THE BOOKS. An intmate, speculative thriller. Set in the near future.

Photo credit: Mirror

It doesn’t take much to imagine the world 15 year old Sloane finds herself in. NPR has aired its last episode, school funding has dried up, history has been rewritten and rebellions are struck down by the surveillance state. Yet in the rolling Green Mountains of Vermont the last liberal library sits hidden from view.

Our film is based on a novella written by a 13 year old Vermont girl a mere month before the US military struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, which left us terrified, wondering what tomorrow might bring. This story lets us enter the mind of a teenager living on the rural fringes of an authoritarian regime; a girl trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and joy, making the ultimate sacrifice to save a piece of our collective history when everyones worst nightmare suddenly barrels towards America. You could call it the little sister of A House of Dynamite.

As filmmakers, it's challenging to figure out how to use our skills for a good cause. This is our protest. We ask you to join us!

Directors Statement

Why Now? Why this story?

In May 2025, my then 13 year old daughter, Arabella, had just finished her final 8th grade English project. A suspenseful 4 page novella she named The Books. She read it aloud at a big family dinner. By the end everyone sat in quiet disbelief, tears rolling down our faces. What was on her mind was so disturbing, surprising - yet, so real for all of us - set within the context of our current geopolitical situation. Her fear was vividly expressed, clear and true to who she is. She, the character, was determined to preserve the books that contain our collective history in the face of world annihilation.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her story and what she was really trying to tell us. She had posed a question I had never considered. What would I do, what would I save if I had 8 minutes left to live?

Over the summer she gave me permission to adapt The Books into a short film. By creating a visual manifestation of her words, I am now forcing myself to have conversations about the greed, disregard and misinformation from adults in power who they are taught to trust. I choose to listen and to learn from her through every step of the creative, collaborative process of bringing this story to the screen with her. Every day it becomes more a protest of our system. I can think of nothing more important to do right now.

writer | director

Jeanine B. Frost

Tone & Style

Production Design. Cinematography.

Shot entirely on location in Southern Vermont.

SLOANE'S POV. HANDHELD. INTIMATE.

Soft, wide landscapes. Intimate details. Slowness. Natural light. Love of the landscape. Hope. Resistance.

Nostalgia. The world shifts. Fear creeps in. Close ups. Stress. Contrast and deep shadows. Fast cuts. Finding bravery.

Low, artificial light. Darkness. Contrast. Doom. Connection to a life about to be the past. Goodbyes.

*Photo Credits: Lapaataa Ladies, In The Tall Grass, Jallikattu, Tove Lo " Glad He's Gone", The Wire, To The Wonder, Flee, Border, Cusp, Them, The Boy Behind The Door, Ariete "Mare De Guai", Dark, The Hunger Games, Sherlock, I Think We're Alone Now,.

Budget 

We are raising $45K for production.

4-Day Principal Shoot - Summer 2026.

Vermont locations. Local crew & cast. Local vendors. 

Home grown to support the creative economy and develop talent within the state of Vermont. 

STRETCH GOAL:

BUDGET - Including Post-production & marketing: $67,319

GRANTS PENDING: $25,000