Pocket Money
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Crime
Broke and about to be deported, two out-of-depth Brits rob a small-town bank for a shot at the American Dream. When the bank heist goes terribly wrong, resentments in their lifelong friendship - what they have failed to open up to each other about over the years - boil up the surface.
Pocket Money
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Crime
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,183 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
130 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Broke and about to be deported, two out-of-depth Brits rob a small-town bank for a shot at the American Dream. When the bank heist goes terribly wrong, resentments in their lifelong friendship - what they have failed to open up to each other about over the years - boil up the surface.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In this collision of worlds, two British men, having been stranded in the small-town South, find themselves on the brink of deportation from the US. Broke, jobless and desperate to extend their visas and live out their American Dream, Richard convinces Mickey to rob a bank. When the heist goes terribly wrong, they’re cornered by the xenophobic and trigger-happy Sheriff Merle.
However, we find that Richard’s family saved a 7-year-old Mickey from an unsafe and abusive household. Thrust into the stresses of the bank heist, their respective mental struggles, that - despite growing up together - they never opened up to each other about, as too many men fail to do.
Mark and Sean have been close since the age of nine...
We grew up together. And yet, it was not really until February of 2023 that we first opened up to each other emotionally. We were completely unaware of some of the difficulties the other had gone through over time, be it anxiety attacks, self-harm, or otherwise. Truthfully, we have told nearly nobody about issues, even if we find that plenty of people in our lives would be very supportive. Neither of us can pin down why we felt we should not talk to people but for whatever reason, we did not. We hope that we can pick apart the issues with male friendships - both with one another and with others in our lives - through this film; masking the subject matter in the comedy and drama of Brits facing deportation from the United States (an unfortunate situation both of us are battling to avoid in the coming months).
In the UK, "November" is typically celebrated as the month in which all male health issues are in the public eye. For all the good that may come out of November campaigns - such as "Movember" - to address holistic male health issues, we do not want mental health to be viewed "seasonally". Health issues can occur at any time for whatever reason, or even without necessary reason. Mental health is not something to be taken lightly or ignored for the remaining eleven months of the year.
And so, regardless of the money or resources one could donate towards this film, the end goal of this film is to help those who may be privately battling emotional difficulties. The best thing you can do in the spirit of Pocket Money is check up on your loved ones, be kind and be there for them. If anyone chooses to do this thanks to this project or its campaign, we will consider Pocket Money an incredible success <3
RICHARD:
Richard dreams of a better life than his Northern UK upbringing. He is a clean-cut but over-confident, selfish and troubled young man. On the day of their deportation from the US, he convinces his childhood best friend to help him rob a small-town bank. As things go wrong, Richard grapples with his guilt over his mistreatment of Mickey and his interior struggles.
MICKEY:
This scruffy, scarred but well-intentioned man looks forward to being sent back home to the UK after hating life abroad. However, when forced to help out in a flawed bank robbery, Mickey finds himself abandoned by his best mate, Richard. Mickey is left alone to not only face the xenophobic local sheriff department, but also his own mental and emotional struggles.
ALEX:
Having taken over her family’s car repair shop after the untimely loss of her sister, Alex feels the loneliness of living in the middle of nowhere. When someone finally comes in, Alex finds herself defending her family’s work place from an unappreciative customer, before making an unexpected connection.
SHERIFF MERLE:
The antagonist of the film. Having been assaulted by two rude British aliens at the opening of our story, this undereducated, xenophobic, pastiche of a Sheriff becomes highly excitable when those same customers find their way into his line of sight after robbing the local bank.
Pocket Money is baked in the realism of the kitchen sink drama genre popularized in the UK in the 1950s. Much like our story, our cinematography will marry the best of both sides of the pond - alternating between a naturalistic camera, and classic Hollywood dreaminess.
Just like Richard, we’d love to rob a bank. Unfortunately though, we can only make this project a possibility with your help. Below is a breakdown of what your donations would go towards.
