Sense of Emergency
Seattle, Washington | Film Short
Drama
First responders saved my mom's life after a sudden cardiac arrest at my wedding reception - a 2% survival rate. This was written to give a window into what an often overlooked profession goes through to be the unsung heroes in a moment in time that changes lives forever.
Sense of Emergency
Seattle, Washington | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | Washington, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $20,122 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
111 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
First responders saved my mom's life after a sudden cardiac arrest at my wedding reception - a 2% survival rate. This was written to give a window into what an often overlooked profession goes through to be the unsung heroes in a moment in time that changes lives forever.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In March of 2024, my mom suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at my wedding reception in Rochester, Michigan. She survived against all odds (less than 2%) thanks to the life saving work of first responders. As she recovered, we were told time and again how rare it was to survive this, often by the first responders themselves. It became clear that her recovery was a wonder to the men and women in these professions. And, during our time at the hospital, and since, it became clear to me that “wins” like my mom don’t come often enough in a profession that demands such a great physical and mental toll.
This experience is at the heart of why I wrote SENSE OF EMERGENCY.
Inspired by Bryan, a real first responder in Rochester Hills, MI who loves renaissance fairs, playing the drums, and saving the lives of people like my mom, SENSE OF EMERGENCY is a love letter to first responders, and tells the story of a local medic struggling with the emotional, mental and spiritual highs and lows that come with his profession.
At the core, this is a story about an ordinary human, who does the extraordinary. Today, we live in a world of extremes. There is little coverage or stories about people who quietly change lives. Often, we don't think about those kinds of people until we need them most. With this being a true story, we hope it inspires everyone to appreciate the unsung heroes around us everyday.
Playing the role of Bryan, I’m thrilled to have Luke Barnett star of ‘FOR ALL MANKIND’, ‘NCIS LOS ANGELES’ and Producer of the film ‘YOUR LUCKY DAY’ (which hit #1 on Netflix).
It’s important to me that the lovely creatives I have asked to make this with me are paid for their time. Every dollar raised will go directly toward production costs, including cast and crew, location expenses, and the high-quality equipment needed to tell Bryan's story with the authenticity it deserves.
With your support, we can create a film that not only entertains but honors the dedication and sacrifice of first responders. Any amount helps bring Sense of Emergency to life and screens around the world. Please follow, pledge and share this page with your followers to help us reach our goal! And follow us on Instagram @senseofemergency.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Drum kit & sticks
Costs $200
A full drum kit is an essential prop to our film. Have one you'd like to donate to our shoot? Let us know!
Crew meals: Day 1
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Crew meals: Day 2
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Crew meals: Day 3
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Home
Costs $900
Multiple of our scenes take place in a home. Have one you're willing to donate to the story? Let's chat!
Cast & Crew Payment
Costs $9,200
This is for payment of our cast & crew for their services.
Harddrives & DIT
Costs $500
For the backing up & protecting of footage from set!
ICU Room
Costs $900
The rental of a realistic ICU room for a day of shooting.
Firehouse
Costs $900
Rental of a firehouse/station for a day of shooting.
Post-production
Costs $6,200
Edit, color, sound mixing & all the other fun involved with post-production through to delivery.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MADELINE DOWN
WRITER | DIRECTOR | PRODUCER
Madeline Down is a Seattle-based Director, Writer, and Producer dedicated to crafting authentic, emotionally resonant stories. With a foundation of trust and connection, her work bridges the gap between storyteller and audience, emphasizing the power of raw, docu-style narratives.
Madeline spent seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, where she led groundbreaking projects like The Sound of the Seahawks, a docuseries with over 29M impressions across two seasons, and Season of Boom, a 10-part series celebrating the team's Super Bowl-winning season with 13.2M impressions and 101,000 hours watched in the first four weeks after its premiere. She also directed what Fanatics referred to as 'the NFL’s most successful alternate jersey campaign of all time', earning record-breaking engagement and sales for the Seahawks’ Throwback uniforms.
Beyond sports, Madeline’s cinematography and storytelling have been celebrated at over 25 film festivals globally, earning four NW Emmys, 2 Bronze CLIOs and a “Best Cinematographer” at the 2024 PNW Indie Awards. Whether directing high-stakes live productions or intimate indie films, her work prioritizes emotional depth, leaving audiences with lasting memories.
Madeline’s singular goal remains connection—using trust, authenticity, and shared emotion to drive impactful storytelling. Explore more of her work at madelinedown.com.
BRAD M. JOHNSON
PRODUCER
Brad M. Johnson is an award-winning writer and filmmaker based in the Pacific Northwest.
As a storyteller, Brad specializes in genre stories about broken people, redemption, and the power of family, and his scripts have been recognized by Final Draft, The Black List, the Walt Disney Company, and MGM among others.
Brad also runs Daisy If You Do Productions, an indie-film production company specializing in character-driven films made for an adult audience. His first film — and Brad’s directorial debut, CHAT — was completed in 2023 and won multiple awards at film festivals across the country including the People's Choice Award at the 2023 Poulsbo Film Festival.
