Needle in the Hay
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
NitH challenges society's greed obsession and reminds us human connection, creativity, and well-being matter most. Only together can we create meaningful change. Now more than ever we must balance our fear with our humanity and stand up for what we know is right even when it’s scary and difficult.
Needle in the Hay
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $1,450 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
21 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
NitH challenges society's greed obsession and reminds us human connection, creativity, and well-being matter most. Only together can we create meaningful change. Now more than ever we must balance our fear with our humanity and stand up for what we know is right even when it’s scary and difficult.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Needle in the Hay is a proof of concept for a Feature film about a talented musician who is spiraling into suicide and his manager’s choice to either keep things professional or to get involved and attempt to help him out.
Gary is the music manager for the “hot” up and coming singer-song-writer, Brandon Moore. The problem is that Brandon’s not recording, he’s using…again. Everyone knows it; they’re always waiting for the bad call, the next shoe to drop, but talking about mental health is hard, and is it even worth it at this point? With the landlord knocking and pressure building, even friendship feels fragile. What happens when the music dies, and all that’s left are the people who believed in it?
This isn’t a story about success. It’s about the people who keep showing up anyway. Needle in the Hay is a portrait of creative collapse, and the dignity of those who refuse to let someone fade without a fight.
I wrote this story because like many of us, I’ve dealt with crippling depression. It’s the kind that doesn’t go away, it’s there, it lingers. You’re afraid of it coming back. Everything is hard. Getting out of bed is hard, takes energy. Moving is hard, eating is hard, it’s all hard and not worth it. This struggle is one which we’ve all experiencing in one form or another, whether it’s from personal experience or through knowing someone who’s really going through it. This story reminds us that “trying” is worth while. You can make a huge difference in another person’s life by reaching out – we know it but talk ourselves out of doing it so often. That’s the struggle: when is it worth while to inconvenience ourselves?
We are young film makers who want to create. While a lot of people talk about “doing it”, we’re actually putting our hands in the dirt and going for it! We’re trying new things out, unafraid. We’re networking with other creatives who want to actually do instead of talk. We’re going to make this thing come Hell or high water and it’s going to be good!
For our color palette, we’re heavily inspired by films like “Blade Runner” with its rich and dark colors, deep ochres and wet blues. We’re going for an artistic, cinematic approach to filming. For example, we’ll be using locked off shots which only zoom and pan as Brandon’s anxiety grows or fades.
This proof of concept will be largely filmed in a single room, Brandon’s apartment, and we’ve carefully choreographed the action of our 3 actors to build and release the tension in the space. We’ve taken much influence from films like “Rope” and “Birdman” for our approach.
Most of our budget will be dedicated to getting incredible audio. We think audio is one of (if not the most) important element to film-making. As such, we’ve hired a wonderful Sound Engineer, Morgan Chan, to get us where we need to be. Food (Crafty) comes next. A well-fed crew and cast is essential for any endeavor. The third largest ask is the full-framed, Netflix-certified camera bundle we’re looking to rent. While we will gladly film this story on another DSLR, we’d love to really show what we can do cinematically – go big or go home, right?
This campaign will cover the costs for our pre-production and production. We’ll run a second campaign for post production once filming is wrapped, and we’ll do yet a third campaign for the Feature Film!
Thank you for taking the time to check out our crowdfund! Besides donating to our film, you can follow us on Seed & Spark and our Instagram and YouTube @needleinthehayfilm. You can also help in supporting us by sharing our campaign through social media or with friends and family. With your help, we can get Needle in the Hay out there!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Everyday Costs
Costs $400
Support for the every day costs: gas, crafty, uber, etc.
Crew
Costs $200
We've gotta feed the people!
Camera, Prime Lenses, & accessories
Costs $500
We plan on using a Netflix-certified camera like the Alexa mini!
Gear / Equipment
Costs $200
Lighting kit, Gels, Filters, C-stands
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director - Lucy Page
Lucy Page is a Los Angeles-based actress and first-time director, known for her fresh approach to filmmaking. With a background in acting, she brings emotional depth to her projects. As a director, Lucy focuses on authentic storytelling, collaborating closely with actors to create compelling, character-driven narratives.
Writer / Producer - William Hurst
William Hurst is a writer and director who favors simplicity of action and shot. He enjoys ruminating on the various shades of grey in life rather than the extremes. He has directed a handful of Indie DIY projects, “The Biz,” “Double Brothers, Double Trouble,” “The Startup,” “Skating Life,” and now “Anyone But Me.” He is writing two Feature Films, a horror film titled“Uncovered” and the feature version of “Needle in the Hay” (a Short Film for which he successfully crowdfunded summer 2025).
