The Bystander Effect
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Fantasy
THE BYSTANDER EFFECT is a surreal drama about deciding to stand up to injustice when nobody is watching. EVAN, a young queer man, witnesses a transwoman DAPHNE being harassed, and must decide whether to act upon his instinct to get involved or remain complicit.
The Bystander Effect
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Fantasy
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,097 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
58 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
THE BYSTANDER EFFECT is a surreal drama about deciding to stand up to injustice when nobody is watching. EVAN, a young queer man, witnesses a transwoman DAPHNE being harassed, and must decide whether to act upon his instinct to get involved or remain complicit.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
EVAN (22, he/him) is young, hungry, and fresh out of college with a degree in communications. He begins managing social media for a failing gay bar in his neighborhood on the eastside of LA. Here he meets BUSTER (45, he/him), an older gay man native to this area of town. Buster is jaded by the constant gentrification of his neighborhood, specifically the brand new high rise apartment built across the street from his bar.
On his way back to his car after work one night, Evan witnesses DAPHNE (30, she/her), a transwoman who is being harassed by a white kid BRANDON (25, he/him), outside of the new high rise apartment building. Evan watches the harassment unfold from the comfort of his car on the other side of the street, and feels indecisive on whether he should get involved.
Evan’s indecisiveness manifests in three scenarios that take place inside of his head, each one demonstrating what it might look like if he got involved. At the end of the three visions, Evan is left with a decision that could result in life-or-death for Daphne's character.
Hey there, this is Ethan, from that video up there! You're probably wondering why I'm making this film and why now. A) LGBTQ+ and people of color are being murdered at disproportionate rates, and B) we need to hold each other accountable for our role in these hate crimes.
When Black Lives Matter had lost momentum on social media and posts to educate and rally had almost vanished from my feed, I became interested in what motivated me to participate in this movement in the first place. What I found about myself is I do have a genuine passion for human rights, but I also have a tendency to people-please, especially on social media.
I began to see a similar pattern in other people. One video I remember vividly is the video of three black trans women being attacked on Hollywood Blvd. Nobody stepped up to potentially save their lives, but everybody walked away with a video that would receive millions of reactions. I’m still left with the question: what percent of this movement was propelled by a national surge for social justice, and what percent was the result of a cultural war between appearance and apathy?
Through the character of Evan, I wanted to implore this question deeper. As a young queer liberal fresh out of college, Evan thinks he knows it all: the trendy neighborhood he calls home exists on the backbone of people like his client Buster, and the injustice against trans women that he posts about online happens right in front of his eyes.
I see this world through blue, purple, pink shades of neon, which calls upon the viewer to pay attention and echoes the transgender flag. I intend to shoot cinema verité-style, holding the camera right behind Evan’s shoulder to give the audience the feeling they’re right there with him.
Read press release here
This is not my first rodeo as a director. I have directed two feature films and dozens of shorts and new media. I have spent the last two years working in Los Angeles as a producer and assistant director, studying under various other directors and producers, and broadening my creative voice in the process. My mission is to direct films that reflect the changes I wish to see in the world, starting with this film about how we can be better advocates for each other, specifically in the LGBTQ community.
Meet our DP, Mariscela Méndez
Click to view reel. Mariscela Beatríz Méndez is a Director of Photograhy from San Antonio, Texas. She has worked with numerous clients including Vanity Fair, Google, Slamdance, The Clorox Company, and TVOne. Mariscela was recently selected to participate in the Women in Film INSIGHT Program as well as The American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentor Program. Ms. Méndez is based in Los Angeles but works throughout the US.
To keep our set safe, our crew will be required to test 72 hours prior and quarantine during the three days preceding the shoot. On-set, we will enforce social distancing as much as possible and crew will be required to wear KN95 masks and sanitize frequently. We have already hired a Covid Compliance Officer who will oversee these safety rules. Additionally, most of our team has already been vaccinated, and we will encourage our oncoming team to seek out the vaccination prior to shooting. Regardless, Covid safety rules will still be enforced.
Woohoo! You made it to the end! You're likely wondering how you can help ...
First, scroll back to the top and click the blue Follow button. The more followers we get, the better. Feel free to sign up for a Seed&Spark account using Facebook or Google!
If you're able to financially support the film, please click the green Make a Pledge button.
And last but not least, tell all your friends about us! Share our Seed & Spark page on social media, and tag @TheBystanderEffect on Instagram and Facebook, @TBEFilm on Twitter.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Help Feed Our Crew!
