Nuclear
Hamden, Connecticut | Film Short
Drama, Family
Nuclear tells the story of a broken family forced to come together during a nuclear disaster. Not being able to go outside the family is put to the ultimate test, can they live together inside with no escape in sight?
Nuclear
Hamden, Connecticut | Film Short
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | Connecticut, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,850 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
45 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Nuclear tells the story of a broken family forced to come together during a nuclear disaster. Not being able to go outside the family is put to the ultimate test, can they live together inside with no escape in sight?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In 2025, a nuclear bomb during an America-Russian conflict is detonated off the coast of Alaska. With the explosion occurring in the ocean between America and Russia, leaving low casualties, the US is left in a stalemate where its population must remain in terrifying uncertainty. The newly married Anthony and Katherine, along with their step-children, Hayley and Jason, are forced to seclude themselves together to protect each other from the possible radiation. 50 miles from the explosion, just going outside without protection could be potentially dangerous.
Our film starts out a little over a week since the blast. Tensions are high as Jason tries to document by interviewing his family– until his camera gets broken in a scuffle. The family tries their best to go through daily life, but always seem to just miss each other. Slowly pressure keeps building as unfamiliar boundaries pile on each of our characters, leading to their own explosion and eventual breaking point.
 copy 2.jpg)
This film is all about the unmatched effect that family has on all of us. Our intent is to express to the audience the claustrophobia and tension our characters experience through their messy communication. In light of recent incidents, we can all relate to the feeling of being trapped in our own homes. With this film, we wanted to highlight this aspect and amplify it by putting the audience in a situation where they may not even be able to safely step out their front door. The root of Nuclear is family. Through our story, we are trying to show how in extreme circumstances, family is the heart of everyday stress and pressure and at the same time, a safe haven.
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Our approach with this story is based around “closing the walls” in on our characters as the film progresses, and impressing this upon the viewer. The method of which we use to shoot Nuclear is meant to leave a lot of room for the actors. Through heavy use of close-ups and off-angles, we intend to capture a raw sense of emotion driven by each of our characters. This is a film about the unfiltered passion that family brings out in all of us; to accomplish this feeling, we intend to ramp up the visual pressure in each frame as the story continues. A large portion of the film will almost be seen through the eyes of the step-siblings, as any parental protection they have seems to crumble. The frame in each cut will become more and more uncomfortably close, watching the sweat and tears conjure on the character’s faces.
Karl Brooks
This film was originally an idea from a close friend of mine, Zachary Martin. His vision was to watch a deeply flawed family in conflict after being trapped together during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, I based my script on this idea; Maya and I later rewrote the context of the lockdown together to fit the times and heighten the feeling of danger and isolation around this family. The COVID pandemic gave a new perspective to the dynamics between those sharing a home together; especially families that appear perfect on the surface. I, unfortunately, knew many people, especially young people, who experienced an absolute detriment to their mental health as a result of the lockdown. With worldwide tensions currently at a unique high, it is not far-fetched to feel that we might soon again experience a disaster of similar caliber that would force much of the world into another unfortunate position. My intention with telling this story is to emphasize the importance of communication between those closest to us, and its overall fragile nature. Many find a particular vulnerability caused by those we consider to be our loved ones, and in these moments of weakness and conflict, we will do anything to ground ourselves and fight “to survive.”
Maya Huggins
Today’s society feels like it is in a constant state of unrest. I remember the fall of 2021 when Russia first attacked Ukraine and there was this big question of how the world would move forward and whether this was the start of WWIII. My friends and I all sat in a circle and talked about what we would do when the draft came back. It was a strange moment where great uncertainty combined with daily life. WWIII three never came, but the war still rages on. Just as COVID- 19 once did, this tragedy melded into the daily life of many.
This film isn’t about war, in Ukraine or otherwise. What this film is really about is the tensions of a blended family trying to get through mundane everyday life in a contained space. During extreme circumstances, it is our fight for normalcy that really shines. Pressure and time lead to all sorts of explosions, physical, emotional, or otherwise. It is how we deal with these breakdowns that show our bounds. Even in the bleakest of disasters in each other, we can find a ray of hope in each other.
 copy 3.jpg)
Anthony– Hayley’s father. Remarried to Katherine a few months back. Deeply loves his new wife but has trouble expressing his feelings. He uses work as his escape and engrosses himself in it. Never was much of a family man and left Hayley mostly to herself from a young age. Mildly obvious case of narcissism.
Hayley(16)– A product of neglect and abandonment. Mostly raised herself and doesn’t take kindly to others telling her what to do. The confidence she carries is mostly a front. Her mild case of inflated ego makes it harder for her to communicate, but she genuinely cares for those around her and owns up to her mistakes.