1st Assistant Director - Adelaide Johnson
Adelaide Johnson is a skilled First Assistant Director based in Los Angeles. With extensive experience in coordinating film sets, she excels at managing schedules, ensuring smooth production flow, and fostering collaboration. Adelaide’s strong leadership and organizational skills make her an invaluable asset to any production, keeping projects on track.
Director of Photography - Amelia Jauregui
...More on Amelia soon!
2nd Assistant Director - Shanti Herzog
...More on Shanti soon!
Sound Engineer - Oscar Aramburu
...More on Oscar soon!
Key Grip - Niki Orndahl
...More on Niki soon!
Grip - Diego Ramos
Diego Ramos is a Mexican director, screenwriter, playwright, and musician. He was born on July 8th, 1998. His love and passion for film began at a very young age when he saw Jurassic Park for the first time; the special effects blew him away, and he just knew he had to be part of that world. He began writing short stories as a child and continues to write stories to this very day.
Key PA - Raiah Sanders
...More on Raiah soon!
PA - Emma Carter
...More on Emma soon!
PA - Clara Ungaro
...More on Clara soon!
BTS - Ainsley Dobbs
...More on Ainsley soon!
BTS - Tevin Johnson
...More on Tevin soon!
BTS - Sean Koffman
...More on Sean soon!
Social Media Manager - Alex Andersoule
...More on Alex soon!
Moral Support - Zeus Dog
...More on Zeus soon!
CAST
Mickey Galié as GARY BLAYDE
Mickey Galié is a director and actor based in Los Angeles. With a background in film and television, Mickey has worked on multiple projects, including directing and acting in various productions. Known for his creativity and dedication, he brings a unique vision to both behind and in front of the camera.
Kelly Meyersfield as JULIET MONTAGUE
Kelly Meyersfield is an actress, singer, writer, and founder of the Professional and Musical Artists Workshop in Los Angeles. She has performed in films, theater, and comedy, while also mentoring aspiring performers. Kelly’s workshop provides valuable training in acting and performance, helping artists ceed in the entertainment industry.
William Hurst as BRANDON MOORE
William Hurst is a versatile actor and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. With roles ranging from edgy heroes to quirky lovers, William has worked in film, theater, and web series. Also a writer and producer, he continues to develop projects while honing his craft through ongoing training and performance.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Needle in the Hay is a proof of concept for a Feature film about a talented musician who is spiraling into suicide and his manager’s choice to either keep things professional or to get involved and attempt to help him out.
Gary is the music manager for the “hot” up and coming singer-song-writer, Brandon Moore. The problem is that Brandon’s not recording, he’s using…again. Everyone knows it; they’re always waiting for the bad call, the next shoe to drop, but talking about mental health is hard, and is it even worth it at this point? With the landlord knocking and pressure building, even friendship feels fragile. What happens when the music dies, and all that’s left are the people who believed in it?
This isn’t a story about success. It’s about the people who keep showing up anyway. Needle in the Hay is a portrait of creative collapse, and the dignity of those who refuse to let someone fade without a fight.
I wrote this story because like many of us, I’ve dealt with crippling depression. It’s the kind that doesn’t go away, it’s there, it lingers. You’re afraid of it coming back. Everything is hard. Getting out of bed is hard, takes energy. Moving is hard, eating is hard, it’s all hard and not worth it. This struggle is one which we’ve all experiencing in one form or another, whether it’s from personal experience or through knowing someone who’s really going through it. This story reminds us that “trying” is worth while. You can make a huge difference in another person’s life by reaching out – we know it but talk ourselves out of doing it so often. That’s the struggle: when is it worth while to inconvenience ourselves?
We are young film makers who want to create. While a lot of people talk about “doing it”, we’re actually putting our hands in the dirt and going for it! We’re trying new things out, unafraid. We’re networking with other creatives who want to actually do instead of talk. We’re going to make this thing come Hell or high water and it’s going to be good!
For our color palette, we’re heavily inspired by films like “Blade Runner” with its rich and dark colors, deep ochres and wet blues. We’re going for an artistic, cinematic approach to filming. For example, we’ll be using locked off shots which only zoom and pan as Brandon’s anxiety grows or fades.
