A STRAY EMBER focuses on a character that must overcome her debilitating anxiety and live a life of self-reliance. It will combine the quirky indie spirit of a road movie with the genre elements of a tense thriller as it explores the diverse subcultures represented by off grid communities.
A STRAY EMBER focuses on a character that must overcome her debilitating anxiety and live a life of self-reliance. It will combine the quirky indie spirit of a road movie with the genre elements of a tense thriller as it explores the diverse subcultures represented by off grid communities.
Participating In
Hometown Heroes 2017
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Story
Mission Statement
The protagonist is a strong independent woman who must overcome trauma & conquer her fear through action. She interacts with people of diverse backgrounds & lifestyles during her travels. Gender, race, & sexual orientation are well represented. The crew aspires to be as diverse as its characters.About The Project
We live in an age of anxiety, depleted resources, and mass consumerism.
I conceived A STRAY EMBER, because I was motivated to tell a story about characters who choose to pursue lives of self-reliance and authenticity. Ember Pike, the protagonist of the film, struggles with the memories of a traumatic event. She is paralyzed by anxiety and agoraphobia. She learns to overcome her fears by having the courage to take action. The faith to allow herself to trust and to find love.
The project will combine the quirky indie spirit of a road movie with the genre elements of an adrenaline-infused thriller. It will feature backroad Americana and the natural beauty of the Pennsylvania State Parks. It is also an opportunity to explore many unique and relevant subcultures. Ember interacts with a diverse community of people who live off the grid lifestyles; The Tiny House Movement. Homesteading. Sustainability. Van Dwelling. RV Life. Prepper Communities. Native American Culture. And Post Modern Hippies.
Our dedicated & professional crew is ready to collaborate with a passionate & energetic fan base to make this vision a reality.
With Humble Appreciation --
The STRAY EMBER Team
Incentives
$5
Gypsy
SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUT OUT
Sincere appreciation & goodwill. Follow the film as its goes through each stage of production.
$10
Drifter
YOUR NAME IN THE CREDITS!
A shout out on social media.
Sincere appreciation. Follow the film as its goes through each stage of production.
$25
Vagabond
JOIN OUR VIRTUAL "OFF THE GRID" COMMUNITY.
A marker for each follower will be posted on a virtual map of Pennsylvania. (www.strayembermovie.com)
A custom description will reveal your new "off the grid" dwelling.
[It may be a Tiny House, an RV, a Storage Container Home, a Yurt... There are many possibilities.]
Each property will also be linked to PA STATE PARK.
A virtual postcard will be posted on social media in appreciation of your support and to invite others to experience your new off grid home in "Penn's Woods"!
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the completed film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$50
Nomad
MUSIC VIDEO & MP3 DOWNLOAD featuring original music from the soundtrack.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$100
Sojourner
SELF DEFENSE TRAINING VIDEO (Download). Taught by Grandmaster Fred Waters Jr. A handful of techniques to use in real world situations.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$250
Explorer
WALK-ON ROLE in the film. (Travel expenses not covered.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$500
Pilgrim
PRODUCT PLACEMENT. Feature your product in the film.
(Must be relevant to the story -- Food. Drink. Off Grid Living. RV Lifestyle. Prepper supplies. Tiny House movement. Security products. Related items.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$1,000
Pioneer
OFFICIAL SPONSOR. Company name and logo will be featured on promotional material and screenings for the film. (Also listed in the end credits.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link).
$2,500
Crusader
PREFERRED STATUS SPONSORSHIP
Before all screenings of the film a projected image will list the sponsors. Your name and logo will receive preferential billing as a ‘FLASHPOINT’ SPONSOR.
(1 of 4 available.)
Your company name will be listed in the end credits.
Your product or service will be featured prominently in the final film. (Must be relevant to the story -- Food. Drink. Off Grid Living. RV Lifestyle. Prepper supplies. Tiny House movement. Security products. Related items.)
The film production will promote your company on social media and in any press that we might receive.
A representative of the company will be a featured extra in the film.
Sponsor will be invited to the wrap party & movie premiere.Claimed: 0 of 4
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Gypsy
SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUT OUT
Sincere appreciation & goodwill. Follow the film as its goes through each stage of production.
$10
Drifter
YOUR NAME IN THE CREDITS!
A shout out on social media.
Sincere appreciation. Follow the film as its goes through each stage of production.
$25
Vagabond
JOIN OUR VIRTUAL "OFF THE GRID" COMMUNITY.
A marker for each follower will be posted on a virtual map of Pennsylvania. (www.strayembermovie.com)
A custom description will reveal your new "off the grid" dwelling.
[It may be a Tiny House, an RV, a Storage Container Home, a Yurt... There are many possibilities.]
Each property will also be linked to PA STATE PARK.
A virtual postcard will be posted on social media in appreciation of your support and to invite others to experience your new off grid home in "Penn's Woods"!
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the completed film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$50
Nomad
MUSIC VIDEO & MP3 DOWNLOAD featuring original music from the soundtrack.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$100
Sojourner
SELF DEFENSE TRAINING VIDEO (Download). Taught by Grandmaster Fred Waters Jr. A handful of techniques to use in real world situations.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$250
Explorer
WALK-ON ROLE in the film. (Travel expenses not covered.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$500
Pilgrim
PRODUCT PLACEMENT. Feature your product in the film.
