My Brother & Bigfoot
Menasha, Wisconsin | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
My Brother & Bigfoot is a heartfelt mockumentary about belief, family, and the distance that can grow between them. Through two brothers and their shared history, it explores the stories we tell ourselves to survive — and what happens when those stories start to fall apart.
My Brother & Bigfoot
Menasha, Wisconsin | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | Wisconsin, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,400 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
18 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
My Brother & Bigfoot is a heartfelt mockumentary about belief, family, and the distance that can grow between them. Through two brothers and their shared history, it explores the stories we tell ourselves to survive — and what happens when those stories start to fall apart.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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My Brother & Bigfoot grew out of something simple and personal. I’ve always been drawn to stories about belief and the quiet myths we hide behind." - Daniel Wheeler (Writer / Director)
WHY US?
- Art Department Films knows how to stretch every dollar and we keep productions efficient.
- We’re not trying to imitate a studio system — we’re building something personal, sustainable, and sincere.
Our production company is called Art Department Films for a reason. From the petrified face of a witch in The Last Witch in Wisconsin, to an automaton brought to life in The Voice in the Vessel, to the handmade plaster casts needed for My Brother & Bigfoot, ADF is backed by degrees in fine arts and sound production. We set the bar high and your support helps us continue this standard.
Several handmade props by ADF films
ADF on set of The Voice in the Vessel (credit: Moriah Koehler)
WHY NOW?
- Because we’re ready to GO!
- Everything is lined up. All we need is a financial nudge to get the cameras rolling.
- Your support will help get us to the 📣"ACTION"!
WHY SEED&SPARK?
- Because it’s made for filmmakers by filmmakers. Seed&Spark is a platform built around community — exactly how we want My Brother & Bigfoot to grow!
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Johnathon & Randall Thatcher
Fifteen years ago, Johnathon Thatcher — a Bigfoot hunter in Arkansas — went missing. Randall, his older brother, was left carrying that absence, unsure how to move forward. Told through interviews, VHS fragments, and quiet observational moments, the film blends dry, offbeat humor with personal reflection.
My Brother & Bigfoot Teaser Trailer
WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM!🎉
If you love the deadpan humor and warmth of Napoleon Dynamite and the character-driven mockumentary humor of Best in Show, you’ll feel right at home here. We've assembled a great team that's eager to get started!
The great team!
🎬 We're looking to start filming in Spring 2026!
.jpg)
My Brother & Bigfoot is being produced with a small & nimble crew. That means less overhead need with more of your support going directly to the screen.
- Keeping things lean doesn’t mean cutting corners — it means focusing our time, craft, and resources where they matter most: performance, storytelling, sound, and image. The skillset within Art Department Films is top tier.
Most importantly, we’re committed to doing this right — paying our cast and collaborators, getting the necessary insurance and permits for all the locations, and making sure we have everything we need to make a film our supporters will be proud to share!
WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES?
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WHAT IF WE EXCEED OUR CAMPAIGN GOAL?
If we exceed our goal, additional funds will go toward sharing the film with others — expanding our festival run, and investing in targeted outreach and Video-On-Demand promotion so more people can discover the movie you're supporting. Let's get this out there for everyone to see!
If you believe in unique, heartfelt stories, this one’s for you.
Supporter Notice / Important Information
Contributions to My Brother & Bigfoot are not investments and do not confer any ownership interest, financial participation, repayment rights, or creative control. Producer and supporter credits are honorary and offered in good faith. Independent film production involves inherent risks, and completion, release, or distribution cannot be guaranteed. Perks are offered on a best-efforts basis and may be subject to reasonable timing adjustments.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production & Logistics
Costs $1,900
Cameras, lighting, audio gear, meals, travel, and the everyday costs that keep a small crew moving efficiently.
Cast & Crew
Costs $1,500
Paying our actors and small crew fairly for their time and talent. Supporting the people who bring this story to life is our top priority.
Post-Production PC
Costs $2,000
A Powerful PC for editing, sound mixing, color correcting, and finishing to shape the final film into a professional product.
Locations, Insurance & More
Costs $600
Location fees, short-term insurance, permits, and other behind-the-scenes expenses that keep production responsible, legal, and protected.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Daniel Wheeler
Daniel comes from a background in fine art and audio production, and he approaches filmmaking the same way he approaches everything else — by hand, with curiosity, and with whatever tools are available. His previous shorts, including The Last Witch in Wisconsin and The Voice in the Vessel, were built with small crews and a lot of heart. His films have gone on to play at festivals and win awards around the country with each project teaching him how to tell intimate stories with limited resources and a close-knit team. For My Brother & Bigfoot, Daniel is joined by longtime collaborators and producers Grace Park and Tom Thorne — both trusted sounding boards and steady partners throughout the process. Together with a small crew of local actors and artists, we keep our productions intimate, scrappy, and deeply collaborative.
Grace Park
Grace Park is a producer and a driving force behind Art Department Films. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University and has been recognized with multiple grants and fellowships for her work. With her fine arts background, she brings a wealth of creative vision and organizational strength to every project. At Art Department Films, Grace’s role as producer extends beyond logistics - her artistic background and leadership help shape projects from concept to completion.