This proof of concept will be largely filmed in a single room, Brandon’s apartment, and we’ve carefully choreographed the action of our 3 actors to build and release the tension in the space. We’ve taken much influence from films like “Rope” and “Birdman” for our approach.
Most of our budget will be dedicated to getting incredible audio. We think audio is one of (if not the most) important element to film-making. As such, we’ve hired a wonderful Sound Engineer, Morgan Chan, to get us where we need to be. Food (Crafty) comes next. A well-fed crew and cast is essential for any endeavor. The third largest ask is the full-framed, Netflix-certified camera bundle we’re looking to rent. While we will gladly film this story on another DSLR, we’d love to really show what we can do cinematically – go big or go home, right?
This campaign will cover the costs for our pre-production and production. We’ll run a second campaign for post production once filming is wrapped, and we’ll do yet a third campaign for the Feature Film!
Thank you for taking the time to check out our crowdfund! Besides donating to our film, you can follow us on Seed & Spark and our Instagram and YouTube @needleinthehayfilm. You can also help in supporting us by sharing our campaign through social media or with friends and family. With your help, we can get Needle in the Hay out there!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Everyday Costs
Costs $400
Support for the every day costs: gas, crafty, uber, etc.
Crew
Costs $200
We've gotta feed the people!
Camera, Prime Lenses, & accessories
Costs $500
We plan on using a Netflix-certified camera like the Alexa mini!
Gear / Equipment
Costs $200
Lighting kit, Gels, Filters, C-stands
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director - Lucy Page
Lucy Page is a Los Angeles-based actress and first-time director, known for her fresh approach to filmmaking. With a background in acting, she brings emotional depth to her projects. As a director, Lucy focuses on authentic storytelling, collaborating closely with actors to create compelling, character-driven narratives.
Writer / Producer - William Hurst
William Hurst is a writer and director who favors simplicity of action and shot. He enjoys ruminating on the various shades of grey in life rather than the extremes. He has directed a handful of Indie DIY projects, “The Biz,” “Double Brothers, Double Trouble,” “The Startup,” “Skating Life,” and now “Anyone But Me.” He is writing two Feature Films, a horror film titled“Uncovered” and the feature version of “Needle in the Hay” (a Short Film for which he successfully crowdfunded summer 2025).
1st Assistant Director - Adelaide Johnson
Adelaide Johnson is a skilled First Assistant Director based in Los Angeles. With extensive experience in coordinating film sets, she excels at managing schedules, ensuring smooth production flow, and fostering collaboration. Adelaide’s strong leadership and organizational skills make her an invaluable asset to any production, keeping projects on track.
Director of Photography - Amelia Jauregui
...More on Amelia soon!
2nd Assistant Director - Shanti Herzog
...More on Shanti soon!
Sound Engineer - Oscar Aramburu
...More on Oscar soon!
Key Grip - Niki Orndahl
...More on Niki soon!
Grip - Diego Ramos
Diego Ramos is a Mexican director, screenwriter, playwright, and musician. He was born on July 8th, 1998. His love and passion for film began at a very young age when he saw Jurassic Park for the first time; the special effects blew him away, and he just knew he had to be part of that world. He began writing short stories as a child and continues to write stories to this very day.
Key PA - Raiah Sanders
...More on Raiah soon!
PA - Emma Carter
...More on Emma soon!
PA - Clara Ungaro
...More on Clara soon!
BTS - Ainsley Dobbs
...More on Ainsley soon!
BTS - Tevin Johnson
...More on Tevin soon!
BTS - Sean Koffman
...More on Sean soon!
Social Media Manager - Alex Andersoule
...More on Alex soon!
Moral Support - Zeus Dog
...More on Zeus soon!
CAST
Mickey Galié as GARY BLAYDE
Mickey Galié is a director and actor based in Los Angeles. With a background in film and television, Mickey has worked on multiple projects, including directing and acting in various productions. Known for his creativity and dedication, he brings a unique vision to both behind and in front of the camera.
Kelly Meyersfield as JULIET MONTAGUE
Kelly Meyersfield is an actress, singer, writer, and founder of the Professional and Musical Artists Workshop in Los Angeles. She has performed in films, theater, and comedy, while also mentoring aspiring performers. Kelly’s workshop provides valuable training in acting and performance, helping artists ceed in the entertainment industry.
William Hurst as BRANDON MOORE
William Hurst is a versatile actor and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. With roles ranging from edgy heroes to quirky lovers, William has worked in film, theater, and web series. Also a writer and producer, he continues to develop projects while honing his craft through ongoing training and performance.