I'd Rather Be Nowhere
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
"I'd Rather Be Nowhere" is a short film that explores what it's like to be a parent of a neurodivergent child. This film is my attempt to share a bit of my experience in a heartfelt and humorous way, in the hopes that someone sees it, relates and feels a little less alone.
I'd Rather Be Nowhere
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $7,615 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
40 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
"I'd Rather Be Nowhere" is a short film that explores what it's like to be a parent of a neurodivergent child. This film is my attempt to share a bit of my experience in a heartfelt and humorous way, in the hopes that someone sees it, relates and feels a little less alone.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
SYNOPSIS
“I’d Rather Be Nowhere” is a short film about being a highly anxious parent of a neurodivergent child. It’s based on the director's own experience, but the story and characters are all fictional. Mostly.
In the film, an aging hipster dad, played by longtime stage actor Jeff Mills, balances his own control issues with the stresses of working in a post-pandemic world, while also trying to be a good dad to his special needs son.
It's equal parts humorous and heartfelt - a slice of life film in the style of the great short stories, where you get a glimpse into one important day in a person's life.
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
We have actually already filmed one scene for "I'd Rather Be Nowhere" before launching this fundraising campaign (pictured above). We were lucky enough to have access to a working ER, so we jumped at the chance and filmed one key scene that happens later in the film, fronting all of the funds necessary to make it happen.
Now, we plan to shoot the bulk of "I'd Rather Be Nowhere" on May 23 and May 24, which is quickly approaching and is when we'll be using most of the funds we raise through this campaign - to pay our crew, to pay talent, to buy meals for the crew, to purchase film and to rent equipment.
After that we'll go into post production and the plan is to have an edited film ready to submit to festivals near the end of Summer 2026, so we can begin our festival run in 2027. For those who donate at certain levels, we will offer the chance to attend a rough cut screening or a private screening of the finished film.
POST PRODUCTION
Above is a smattering of the jazz amd hip-hop music that inspired this film, and we are so lucky to have permission to feature a song by Rapsody in our film. We are also looking into licensing other music, and any money raised here will help us pay for that licensing. We will also be able to use any extra funds we have to pay for film processing, a colorist and possibly a composer to add a score to our film.
FESTIVALS
The goal for this film is to get it into festivals where it can be programmed alongside features and other short films. The money we raise through this campaign will help us pay the submission fees for these festivals.
THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for reading and following along. Long live cinema!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Direct to actors
Costs $1,000
Most actors are not stars. They work for very little to get exposure. And now they're competing with AI. Help us make sure they get paid.
Food
Costs $750
Help us feed our cast and crew healthy food on our two days of shooting.
Film and film processing
Costs $3,500
We estimate that shooting on film will add $3500 to our overall budget. Help us make our dream of shooting on film a reality.
Crew
Costs $2,000
We have an amazing film community in Austin and many of us help each other out just for the love of cinema, but some cash wouldn't hurt.
Film festival submissions
Costs $250
Help us enter this film into festivals so people can see it on the big screen as intended.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director, Carter Pagel - Longtime advertising director, creative director, and copywriter specializing in scripted comedy and cinematic stories about real people. In his nearly 25 years in the industry, he’s written dozens of TV commercials (including multiple Super Bowl spots for Bud Light), directed award-winning content for AT&T, created integrated campaigns for national brands like DIRECTV, and run his own production company. His work has been recognized by the Cannes Advertising Festival, AdAge, Campaign, Muse by Clio, AdWeek, Ads of the World, and the American Advertising Awards
Executive Producer, Ben Root - A passionate and versatile French-American film producer and the founder of 2perf Productions. Through his early experiences behind the camera, Ben realized his true calling was in producing-bringing teams together, managing logistics, and ensuring every aspect of a project aligns seamlessly to create compelling stories. With expertise as both a producer and DP, Ben is known for his ability to craft visually stunning and emotionally resonant narratives. His work spans a diverse range of projects, including impactful branded content, narrative-driven films, and thought-provoking documentaries.
Executive Producer, Ron Rendon - Over 30 years dedicated to leading impactful productions and managing creative editorial offices. Ron is an Executive Creative Producer known for driving success and profitability while fostering a healthy, inspiring environment. He has a proven track record in guiding complex projects from concept through completion, emphasizing both creativity and collaboration to deliver exceptional results.. By prioritizing both the project's success and the team’s well-being, he creates spaces where creativity flourishes and excellence is the standard.
