The Dennis Boys
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
Two brothers, a realist and a dreamer, struggle to find common ground when it comes to taking care of their sick mother. This film is a humanizing and humorous look into a family’s struggle to overcome the obstacles in their way through their love for one another despite their conflicting values.
The Dennis Boys
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | Pennsylvania, United States
103 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$16,605
Goal: $20,000 for production
Two brothers, a realist and a dreamer, struggle to find common ground when it comes to taking care of their sick mother. This film is a humanizing and humorous look into a family’s struggle to overcome the obstacles in their way through their love for one another despite their conflicting values.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
...where a nerdy kid from the suburbs had a dream to be a comic book artist, and quickly decided that's not gonna happen, I pivoted to screenwriting. Then, in 2014, I started writing what would become THE DENNIS BOYS. After several years, several drafts, and several great suggestions from people much smarter than me (#EveryoneNeedsAJamie) the script was done and was submitted to various scriptwriting competitions.
And in 2017, THE DENNIS BOYS was selected as the inaugural winner of the Oscar Micheaux Award at the the "Set In Philadelphia" Screenwriting Competition sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office!
After winning the award, my producing partner Jamie Forslund and I decided to expand our team and we brought on two more producers: Adamah Cole and Tatiana Bacchus.
Together, we concocted a plan to prove to ourselves and to the world that THE DENNIS BOYS was not only worthwhile, but necessary!
We scraped some money together and in 2022 we produced a proof of concept film to show the industry what we're capable of:
All of our hard work (and the work of our fabulous crew) paid off as THE DENNIS BOYS short film was selected to screen at several film festivals including the New York Shorts International Film Festival and the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival!
Prior to making the short version of THE DENNIS BOYS, Jamie was able to connect us with animator Matt Somma who graciously allowed us to use some of his animations in the proof of concept.
However, we knew that to really show people what they were in store for, we need to get Matt started on the actual characters that would appear in the feature film...
Finally able to put my art degrees to good use, I did some character sketches and sent them to Matt...
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...and he absolutely knocked it out of the park!
And with that, the pieces were in place. Now, here's where you come in!
Our crowdfunding goal to begin production is $20,000 which we'll use for cast, crew, production design, locations, wardrobe, etc. Here's how that all breaks down:
And just a heads up about crowdfunding, we need to hit our goal or all of your generous pledges are returned and we get nothing! BUT, if we hit 80% of our goal, Seed & Spark will green light the project and we'll get to keep the money and make this dream a reality!
Also check out the wishlist tab on our page - where you can pledge or loan something towards the goods and services we need to make THE DENNIS BOYS, It's similar to a wedding registry except instead of gold-plated flatware we’re asking for help with production design, locations, equipment rentals, and the like!
Our fundraising campaign will be live from April to May 2025. If we meet our goal, we will be able to start filming in the fall of 2025 and complete principal photography by the end of October 2025.
Post-production will commence shortly thereafter and we plan to do a red carpet event in 2026 so stay tuned!
You can help us bring THE DENNIS BOYS to life by pledging a cash pledge for one of our awesome perks.
If funds are a little tight, please just hit the follow button above. It's a free way to support the project - and help us unlock all sorts of cool filmmaker perks from Seed & Spark!
Please follow THE DENNIS BOYS on social media -- we're on Instagram @thedennisboysfilm and check out our website www.thedennisboysfilm.com for more information on becoming an investor and receiving a potential tax break on your pledge.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Awesome Gear & Equipment
Costs $1,000
To achieve our vision, we'll need to rent specialized equipment such as lights, lenses, tripods, and the like. Gotta keep the grips happy!
Awesome Craft Services
Costs $1,200
Feeding a hungry film crew is no easy feat, and a donation to this wishlist item will help keep us all fed and (more importantly) happy!
Awesome Hair & Makeup
Costs $800
Making sure our talent is camera ready takes an awesome HMU department, so consider donating to ensure our actors look like a million bucks!
Awesome Crew
Costs $6,000
A great story is nothing without a talented crew to help make it a reality. And the more crew we can hire, the more efficient we are!
Awesome Cast
Costs $5,600
Certainly one of the more important components of filmmaking is a stellar cast. Help us get the right actor for the right role by donating!