(Must be relevant to the story -- Food. Drink. Off Grid Living. RV Lifestyle. Prepper supplies. Tiny House movement. Security products. Related items.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link). NAME IN CREDITS.
$1,000
Pioneer
OFFICIAL SPONSOR. Company name and logo will be featured on promotional material and screenings for the film. (Also listed in the end credits.)
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE SCREENING of the film. (Private link).
$2,500
Crusader
PREFERRED STATUS SPONSORSHIP
Before all screenings of the film a projected image will list the sponsors. Your name and logo will receive preferential billing as a ‘FLASHPOINT’ SPONSOR.
(1 of 4 available.)
Your company name will be listed in the end credits.
Your product or service will be featured prominently in the final film. (Must be relevant to the story -- Food. Drink. Off Grid Living. RV Lifestyle. Prepper supplies. Tiny House movement. Security products. Related items.)
The film production will promote your company on social media and in any press that we might receive.
A representative of the company will be a featured extra in the film.
Sponsor will be invited to the wrap party & movie premiere.Claimed: 0 of 4
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Jake Stetler -- Writer & Director
Storyteller. Filmmaker. Screenwriter. Warrior-Monk of DIY. Former paratrooper. Devoted husband and father of four. Wrote and directed the feature film, No Sanctuary (2013). Graduated with a Certificate in Feature Film Writing from UCLA. Works at Harrisburg Area Community College as a Media Specialist.
Colette Stetler -- Production Manager
Graduated with a degree in English and Journalism from Eastern Mennonite University. Was a production assistant on one of the last seasons of Mister Roger's Neighborhood. Involved in the production of several of her husband's short films and the feature, No Sanctuary. In her "free time" she is a wife, mother of four, and works full time at a relief organization, Mennonite Central Committee, where she provides logistics and travel arrangements for overseas service workers.
George Winchell -- Director of Photography
George Winchell is currently the owner of WM Productions and a freelance DP and Gaffer. WM Productions was founded in 1985 by George & Albert Winchell to be a full-service video and film production company. George studied photography at Rhode Island School of Photography and has continued his film & video education through various workshops and events.
As a company, WM Productions produces regional and local commercials, industrial & training video, and many events and promotional projects. Some of the highlights have been the MTV Basement Tapes award winning video for the band “The Sharks”, A nationally recognized video for the Neighborhood Watch, and a statewide training video for on the recognition and awareness of child abuse. George has worked with both local and national clients on a variety of projects; including Gaffer for many independent features, including “Shades of Black”. Director of Photography on “Objects” and “Your Money or Your Life”. And 2nd Unit Camera on “Thomas and the Magic Railroad”.
From the early days of photography, through the advent of digital cinema, George has always felt that regardless of the medium or the technology, light and composition is what will always define the creation of images, whether moving or still.
Photo Credit: © Kendall Whitehouse
Kelly Stettenbauer -- Producer
Grew up with a love for the theater. Has an extensive background in acting, hair, and makeup. Devoted to her husband, her faith, and her three children. Owner and operator of the Discovering You Salon in Millersville, PA.
Produced the film, No Sanctuary with Jake Stetler. (Who considers her a perfect blend of MacGyver and Faceman from the A-Team. "There wasn't anything she couldn't improvise or commandeer for filming.") Her salon became the production office for that film and her extensive network of clients contributed to the success of the production.
Photo Credit: © Kendall Whitehouse
Jay Kirssin -- Production Sound & Music
Long time East Coast music and production veteran, 40 years in the trenches or riding a scope with major touring acts; behind the console with acts from start-ups to stars; running a music and audio design/build/repair facility; mentoring private students in sound reinforcement, recording, bass, music theory and musicianship; and more recently (only 21 years) molding minds and honing production skills for hundreds of students , young and older, as a professor in the Audio Technology portion of the Music Business program and the Theater program at Harrisburg Area Community College, as well as delivering on site production training in numerous performing arts venues, educational institutions and houses of worship. Following an 18 year run with prominent regional band Rosey and the Naturals, he is a frequent performer on bass with Switch FU, the [SUM] and the Bare Bones Theater Ensemble. Most recently, the knowledge distribution has been extended to Harrisburg University and the Immersed in Music Academy.
Master Fred Waters Jr. -- Fight Choreographer & Producer
My instructor Professor Walter Ziegler inspired my dream of doing movies and commercials. He used to always talk about being on the big screen and how I was going to watch him. Well, it ended up the other way around! Prior to the WKA World Tournament, Professor Ziegler told me that if I placed 1st 2nd or 3rd he would give me $500.00. He didn’t think I could do it. The competition was tough. After I won the World Championship in Ocean City, Maryland, Professor Ziegler paid for me to go action stunt school.
From there I began to get small parts in commercials. I auditioned a lot. I eventually got the call from Jake Stetler to play Bartimaeus, a lead role in the film, No Sanctuary. Due to my commitment to the project, I was also offered the position of Fight Choreographer and Associate Producer. I still receive parts in the movie industry. My expertise has led to a television gig and several movie opportunities this year. It will be fun to work with solid professionals, who also happen to be good friends, on A Stray Ember.Hand-to-hand Combat Instructor
Specializing in Disarming Weapons
Women's Self Defense
Tractor-trailer Theft Prevention
Carjacking Prevention
Action Stunt Fighting (With or Without Weapons) -
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