Second Contact: A Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Thriller, Drama
Second Contact is a story about learning to accept your trauma, using supernatural concepts to tell a difficult and relatable story many of us face. We can only find an escape for so long, however, until those poor coping mechanisms can hurt us even further.
Second Contact: A Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Thriller, Drama
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,240 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
3 supporters | followers
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Second Contact is a story about learning to accept your trauma, using supernatural concepts to tell a difficult and relatable story many of us face. We can only find an escape for so long, however, until those poor coping mechanisms can hurt us even further.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Ever believed there was more than just us out there? Need to prove it? Desperate to?
Second Contact seeks to show the decline of a man who lives off these imaginations, which is more detailed below.
Why Second Contact?
We have chosen this project in an attempt to learn more about ourselves as filmmakers and artists. Wanting to expand our craft further, we've come together for a story about loss, humanity, and acceptance. All three of these are feelings many of us on our team feel more now than ever, wanting to materialize and make them relatable through this art form. With this being our best opportunity while we're still in school to bring this story to life, your support can help make our ideas reality.
Mood Comps
The Story and Characters
Our story follows two men: Jesse and Aaron. Jesse, a young man who has suffered familial loss early in his life, uses his love for space in childhood as his coping mechanism. In his own way of avoiding this loss, he pins his loss on an extraterrestrial being, who he believes took his mother from him all these years ago. This brings us to Aaron, who is the perceived "alien". Aaron is a young man who avoids confrontation unlike Jesse, afraid of letting go when push comes to shove. With this potent combinations of opposites each trying to wear the other, the ugly truth about both men is revealed as Jesse tries to prove his alien hypothesis about Aaron.
Jesse Comps
Aaron Comps
Director's Vision
With a story so focused on a 1-on-1 confrontation for much of it's time, I want to highlight the mix of tension and grunge in the environment. This includes extreme close-ups and usage of high mm lens to capture singular drops of sweat dropping from our characters foreheads. These moments will rely so much on these interrogation-like moments where the harsh orange light creates dynamic shadows and an almost horror-movie like feel.
In addition, the script balances a standard film style while also utilizing a "mockumentary/found footage" atmosphere. While a majority of the scenes will be done in a traditional style, there will be some instances where the other perspective, which is done in-story as Jesse's subjective video recorder, is used. This camera format will dilute and add a muddied grain to the scene, looking more like Blair Witch than anything else! The two camera formats will also be used in the same scene on rare occasions, never overusing it but adding an objective and subjective view to the scene when called for.
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Overhead Concepts for Scenes 1 and 10 respectively
What We Are Using The Money For
- Food to feed our crew and cast
- Safety necessities, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers
- Industry-standard camera, lighting, and sound equipment rentals
- Insurance coverage for equipment and personnel
- Location permitting and processing fees
- Production design and set dressing to capture the harsh and unsettling tone of the world
In the scenario we go above our goal even, we would love to use this opportunity to expand Second Contact into the festival space. Not only could this provide some amazing learning opportunities to us, but draw attention to the sheer talent of all who deserve it on our team.
All donations and support would mean the world to us! We can't wait to create our story and are excited to share it with you all.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $1,000
Assists our Director of Photography in crafting the film to fit the image he has in mind.
Sound
Costs $400
We want to rent sound gear that can allow our amazing sound designer Tavin to make something that matches the look and view of our story.
Craft services/Catering
Costs $1,000
We want to be able to provide all cast and crew working on the project a healthy lunch as well as snack options to get them through the day.
Production Design
Costs $1,000
To create the harsh atmosphere of Second Contact, specific set design to compliment the world is essential.
Insurance and Safety
Costs $600
Ensures our crew is taken care of as well as protecting our equipment over the weekend.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
PRODUCER - PABLO SIMENTALES
A Junior who just transferred to Chapman, Pablo has been working in film for 5 years now. After working in many different roles he has found a love for producing and has produced 10 projects one of which won the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 10-10-10 student competition. Pablo is extremely excited to start producing at Chapman.
DIRECTOR - JACK FISCHER
A senior Television student at Chapman, Jack has directed multiple shorts as well as multi-week Dodge pilots. After producing a few projects in the past months, Jack is more than ready to step back into the director's chair and show everyone what Second Contact is all about!
WRITTEN BY - MATTHEW ONUFRAK
A Senior Television student at Chapman, Matt is a film student and thus loves speaking about himself in the 3rd person. He has written several short films in the past and also writes for campus sketch comedy group Father's Milk. When not writing, he loves to work on casting and assistant directing. He is excited to see his creative work brought to life!
