing the location will ensure we create a film that is authentic and visually captivating.
Lodging and Travel Costs
Costs $700
Texas is a big state y'all & vintage gas stations can be found all over. Securing these funds will help cover travel and accommodation costs
Insurance
Costs $250
Cowboy boots might shield us from rattlesnakes, but insurance will protect us from an even bigger danger: An indie film set.
Music Rights
Costs $500
We need those tunes to build the tension, spark the romance, increase the action!
Cast and Crew
Costs $6,000
This includes payment for our cast, and crew above and below the line!
Share this update!
About This Team
Samantha Walker is an actor, writer, producer, and yoga teacher from Houston, Texas who has worked professionally in film, commercials, and theatre for the past 12 years. She double majored in Theatre and French at Stephen F. Austin State University. Samantha has studied in Los Angeles with the Will Wallace Acting Company and in New York at the esteemed Bill Esper Studio, but she has always found her way back to Texas, to her roots. Samantha is passionate about creating work in Texas, about Texas, with Texas artists which is one of her biggest motivations for producing her first short film screenplay, Hitchhiker. Samantha is also a dedicated yogi who has taught and practiced yoga for the past 14 years. She teaches yoga and mindfulness techniques for the Houston Police Department through the P.E.A.C.E. program when she's not on stage or set.
Scott Rice is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and commercial director whose clients include Shell, Time Warner Cable, MasterCard and Sears. He’s worked with talent like Glenn Close, Brett Favre, and Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey with whom he co-teaches a film course at the University of Texas. Scott’s narrative work holds a staggering film festival record of 300 Official Selections and 85 Awards, including two Student Academy Award nominations. Comedy Central, Hulu, Showtime, Blockbuster and PBS have distributed his films. He has also directed projects for A&E, the Mental Health Channel, MTV Networks and Sony Pictures. After studying under world-renowned film scholar David Bordwell, Scott began his career as an animator and art director for Activision. He scripted the groundbreaking hit game Soldier of Fortune and has since written on assignment for Elizabeth Avellan (Spy Kids) among others. He owns two production companies and serves as creative director for Arcos Films. Known as an actor’s director, Scott’s areas of expertise include comedy, documentary and animation/VFX. He is represented by the Brant Rose Agency in Los Angeles for film/television and Two Shot West Productions for commercials.
David Wells became a Cinematographer after receiving a bachelors in Architecture from the University of Oklahome. As a lifelong film lover, David decided to jump feet first into the film world and has now spent a decade in the industry as a cinematographer. Perspective, problem solving, and framework learned during his career in architecture have formed his cinematic style. David's portfolio of work includes commercial, music videos, and narrative projects spanning multiple genres. He is represented by Radiant Artists.
Alec Franco started acting in 1982 in Santa Barbara, CA but finished his studies at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy. He apprenticed at the Los Angeles Theatre Center where he worked and learned by watching a great pool of talent on stage. Actors like Deirdre O'Connell (Stars in the Morning Sky) and Philip Baker Hall (The Inspector General). He also worked with Marie Crosby and Judd Nelson in a production of The Seagull. During a break from acting, Mr. Franco became an award-winning western saddlemaker and participated in a National Endowment of the Arts project for saddlery that took him to Hawaii. Since his return to acting in 2014, Alec has starred in numerous commercials and films. In his most recent feature film, Wonder London, he starred alongside Vivica A. Fox. You can follow him @alecrfranco