Awesome Production Design
Costs $2,400
Blank white walls are never a good look, lol. Help us give the film a unique look by donating to this wishlist item!
Awesome Wardrobe
Costs $800
Wardrobe is key to making sure our actors look the part, thus giving them the confidence to fully immerse themselves into their characters.
Awesome Locations
Costs $2,000
You wouldn't film a space epic in a dusty midwestern town, right? Neither would we! Getting the right locations is key to the film's success
Awesome Contingency
Costs $200
Try as we might, things are bound to go wrong at some point. But funding this contingency will keep us on track and keep us filming.
Share this update!
About This Team
STEPHEN ARTHUR SCHAFFER (writer / director / producer) is a screenwriter and director based in Philadelphia. After graduating with a degree in Illustration from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Stephen began his professional career in 2006. Having worked as a freelance designer, illustrator, and comic book artist for nearly a decade, Stephen transitioned into writing and filmmaking. Stephen has written, produced, and directed nine short films, in addition to directing, shooting, and editing various commercial, corporate, and music videos. As a filmmaker, Stephen strives to produce stories about people of color that would otherwise be ignored. His first feature-length screenplay, “The Dennis Boys,” won the Oscar Micheaux Award for excellence in screenwriting by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
JAMIE FORSLUND (producer / production designer) is an artist, educator, producer and production designer who has used her diverse talents to craft unique looks for award-winning short films and music videos. From development to post-production and every stage in between, Jamie is a true renaissance woman with invaluable knowledge and insight on a wide range of topics from character development, to cinematography, to special effects makeup, to marketing and graphic design. Having lived and traveled overseas for half a decade, Jamie has developed a keen aesthetic sensibility that allows her to push boundaries and experiment in fresh and exciting ways.
ADAMAH COLE (producer) is a creative media and business professional with degrees from Dartmouth College, the Wharton School of Business and the Lauder Institute for Management & International Studies. His professional experience includes media strategy and business development positions for MTV and Nickelodeon at Viacom, leading grassroots marketing for the independent film “3rd Street Blackout,” and leading global marketing campaigns from inception through launch as a member of the brand marketing team at YouTube, and leading the creative production unit for the online program management company Noodle. Adamah currently works as an independent consultant, driving brand strategy, content marketing, and PR initiatives for global e-commerce clients, while also nurturing his own creative skillset as a musician and screenwriter.
TATIANA ST. PHARD (producer / actor) Owner/Senior Producer of Teaspoon & Pound Media, Tatiana is an independent film and media maker who curates and amplifies the ancestral wisdom of subjects and characters rendered virtually invisible in mainstream media. Her current slate of projects include a children's web series and Ulrick Jean-Pierre documentary in post production. She uses her storytelling expertise to help her clients share their stories with online and live audiences. A working actress for over two decades, Tatiana can be seen in the recently released feature films The Upside and Glass. Tatiana is a 2018 Flaherty Seminar Fellow and has received Leeway Art and Change (2009, 2014, 2019) Her Film Project, Small But Mighty Arts and Lucius and Eva Eastman grants.
MATT SOMMA (animator) is owner/lead animator of Po-Town Studios, responsible for animated commercials across marquee brands such as Kate Spade, the National Hockey League, McDonalds, and many more during his 20 year career. From MTV’s Celebrity DeathMatch to his hilarious work on Doll Race 3000, Matt continues to push the bounds of stop motion, sculpting, and storytelling. His nuanced understanding of emotion and humor has delighted clients and audiences across the globe.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
...where a nerdy kid from the suburbs had a dream to be a comic book artist, and quickly decided that's not gonna happen, I pivoted to screenwriting. Then, in 2014, I started writing what would become THE DENNIS BOYS. After several years, several drafts, and several great suggestions from people much smarter than me (#EveryoneNeedsAJamie) the script was done and was submitted to various scriptwriting competitions.
And in 2017, THE DENNIS BOYS was selected as the inaugural winner of the Oscar Micheaux Award at the the "Set In Philadelphia" Screenwriting Competition sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office!