Contributions!
- We have to collect 80% of our crowdfunding goal in order for Seed & Spark to let us keep our funds. Donations are, above all else, what will get the film made - so please consider taking advantage of one of our incentives, or donate any amount! Any little helps.
Spread the Word!
- Crowdfunding ultimately relies on...*ahem ahem* a crowd! Thus, as many people as we can get interested in the film, the more likely it is to get made.
- This is also a film that critiques the fact that guys do not talk to one another. Let's get exposure to this and get people talking!
- Follow us on our Instagram @pocketmoneyshort...or @markburnham7 and @seanierenwick!
Wish List!
- If you are unable to contribute financially, consider our Wishlist! Feel free to let us know of any resources you may be able to provide or leads that may help achieve our Wishlist and make the film done! For any leads, please email Salma at [email protected].
Stay a Fan!
- We have been writing this script since January of 2023, and are now crewed up, getting our cast together and chugging along towards production in August and September 2024.
- If this is a film you are interested in, stay with us! We hope to complete it by the end of the year and be able to make it available to watch to anyone who cares about the subject matter via a private screening, festivals or an online YouTube link later in time.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Set Operations
Costs $4,500
This enables us to feed our cast and crew with healthy and nutritious meals, and cover any insurance costs to protect everyone on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
No matter how good-looking the actors may be, it will not feel like a film worth watching unless the art team can dress the locations!
Equipment
Costs $3,000
To tell the story to the best of our ability, we will need to rent out specialist equipment! E.g. camera rigging equipment for a car!
Locations
Costs $3,500
This story takes place in the rural South. To achieve this aesthetic we will need to book sets and travel to rustic towns, and find a bank!
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
Regardless of what we shoot, the editors, sound editors, and colorists find the best version of the story! We need hard drives and software!
Vehicle Rentals
Costs $1,500
No bank heist could be pulled off without the perfect getaway vehicle! For us, this is a used - OLD pick up truck...
Festivals
Costs $1,500
Given the importance of the subject matter, we hope to expose as many people as possible to this film through festival screenings!
Contingency
Costs $1,500
Should any emergencies occur, we need to make sure we can protect our cast and crew!
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet the wonderful Pocket Money team!
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Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In this collision of worlds, two British men, having been stranded in the small-town South, find themselves on the brink of deportation from the US. Broke, jobless and desperate to extend their visas and live out their American Dream, Richard convinces Mickey to rob a bank. When the heist goes terribly wrong, they’re cornered by the xenophobic and trigger-happy Sheriff Merle.
However, we find that Richard’s family saved a 7-year-old Mickey from an unsafe and abusive household. Thrust into the stresses of the bank heist, their respective mental struggles, that - despite growing up together - they never opened up to each other about, as too many men fail to do.
Mark and Sean have been close since the age of nine...
We grew up together. And yet, it was not really until February of 2023 that we first opened up to each other emotionally. We were completely unaware of some of the difficulties the other had gone through over time, be it anxiety attacks, self-harm, or otherwise. Truthfully, we have told nearly nobody about issues, even if we find that plenty of people in our lives would be very supportive. Neither of us can pin down why we felt we should not talk to people but for whatever reason, we did not. We hope that we can pick apart the issues with male friendships - both with one another and with others in our lives - through this film; masking the subject matter in the comedy and drama of Brits facing deportation from the United States (an unfortunate situation both of us are battling to avoid in the coming months).
In the UK, "November" is typically celebrated as the month in which all male health issues are in the public eye. For all the good that may come out of November campaigns - such as "Movember" - to address holistic male health issues, we do not want mental health to be viewed "seasonally". Health issues can occur at any time for whatever reason, or even without necessary reason. Mental health is not something to be taken lightly or ignored for the remaining eleven months of the year.
