SURE-FIRE is a hilarious crime comedy with heart about second chances and how it's never too late, even for a con man, to find your true calling. We've already made an award-winning proof of concept short film version of SURE-FIRE, and your support is essential for us to make the feature next year.
SURE-FIRE is a hilarious crime comedy with heart about second chances and how it's never too late, even for a con man, to find your true calling. We've already made an award-winning proof of concept short film version of SURE-FIRE, and your support is essential for us to make the feature next year.
Participating In

Hometown Heroes 2017
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Story
Mission Statement
SURE-FIRE, the short & feature, is a very diverse film which reflects the diversity of its setting - New York City - and includes people of all ages, races, and genders in the cast and crew, with many top crew positions (Cinematographer, Production Designer, Costume Designer) being filled by women.About The Project
SURE-FIRE is a comedy about Benny Boon, a NYC con man having a mid-life crisis, who stumbles into posing as a movie producer to pay off gangsters threatening to kill him. Reminiscent of New York comedies from Woody Allen ("Broadway Danny Rose") and Mel Brooks ("The Producers"), SURE-FIRE also recalls Hollywood crime comedies like "The Big Lebowski," "Pulp Fiction," and "Get Shorty." SURE-FIRE is also a heartfelt, universal story about second chances and how it's never too late to "rewrite your life's script."
SURE-FIRE was born out of director/co-writer Michael Goldburg's own experience of having been conned - er, hired - by a shady hustler/producer in New York City to develop a script for him. Though the script was never realized - as the "producer" wanted to pay Michael in pizza - Michael knew the "producer" would make a better character in a story of his own creation. While the idea for a script gestated, Michael read an article about an actual con man in New York City whose shtick was to crash fancy parties and pretend to be a movie producer. Thus the seeds of SURE-FIRE were born...
Initially, Michael brought on Steve Wisniewski, a Nicholl Fellowships finalist, and Dave Chan, winner of the Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition, to collaborate on the feature screenplay for SURE-FIRE with him. Having co-produced Michael’s acclaimed short comedy, "What's Eating Dad?," Dave also came on board as a producer of SURE-FIRE. With the feature script finished, Michael and Dave partnered with Kate Geller of Chrystie Street Casting ("John Wick"), Jonathan Gray's office (GKSSD) as production counsel ("Moonlight"), as well as Legacy Pictures (the Oscar-nominated "Beyond the Lights") on the feature. When several collaborators suggested initially making a short film proof of concept of SURE-FIRE to help attract financing for the feature, Michael and Dave also saw it as an exciting, creative way to explore the world of the film. Thus the SURE-FIRE short film was born...
Ultimately, Michael and Dave strove to deliver a short, self-contained film that could be enjoyed on its own terms while also establishing the three main characters and the tone and style of the feature. To that end, they assembled an amazing cast, led by the hilarious PJ Marshall ("Luke Cage," "American Horror Story," "Underground"), John Timothy ("UCB Comedy Originals"), and Lué McWilliams ("Naked As We Came") and a stellar crew, including Emmy award-winning composer Michael Whalen, costume designer Emily Gunshor ("Neighbors 2"), emerging director of photography Diana Matos, and production designer Kate Rance, whose films have won SXSW and the LA Film Festival and been nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes ("The Chair,” 2012). The short is finished and has already gotten a lot of buzz and accolades on the festival circuit as well as great reactions from audiences all over the country. You can see the TRAILER here: http://surefiremovie.com/
As independent filmmakers ourselves, we’re inspired by our protagonist, Benny, and the persistence and tenacity with which he (inadvertently) throws himself into the process of making a movie. So it’s not only a personal story for us, as we hustle like our character (So meta!) to get our first feature film made, but also one with wide appeal for an audience which is out there hustling - every day - and can relate to Benny’s inspiring journey to reinvent himself.
That's where you come in! We previously ran an initial crowdfunding campaign on Seed&Spark for development money for SURE-FIRE and, thanks to our supporters, we raised over 200% of our goal! Amazing! We're now back to raise our 2nd phase of development funding and get us even closer to turning this feature into a reality next year. And we want YOU to become part of our team in the making of this hilarious, exciting comedy! For as little as $10 or as much as $7,500, your contribution will go toward us hiring a producer, a line producer, a graphic designer, and the full services of our legal and casting teams.