Thomas Thorne
Thomas Thorne is an established producer, writer, and occasional actor. From early beginnings as a studio camera operator for a nationally broadcast educational program, to working as an extra in the Michael Mann / Universal Pictures movie Public Enemies. He was a founding father, board member, and president of the Wildwood Film Festival in Appleton, WI. Tom helped produce the award winning shorts, The Last Witch in Wisconsin and The Voice in the Vessel. He has also been heavily involved in writing assistance and acted in, Daniel Needs to Leave, as well as numerous other short films in the last few decades.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
My Brother & Bigfoot grew out of something simple and personal. I’ve always been drawn to stories about belief and the quiet myths we hide behind." - Daniel Wheeler (Writer / Director)
WHY US?
- Art Department Films knows how to stretch every dollar and we keep productions efficient.
- We’re not trying to imitate a studio system — we’re building something personal, sustainable, and sincere.
Our production company is called Art Department Films for a reason. From the petrified face of a witch in The Last Witch in Wisconsin, to an automaton brought to life in The Voice in the Vessel, to the handmade plaster casts needed for My Brother & Bigfoot, ADF is backed by degrees in fine arts and sound production. We set the bar high and your support helps us continue this standard.
Several handmade props by ADF films
ADF on set of The Voice in the Vessel (credit: Moriah Koehler)
WHY NOW?
- Because we’re ready to GO!
- Everything is lined up. All we need is a financial nudge to get the cameras rolling.
- Your support will help get us to the 📣"ACTION"!
WHY SEED&SPARK?
- Because it’s made for filmmakers by filmmakers. Seed&Spark is a platform built around community — exactly how we want My Brother & Bigfoot to grow!
Johnathon & Randall Thatcher
Fifteen years ago, Johnathon Thatcher — a Bigfoot hunter in Arkansas — went missing. Randall, his older brother, was left carrying that absence, unsure how to move forward. Told through interviews, VHS fragments, and quiet observational moments, the film blends dry, offbeat humor with personal reflection.
My Brother & Bigfoot Teaser Trailer
WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM!🎉
If you love the deadpan humor and warmth of Napoleon Dynamite and the character-driven mockumentary humor of Best in Show, you’ll feel right at home here. We've assembled a great team that's eager to get started!
The great team!
🎬 We're looking to start filming in Spring 2026!
My Brother & Bigfoot is being produced with a small & nimble crew. That means less overhead need with more of your support going directly to the screen.
- Keeping things lean doesn’t mean cutting corners — it means focusing our time, craft, and resources where they matter most: performance, storytelling, sound, and image. The skillset within Art Department Films is top tier.
Most importantly, we’re committed to doing this right — paying our cast and collaborators, getting the necessary insurance and permits for all the locations, and making sure we have everything we need to make a film our supporters will be proud to share!
WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES?
WHAT IF WE EXCEED OUR CAMPAIGN GOAL?
If we exceed our goal, additional funds will go toward sharing the film with others — expanding our festival run, and investing in targeted outreach and Video-On-Demand promotion so more people can discover the movie you're supporting. Let's get this out there for everyone to see!
If you believe in unique, heartfelt stories, this one’s for you.
Supporter Notice / Important Information
Contributions to My Brother & Bigfoot are not investments and do not confer any ownership interest, financial participation, repayment rights, or creative control. Producer and supporter credits are honorary and offered in good faith. Independent film production involves inherent risks, and completion, release, or distribution cannot be guaranteed. Perks are offered on a best-efforts basis and may be subject to reasonable timing adjustments.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production & Logistics
Costs $1,900
Cameras, lighting, audio gear, meals, travel, and the everyday costs that keep a small crew moving efficiently.
Cast & Crew
Costs $1,500
Paying our actors and small crew fairly for their time and talent. Supporting the people who bring this story to life is our top priority.
Post-Production PC
Costs $2,000
A Powerful PC for editing, sound mixing, color correcting, and finishing to shape the final film into a professional product.
Locations, Insurance & More
Costs $600
Location fees, short-term insurance, permits, and other behind-the-scenes expenses that keep production responsible, legal, and protected.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Daniel Wheeler
Daniel comes from a background in fine art and audio production, and he approaches filmmaking the same way he approaches everything else — by hand, with curiosity, and with whatever tools are available. His previous shorts, including The Last Witch in Wisconsin and The Voice in the Vessel, were built with small crews and a lot of heart. His films have gone on to play at festivals and win awards around the country with each project teaching him how to tell intimate stories with limited resources and a close-knit team. For My Brother & Bigfoot, Daniel is joined by longtime collaborators and producers Grace Park and Tom Thorne — both trusted sounding boards and steady partners throughout the process. Together with a small crew of local actors and artists, we keep our productions intimate, scrappy, and deeply collaborative.
Grace Park
Grace Park is a producer and a driving force behind Art Department Films. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University and has been recognized with multiple grants and fellowships for her work. With her fine arts background, she brings a wealth of creative vision and organizational strength to every project. At Art Department Films, Grace’s role as producer extends beyond logistics - her artistic background and leadership help shape projects from concept to completion.
Thomas Thorne
Thomas Thorne is an established producer, writer, and occasional actor. From early beginnings as a studio camera operator for a nationally broadcast educational program, to working as an extra in the Michael Mann / Universal Pictures movie Public Enemies. He was a founding father, board member, and president of the Wildwood Film Festival in Appleton, WI. Tom helped produce the award winning shorts, The Last Witch in Wisconsin and The Voice in the Vessel. He has also been heavily involved in writing assistance and acted in, Daniel Needs to Leave, as well as numerous other short films in the last few decades.