Shattered Glass
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Film Feature
Mystery, Thriller
After experiencing a series of blackouts and vivid dreams, disturbed college student Marshall becomes obsessed with finding the source of his mysterious condition. His search for answers pushes him to a nearby church whose teachings seem to be impossibly connected to his repressed past.
Shattered Glass
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Film Feature
Mystery, Thriller
1 Campaigns | Minnesota, United States
2 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,100
Goal: $5,000 for production
After experiencing a series of blackouts and vivid dreams, disturbed college student Marshall becomes obsessed with finding the source of his mysterious condition. His search for answers pushes him to a nearby church whose teachings seem to be impossibly connected to his repressed past.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Film
Our main character, Marshall, is an isolated college student struggling with a disorder that causes recurring vivid dreams, amnesia, and the constant feeling that someone may be watching him.
When he encounters an inviting local church, whose sermons seem impossibly connected to his repressed past, Marshall is pulled into a mysterious religious movement that promises enlightenment and a cure for his strange disorder.
As Marshall slowly pieces together his fractured memory, he must confront a trauma his subconscious has long-since buried, a church built on manipulated scripture, and a shadow-like entity that follows him wherever he goes. This all culminates with Marshall being forced by a self-fulfilling prophecy into an ancient ritual called the Caedes Proditoris- Latin for "The Murder of The Traitor".
By blending psychological horror, existential philosophy, and surreal dream imagery, Shattered Glass explores identity, free will, the third-party corruption of religion, and the healing process of trauma.
Our Story
We are Olivia and Kaiden, the director and cinematographer of Shattered Glass. We're both student filmmakers at the University of Minnesota united by a passion for telling visually ambitious, concept-driven stories that challenge audiences both visually and emotionally.
Over the past 6 months, Shattered Glass has evolved from an idea into a fully realized production. We've written numerous drafts, assembled a super talented crew, developed extensive visual concepts, and even produced a proof-of-concept short film to refine the visual style, tone, and world of the story before even entering production on the feature film.
This is a lot more than a class project, Shattered Glass is our most ambitious project to date, and an opportunity to push ourselves as filmmakers. This project is the culmination of everything we've learned as filmmakers- and everything we aspire to create in the future.
Our Vision
Inspired by the cinematic works of Greg Fraser, David Fincher, and Jungian psychology, Shattered Glass blends psychological horror with a distinct visual language to immerse the audience in Marshall's fractured perception of reality. We want every frame to feel tangibly grounded, yet surreal enough that the audience is constantly questioning what is real alongside Marshall.
The visual language is built around recurring symbolism, intentional color palettes, maximalist set design, dramatic cinematography, and reality-breaking dream sequences that allow for intense immersion that places the audience directly inside Marshall's emotional vulnerability.
One of the film's most striking visual elements is the Jungian Shadowman- a looming manifestation of Marshall's repressed trauma inspired by Carl Jung's concept of the Shadow. Rather than acting as a traditional monster, the Shadowman serves as a constant reminder of the things we refuse to confront.
(Early look at the Jungian Shadowman VFX)
Every creative decision, from production design to the cinematography, has been specially crafted to make the audience question: "How is all of this connected"?
Why This Story Matters
At its core, Shattered Glass is about identity and trauma. The film explores how the mind's natural response to trauma can distort our perception of reality and ourselves, and how easily that vulnerability can be exploited.
Using psychological horror as a lens, the film explores trauma, identity, and memory through an intensely personal story. As Marshall's world begins to fracture, the story asks deeply vulnerable questions: Can we escape our past? Is healing achieved through repression or acceptance? Are we free to choose who we are, or are we shaped by forces outside of our control?
We believe these questions are more relevant than ever, and we hope audiences leave the film feeling not only unsettled, but also quietly reflective.
Where Your Support Goes 
Every contribution directly helps us bring the world of Shattered Glass to life. As college students, we aren't able to afford the various expenses on our own, but we don't want that to stop us from realizing this story. Your support allows us to secure:
- Professional camera and lighting gear
- Practical production design
- Costumes, props, and makeup
- Visual effects for the Shadowman and dream-sequences
- Film festival entries and marketing
We're committed to keeping complete transparency with our supporters. Thus, we will be providing constant updates along the course of production so you can follow the film's progress and see how your contribution is helping bring Shattered Glass to life.