In addition to his filmmaking, Johnson is a passionate advocate for inclusivity in the entertainment industry. He founded The Grey List, an initiative designed to combat ageism by celebrating the creativity of writers over 40. Each year, the project highlights exceptional feature and pilot scripts, proving that imagination knows no expiration date. Learn more about Brad and his other projects at bradmjohnson.com
LUKE BARNETT
ACTOR - BRYAN
Luke Barnett is best known for "Faith Based", the satire of the Christian film industry he wrote and starred in opposite Jason Alexander, Lance Reddick, Margaret Cho, and Tanner Thomason. "Faith Based" was critically acclaimed, quickly reaching 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and garnering a cult following.
Before "Faith Based", Barnett spent nearly a decade behind the camera, with writing and producing credits that include the Angus Cloud thriller "Your Lucky Day", the Abigail Breslin horror-comedy Fear, Inc (Tribeca), Loitering with Intent (Sam Rockwell, Marisa Tomei), and an exhaustive amount of topical comedy content from his time with Will Ferrell's "Funny or Die".
Barnett can next be seen in "Tapawingo" opposite Jon Heder, the Critic's Choice nominated "List of a Lifetime" with Shannen Doherty, "Tonic" with Lori Petty, and guest starring on shows like " For All Mankind" and "NCIS: Los Angeles".
TARA FORTH
COMPOSER
Tara Forth (she/her) is a versatile composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, voice actor, sound designer, foley artist and producer based in Seattle. She is currently serving as an advisor for the Seattle Composers Alliance after serving as President for six transformative terms. In 2024, Tara was honored with a Pacific Northwest Indie Award for Best Composer.
Tara's work includes musical soundtracks for award-winning features and short films, custom commercial music, trailer scores, voiceover, audio repair, and music licensing.
In addition to musical experience and training, Tara's aptitude in creative direction, tech, business strategy and marketing makes her a valuable partner in crafting impactful and memorable audience experiences.
JOSEPH LIPSEN
EDITOR
With over a decade of experience in video production, Joseph Lipsen is a multifaceted creative specializing in directing, producing, cinematography, and editing. His dedication to storytelling excellence has earned him three Northwest Emmy Awards and over 10 nominations, solidifying his reputation as an innovative force in the industry.
In addition to his professional accolades, Joseph is passionate about educating and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers and tech enthusiasts. He runs a thriving YouTube channel where he shares practical insights, techniques, and behind-the-scenes expertise gained from years of hands-on experience. Through his content, Joseph empowers aspiring creatives to elevate their craft and navigate the ever-evolving world of visual storytelling.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In March of 2024, my mom suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at my wedding reception in Rochester, Michigan. She survived against all odds (less than 2%) thanks to the life saving work of first responders. As she recovered, we were told time and again how rare it was to survive this, often by the first responders themselves. It became clear that her recovery was a wonder to the men and women in these professions. And, during our time at the hospital, and since, it became clear to me that “wins” like my mom don’t come often enough in a profession that demands such a great physical and mental toll.
This experience is at the heart of why I wrote SENSE OF EMERGENCY.
Inspired by Bryan, a real first responder in Rochester Hills, MI who loves renaissance fairs, playing the drums, and saving the lives of people like my mom, SENSE OF EMERGENCY is a love letter to first responders, and tells the story of a local medic struggling with the emotional, mental and spiritual highs and lows that come with his profession.
At the core, this is a story about an ordinary human, who does the extraordinary. Today, we live in a world of extremes. There is little coverage or stories about people who quietly change lives. Often, we don't think about those kinds of people until we need them most. With this being a true story, we hope it inspires everyone to appreciate the unsung heroes around us everyday.
Playing the role of Bryan, I’m thrilled to have Luke Barnett star of ‘FOR ALL MANKIND’, ‘NCIS LOS ANGELES’ and Producer of the film ‘YOUR LUCKY DAY’ (which hit #1 on Netflix).
It’s important to me that the lovely creatives I have asked to make this with me are paid for their time. Every dollar raised will go directly toward production costs, including cast and crew, location expenses, and the high-quality equipment needed to tell Bryan's story with the authenticity it deserves.
With your support, we can create a film that not only entertains but honors the dedication and sacrifice of first responders. Any amount helps bring Sense of Emergency to life and screens around the world. Please follow, pledge and share this page with your followers to help us reach our goal! And follow us on Instagram @senseofemergency.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Drum kit & sticks
Costs $200
A full drum kit is an essential prop to our film. Have one you'd like to donate to our shoot? Let us know!
Crew meals: Day 1
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Crew meals: Day 2
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Crew meals: Day 3
Costs $400
Want to be a favorite on set? Help us with craft-services and donate a meal for the cast & crew.
Home
Costs $900
Multiple of our scenes take place in a home. Have one you're willing to donate to the story? Let's chat!