Lead Actor, Jeff Mills - Jeff is a longtime stage actor with the following credits - ZACH: Dracula (Dr Seward) REGIONAL: Fixing Troilus & Cressida (Ulysses) and Fixing King John (Arfur) with the Rude Mechs; The Government Inspector (Hlestakov) at Mary Moody Northen Theater; Everything is Established (Montgomery) at Physical Plant; Hotel Vanya (The Doctor) at Natalie George Productions; The History of King Lear (Various) and Der Bestrafte Brudermord (Puppeteer) at Hidden Room Theatre; Three (Andre) at Breaking String Theater; Mud (Lloyd) at Salvage Vanguard Theatre; The Assumption (Chester) at Refraction Arts TOURING: The Intergalactic Nemesis Trilogy (Ben Wilcott/Mysterion). ADDITIONAL CREDITS: B.A. in Acting from St Edward’s University; 2018 John Bustin Award Winner (Austin Critics Table); Yoga with Adriene (Director of Production).
Cinematographer, Taylor Camarot - Cinematographer based out of Austin, TX. Specializing in narrative and commercial cinematography. Taylor’s focus is on storytelling through compelling visuals. In addition to multiple short films and the 2026 feature American Dollhouse, he has shot music videos for bands such as Tele Novella, The Black Pumas and Big Bill and commercials for clients like Capital One, Dell and Tito’s Vodka.
Editor, Andrea Mendoza - Houston native and film lover who discovered editing at Purdue University and fell in love with its impact on narrative storytelling. Her work effortlessly spans many genres, with a focus on comedy born from hilarious and utterly relatable moments. Her careful attention to detail and impeccable sense of timing shine in collaborations for Apple, Michael’s, Dodge, Infiniti, Jack Links, and AARP starring Betty White (among many more!)
Producer - Katie Jewett - A passionate and creative producer, Katie holds a BFA in Film Production and student film award at the University of Colorado. She started her career as “P.A. to the stars” in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and learned to shoot and print photos with a Pentax K-1000 on the side. She began her freelance producing career in Austin in 2016. She can support a production as a producer or production manager, or with her production company, Film Girl LLC. Her guiding principles are equitable compensation and transparency between production, agency, and clients.
In 2025, Katie filmed her self-directed short “Hot No Start”, which features her 1993 Volvo 240 Classic and is in post-production as of Spring 2026.
Casting Director - Alexandra Riley Morton - Alex is an amazing actor and writer, known for Toe to Toe (2009), 86'd and My Missing Mind (2025). Alex plays the doctor in the film and has been kind enough to help us cast this film.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
SYNOPSIS
“I’d Rather Be Nowhere” is a short film about being a highly anxious parent of a neurodivergent child. It’s based on the director's own experience, but the story and characters are all fictional. Mostly.
In the film, an aging hipster dad, played by longtime stage actor Jeff Mills, balances his own control issues with the stresses of working in a post-pandemic world, while also trying to be a good dad to his special needs son.
It's equal parts humorous and heartfelt - a slice of life film in the style of the great short stories, where you get a glimpse into one important day in a person's life.
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
We have actually already filmed one scene for "I'd Rather Be Nowhere" before launching this fundraising campaign (pictured above). We were lucky enough to have access to a working ER, so we jumped at the chance and filmed one key scene that happens later in the film, fronting all of the funds necessary to make it happen.
Now, we plan to shoot the bulk of "I'd Rather Be Nowhere" on May 23 and May 24, which is quickly approaching and is when we'll be using most of the funds we raise through this campaign - to pay our crew, to pay talent, to buy meals for the crew, to purchase film and to rent equipment.
After that we'll go into post production and the plan is to have an edited film ready to submit to festivals near the end of Summer 2026, so we can begin our festival run in 2027. For those who donate at certain levels, we will offer the chance to attend a rough cut screening or a private screening of the finished film.
POST PRODUCTION
Above is a smattering of the jazz amd hip-hop music that inspired this film, and we are so lucky to have permission to feature a song by Rapsody in our film. We are also looking into licensing other music, and any money raised here will help us pay for that licensing. We will also be able to use any extra funds we have to pay for film processing, a colorist and possibly a composer to add a score to our film.
FESTIVALS
The goal for this film is to get it into festivals where it can be programmed alongside features and other short films. The money we raise through this campaign will help us pay the submission fees for these festivals.
THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for reading and following along. Long live cinema!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Direct to actors
Costs $1,000
Most actors are not stars. They work for very little to get exposure. And now they're competing with AI. Help us make sure they get paid.
