NEURO
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
This retro, science fiction film seeks to ask big questions about memory loss, grief, and artificial intelligence, all while being told in an extremely stylistic approach by director Wes Ellis. Our goal is to pay homage to 1970's science fiction with a modern perspective on technology.
NEURO
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Drama
Green Light
This campaign raised $53,030 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
260 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
This retro, science fiction film seeks to ask big questions about memory loss, grief, and artificial intelligence, all while being told in an extremely stylistic approach by director Wes Ellis. Our goal is to pay homage to 1970's science fiction with a modern perspective on technology.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the late 1970’s and after a traumatic event on their honeymoon, Peter and Julie visit an experimental and borderline unethical memory research facility. Here they witness Dr. Mellechamp, a controversial figure in this fictional world, demonstrates the full range by healing grief and repairing memory loss before their eyes. What could go wrong?
Hi! Wes here. If you didn't know, this year has been full of so many ups and downs. What felt like a promising start in January turned into spending time in hospitals (specifically the NICU), being laid off due to Rooster Teeth shutting down, then back into the hospital with my dad over the summer. If this year has taught me anything it's how precious life feels and how it's time to pursue my dream of narrative filmmaking. A dream that I've had my entire life.
So why this project?
NEURO has been a dream project of mine for nearly five years. The emotional effects that memory loss can cause on families and the retro sci-fi genre are in the DNA of who I am. I’ve struggled to understand how it’s fair that so many people watch their loved ones forget who they are. Why is it that the brightest of memories during those dark times stem from a sense of weird and absurdity? For me, I’ll never forget my grandmother putting salt in the sweet tea she made instead of her usual heavy southern scoop of sugar. I’ve spent my entire career chasing and daydreaming about the world of NEURO. Many years spent writing different ways this fictional technology could be used. The story of our short feels like the perfect glimpse into a much larger world that we want to tell one day. Could it be used to help cure alzheimer’s? Could it be used to heal an unhealthy relationship? Could it be used for pleasure or to heal those who have experienced extremely traumatic events? These questions have always floated around when dreaming of this world. This project combines all of my interests in storytelling, visual arts, world-building, and photography into a dream project... one that feels like the experience I want to take you on.
With all that said, this is going to require YOUR support.
CASTING NEWS COMING SOON. ITS VERY COOL.
NEURO will be the accumulation of everything Wes and team have been working towards for nearly 10 years. Wes's still photography portfolio includes working with clients such as ELARA, HBO, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, Warner Brothers, DC Comics, Adult Swim, and more. In addition to still photography, Wes has directed several projects including music videos for artists such as Danny Brown and Malik Baptiste. All of this work has sharpened his ability to create compelling imagery often from minimal budget and time. It's time to level up and for this crew to chase something bigger.
Filmmaking is expensive. Like... really expensive. Especially when two things are important: paying people properly and shooting on film.
WE MUST HIT 80% OF OUR GOAL IN ORDER TO BE GREEN LIT AKA RECEIVING ANY FUNDS.
Our initial goal for this crowdfund is $47,000. This is what that amount will go towards:
- Crew
- Locations
- Actors and their travel
- Set dressing and props
- 1970's wardrobe
- Meals
- 16mm film stock and processing
- 16mm camera and lenses
- Insurance
If we hit this goal then our stretch goals are:
$62,000 - Post production costs including editing, sound mixing, color sessions, VFX, and festival submissions
$70,000 - Better crew rates
$78,000 - Bigger budget for costumes, props, and set dressing
$89,000 - We can shoot on 2-perf 35mm film
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When Wes was imagining the world of NEURO he was pulling from some of his favorite films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Master, everything by Yorgos Lanthimos (especially The Lobster and Dogtooth), Twin Peaks, The Twilight Zone, and George Lucas' first film THX 1138. While all very different in story, each feel in the ballpark tonally similar to NEURO.
Every follower, re-share, tweet, email, text message means SO much and helps get that much closer to hitting our goal. Make sure to follow us on all social media platforms.