And please be sure to FOLLOW the campaign by clicking on the Follow button on our main page. When we get to 500 Followers, we unlock the Seed&Spark Filmmaker Giftbox with $9,000+ worth of goods and services and are eligible for their Seed Fund. Not only that, when we reach 500 Followers, we also qualify for the "Hometown Heroes" Rally and have a shot at SURE-FIRE being executive produced by the Duplass Brothers (HBO's "Togetherness" and "Room 104") and receive up to $25,000 in cash for production.
Many thanks and stay tuned for more breaking news about SURE-FIRE!
Incentives
$10
Shout-Out on Social Media!
- Personalized Shout-Out on Social Media as a BIG THANKS for your contribution!
$25
Special Thanks + Shout-Out on Social Media + Video of Dave's Dad vs. Fish!
- Special Thanks in the Film's End Credits
- A Shout-Out on our Social Media platforms
- PLUS a private link to an epic video of Dave's Dad ("The Mayor of Chinatown") eating fish... You don't want to miss this one.
$50
Private Link to our award-winning short film version of "SURE-FIRE"
- Private link to our award-winning short version of SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $25 level
$100
Official Autographed SURE-FIRE Poster
- Official Autographed SURE-FIRE Poster
- PLUS all the Perks at the $50 level
Sold Out!
$150
Official "SURE-FIRE" T-Shirt
- Official SURE-FIRE T-Shirt
- PLUS all the Perks at the $50 level
Claimed: 2 of 15
$200
Be an Extra in the Film!
- Be an Extra in the Film!
- Plus all the Perks at the $100 & $150 level
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 5 of 10
$300
Drinks with Michael and Dave at Private NYC Club
- 1 Drink of Your Choice with Michael & Dave at Private NYC Club
- Plus all the Perks at the $200 level
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$500
Invitation to the "SURE-FIRE" set and have meals with the Cast and Crew
- Invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- PLUS a private link to the feature version of SURE-FIRE after it's completed
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$750
Invitation to "SURE-FIRE" Launch and Wrap Parties
- Invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- PLUS an invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- PLUS a private link to SURE-FIRE after it's completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of "SURE-FIRE" PLUS Launch and Wrap Parties PLUS Be an Extra in the film PLUS Set Visit and Meals with Cast/Crew
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of the feature version of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
- PLUS Invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- PLUS invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$1,500
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- An Associate Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$2,500
CO-PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- A Co-Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$5,000
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- An Executive Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Shout-Out on Social Media!
- Personalized Shout-Out on Social Media as a BIG THANKS for your contribution!
$25
Special Thanks + Shout-Out on Social Media + Video of Dave's Dad vs. Fish!
- Special Thanks in the Film's End Credits
- A Shout-Out on our Social Media platforms
- PLUS a private link to an epic video of Dave's Dad ("The Mayor of Chinatown") eating fish... You don't want to miss this one.
$50
Private Link to our award-winning short film version of "SURE-FIRE"
- Private link to our award-winning short version of SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $25 level
$100
Official Autographed SURE-FIRE Poster
- Official Autographed SURE-FIRE Poster
- PLUS all the Perks at the $50 level
Sold Out!
$150
Official "SURE-FIRE" T-Shirt
- Official SURE-FIRE T-Shirt
- PLUS all the Perks at the $50 level
Claimed: 2 of 15
$200
Be an Extra in the Film!
- Be an Extra in the Film!