And so, regardless of the money or resources one could donate towards this film, the end goal of this film is to help those who may be privately battling emotional difficulties. The best thing you can do in the spirit of Pocket Money is check up on your loved ones, be kind and be there for them. If anyone chooses to do this thanks to this project or its campaign, we will consider Pocket Money an incredible success <3
RICHARD:
Richard dreams of a better life than his Northern UK upbringing. He is a clean-cut but over-confident, selfish and troubled young man. On the day of their deportation from the US, he convinces his childhood best friend to help him rob a small-town bank. As things go wrong, Richard grapples with his guilt over his mistreatment of Mickey and his interior struggles.
MICKEY:
This scruffy, scarred but well-intentioned man looks forward to being sent back home to the UK after hating life abroad. However, when forced to help out in a flawed bank robbery, Mickey finds himself abandoned by his best mate, Richard. Mickey is left alone to not only face the xenophobic local sheriff department, but also his own mental and emotional struggles.
ALEX:
Having taken over her family’s car repair shop after the untimely loss of her sister, Alex feels the loneliness of living in the middle of nowhere. When someone finally comes in, Alex finds herself defending her family’s work place from an unappreciative customer, before making an unexpected connection.
SHERIFF MERLE:
The antagonist of the film. Having been assaulted by two rude British aliens at the opening of our story, this undereducated, xenophobic, pastiche of a Sheriff becomes highly excitable when those same customers find their way into his line of sight after robbing the local bank.
Pocket Money is baked in the realism of the kitchen sink drama genre popularized in the UK in the 1950s. Much like our story, our cinematography will marry the best of both sides of the pond - alternating between a naturalistic camera, and classic Hollywood dreaminess.
Just like Richard, we’d love to rob a bank. Unfortunately though, we can only make this project a possibility with your help. Below is a breakdown of what your donations would go towards.
Contributions!
- We have to collect 80% of our crowdfunding goal in order for Seed & Spark to let us keep our funds. Donations are, above all else, what will get the film made - so please consider taking advantage of one of our incentives, or donate any amount! Any little helps.
Spread the Word!
- Crowdfunding ultimately relies on...*ahem ahem* a crowd! Thus, as many people as we can get interested in the film, the more likely it is to get made.
- This is also a film that critiques the fact that guys do not talk to one another. Let's get exposure to this and get people talking!
- Follow us on our Instagram @pocketmoneyshort...or @markburnham7 and @seanierenwick!
Wish List!
- If you are unable to contribute financially, consider our Wishlist! Feel free to let us know of any resources you may be able to provide or leads that may help achieve our Wishlist and make the film done! For any leads, please email Salma at [email protected].
Stay a Fan!
- We have been writing this script since January of 2023, and are now crewed up, getting our cast together and chugging along towards production in August and September 2024.
- If this is a film you are interested in, stay with us! We hope to complete it by the end of the year and be able to make it available to watch to anyone who cares about the subject matter via a private screening, festivals or an online YouTube link later in time.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Set Operations
Costs $4,500
This enables us to feed our cast and crew with healthy and nutritious meals, and cover any insurance costs to protect everyone on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
No matter how good-looking the actors may be, it will not feel like a film worth watching unless the art team can dress the locations!
Equipment
Costs $3,000
To tell the story to the best of our ability, we will need to rent out specialist equipment! E.g. camera rigging equipment for a car!
Locations
Costs $3,500
This story takes place in the rural South. To achieve this aesthetic we will need to book sets and travel to rustic towns, and find a bank!
Post-Production
Costs $2,000
Regardless of what we shoot, the editors, sound editors, and colorists find the best version of the story! We need hard drives and software!
Vehicle Rentals
Costs $1,500
No bank heist could be pulled off without the perfect getaway vehicle! For us, this is a used - OLD pick up truck...
Festivals
Costs $1,500
Given the importance of the subject matter, we hope to expose as many people as possible to this film through festival screenings!
Contingency
Costs $1,500
Should any emergencies occur, we need to make sure we can protect our cast and crew!
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet the wonderful Pocket Money team!