Join Us
Independent films only exist because people believe in them before they're made. By supporting Shattered Glass, you not only fund this project, but you also help a team of passionate young filmmakers launch the most ambitious project of our careers.
Every pledge, every share, and every word of encouragement help bring us closer to putting this story on a screen for you to watch.
We can't wait to immerse you in the world of Shattered Glass
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Two Cinema lenses
Costs $700
Lenses help to create the visual style of the film, and different focal lengths are necessary for effective storytelling
Director monitor + transmitter
Costs $250
A director needs a wireless view of the camera in order to lead production effectively.
Focus Pulling monitor
Costs $150
The focus puller, like the director, needs a dedicated monitor. Luckily, they can share a transmitter.
3x V-Mount batteries
Costs $350
V-mount batteries power everything on a film set, from the camera to the lighting.
2 C-stands
Costs $200
C stands for holding up everything from lighting to monitors and cameras.
Walkie Talkies
Costs $50
Crew members need to be able to communicate in order to stay on schedule effectively.
Set Dressing
Costs $1,000
Films need props and set dressing to fill the camera frame and create a realistic world.
Costume Design
Costs $1,000
This film has a very important set of wardrobe pieces that need to be specially made.
Film festival submissions
Costs $200
This will be enough money to submit to at least 4 film festivals
Marketing
Costs $500
We hope to get this film distributed or put on Amazon Prime. In order to do that, we need to heavily market it during post-production.
Contingency
Costs $300
There WILL be unexpected costs that we were unable to foresee; this fund is for that reason.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Shattered Glass is being brought to life by a passionate team of filmmakers, artists, designers, and technicians united by a shared love of ambitious storytelling. While we come from a variety of creative backgrounds and experience levels, we're all committed to building the world of Shattered Glass with as much care and authenticity as possible.
Olivia Miller - Co-writer / Director
Olivia is the director and co-writer of Shattered Glass. She collaborated closely through the screenplays development, helping to build the story's emotional core, plot concepts, and character relationships to fit her creative vision for the project. Her directing philosophy centers on grounded, emotionally honest performances that make the films increasingly surreal events feel deeply human.
Kaiden Emerfoll - Lead-writer / Cinematographer
Kaiden originated the concept for Shattered Glass and serves as the film's lead writer, producer, and cinematographer. Working closely with Olivia to create a cohesive shared vision for the project, Kaiden's focus lies in creating the films distinct visual style and developing the core plot of the story. Drawing inspirations form psychology, philosophy, and theology, Kaiden developed the mythology, symbolism, and visual language of Shattered Glass, including the original religion at the heart of the film.
Emma Lee and Preston Pin - Assistant Directors
Emma and Preston work closely with Olivia to help manage both the creative and organizational tasks of Shattered Glass. With a wide range of experience across live TV production and filmmaking, this team is responsible for coordinating departments, managing logistics, and scheduling the production to ensure it runs smoothly.
Logan Treder and Parker La Valle - Assistant Cameras
Logan and Parker work closely with Kaiden to manage the camera, lighting, and VFX gear necessary for filming. Logan and Kaiden have gracefully already had the opportunity to work on a feature film together and thus have developed an understanding of eachothers technical skills. Now, Logan and Parker will work together to execute the films ambitious visual style, from lighting and camera movement to the technical demands of the visual effects.
Evan Robert and Derek Kammann - Sound
"An audience will forgive bad visuals, but they won't forgive bad sound." - every film professor I've had.
Evan and Derek are the team responsible for managing all live recording and post processing of sound for Shattered Glass. With an intense understanding of sound, including a degree in the field, the crew can confidently provide the consistent high-quality audio mix that will make the film.
Joseph Davis and Hope Cullen - Costume, Hair, and Makeup
As one of the most important roles for this particular production, Joseph and Hope will be designing, creating, and managing everything to do with costumes, hair, and makeup. With a large amount of experience shared between the two, their work will be instrumental in establishing the distinct visual identities of both Marshall's world and the unsettling visuals of the Church of Enlightenment.