@neuroshortfilm on Instagram
FULL PROOF OF CONCEPT
A HUGE thank you to our friends Nick & Kyle over at The Hero's Journal. They paid for the film and food expenses on this initial proof of concept. They're good friends who believe in Wes and the project. We highly recommend checking out their product.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Principal, Supporting, and Background Cast
Costs $10,000
This includes all on screen talent.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $7,000
This will ensure we get the right camera and lighting packages.
Hair, Makeup, Wardrobe
Costs $3,000
This will ensure period accurate outfits for our principal and supporting cast.
Flights & Transportation
Costs $2,500
Ensuring our out of town cast and crew make it to set!
Cost of Kodak Film (16mm)
Costs $5,000
Our team loves shooting on film. Even more so than it's aesthetic, it creates a sense of intention through the entire production.
Production Crew
Costs $10,000
This will get us through our 4 days of production. Post-Production fees are not included but will be a stretch goal.
Share this update!
About This Team
Wes Ellis
Writer/Director
Wes is a South Carolina born, Florida raised, and Texas living artist. Even though filmmaking has always been his lifelong dream, he built a career with his passion for still photography. You can view his work here. In 2017, he joined Rooster Teeth Productions as a photographer and grew into a marketing creative director role. On top of his work with the Warner Bros. Discovery company, Wes also built a freelance portfolio working with some of the biggest studios and IP such as Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, Batman, and more.
Outside of work, Wes loves spending time near any kind of body of water. Fishing, swimming, scuba diving. He grew up playing baseball and Halo competitvely (yep) and has seen the 1997 Johnathan Taylor Thomas film “Wild America” maybe 100 times.
Shane Greb
Producer
Shane is an Austin based producer with roots on the Texas Gulf Coast. A native Galvestonian, he studied film at UT-Austin, spent some time in Los Angeles, and returned to Texas work on a series of Yeti films and never went back. Highlighting the dynamic history and deep cultural wealth of the costal plains in film, documentary and photography is a life long goal of his. Shane has worked on several projects that have filmed in Galveston & Houston: a music video for “Cowboy” by Bill Callahan, short film The Third Bedroom, a Netflix series Mo Season 1 and various TV commercials. Most recently, he was the Line Producer for the upcoming Todd Rohal directed, Untitled Johnny Ryan Film.
When he’s not on set you’ll find him making sauerkraut, enjoying a natural wine, or at the beach.
Learda Shkurti
Producer
Learda is a producer and creative consultant based out of Austin, TX. Within her 7 years of experience, she’s worked on large-scale commercial, television and film productions with 20th Century Fox, Troublemaker Studios, Rooster Teeth, Amazon Studios, National Geographic, AMC, Nike, and Dell. In addition, she has produced smaller scale short films, magazines, podcasts and events.
Learda is known not only for her efficiency in logistics and communication, but also her passion for collaboration and nurturing of creativity. Learda loves to bring ideas to life.
Erik Gatling
Director Of Photography
Erik is an Austin based cinematographer. Born and raised in Austin, he has spent the last eight years working in the film industry. As a camera assistant Erik experienced the full gamut; everything from feature films to commercials to television, including projects such as Deadliest Catch, Bering Sea Gold. Since choosing to pursue cinematography he has worked with Star Wars Celebration, Netflix, Amazon, Whole Foods, Texas Monthly, Magnolia Table, Whataburger, Rooster Teeth Productions (RIP), and more.
Over the years Erik has also filmed music videos, comedy sketches, and short films, and these are the types of projects he’s found to be the most rewarding creatively. In addition to having a hard time writing a bio, Erik also enjoys sudoku, listening to Gia Margaret, and sending memes to the same three people he always does - including Wes.
Dan Hirons
Post Producer
Dan is an Austin-based post-production professional. Originally from Indiana, he honed his skills in editorial, communication, and management at Indiana University. After stints in Indianapolis and San Francisco, Dan moved to Austin to work in film and television.
He has edited or post-producing projects for HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN, A&E, History Channel, Rooster Teeth, and more. His work has premiered at SXSW and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and his teams have been nominated for Emmys for their work on CNN’s “High Profits” and the innovative choose-your-own-adventure series “In Space with Markiplier.”
