People Will Not Believe
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Drama
Through striking visuals and the raw, honest performance of its female lead, 'People Will Not Believe' reimagines a classic horror monster in an exploration of trauma and the aftereffects -- both physical and psychological -- of assault. Produced as a proof of concept for the feature-length script.
People Will Not Believe
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,200 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
39 supporters | followers
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Through striking visuals and the raw, honest performance of its female lead, 'People Will Not Believe' reimagines a classic horror monster in an exploration of trauma and the aftereffects -- both physical and psychological -- of assault. Produced as a proof of concept for the feature-length script.
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"The strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him."
- Van Helsing, Dracula (1931)
Few images are more prolific than the fanged teeth of the vampire. What began as a folklore devil common across the globe has become, since the 19th century, an almost cliched component of our popular culture.
This is due in no small part to the sensual nature of the beast, codified by Bela Lugosi and only strengthened over time. Today, the vampire is lovelorn and longing, their victims powerless, at best -- or complicit, at worst. They are predominantly men, and young women their common prey.
In short, the predator has been romanticized.
People Will Not Believe aims to rectify this by redefining the monster for our modern, everyday world by way of two simple adjustments: placing it in the victim's point of view; and focusing on what happens afterward. Opening in the moments directly following an attack, it tracks a young woman as she struggles to make sense of what's happened, her changing body, and the threatening memory of her attacker.
Through setting, character, performance, and visceral, expressive imagery, this film explores the lasting effects of trauma and the ways in which it changes us.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Craft Services
Costs $200
Cast & Crew working all day and a bit of night on set need to be fed so they don't drop like flies!
Catering
Costs $160
Cast & Crew also need warm food to keep going through their 12 hour day!
Camera Rental
Costs $1,000
We need to rent a camera, lenses, and any additional equipment needed.
Production Design
Costs $400
We need set dressing and props to make this world believable.
About This Team
Myles Clifford Hawthorne (Director) is an LA-based filmmaker and recent MFA graduate of the AFI Conservatory's screenwriting program. His work looks to construct smart, elevated horror through the combination of a unique, developed aesthetic, character-driven narrative, and a strong social consciousness.
Cemile Seren Turam (Producer) attributes her affinity for challenging, stylized subjects that inspire community to her work under Herzog before completing her MFA in Producing from the American Film Institute. Despite this focus, nothing stops her from choosing a project based on the collaborators involved. Her feature film, ICE CREAM IN THE CUPBOARD, starring Jaimie King, Tobin Bell, Dana Ashbrook and Claudia Ferri is currently in post production. Her next feature film project BOMBEROS is currently in production.
Lidia Nikonova (Cinematographer) is an LA-based director of photography who’s worked on narrative and documentary projects in the US, UK, Russia, Australia, and France. Her clients include Spotify, VICE, VICELAND, and SSENSE, among many others. Her visual style comes from years of documentary and news photography, and her work has been published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Daily Telegraph, and The Australian. Earlier in her career, she received mentorship from Magnum photographers Stuart Franklin, Max Power, and VII Agency photographer Stefano De Luigi. She has studied at NYU Tisch (USA), Central Saint Martins (UK), the University of Sydney (AUS) and got her MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory (USA), where she was the recipient of a prestigious American Film Institute scholarship.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"The strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him."
- Van Helsing, Dracula (1931)
Few images are more prolific than the fanged teeth of the vampire. What began as a folklore devil common across the globe has become, since the 19th century, an almost cliched component of our popular culture.
This is due in no small part to the sensual nature of the beast, codified by Bela Lugosi and only strengthened over time. Today, the vampire is lovelorn and longing, their victims powerless, at best -- or complicit, at worst. They are predominantly men, and young women their common prey.
In short, the predator has been romanticized.
People Will Not Believe aims to rectify this by redefining the monster for our modern, everyday world by way of two simple adjustments: placing it in the victim's point of view; and focusing on what happens afterward. Opening in the moments directly following an attack, it tracks a young woman as she struggles to make sense of what's happened, her changing body, and the threatening memory of her attacker.
Through setting, character, performance, and visceral, expressive imagery, this film explores the lasting effects of trauma and the ways in which it changes us.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Craft Services
Costs $200
Cast & Crew working all day and a bit of night on set need to be fed so they don't drop like flies!
Catering
Costs $160
Cast & Crew also need warm food to keep going through their 12 hour day!
Camera Rental
Costs $1,000
We need to rent a camera, lenses, and any additional equipment needed.
Production Design
Costs $400
We need set dressing and props to make this world believable.
About This Team
Myles Clifford Hawthorne (Director) is an LA-based filmmaker and recent MFA graduate of the AFI Conservatory's screenwriting program. His work looks to construct smart, elevated horror through the combination of a unique, developed aesthetic, character-driven narrative, and a strong social consciousness.
Cemile Seren Turam (Producer) attributes her affinity for challenging, stylized subjects that inspire community to her work under Herzog before completing her MFA in Producing from the American Film Institute. Despite this focus, nothing stops her from choosing a project based on the collaborators involved. Her feature film, ICE CREAM IN THE CUPBOARD, starring Jaimie King, Tobin Bell, Dana Ashbrook and Claudia Ferri is currently in post production. Her next feature film project BOMBEROS is currently in production.
Lidia Nikonova (Cinematographer) is an LA-based director of photography who’s worked on narrative and documentary projects in the US, UK, Russia, Australia, and France. Her clients include Spotify, VICE, VICELAND, and SSENSE, among many others. Her visual style comes from years of documentary and news photography, and her work has been published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Daily Telegraph, and The Australian. Earlier in her career, she received mentorship from Magnum photographers Stuart Franklin, Max Power, and VII Agency photographer Stefano De Luigi. She has studied at NYU Tisch (USA), Central Saint Martins (UK), the University of Sydney (AUS) and got her MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory (USA), where she was the recipient of a prestigious American Film Institute scholarship.