Katherine– A tired woman who desperately holds onto her idea of a perfect family. Often tries to reach out to her family members but often fails to find the correct approach. Her missteps in communication lead her to alcohol and a bitter attitude. Her ideals and stubbornness are the vices that keep her love from reaching others.
Jason(18)– Katherine’s biological son. A kind-hearted boy who grew up slightly coddled by his overly attentive mother. He was never one who liked to speak up and stand out but he has always been a chronic people watcher. Attentive, sometimes has trouble standing up for himself, but won’t let others walk all over him. Always tries to give the benefit of the doubt.
 copy.jpg)
We hope to raise our goal of $15,000 through a dedicated audience on Seed & Spark to cover the costs of shooting this film. We are excited to work with a passionate and like-minded cast and crew to bring our ideas to life!
The project is currently in the pre-production stage. It will be cast in January 2023 and filmed in February 2023, with a tentative release date of summer 2023. This campaign is to help raise money for the budget needed to start production in February, as well as for post-production. Once the project is filmed and edited, it will be submitted to various film festivals.
The campaign just covers the bare minimum costs needed for the project to be brought to life. Anything over our desired goal would greatly help us in putting in more money towards props, cast, submitting to more festivals, and any challenges we may face, such as Covid restrictions. We will be having a Covid Compliance Officer on set as well to ensure everyone's health and safety.
THANK YOU
Photo of Nuclear Crew
All of us working on Nuclear thank you for taking the time to check out our campaign page! Please support us by following and keeping up with our posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok, as well as making a donation. Anything helps!
FOLLOW US
Be sure to follow us on our Instagram and TikTok @nuclear.shortfilm and click the link above to follow our Facebook page. Feel free to follow us here as well!
MAKE A PLEDGE
Click the green ‘Make a Pledge’ button at the top of this page. A little goes a long way! Every donation is very much appreciated!
SPREAD THE WORD
Feel free to share our social media content and tell all your friends and family why you think they should support this project!
I've been looking into this account @nuclear.shortfilm (Instagram/Facebook/TikTok)! Check them out on Seed & Spark!
This upcoming short film looks INTENSE! I can't wait to see @nuclear.shortfilm come to life!!
Counting down the days until I can watch the short film Nuclear! Check them out @nuclear.shortfilm! Support them on Seed&Spark.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Cast
Costs $2,820
We need to cast actors/actresses that accurately represent the characters in our film.
Locations
Costs $3,000
We wish to find the perfect home that looks like it's from Alaska.
Catering
Costs $1,100
We want to hire local caterers to provide food for our cast and crew on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,000
We want the audience to understand this family's dynamic through production design.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
We need to rent out and buy equipment for our film to bring our audience into the story.
PPE
Costs $180
We want to have masks, sanitizer, and covid tests for the crew/cast on set.
Wardrobe
Costs $400
We want to dress our actors/actresses to match the personalities of our characters in the script.
Travel
Costs $500
We need to pay for gas to get our crew and actors to set.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Co-Director/Co-Writer - Karl Brooks is from Guilford, Connecticut, and found an obsession with film late into his high school years. He participated in theater throughout grade school, inspiring his love of storytelling and acting. The translation of reality into an art form drew him into filmmaking, and he hopes to express this passion through the story of Nuclear.
Co-Director/Co-Writer - Maya Huggins is from Sutton Massachusetts, Maya’s favorite thing was always storytelling, and whether it was playing with barbies or with toy swords in the yard it always came back to movies. Now her small kodak camera that couldn’t record audio has graduated to the big leagues. She is full of passion and drive to bring her ideas to life in the short film, Nuclear.
Assistant Director - Emma Williams is from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. She is a 3+1 film, television, and media arts major with a minor in advertising. Emma has always had a passion for storytelling and creative development. From making youtube vlogs at a young age to now short films, she has always dreamed of creating a movie from start to finish. She’s excited to put her skills to the test, being the 1st assistant director on the crew and overseeing that the entire production is on schedule and organized to release in Spring 2023.
Producer - Isabella Maugeri is from Florham Park, New Jersey following her passion for creating content. She is a 3+1 film, television, and media arts major with a minor in business. Isabella is excited to take on the role of Producer as it is something she wishes to pursue in the future. She is in charge of locking down locations, budgeting, and overseeing everything on set during production. She can't wait to see Nuclear come to life!
Director of Photography/Editor - Colin Gosselin is from Northbridge, Massachusetts. He is a 3+1 Film, TV, and Media major and is perusing a BFA track. Colin has always loved being behind the camera and has had a passion for editing films for about 7 years. As a wedding videographer, Colin has always sought out the perfect angles and has never let anything get in between him and a shot. While he has many original shorts under his belt, being the DP and Editor for NUCLEAR will put his skills to the test to deliver a stunning film.