When not collaborating with kind and creative people, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers, and playing 3rd base for the Town Lake Nightcrawlers, a sandlot baseball team.
MORE CREW NEWS COMING SOON!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the late 1970’s and after a traumatic event on their honeymoon, Peter and Julie visit an experimental and borderline unethical memory research facility. Here they witness Dr. Mellechamp, a controversial figure in this fictional world, demonstrates the full range by healing grief and repairing memory loss before their eyes. What could go wrong?
Hi! Wes here. If you didn't know, this year has been full of so many ups and downs. What felt like a promising start in January turned into spending time in hospitals (specifically the NICU), being laid off due to Rooster Teeth shutting down, then back into the hospital with my dad over the summer. If this year has taught me anything it's how precious life feels and how it's time to pursue my dream of narrative filmmaking. A dream that I've had my entire life.
So why this project?
NEURO has been a dream project of mine for nearly five years. The emotional effects that memory loss can cause on families and the retro sci-fi genre are in the DNA of who I am. I’ve struggled to understand how it’s fair that so many people watch their loved ones forget who they are. Why is it that the brightest of memories during those dark times stem from a sense of weird and absurdity? For me, I’ll never forget my grandmother putting salt in the sweet tea she made instead of her usual heavy southern scoop of sugar. I’ve spent my entire career chasing and daydreaming about the world of NEURO. Many years spent writing different ways this fictional technology could be used. The story of our short feels like the perfect glimpse into a much larger world that we want to tell one day. Could it be used to help cure alzheimer’s? Could it be used to heal an unhealthy relationship? Could it be used for pleasure or to heal those who have experienced extremely traumatic events? These questions have always floated around when dreaming of this world. This project combines all of my interests in storytelling, visual arts, world-building, and photography into a dream project... one that feels like the experience I want to take you on.
With all that said, this is going to require YOUR support.
CASTING NEWS COMING SOON. ITS VERY COOL.
NEURO will be the accumulation of everything Wes and team have been working towards for nearly 10 years. Wes's still photography portfolio includes working with clients such as ELARA, HBO, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, Warner Brothers, DC Comics, Adult Swim, and more. In addition to still photography, Wes has directed several projects including music videos for artists such as Danny Brown and Malik Baptiste. All of this work has sharpened his ability to create compelling imagery often from minimal budget and time. It's time to level up and for this crew to chase something bigger.
Filmmaking is expensive. Like... really expensive. Especially when two things are important: paying people properly and shooting on film.
WE MUST HIT 80% OF OUR GOAL IN ORDER TO BE GREEN LIT AKA RECEIVING ANY FUNDS.
Our initial goal for this crowdfund is $47,000. This is what that amount will go towards:
- Crew
- Locations
- Actors and their travel
- Set dressing and props
- 1970's wardrobe
- Meals
- 16mm film stock and processing
- 16mm camera and lenses
- Insurance
If we hit this goal then our stretch goals are:
$62,000 - Post production costs including editing, sound mixing, color sessions, VFX, and festival submissions
$70,000 - Better crew rates
$78,000 - Bigger budget for costumes, props, and set dressing
$89,000 - We can shoot on 2-perf 35mm film
When Wes was imagining the world of NEURO he was pulling from some of his favorite films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Master, everything by Yorgos Lanthimos (especially The Lobster and Dogtooth), Twin Peaks, The Twilight Zone, and George Lucas' first film THX 1138. While all very different in story, each feel in the ballpark tonally similar to NEURO.
Every follower, re-share, tweet, email, text message means SO much and helps get that much closer to hitting our goal. Make sure to follow us on all social media platforms.
@neuroshortfilm on Instagram
FULL PROOF OF CONCEPT
A HUGE thank you to our friends Nick & Kyle over at The Hero's Journal. They paid for the film and food expenses on this initial proof of concept. They're good friends who believe in Wes and the project. We highly recommend checking out their product.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Principal, Supporting, and Background Cast
Costs $10,000
This includes all on screen talent.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $7,000
This will ensure we get the right camera and lighting packages.