Costs $500
We plan on feeding our crew one meal a day for two days of shooting, with a crew size of approx 25.
Keep Our Set Safe
Costs $700
We need to compensate a Covid Compliance Officer and purchase materials to ensure on-set safety.
Support Our Crew
Costs $3,500
Work has been slim during the pandemic, so we'd like to pay our crew their desired rates.
Camera
Costs $1,000
... and this isn't even how much camera packages usually rent for.
Location Permit
Costs $2,000
Permits in LA cost $1000 per day, which we will need for two days of shooting.
Grip & Lighting
Costs $1,500
Help us distinguish the visions in Evan's head by affording us gear to light these scenes.
Post Sound and Color
Costs $800
Finalizing our picture color and sound is the last step before we send our film to festivals.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ETHAN PAISLEY | Writer/Director
Ethan Paisley is a filmmaker interested in the human capacity for change. His debut film The Art of Escape won acclaim and received distribution; he launched Take18 Entertainment, a youth-led, philanthropic-focused production company that garnered over 30 awards for titles including Point 453 and Indelible. At 18 he began working for PaperChase Films (Skin, The Kindergarten Teacher) as a development producer. Recently he directed Gone Missing about how the pandemic has impacted the missing and murdered crisis on Navajo Nation. His awards include Best Director (YEA) and Best Young Filmmaker (LAFA). His work has been featured in the SF Chronicle, iHeartRadio, and W Magazine.
Follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
RABIA SULTANA | Producer
Rabia Sultana is a British Archaeologist turned Filmmaker. Select credits include: Angelfish (TIFF, rapper Princess Nokia’s feature film debut); Extra Innings (Winner Best Feature Manhattan Film Festival); Interference (NBC/Universal Film Festival, Amazon All Access, BamCinematek New Voices in Black Cinema Festival). She also worked on the 2019 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard winner, The Climb which is currently in cinemas and recently produced comedy films Are You Happy Now (Josh Ruben, Catherine Curtin, Danny Johnson), and The Truth About Santa Claus (Michael Winslow, Kevin Brown, Kevin Farley, Judy Gold).
Follow on Instagram
SUZANN TONI | Producer
Suzann Toni graduated with a B.A. in Film, Television, and Theater and a minor in Italian from the University of Notre Dame. She joined Dynasty Pictures after being an Associate Producer on their first feature, Stakeout, starring Jeremy Sumpter and Oscar-nominated Tom Berenger, now on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV. Suzann then produced indie Violent Delights starring Bria Vinaite of the Oscar-nominated film The Florida Project. Suzann's recent work includes award-winning film The Sinners aka The Color Rose, which premiered at the 2020 Mammoth Film Festival and will be out Feb. 19, 2021 on all streaming platforms, and food/travel show From Scratch, on the FYI Network.
Follow on Instagram and Twitter
JOLENE MENDES | Producer
Jolene Mendes is a producer from Trinidad and Tobago, currently based in Los Angeles. She has produced a number of films including She Paradise (AFI, Tribeca Film Festival); Anna Karenina (Accolade Global Film Competition, Winner at SoHo International Film Festival, European International Film Festival); Extra Innings (Winner of Best Feature at both Manhattan Film Festival and Jersey Shore Film Festival, now available on VOD). She has also produced videos for Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group as well as various international commercial clients, both in the U.S and Caribbean. Jolene believes that media is one of the most effective ways to make a difference and continues to produce content that has the potential to inspire.
Follow on Instagram
RHEAGAN RIZIO | Producer, 1st Assistant Director, Social Media Manager
Rheagan Rizio is an actress turned writer-producer, currently based in the Bay Area. She started her career at WorkingNation, an LA-based nonprofit production entity, where she worked on the short doc The Middle: A Tale of Two Indys, helped produce several live filmed events, and wrote/developed the upcoming series I Wanna Be In. She and Paisley have previously worked together on feature film Point 453 (2017 Cannes Marché du Film, Tokyo Int’l FF), in which she starred as Kate. She also voices Taco in the AnimationEpic series Inanimate Insanity, and is active in the Bay Area theater scene, both onstage and off. She holds B.A.s in International Relations and French Language & Culture from the University of Southern California, and is fluent in French.