Food
Costs $750
Help us feed our cast and crew healthy food on our two days of shooting.
Film and film processing
Costs $3,500
We estimate that shooting on film will add $3500 to our overall budget. Help us make our dream of shooting on film a reality.
Crew
Costs $2,000
We have an amazing film community in Austin and many of us help each other out just for the love of cinema, but some cash wouldn't hurt.
Film festival submissions
Costs $250
Help us enter this film into festivals so people can see it on the big screen as intended.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director, Carter Pagel - Longtime advertising director, creative director, and copywriter specializing in scripted comedy and cinematic stories about real people. In his nearly 25 years in the industry, he’s written dozens of TV commercials (including multiple Super Bowl spots for Bud Light), directed award-winning content for AT&T, created integrated campaigns for national brands like DIRECTV, and run his own production company. His work has been recognized by the Cannes Advertising Festival, AdAge, Campaign, Muse by Clio, AdWeek, Ads of the World, and the American Advertising Awards
Executive Producer, Ben Root - A passionate and versatile French-American film producer and the founder of 2perf Productions. Through his early experiences behind the camera, Ben realized his true calling was in producing-bringing teams together, managing logistics, and ensuring every aspect of a project aligns seamlessly to create compelling stories. With expertise as both a producer and DP, Ben is known for his ability to craft visually stunning and emotionally resonant narratives. His work spans a diverse range of projects, including impactful branded content, narrative-driven films, and thought-provoking documentaries.
Executive Producer, Ron Rendon - Over 30 years dedicated to leading impactful productions and managing creative editorial offices. Ron is an Executive Creative Producer known for driving success and profitability while fostering a healthy, inspiring environment. He has a proven track record in guiding complex projects from concept through completion, emphasizing both creativity and collaboration to deliver exceptional results.. By prioritizing both the project's success and the team’s well-being, he creates spaces where creativity flourishes and excellence is the standard.
Lead Actor, Jeff Mills - Jeff is a longtime stage actor with the following credits - ZACH: Dracula (Dr Seward) REGIONAL: Fixing Troilus & Cressida (Ulysses) and Fixing King John (Arfur) with the Rude Mechs; The Government Inspector (Hlestakov) at Mary Moody Northen Theater; Everything is Established (Montgomery) at Physical Plant; Hotel Vanya (The Doctor) at Natalie George Productions; The History of King Lear (Various) and Der Bestrafte Brudermord (Puppeteer) at Hidden Room Theatre; Three (Andre) at Breaking String Theater; Mud (Lloyd) at Salvage Vanguard Theatre; The Assumption (Chester) at Refraction Arts TOURING: The Intergalactic Nemesis Trilogy (Ben Wilcott/Mysterion). ADDITIONAL CREDITS: B.A. in Acting from St Edward’s University; 2018 John Bustin Award Winner (Austin Critics Table); Yoga with Adriene (Director of Production).
Cinematographer, Taylor Camarot - Cinematographer based out of Austin, TX. Specializing in narrative and commercial cinematography. Taylor’s focus is on storytelling through compelling visuals. In addition to multiple short films and the 2026 feature American Dollhouse, he has shot music videos for bands such as Tele Novella, The Black Pumas and Big Bill and commercials for clients like Capital One, Dell and Tito’s Vodka.
Editor, Andrea Mendoza - Houston native and film lover who discovered editing at Purdue University and fell in love with its impact on narrative storytelling. Her work effortlessly spans many genres, with a focus on comedy born from hilarious and utterly relatable moments. Her careful attention to detail and impeccable sense of timing shine in collaborations for Apple, Michael’s, Dodge, Infiniti, Jack Links, and AARP starring Betty White (among many more!)
Producer - Katie Jewett - A passionate and creative producer, Katie holds a BFA in Film Production and student film award at the University of Colorado. She started her career as “P.A. to the stars” in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and learned to shoot and print photos with a Pentax K-1000 on the side. She began her freelance producing career in Austin in 2016. She can support a production as a producer or production manager, or with her production company, Film Girl LLC. Her guiding principles are equitable compensation and transparency between production, agency, and clients.
In 2025, Katie filmed her self-directed short “Hot No Start”, which features her 1993 Volvo 240 Classic and is in post-production as of Spring 2026.
Casting Director - Alexandra Riley Morton - Alex is an amazing actor and writer, known for Toe to Toe (2009), 86'd and My Missing Mind (2025). Alex plays the doctor in the film and has been kind enough to help us cast this film.