Mahdi Ahmadi and Brynn Crandall - Set Design
One of the largest creative undertakings in this project is in its production design. From intricate religious artifacts to large scale sets, Mahdi and Brynn are responsible for transforming the story's mythology into physical spaces the audience can believe. Their creativity and engineering expertise will help make the vast world of Shattered Glass feel authentic.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Film
Our main character, Marshall, is an isolated college student struggling with a disorder that causes recurring vivid dreams, amnesia, and the constant feeling that someone may be watching him.
When he encounters an inviting local church, whose sermons seem impossibly connected to his repressed past, Marshall is pulled into a mysterious religious movement that promises enlightenment and a cure for his strange disorder.
As Marshall slowly pieces together his fractured memory, he must confront a trauma his subconscious has long-since buried, a church built on manipulated scripture, and a shadow-like entity that follows him wherever he goes. This all culminates with Marshall being forced by a self-fulfilling prophecy into an ancient ritual called the Caedes Proditoris- Latin for "The Murder of The Traitor".
By blending psychological horror, existential philosophy, and surreal dream imagery, Shattered Glass explores identity, free will, the third-party corruption of religion, and the healing process of trauma.
Our Story
We are Olivia and Kaiden, the director and cinematographer of Shattered Glass. We're both student filmmakers at the University of Minnesota united by a passion for telling visually ambitious, concept-driven stories that challenge audiences both visually and emotionally.
Over the past 6 months, Shattered Glass has evolved from an idea into a fully realized production. We've written numerous drafts, assembled a super talented crew, developed extensive visual concepts, and even produced a proof-of-concept short film to refine the visual style, tone, and world of the story before even entering production on the feature film.
This is a lot more than a class project, Shattered Glass is our most ambitious project to date, and an opportunity to push ourselves as filmmakers. This project is the culmination of everything we've learned as filmmakers- and everything we aspire to create in the future.
Our Vision
Inspired by the cinematic works of Greg Fraser, David Fincher, and Jungian psychology, Shattered Glass blends psychological horror with a distinct visual language to immerse the audience in Marshall's fractured perception of reality. We want every frame to feel tangibly grounded, yet surreal enough that the audience is constantly questioning what is real alongside Marshall.
The visual language is built around recurring symbolism, intentional color palettes, maximalist set design, dramatic cinematography, and reality-breaking dream sequences that allow for intense immersion that places the audience directly inside Marshall's emotional vulnerability.
One of the film's most striking visual elements is the Jungian Shadowman- a looming manifestation of Marshall's repressed trauma inspired by Carl Jung's concept of the Shadow. Rather than acting as a traditional monster, the Shadowman serves as a constant reminder of the things we refuse to confront.
(Early look at the Jungian Shadowman VFX)
Every creative decision, from production design to the cinematography, has been specially crafted to make the audience question: "How is all of this connected"?
Why This Story Matters
At its core, Shattered Glass is about identity and trauma. The film explores how the mind's natural response to trauma can distort our perception of reality and ourselves, and how easily that vulnerability can be exploited.
Using psychological horror as a lens, the film explores trauma, identity, and memory through an intensely personal story. As Marshall's world begins to fracture, the story asks deeply vulnerable questions: Can we escape our past? Is healing achieved through repression or acceptance? Are we free to choose who we are, or are we shaped by forces outside of our control?
We believe these questions are more relevant than ever, and we hope audiences leave the film feeling not only unsettled, but also quietly reflective.
Where Your Support Goes
Every contribution directly helps us bring the world of Shattered Glass to life. As college students, we aren't able to afford the various expenses on our own, but we don't want that to stop us from realizing this story. Your support allows us to secure:
- Professional camera and lighting gear
- Practical production design
- Costumes, props, and makeup
- Visual effects for the Shadowman and dream-sequences
- Film festival entries and marketing
We're committed to keeping complete transparency with our supporters. Thus, we will be providing constant updates along the course of production so you can follow the film's progress and see how your contribution is helping bring Shattered Glass to life.
Join Us
Independent films only exist because people believe in them before they're made. By supporting Shattered Glass, you not only fund this project, but you also help a team of passionate young filmmakers launch the most ambitious project of our careers.