Follow on Instagram
MARISCELA MENDEZ | Director of Photography
Mariscela Beatríz Méndez is a Director of Photograhy from San Antonio, Texas. She has worked with numerous clients including Vanity Fair, Google, Slamdance, The Clorox Company, and TVOne. Mariscela was recently selected to participate in the Women in Film INSIGHT Program as well as The American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentor Program. Ms. Méndez is based in Los Angeles but works throughout the US.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
EVAN (22, he/him) is young, hungry, and fresh out of college with a degree in communications. He begins managing social media for a failing gay bar in his neighborhood on the eastside of LA. Here he meets BUSTER (45, he/him), an older gay man native to this area of town. Buster is jaded by the constant gentrification of his neighborhood, specifically the brand new high rise apartment built across the street from his bar.
On his way back to his car after work one night, Evan witnesses DAPHNE (30, she/her), a transwoman who is being harassed by a white kid BRANDON (25, he/him), outside of the new high rise apartment building. Evan watches the harassment unfold from the comfort of his car on the other side of the street, and feels indecisive on whether he should get involved.
Evan’s indecisiveness manifests in three scenarios that take place inside of his head, each one demonstrating what it might look like if he got involved. At the end of the three visions, Evan is left with a decision that could result in life-or-death for Daphne's character.
Hey there, this is Ethan, from that video up there! You're probably wondering why I'm making this film and why now. A) LGBTQ+ and people of color are being murdered at disproportionate rates, and B) we need to hold each other accountable for our role in these hate crimes.
When Black Lives Matter had lost momentum on social media and posts to educate and rally had almost vanished from my feed, I became interested in what motivated me to participate in this movement in the first place. What I found about myself is I do have a genuine passion for human rights, but I also have a tendency to people-please, especially on social media.
I began to see a similar pattern in other people. One video I remember vividly is the video of three black trans women being attacked on Hollywood Blvd. Nobody stepped up to potentially save their lives, but everybody walked away with a video that would receive millions of reactions. I’m still left with the question: what percent of this movement was propelled by a national surge for social justice, and what percent was the result of a cultural war between appearance and apathy?
Through the character of Evan, I wanted to implore this question deeper. As a young queer liberal fresh out of college, Evan thinks he knows it all: the trendy neighborhood he calls home exists on the backbone of people like his client Buster, and the injustice against trans women that he posts about online happens right in front of his eyes.
I see this world through blue, purple, pink shades of neon, which calls upon the viewer to pay attention and echoes the transgender flag. I intend to shoot cinema verité-style, holding the camera right behind Evan’s shoulder to give the audience the feeling they’re right there with him.
Read press release here
This is not my first rodeo as a director. I have directed two feature films and dozens of shorts and new media. I have spent the last two years working in Los Angeles as a producer and assistant director, studying under various other directors and producers, and broadening my creative voice in the process. My mission is to direct films that reflect the changes I wish to see in the world, starting with this film about how we can be better advocates for each other, specifically in the LGBTQ community.
Meet our DP, Mariscela Méndez
Click to view reel. Mariscela Beatríz Méndez is a Director of Photograhy from San Antonio, Texas. She has worked with numerous clients including Vanity Fair, Google, Slamdance, The Clorox Company, and TVOne. Mariscela was recently selected to participate in the Women in Film INSIGHT Program as well as The American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentor Program. Ms. Méndez is based in Los Angeles but works throughout the US.
To keep our set safe, our crew will be required to test 72 hours prior and quarantine during the three days preceding the shoot. On-set, we will enforce social distancing as much as possible and crew will be required to wear KN95 masks and sanitize frequently. We have already hired a Covid Compliance Officer who will oversee these safety rules. Additionally, most of our team has already been vaccinated, and we will encourage our oncoming team to seek out the vaccination prior to shooting. Regardless, Covid safety rules will still be enforced.
Woohoo! You made it to the end! You're likely wondering how you can help ...
First, scroll back to the top and click the blue Follow button. The more followers we get, the better. Feel free to sign up for a Seed&Spark account using Facebook or Google!
If you're able to financially support the film, please click the green Make a Pledge button.
And last but not least, tell all your friends about us! Share our Seed & Spark page on social media, and tag @TheBystanderEffect on Instagram and Facebook, @TBEFilm on Twitter.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Help Feed Our Crew!
Costs $500
We plan on feeding our crew one meal a day for two days of shooting, with a crew size of approx 25.
Keep Our Set Safe
Costs $700
We need to compensate a Covid Compliance Officer and purchase materials to ensure on-set safety.