Sound Designer/Production Designer - Samantha Hart is from Wallingford, Connecticut, and transferred to Quinnipiac in her junior year of college. Currently, she is a senior film, television, and media arts major with a minor in fine arts. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work on both sound and production design for this film alongside a talented team of students who share a passion for this project.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In 2025, a nuclear bomb during an America-Russian conflict is detonated off the coast of Alaska. With the explosion occurring in the ocean between America and Russia, leaving low casualties, the US is left in a stalemate where its population must remain in terrifying uncertainty. The newly married Anthony and Katherine, along with their step-children, Hayley and Jason, are forced to seclude themselves together to protect each other from the possible radiation. 50 miles from the explosion, just going outside without protection could be potentially dangerous.
Our film starts out a little over a week since the blast. Tensions are high as Jason tries to document by interviewing his family– until his camera gets broken in a scuffle. The family tries their best to go through daily life, but always seem to just miss each other. Slowly pressure keeps building as unfamiliar boundaries pile on each of our characters, leading to their own explosion and eventual breaking point.
This film is all about the unmatched effect that family has on all of us. Our intent is to express to the audience the claustrophobia and tension our characters experience through their messy communication. In light of recent incidents, we can all relate to the feeling of being trapped in our own homes. With this film, we wanted to highlight this aspect and amplify it by putting the audience in a situation where they may not even be able to safely step out their front door. The root of Nuclear is family. Through our story, we are trying to show how in extreme circumstances, family is the heart of everyday stress and pressure and at the same time, a safe haven.
Our approach with this story is based around “closing the walls” in on our characters as the film progresses, and impressing this upon the viewer. The method of which we use to shoot Nuclear is meant to leave a lot of room for the actors. Through heavy use of close-ups and off-angles, we intend to capture a raw sense of emotion driven by each of our characters. This is a film about the unfiltered passion that family brings out in all of us; to accomplish this feeling, we intend to ramp up the visual pressure in each frame as the story continues. A large portion of the film will almost be seen through the eyes of the step-siblings, as any parental protection they have seems to crumble. The frame in each cut will become more and more uncomfortably close, watching the sweat and tears conjure on the character’s faces.
Karl Brooks
This film was originally an idea from a close friend of mine, Zachary Martin. His vision was to watch a deeply flawed family in conflict after being trapped together during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, I based my script on this idea; Maya and I later rewrote the context of the lockdown together to fit the times and heighten the feeling of danger and isolation around this family. The COVID pandemic gave a new perspective to the dynamics between those sharing a home together; especially families that appear perfect on the surface. I, unfortunately, knew many people, especially young people, who experienced an absolute detriment to their mental health as a result of the lockdown. With worldwide tensions currently at a unique high, it is not far-fetched to feel that we might soon again experience a disaster of similar caliber that would force much of the world into another unfortunate position. My intention with telling this story is to emphasize the importance of communication between those closest to us, and its overall fragile nature. Many find a particular vulnerability caused by those we consider to be our loved ones, and in these moments of weakness and conflict, we will do anything to ground ourselves and fight “to survive.”
Maya Huggins
Today’s society feels like it is in a constant state of unrest. I remember the fall of 2021 when Russia first attacked Ukraine and there was this big question of how the world would move forward and whether this was the start of WWIII. My friends and I all sat in a circle and talked about what we would do when the draft came back. It was a strange moment where great uncertainty combined with daily life. WWIII three never came, but the war still rages on. Just as COVID- 19 once did, this tragedy melded into the daily life of many.
This film isn’t about war, in Ukraine or otherwise. What this film is really about is the tensions of a blended family trying to get through mundane everyday life in a contained space. During extreme circumstances, it is our fight for normalcy that really shines. Pressure and time lead to all sorts of explosions, physical, emotional, or otherwise. It is how we deal with these breakdowns that show our bounds. Even in the bleakest of disasters in each other, we can find a ray of hope in each other.
Anthony– Hayley’s father. Remarried to Katherine a few months back. Deeply loves his new wife but has trouble expressing his feelings. He uses work as his escape and engrosses himself in it. Never was much of a family man and left Hayley mostly to herself from a young age. Mildly obvious case of narcissism.
Hayley(16)– A product of neglect and abandonment. Mostly raised herself and doesn’t take kindly to others telling her what to do. The confidence she carries is mostly a front. Her mild case of inflated ego makes it harder for her to communicate, but she genuinely cares for those around her and owns up to her mistakes.
Katherine– A tired woman who desperately holds onto her idea of a perfect family. Often tries to reach out to her family members but often fails to find the correct approach. Her missteps in communication lead her to alcohol and a bitter attitude. Her ideals and stubbornness are the vices that keep her love from reaching others.