CINEMATOGRAPHER - EDISON KAO
Edison Kao is a student at Chapman University who practices his artistic eye through filmmaking and photography to craft narratives illuminating the stories he wishes to share. He explores art and culture in our surroundings, allowing them to breathe through his visual medium and is beyond excited to bring this flair to Second Contact!
WITH MANY MORE JOINING US SOON!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Ever believed there was more than just us out there? Need to prove it? Desperate to?
Second Contact seeks to show the decline of a man who lives off these imaginations, which is more detailed below.
Why Second Contact?
We have chosen this project in an attempt to learn more about ourselves as filmmakers and artists. Wanting to expand our craft further, we've come together for a story about loss, humanity, and acceptance. All three of these are feelings many of us on our team feel more now than ever, wanting to materialize and make them relatable through this art form. With this being our best opportunity while we're still in school to bring this story to life, your support can help make our ideas reality.
Mood Comps
The Story and Characters
Our story follows two men: Jesse and Aaron. Jesse, a young man who has suffered familial loss early in his life, uses his love for space in childhood as his coping mechanism. In his own way of avoiding this loss, he pins his loss on an extraterrestrial being, who he believes took his mother from him all these years ago. This brings us to Aaron, who is the perceived "alien". Aaron is a young man who avoids confrontation unlike Jesse, afraid of letting go when push comes to shove. With this potent combinations of opposites each trying to wear the other, the ugly truth about both men is revealed as Jesse tries to prove his alien hypothesis about Aaron.
Jesse Comps
Aaron Comps
Director's Vision
With a story so focused on a 1-on-1 confrontation for much of it's time, I want to highlight the mix of tension and grunge in the environment. This includes extreme close-ups and usage of high mm lens to capture singular drops of sweat dropping from our characters foreheads. These moments will rely so much on these interrogation-like moments where the harsh orange light creates dynamic shadows and an almost horror-movie like feel.
In addition, the script balances a standard film style while also utilizing a "mockumentary/found footage" atmosphere. While a majority of the scenes will be done in a traditional style, there will be some instances where the other perspective, which is done in-story as Jesse's subjective video recorder, is used. This camera format will dilute and add a muddied grain to the scene, looking more like Blair Witch than anything else! The two camera formats will also be used in the same scene on rare occasions, never overusing it but adding an objective and subjective view to the scene when called for.
Overhead Concepts for Scenes 1 and 10 respectively
What We Are Using The Money For
- Food to feed our crew and cast
- Safety necessities, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers
- Industry-standard camera, lighting, and sound equipment rentals
- Insurance coverage for equipment and personnel
- Location permitting and processing fees
- Production design and set dressing to capture the harsh and unsettling tone of the world
In the scenario we go above our goal even, we would love to use this opportunity to expand Second Contact into the festival space. Not only could this provide some amazing learning opportunities to us, but draw attention to the sheer talent of all who deserve it on our team.
All donations and support would mean the world to us! We can't wait to create our story and are excited to share it with you all.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $1,000
Assists our Director of Photography in crafting the film to fit the image he has in mind.
Sound
Costs $400
We want to rent sound gear that can allow our amazing sound designer Tavin to make something that matches the look and view of our story.
Craft services/Catering
Costs $1,000
We want to be able to provide all cast and crew working on the project a healthy lunch as well as snack options to get them through the day.
Production Design
Costs $1,000
To create the harsh atmosphere of Second Contact, specific set design to compliment the world is essential.
Insurance and Safety
Costs $600
Ensures our crew is taken care of as well as protecting our equipment over the weekend.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
PRODUCER - PABLO SIMENTALES
A Junior who just transferred to Chapman, Pablo has been working in film for 5 years now. After working in many different roles he has found a love for producing and has produced 10 projects one of which won the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 10-10-10 student competition. Pablo is extremely excited to start producing at Chapman.
DIRECTOR - JACK FISCHER
A senior Television student at Chapman, Jack has directed multiple shorts as well as multi-week Dodge pilots. After producing a few projects in the past months, Jack is more than ready to step back into the director's chair and show everyone what Second Contact is all about!
WRITTEN BY - MATTHEW ONUFRAK
A Senior Television student at Chapman, Matt is a film student and thus loves speaking about himself in the 3rd person. He has written several short films in the past and also writes for campus sketch comedy group Father's Milk. When not writing, he loves to work on casting and assistant directing. He is excited to see his creative work brought to life!
CINEMATOGRAPHER - EDISON KAO
Edison Kao is a student at Chapman University who practices his artistic eye through filmmaking and photography to craft narratives illuminating the stories he wishes to share. He explores art and culture in our surroundings, allowing them to breathe through his visual medium and is beyond excited to bring this flair to Second Contact!
WITH MANY MORE JOINING US SOON!