Support Our Crew
Costs $3,500
Work has been slim during the pandemic, so we'd like to pay our crew their desired rates.
Camera
Costs $1,000
... and this isn't even how much camera packages usually rent for.
Location Permit
Costs $2,000
Permits in LA cost $1000 per day, which we will need for two days of shooting.
Grip & Lighting
Costs $1,500
Help us distinguish the visions in Evan's head by affording us gear to light these scenes.
Post Sound and Color
Costs $800
Finalizing our picture color and sound is the last step before we send our film to festivals.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ETHAN PAISLEY | Writer/Director
Ethan Paisley is a filmmaker interested in the human capacity for change. His debut film The Art of Escape won acclaim and received distribution; he launched Take18 Entertainment, a youth-led, philanthropic-focused production company that garnered over 30 awards for titles including Point 453 and Indelible. At 18 he began working for PaperChase Films (Skin, The Kindergarten Teacher) as a development producer. Recently he directed Gone Missing about how the pandemic has impacted the missing and murdered crisis on Navajo Nation. His awards include Best Director (YEA) and Best Young Filmmaker (LAFA). His work has been featured in the SF Chronicle, iHeartRadio, and W Magazine.
Follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
RABIA SULTANA | Producer
Rabia Sultana is a British Archaeologist turned Filmmaker. Select credits include: Angelfish (TIFF, rapper Princess Nokia’s feature film debut); Extra Innings (Winner Best Feature Manhattan Film Festival); Interference (NBC/Universal Film Festival, Amazon All Access, BamCinematek New Voices in Black Cinema Festival). She also worked on the 2019 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard winner, The Climb which is currently in cinemas and recently produced comedy films Are You Happy Now (Josh Ruben, Catherine Curtin, Danny Johnson), and The Truth About Santa Claus (Michael Winslow, Kevin Brown, Kevin Farley, Judy Gold).
Follow on Instagram
SUZANN TONI | Producer
Suzann Toni graduated with a B.A. in Film, Television, and Theater and a minor in Italian from the University of Notre Dame. She joined Dynasty Pictures after being an Associate Producer on their first feature, Stakeout, starring Jeremy Sumpter and Oscar-nominated Tom Berenger, now on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV. Suzann then produced indie Violent Delights starring Bria Vinaite of the Oscar-nominated film The Florida Project. Suzann's recent work includes award-winning film The Sinners aka The Color Rose, which premiered at the 2020 Mammoth Film Festival and will be out Feb. 19, 2021 on all streaming platforms, and food/travel show From Scratch, on the FYI Network.
Follow on Instagram and Twitter
JOLENE MENDES | Producer
Jolene Mendes is a producer from Trinidad and Tobago, currently based in Los Angeles. She has produced a number of films including She Paradise (AFI, Tribeca Film Festival); Anna Karenina (Accolade Global Film Competition, Winner at SoHo International Film Festival, European International Film Festival); Extra Innings (Winner of Best Feature at both Manhattan Film Festival and Jersey Shore Film Festival, now available on VOD). She has also produced videos for Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group as well as various international commercial clients, both in the U.S and Caribbean. Jolene believes that media is one of the most effective ways to make a difference and continues to produce content that has the potential to inspire.
Follow on Instagram
RHEAGAN RIZIO | Producer, 1st Assistant Director, Social Media Manager
Rheagan Rizio is an actress turned writer-producer, currently based in the Bay Area. She started her career at WorkingNation, an LA-based nonprofit production entity, where she worked on the short doc The Middle: A Tale of Two Indys, helped produce several live filmed events, and wrote/developed the upcoming series I Wanna Be In. She and Paisley have previously worked together on feature film Point 453 (2017 Cannes Marché du Film, Tokyo Int’l FF), in which she starred as Kate. She also voices Taco in the AnimationEpic series Inanimate Insanity, and is active in the Bay Area theater scene, both onstage and off. She holds B.A.s in International Relations and French Language & Culture from the University of Southern California, and is fluent in French.
Follow on Instagram
MARISCELA MENDEZ | Director of Photography
Mariscela Beatríz Méndez is a Director of Photograhy from San Antonio, Texas. She has worked with numerous clients including Vanity Fair, Google, Slamdance, The Clorox Company, and TVOne. Mariscela was recently selected to participate in the Women in Film INSIGHT Program as well as The American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentor Program. Ms. Méndez is based in Los Angeles but works throughout the US.