Mr. Oberbeck

New York City, New York | Film Short

Comedy, Drama

Laura Oberbeck

1 Campaigns | New York, United States

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This campaign raised $12,661 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

90 supporters | followers

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As I am losing my dad more and more to dementia and Alzheimer's, I've been struggling with choosing how I'll remember him once he's gone. This comedy explores loss, remembrance, and discovering hard truths about your parents. It asks tough questions that I still don't know the answer to.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

For better or worse, my dad taught me to laugh at the dark stuff. But he also honored my emotions and allowed me to cry when I needed to. This piece walks that fine line between humor and heartbreak and gives the audience permission to choose which to participate in.

The Story

At her father’s will reading, Sam learns a dark secret about his past. Specifically, he briefly spent time as a CIA agent, tortured and killed a man suspected of treason, and kept this chapter of his life completely hidden from his family. As Sam tries to grapple with this new and completely different version of her father, she also learns there’s more: Incapable of doing it himself while he was still alive, her dad's last wish to tell his victim’s family the truth now falls squarely on Sam.

Though tasked with a very somber request, Sam finds herself in offbeat predicament after predicament, as she embarks on a tense and problem-ridden journey to the harrowing suburbs of New Jersey to figure out how to tell a family, “Oh hi, my dad killed your dad.”

 

This short has indie vibes and road-trip feels as Sam has to venture from Brooklyn to the (very) distant land of New Jersey to deliver the news in person. 

Think of a show like Barry but without the blood, or a movie like Nebraska but without the dad.

A mix of subtle humor, big laughs, and emotional scenes create a delightful and sentimental short film. 

 

This short will be submitted to festivals like Tribeca and South by Southwest, as well as international festivals so we have an excuse to finally travel outside of the two-block radius we've been stuck in since the pandemic.

After it is finished with the festival circuit, we will post the video on Vimeo for anyone to see. Keep in mind that a $100 pledge will get you a private digital link to view the film ahead of its release! 

  

It's important to make art that processes loss during a time that has taken away so much.

We want to create something in spite of the barriers the pandemic has created.

 

SAFETY MEASURES: 

We will be taking all covid precautions: working with all vaccinated cast/crew, testing, masks for crew members and cast while they're not filming, and sanitizing as much as possible. In addition, we'll have a Covid compliance officer on set. 

WE NEED YOU! 

Pledges for this project will go towards production costs and paying our crew a living wage. Artists are struggling right now and it's so important they get paid for their profession!

Any funds over $8,000 will be put towards covering post-production (editing, color correcting, and music)

If you can't make a pledge but know someone who might be interested, please share! Instagram: @mroberbeck

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Locations

Costs $2,200

Three locations we need: 1) The lawyer's office 2) The flower shop 3) Home of the victim's family

Crew Fees

Costs $2,400

This short is a passion project. Help us pay our cast and crew - it's important!

Equipment

Costs $1,700

Good film equipment will give this film the production value it deserves!

Transportation

Costs $600

Half of this film takes place in New Jersey and we need to transport our crew and equipment there.

Art

Costs $600

We need specific costumes and set decor/props to build the world of this film.

Festivals

Costs $500

Help us send this film to festivals so we can reach a large audience!

About This Team

LAURA OBERBECK (writer) as SAM

Laura Oberbeck is a New York City based actor/creator. She attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she trained at The Experimental Theater Wing and Stonestreet Studios. Her one-woman show "LAURA", directed by Annie Donley, was staged at The Annoyance, The PIT, and NY Winterfest. She has been featured on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Chris Gethard Presents, and in the New York City marathon where she completed the whole thing. She has performed real Shakespeare with The Greenhouse Theater Co. in Missouri and fake Shakespeare at "Cage in the Park" (like Shakespeare in the Park but with Nicolas Cage films). She loves but is very afraid of dolphins. 

 

DESI LYDIC as ALLY 

Desi Lydic joined The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as a Correspondent in September 2015. She is a professionally trained improvisational and comedic actress who studied and performed at The Groundlings and Improv Olympic. In 2020’s half-hour special, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Remembering RBG – A Nation Ugly Cries with Desi Lydic, Desi explored the remarkable life and legacy of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The special was nominated for a DGA award. Her first one-hour Comedy Central special, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents Desi Lydic: Abroad premiered in May 2019 and received a Writers Guild Award Nomination. Desi also had a starring role on MTV’s hit comedy series Awkward and her other credits include FXX’s The League, Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo, and Jon Stewart’s Irresistible.

 

TOM CREEL as MR. BAGEL 

Tom Creel has three careers in entertainment. First, as an actor and model, as he has been featured in Difficult People on Hulu, The Colbert Report, and as Congressman Gary Nelson on the Onion News Network.

Second, he is the co-host of the weekly radio show, Wow! I Didn't Know That, where current issues of the day are discussed.

And third, as a lawyer: He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. This is because of his involvement in some of the biggest litigations you've never of (some would call this entertainment).

 

JULIAN JOSEPH as JARLES 

Born and raised in New York, Julian has trained at both the William Esper Studio and with Terry Knickerbocker at the TK Studio. He can be seen in shows like Law & Order, CBS Blue Bloods, and NBC The Philanthropist. He made his off-broadway debut in "Bridesburg" (Dir. Jeff Barry), also starring in "The Waiting Game" (59E59). He was accepted into The Sundance Film Lab as an actor, where he helped emerging filmmakers develop their scripts. He has been called "charming" and "movingly naturalistic" by both Theatermania and close friends. 

 

DIRECTED BY: SEBASTIAN DINATALE

Sebastian currently works as a segment director at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He recently directed Ronny Chieng's Netflix special and is co-writing a movie with Ronny for Sony Pictures. He has been directing plays, musicals, live comedy, commercials, film, and TV for over 10 years, and his work has been featured on Comedy Central, Netflix, MTV, and in The New Yorker. He performs regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and has won several Ping-Pong tournaments.

 

PRODUCED BY: LAUREL KULOW 

Laurel is a director, writer, and producer.  She previously worked as a production coordinator for Viacom Digital Studios where she produced many Comedy Central sketches and a web series. She's an executive producer and co-founder of Let That Marinate Productions. Her work has been featured on Funny or Die and Whohaha. She's produced multiple short films including "The Woods" which premiered at the 2018 Brooklyn Horror Fest.

 

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