The Day After

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Horror, Comedy

28 days :04 hrs :14 mins

Until Deadline

18 supporters | followers

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$2,590

Goal: $16,000 for pre-production

The day after Charlotte's 30th birthday, Charlotte is hit with a hangover that blurs the lines between reality and dreams. As a series of increasingly horrific events unfold, she struggles to separate dreams from reality. Is she awake, still dreaming, or is she just violently hungover?

About The Project

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Mission Statement

This film addresses women aging and the psychological warfare of society changing around you as you decompose, or well, idk, turn 30. Did society drive our protagonist crazy? Or is our protagonist delusional? What came first? The chicken or the egg?

The Story

Charlotte is a struggling actress who wakes up the day after her 30th birthday to discover her entire life has seemingly changed over night. Men no longer seem to see her, her career has crumbled and her boyfriend has left her for his 21-year old Barry's instructor. So unoriginal, groan.

The bluntness of it all feels too absurd to be real. Is she dreaming? Or has she been dreaming her entire life? What is reality and why has it suddenly shifted overnight? And most importantly, what the hell is that black goo?!

In this horror comedy, Charlotte is forced to confront the monster lurking beneath the bed: turning 30 as a woman. But who or what is the real monster.. How does she defeat it.. and can she?


Shot like a horror with surrealist elements, and a lot of humor. Not as serious as Jordan Peel but not as campy as Scary Movie. The Day After uses genre to question gender norms while diving deep into the discomfort of withering away..

CHARLOTTE - Struggling actress who just turned 30. Charlotte is ambitious, passionate and a bit of a party girl. She wants things badly and dreams deeply. Represents a woman with a dream.

ROY - Charlotte's agent. A shark in his prime. Would commit a hit and run in his G-Wagon. Rolodex of girls with a Rolex on his wrist. Represents the Patriarchy.

Dr. Wiley - Charlotte's therapist. Stern. Accomplished. By the book. Whatever book that is. Represents internalized and medicalized misogyny.

September 2026: Raise money!

October 2026: Pre-Production

November 2026: Shoot!

December 2026: Post-Production!

January 2027: Festival Submissions!

Summer 2027: Festival Run!

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Blending HORROR and COMEDY, The Day After portrays the psychological warfare of society changing around women as they decompose, or well, idk, turn 30. Did society drive our protagonist crazy? Or is our protagonist delusional? What came first? The chicken or the egg? The Day After confronts the female experience by magnifying the absurdity and horror of an experience you can’t escape. Or can you? Shot like a horror with surrealist elements, this character is on the brink of a mental breakdown as her world collapses around her.

Films like The Substance, Barbie, Us, Don't Worry Darling, The Red Shoes, and Weapons were influential to me in shaping this story. Another muse was Lee Krasner's Desert Moon, a painting that evokes feminitity with unsettling darkness, danger and violence. Directors like Greta Gerwig, Halina Reijn, Eva Victor and Olivia Wilde have are all such an inspiration to me.

In this film, I’ve strived to create a piece of art that reflects the painful experience of femininity while challenging society and even ourselves who uphold it. I hope that audiences will see themselves in this for good and bad. I hope it illuminates the absurdity of conformity and social constructs we’ve placed upon one another. I hope, along with feeling seen, the women who watch this film can also laugh a little, because as Nicole Kidman would say, “We need that”.

-Andrea Sabatino

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Locations

Costs $2,100

Locations are what will make the world feel off and unsteady. 5 locations, 3 days. Includes insurance & permits

Camera, Lenses, Lighting

Costs $2,100

I would like to shoot this on an ARRI mini and make sure we have the right tools to get the tone of the film perfectly lit.

Director of Photography

Costs $1,800

I have a shortlist of award-winning DPs ready to jump on. I want to pay them what they deserve for a 3 day shoot.

Production Sound Mixer

Costs $1,200

Sound is everything! If we don't have quality sound, we don't have a film. 3 days of work.

1st AC

Costs $400

To support our DP to ensure the most beautiful shots possible. 3 days of work.

Gaffer

Costs $900

Lighting will be everything for this film. 3 days of work.

Grip/Swing

Costs $500

To assist Gaffer and make sure we have enough hands on deck.

Costume Design

Costs $400

Clothes tell a story and to signify any changes the characters are going through through clothing and color....

Production Design & Props

Costs $500

A well dressed set is what makes a film! Props help actors and become extensions of the character!

Crafty & Meals

Costs $800

A fed set is a happy set! Want to make sure everyone is fed properly and has all of their needs met.

Production Supplies, Hard Drives, Parking

Costs $400

All miscellaneous items and additional costs that come up, heavy on the parking! for cast and crew!

Editor

Costs $1,500

Some say this is where the movie is made.. I want to work with an award winning editor in post-production who understands the genre.

Composer

Costs $700

A horror/thriller is nothing without music!

Color Grade

Costs $700

It's what make movies feel magical!

Post Sound Mixer

Costs $400

In horror, sound is everything!

Festival Submissions & Deliverables

Costs $600

To submit for festivals and meet festivals deliverables needs.

Contingency

Costs $1,000

SOS! In case of emergencies.

About This Team

Writer & Director // Andrea Sabatino

Andrea Sabatino is an LA-based actor and filmmaker. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Theater Acting and a minor in Film. Most recently, she can be seen as Kayla Jamison in Venice the Series. As a filmmaker, Andrea wrote and directed her first short film, Just the Negatives in 2023. Sh has also produced a variety of short films and documentaries including AppleTv's One Week 'Til Doomsday. This marks Andrea's second short film as a writer/director, furthering her passion for exploring and examining the female experience through visual storytelling.

Madi McKeough // Producer

Madi is a Houston native who's been living and creating in Los Angeles for the past five years, focusing on writing and production design. She’s passionate about telling unconventional stories and championing female filmmakers. As a first time producer, Madi is excited to draw on her experience assisting agents and writers while putting her creative vision to the test.

Kevin Heffernan // Producer

Kevin Heffernan is an executive at Range Media Partners. He began his career at Film Independent before joining Mark Wahlberg’s production company, where he worked across development & production. Since joining Range in 2022, Kevin has worked on titles including A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (dir. James Mangold), SHELL (dir. Max Minghella), and more. He holds a B.A. in Cinema Studies and a Business minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado Boulder. 

Blake Moran // Associate Producer

Blake Moran is a Los Angeles–based filmmaker originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. For the past decade, he has worked as a writer, director, and producer, with a primary focus on developing original narrative screenplays. In addition to his narrative work, he has directed documentaries, bringing the same character-driven approach to nonfiction storytelling.

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