Cast & Crew Payment
Costs $9,200
This is for payment of our cast & crew for their services.
Harddrives & DIT
Costs $500
For the backing up & protecting of footage from set!
ICU Room
Costs $900
The rental of a realistic ICU room for a day of shooting.
Firehouse
Costs $900
Rental of a firehouse/station for a day of shooting.
Post-production
Costs $6,200
Edit, color, sound mixing & all the other fun involved with post-production through to delivery.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MADELINE DOWN
WRITER | DIRECTOR | PRODUCER
Madeline Down is a Seattle-based Director, Writer, and Producer dedicated to crafting authentic, emotionally resonant stories. With a foundation of trust and connection, her work bridges the gap between storyteller and audience, emphasizing the power of raw, docu-style narratives.
Madeline spent seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, where she led groundbreaking projects like The Sound of the Seahawks, a docuseries with over 29M impressions across two seasons, and Season of Boom, a 10-part series celebrating the team's Super Bowl-winning season with 13.2M impressions and 101,000 hours watched in the first four weeks after its premiere. She also directed what Fanatics referred to as 'the NFL’s most successful alternate jersey campaign of all time', earning record-breaking engagement and sales for the Seahawks’ Throwback uniforms.
Beyond sports, Madeline’s cinematography and storytelling have been celebrated at over 25 film festivals globally, earning four NW Emmys, 2 Bronze CLIOs and a “Best Cinematographer” at the 2024 PNW Indie Awards. Whether directing high-stakes live productions or intimate indie films, her work prioritizes emotional depth, leaving audiences with lasting memories.
Madeline’s singular goal remains connection—using trust, authenticity, and shared emotion to drive impactful storytelling. Explore more of her work at madelinedown.com.
BRAD M. JOHNSON
PRODUCER
Brad M. Johnson is an award-winning writer and filmmaker based in the Pacific Northwest.
As a storyteller, Brad specializes in genre stories about broken people, redemption, and the power of family, and his scripts have been recognized by Final Draft, The Black List, the Walt Disney Company, and MGM among others.
Brad also runs Daisy If You Do Productions, an indie-film production company specializing in character-driven films made for an adult audience. His first film — and Brad’s directorial debut, CHAT — was completed in 2023 and won multiple awards at film festivals across the country including the People's Choice Award at the 2023 Poulsbo Film Festival.
In addition to his filmmaking, Johnson is a passionate advocate for inclusivity in the entertainment industry. He founded The Grey List, an initiative designed to combat ageism by celebrating the creativity of writers over 40. Each year, the project highlights exceptional feature and pilot scripts, proving that imagination knows no expiration date. Learn more about Brad and his other projects at bradmjohnson.com
LUKE BARNETT
ACTOR - BRYAN
Luke Barnett is best known for "Faith Based", the satire of the Christian film industry he wrote and starred in opposite Jason Alexander, Lance Reddick, Margaret Cho, and Tanner Thomason. "Faith Based" was critically acclaimed, quickly reaching 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and garnering a cult following.
Before "Faith Based", Barnett spent nearly a decade behind the camera, with writing and producing credits that include the Angus Cloud thriller "Your Lucky Day", the Abigail Breslin horror-comedy Fear, Inc (Tribeca), Loitering with Intent (Sam Rockwell, Marisa Tomei), and an exhaustive amount of topical comedy content from his time with Will Ferrell's "Funny or Die".
Barnett can next be seen in "Tapawingo" opposite Jon Heder, the Critic's Choice nominated "List of a Lifetime" with Shannen Doherty, "Tonic" with Lori Petty, and guest starring on shows like " For All Mankind" and "NCIS: Los Angeles".
TARA FORTH
COMPOSER
Tara Forth (she/her) is a versatile composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, voice actor, sound designer, foley artist and producer based in Seattle. She is currently serving as an advisor for the Seattle Composers Alliance after serving as President for six transformative terms. In 2024, Tara was honored with a Pacific Northwest Indie Award for Best Composer.
Tara's work includes musical soundtracks for award-winning features and short films, custom commercial music, trailer scores, voiceover, audio repair, and music licensing.
In addition to musical experience and training, Tara's aptitude in creative direction, tech, business strategy and marketing makes her a valuable partner in crafting impactful and memorable audience experiences.
JOSEPH LIPSEN
EDITOR
With over a decade of experience in video production, Joseph Lipsen is a multifaceted creative specializing in directing, producing, cinematography, and editing. His dedication to storytelling excellence has earned him three Northwest Emmy Awards and over 10 nominations, solidifying his reputation as an innovative force in the industry.
In addition to his professional accolades, Joseph is passionate about educating and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers and tech enthusiasts. He runs a thriving YouTube channel where he shares practical insights, techniques, and behind-the-scenes expertise gained from years of hands-on experience. Through his content, Joseph empowers aspiring creatives to elevate their craft and navigate the ever-evolving world of visual storytelling.