Jason(18)– Katherine’s biological son. A kind-hearted boy who grew up slightly coddled by his overly attentive mother. He was never one who liked to speak up and stand out but he has always been a chronic people watcher. Attentive, sometimes has trouble standing up for himself, but won’t let others walk all over him. Always tries to give the benefit of the doubt.
We hope to raise our goal of $15,000 through a dedicated audience on Seed & Spark to cover the costs of shooting this film. We are excited to work with a passionate and like-minded cast and crew to bring our ideas to life!
The project is currently in the pre-production stage. It will be cast in January 2023 and filmed in February 2023, with a tentative release date of summer 2023. This campaign is to help raise money for the budget needed to start production in February, as well as for post-production. Once the project is filmed and edited, it will be submitted to various film festivals.
The campaign just covers the bare minimum costs needed for the project to be brought to life. Anything over our desired goal would greatly help us in putting in more money towards props, cast, submitting to more festivals, and any challenges we may face, such as Covid restrictions. We will be having a Covid Compliance Officer on set as well to ensure everyone's health and safety.
THANK YOU
Photo of Nuclear Crew
All of us working on Nuclear thank you for taking the time to check out our campaign page! Please support us by following and keeping up with our posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok, as well as making a donation. Anything helps!
FOLLOW US
Be sure to follow us on our Instagram and TikTok @nuclear.shortfilm and click the link above to follow our Facebook page. Feel free to follow us here as well!
MAKE A PLEDGE
Click the green ‘Make a Pledge’ button at the top of this page. A little goes a long way! Every donation is very much appreciated!
SPREAD THE WORD
Feel free to share our social media content and tell all your friends and family why you think they should support this project!
I've been looking into this account @nuclear.shortfilm (Instagram/Facebook/TikTok)! Check them out on Seed & Spark!
This upcoming short film looks INTENSE! I can't wait to see @nuclear.shortfilm come to life!!
Counting down the days until I can watch the short film Nuclear! Check them out @nuclear.shortfilm! Support them on Seed&Spark.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Cast
Costs $2,820
We need to cast actors/actresses that accurately represent the characters in our film.
Locations
Costs $3,000
We wish to find the perfect home that looks like it's from Alaska.
Catering
Costs $1,100
We want to hire local caterers to provide food for our cast and crew on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,000
We want the audience to understand this family's dynamic through production design.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
We need to rent out and buy equipment for our film to bring our audience into the story.
PPE
Costs $180
We want to have masks, sanitizer, and covid tests for the crew/cast on set.
Wardrobe
Costs $400
We want to dress our actors/actresses to match the personalities of our characters in the script.
Travel
Costs $500
We need to pay for gas to get our crew and actors to set.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Co-Director/Co-Writer - Karl Brooks is from Guilford, Connecticut, and found an obsession with film late into his high school years. He participated in theater throughout grade school, inspiring his love of storytelling and acting. The translation of reality into an art form drew him into filmmaking, and he hopes to express this passion through the story of Nuclear.
Co-Director/Co-Writer - Maya Huggins is from Sutton Massachusetts, Maya’s favorite thing was always storytelling, and whether it was playing with barbies or with toy swords in the yard it always came back to movies. Now her small kodak camera that couldn’t record audio has graduated to the big leagues. She is full of passion and drive to bring her ideas to life in the short film, Nuclear.
Assistant Director - Emma Williams is from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. She is a 3+1 film, television, and media arts major with a minor in advertising. Emma has always had a passion for storytelling and creative development. From making youtube vlogs at a young age to now short films, she has always dreamed of creating a movie from start to finish. She’s excited to put her skills to the test, being the 1st assistant director on the crew and overseeing that the entire production is on schedule and organized to release in Spring 2023.
Producer - Isabella Maugeri is from Florham Park, New Jersey following her passion for creating content. She is a 3+1 film, television, and media arts major with a minor in business. Isabella is excited to take on the role of Producer as it is something she wishes to pursue in the future. She is in charge of locking down locations, budgeting, and overseeing everything on set during production. She can't wait to see Nuclear come to life!
Director of Photography/Editor - Colin Gosselin is from Northbridge, Massachusetts. He is a 3+1 Film, TV, and Media major and is perusing a BFA track. Colin has always loved being behind the camera and has had a passion for editing films for about 7 years. As a wedding videographer, Colin has always sought out the perfect angles and has never let anything get in between him and a shot. While he has many original shorts under his belt, being the DP and Editor for NUCLEAR will put his skills to the test to deliver a stunning film.
Sound Designer/Production Designer - Samantha Hart is from Wallingford, Connecticut, and transferred to Quinnipiac in her junior year of college. Currently, she is a senior film, television, and media arts major with a minor in fine arts. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work on both sound and production design for this film alongside a talented team of students who share a passion for this project.