Every pledge, every share, and every word of encouragement help bring us closer to putting this story on a screen for you to watch.
We can't wait to immerse you in the world of Shattered Glass
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Two Cinema lenses
Costs $700
Lenses help to create the visual style of the film, and different focal lengths are necessary for effective storytelling
Director monitor + transmitter
Costs $250
A director needs a wireless view of the camera in order to lead production effectively.
Focus Pulling monitor
Costs $150
The focus puller, like the director, needs a dedicated monitor. Luckily, they can share a transmitter.
3x V-Mount batteries
Costs $350
V-mount batteries power everything on a film set, from the camera to the lighting.
2 C-stands
Costs $200
C stands for holding up everything from lighting to monitors and cameras.
Walkie Talkies
Costs $50
Crew members need to be able to communicate in order to stay on schedule effectively.
Set Dressing
Costs $1,000
Films need props and set dressing to fill the camera frame and create a realistic world.
Costume Design
Costs $1,000
This film has a very important set of wardrobe pieces that need to be specially made.
Film festival submissions
Costs $200
This will be enough money to submit to at least 4 film festivals
Marketing
Costs $500
We hope to get this film distributed or put on Amazon Prime. In order to do that, we need to heavily market it during post-production.
Contingency
Costs $300
There WILL be unexpected costs that we were unable to foresee; this fund is for that reason.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Shattered Glass is being brought to life by a passionate team of filmmakers, artists, designers, and technicians united by a shared love of ambitious storytelling. While we come from a variety of creative backgrounds and experience levels, we're all committed to building the world of Shattered Glass with as much care and authenticity as possible.
Olivia Miller - Co-writer / Director
Olivia is the director and co-writer of Shattered Glass. She collaborated closely through the screenplays development, helping to build the story's emotional core, plot concepts, and character relationships to fit her creative vision for the project. Her directing philosophy centers on grounded, emotionally honest performances that make the films increasingly surreal events feel deeply human.
Kaiden Emerfoll - Lead-writer / Cinematographer
Kaiden originated the concept for Shattered Glass and serves as the film's lead writer, producer, and cinematographer. Working closely with Olivia to create a cohesive shared vision for the project, Kaiden's focus lies in creating the films distinct visual style and developing the core plot of the story. Drawing inspirations form psychology, philosophy, and theology, Kaiden developed the mythology, symbolism, and visual language of Shattered Glass, including the original religion at the heart of the film.
Emma Lee and Preston Pin - Assistant Directors
Emma and Preston work closely with Olivia to help manage both the creative and organizational tasks of Shattered Glass. With a wide range of experience across live TV production and filmmaking, this team is responsible for coordinating departments, managing logistics, and scheduling the production to ensure it runs smoothly.
Logan Treder and Parker La Valle - Assistant Cameras
Logan and Parker work closely with Kaiden to manage the camera, lighting, and VFX gear necessary for filming. Logan and Kaiden have gracefully already had the opportunity to work on a feature film together and thus have developed an understanding of eachothers technical skills. Now, Logan and Parker will work together to execute the films ambitious visual style, from lighting and camera movement to the technical demands of the visual effects.
Evan Robert and Derek Kammann - Sound
"An audience will forgive bad visuals, but they won't forgive bad sound." - every film professor I've had.
Evan and Derek are the team responsible for managing all live recording and post processing of sound for Shattered Glass. With an intense understanding of sound, including a degree in the field, the crew can confidently provide the consistent high-quality audio mix that will make the film.
Joseph Davis and Hope Cullen - Costume, Hair, and Makeup
As one of the most important roles for this particular production, Joseph and Hope will be designing, creating, and managing everything to do with costumes, hair, and makeup. With a large amount of experience shared between the two, their work will be instrumental in establishing the distinct visual identities of both Marshall's world and the unsettling visuals of the Church of Enlightenment.
Mahdi Ahmadi and Brynn Crandall - Set Design
One of the largest creative undertakings in this project is in its production design. From intricate religious artifacts to large scale sets, Mahdi and Brynn are responsible for transforming the story's mythology into physical spaces the audience can believe. Their creativity and engineering expertise will help make the vast world of Shattered Glass feel authentic.