- Plus all the Perks at the $100 & $150 level
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 5 of 10
$300
Drinks with Michael and Dave at Private NYC Club
- 1 Drink of Your Choice with Michael & Dave at Private NYC Club
- Plus all the Perks at the $200 level
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$500
Invitation to the "SURE-FIRE" set and have meals with the Cast and Crew
- Invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- PLUS a private link to the feature version of SURE-FIRE after it's completed
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$750
Invitation to "SURE-FIRE" Launch and Wrap Parties
- Invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- PLUS an invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- PLUS a private link to SURE-FIRE after it's completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of "SURE-FIRE" PLUS Launch and Wrap Parties PLUS Be an Extra in the film PLUS Set Visit and Meals with Cast/Crew
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of the feature version of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
- PLUS Invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- PLUS invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$1,500
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- An Associate Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 1 of 5
$2,500
CO-PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- A Co-Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
$5,000
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on "SURE-FIRE" PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level
- An Executive Producer credit on SURE-FIRE
- PLUS all the Perks at the $1000 level:
- An invitation to the SURE-FIRE set and have meals with the Cast & Crew
- An invitation to SURE-FIRE Launch & Wrap Parties
- PLUS be an Extra in the film
- Attend a PRIVATE THEATRICAL SCREENING of SURE-FIRE once it’s completed
* Travel and lodging are not covered
Claimed: 0 of 5
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
MICHAEL GOLDBURG (Director, Writer, Producer) is an award-winning filmmaker who earned his M.F.A. at NYU's Graduate Film Program where he won a Warner Bros. Pictures Production Award and a Dean's Craft Award for Excellence. Michael has continued to make acclaimed films, commercials, and web series; including the hilariously absurd horror-comedy, "What's Eating Dad?," which was named one of the Top 10 Horror Shorts of 2014, screened at over 50 film festivals, and won multiple awards. He also directed "Tragic Relief," a bleakly funny web series by writers from The Onion and Comedy Central, which was featured on Funny or Die. Michael’s short film version of his upcoming feature comedy, "Sure-Fire," has won accolades on the film festival circuit, including a Best Actor award for PJ Marshall ("Luke Cage," "American Horror Story," "Underground"), while the feature script was a Finalist in the Comedy Competition of the 2016 Beverly Hills Screenplay Contest. Michael is the recipient of an AIVF Screenwriting Mentorship and is also developing a feature adaptation of a comic novel of suburban paranoia by the former book editor of "The Chicago Tribune" as well as a shocking small-town murder mystery, "Black River," inspired by a true story. He lives in New York City.
DAVE CHAN (Writer, Producer) is the founder of Navy Yard Films, an independent film production company based in Brooklyn, NY. An acclaimed writer/producer, his short comedy script “Fly!” was a winner of the Academy Award-qualifying Nashville Film Festival. In addition, his "Family Guy: What The Phuc?!" spec script has either won or placed in almost 25 competitions including the prestigious Austin Film Festival. Dave was also an Executive Producer of the feature film "8-Ball,” a gritty, urban crime-drama starring Paul Ben-Victor from “The Wire” and Johnny "Roastbeef" Williams from “Goodfellas.” Dave also consulted on movie and television projects including the taut action film “Ambushed” starring Dolph Lundgren and Vinnie Jones as well as a TV pilot currently in development at Fox. He was selected to be the Guest Festival Director of the 2017 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and is a Juror of the IndieBOOM! Film Festival.
STEVE WISNIEWSKI (Writer) has had his scripts reach the finals of the Nicholl Fellowships and the Austin Film Festival, and he has finaled or placed over a dozen times in other nationalscreenwriting competitions, including AFI and Scriptapalooza. Steve has also had several of his screenplays optioned by producers, including one which is currently in pre-production. He is also a playwright, with several full-length comedies and short plays produced in New York,including the New York International Fringe Festival.
KEVIN CHRISTOFFERSEN (Producer) is the Executive Director and Managing Partner of Legacy Pictures, an award-winning, global production company (the Oscar-nominated "Beyond the Lights" and "Out of the Furnace" with Christian Bale). Kevin has been producing content internationally for the better part of two decades across four continents while Legacy is currently producing a broad genre range of feature films around the globe including the Irish film "The Rising" starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and "Green Olds" with producer George Parra ("Sideways").
KATE GELLER (Casting Director, Chrystie Street Casting) is part of the incredibly busy Chrystie Street Casting team where she recently cast the indie features "The Incredible Jessica James" and "Don't Think Twice" as well as several hit TV series, including "Blindspot" and "The Black List." Other credits inclue "The Maze Runner," "Wolverine," and "Obvious Child" at Chrystie Street which has also cast many top Hollywood and independent films, including "American Hustle," "John Wick," "John Wick: Chapter 2," "Good Will Hunting," and "Se7en."
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