Hair, Makeup, Wardrobe
Costs $3,000
This will ensure period accurate outfits for our principal and supporting cast.
Flights & Transportation
Costs $2,500
Ensuring our out of town cast and crew make it to set!
Cost of Kodak Film (16mm)
Costs $5,000
Our team loves shooting on film. Even more so than it's aesthetic, it creates a sense of intention through the entire production.
Production Crew
Costs $10,000
This will get us through our 4 days of production. Post-Production fees are not included but will be a stretch goal.
Share this update!
About This Team
Wes Ellis
Writer/Director
Wes is a South Carolina born, Florida raised, and Texas living artist. Even though filmmaking has always been his lifelong dream, he built a career with his passion for still photography. You can view his work here. In 2017, he joined Rooster Teeth Productions as a photographer and grew into a marketing creative director role. On top of his work with the Warner Bros. Discovery company, Wes also built a freelance portfolio working with some of the biggest studios and IP such as Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, Batman, and more.
Outside of work, Wes loves spending time near any kind of body of water. Fishing, swimming, scuba diving. He grew up playing baseball and Halo competitvely (yep) and has seen the 1997 Johnathan Taylor Thomas film “Wild America” maybe 100 times.
Shane Greb
Producer
Shane is an Austin based producer with roots on the Texas Gulf Coast. A native Galvestonian, he studied film at UT-Austin, spent some time in Los Angeles, and returned to Texas work on a series of Yeti films and never went back. Highlighting the dynamic history and deep cultural wealth of the costal plains in film, documentary and photography is a life long goal of his. Shane has worked on several projects that have filmed in Galveston & Houston: a music video for “Cowboy” by Bill Callahan, short film The Third Bedroom, a Netflix series Mo Season 1 and various TV commercials. Most recently, he was the Line Producer for the upcoming Todd Rohal directed, Untitled Johnny Ryan Film.
When he’s not on set you’ll find him making sauerkraut, enjoying a natural wine, or at the beach.
Learda Shkurti
Producer
Learda is a producer and creative consultant based out of Austin, TX. Within her 7 years of experience, she’s worked on large-scale commercial, television and film productions with 20th Century Fox, Troublemaker Studios, Rooster Teeth, Amazon Studios, National Geographic, AMC, Nike, and Dell. In addition, she has produced smaller scale short films, magazines, podcasts and events.
Learda is known not only for her efficiency in logistics and communication, but also her passion for collaboration and nurturing of creativity. Learda loves to bring ideas to life.
Erik Gatling
Director Of Photography
Erik is an Austin based cinematographer. Born and raised in Austin, he has spent the last eight years working in the film industry. As a camera assistant Erik experienced the full gamut; everything from feature films to commercials to television, including projects such as Deadliest Catch, Bering Sea Gold. Since choosing to pursue cinematography he has worked with Star Wars Celebration, Netflix, Amazon, Whole Foods, Texas Monthly, Magnolia Table, Whataburger, Rooster Teeth Productions (RIP), and more.
Over the years Erik has also filmed music videos, comedy sketches, and short films, and these are the types of projects he’s found to be the most rewarding creatively. In addition to having a hard time writing a bio, Erik also enjoys sudoku, listening to Gia Margaret, and sending memes to the same three people he always does - including Wes.
Dan Hirons
Post Producer
Dan is an Austin-based post-production professional. Originally from Indiana, he honed his skills in editorial, communication, and management at Indiana University. After stints in Indianapolis and San Francisco, Dan moved to Austin to work in film and television.
He has edited or post-producing projects for HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN, A&E, History Channel, Rooster Teeth, and more. His work has premiered at SXSW and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and his teams have been nominated for Emmys for their work on CNN’s “High Profits” and the innovative choose-your-own-adventure series “In Space with Markiplier.”
When not collaborating with kind and creative people, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers, and playing 3rd base for the Town Lake Nightcrawlers, a sandlot baseball team.
MORE CREW NEWS COMING SOON!