After winning the award, my producing partner Jamie Forslund and I decided to expand our team and we brought on two more producers: Adamah Cole and Tatiana Bacchus.
Together, we concocted a plan to prove to ourselves and to the world that THE DENNIS BOYS was not only worthwhile, but necessary!
We scraped some money together and in 2022 we produced a proof of concept film to show the industry what we're capable of:
All of our hard work (and the work of our fabulous crew) paid off as THE DENNIS BOYS short film was selected to screen at several film festivals including the New York Shorts International Film Festival and the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival!
Prior to making the short version of THE DENNIS BOYS, Jamie was able to connect us with animator Matt Somma who graciously allowed us to use some of his animations in the proof of concept.
However, we knew that to really show people what they were in store for, we need to get Matt started on the actual characters that would appear in the feature film...
Finally able to put my art degrees to good use, I did some character sketches and sent them to Matt...
...and he absolutely knocked it out of the park!
And with that, the pieces were in place. Now, here's where you come in!
Our crowdfunding goal to begin production is $20,000 which we'll use for cast, crew, production design, locations, wardrobe, etc. Here's how that all breaks down:
And just a heads up about crowdfunding, we need to hit our goal or all of your generous pledges are returned and we get nothing! BUT, if we hit 80% of our goal, Seed & Spark will green light the project and we'll get to keep the money and make this dream a reality!
Also check out the wishlist tab on our page - where you can pledge or loan something towards the goods and services we need to make THE DENNIS BOYS, It's similar to a wedding registry except instead of gold-plated flatware we’re asking for help with production design, locations, equipment rentals, and the like!
Our fundraising campaign will be live from April to May 2025. If we meet our goal, we will be able to start filming in the fall of 2025 and complete principal photography by the end of October 2025.
Post-production will commence shortly thereafter and we plan to do a red carpet event in 2026 so stay tuned!
You can help us bring THE DENNIS BOYS to life by pledging a cash pledge for one of our awesome perks.
If funds are a little tight, please just hit the follow button above. It's a free way to support the project - and help us unlock all sorts of cool filmmaker perks from Seed & Spark!
Please follow THE DENNIS BOYS on social media -- we're on Instagram @thedennisboysfilm and check out our website www.thedennisboysfilm.com for more information on becoming an investor and receiving a potential tax break on your pledge.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Awesome Gear & Equipment
Costs $1,000
To achieve our vision, we'll need to rent specialized equipment such as lights, lenses, tripods, and the like. Gotta keep the grips happy!
Awesome Craft Services
Costs $1,200
Feeding a hungry film crew is no easy feat, and a donation to this wishlist item will help keep us all fed and (more importantly) happy!
Awesome Hair & Makeup
Costs $800
Making sure our talent is camera ready takes an awesome HMU department, so consider donating to ensure our actors look like a million bucks!
Awesome Crew
Costs $6,000
A great story is nothing without a talented crew to help make it a reality. And the more crew we can hire, the more efficient we are!
Awesome Cast
Costs $5,600
Certainly one of the more important components of filmmaking is a stellar cast. Help us get the right actor for the right role by donating!
Awesome Production Design
Costs $2,400
Blank white walls are never a good look, lol. Help us give the film a unique look by donating to this wishlist item!
Awesome Wardrobe
Costs $800
Wardrobe is key to making sure our actors look the part, thus giving them the confidence to fully immerse themselves into their characters.
Awesome Locations
Costs $2,000
You wouldn't film a space epic in a dusty midwestern town, right? Neither would we! Getting the right locations is key to the film's success
Awesome Contingency
Costs $200
Try as we might, things are bound to go wrong at some point. But funding this contingency will keep us on track and keep us filming.
Share this update!
About This Team
STEPHEN ARTHUR SCHAFFER (writer / director / producer) is a screenwriter and director based in Philadelphia. After graduating with a degree in Illustration from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Stephen began his professional career in 2006. Having worked as a freelance designer, illustrator, and comic book artist for nearly a decade, Stephen transitioned into writing and filmmaking. Stephen has written, produced, and directed nine short films, in addition to directing, shooting, and editing various commercial, corporate, and music videos. As a filmmaker, Stephen strives to produce stories about people of color that would otherwise be ignored. His first feature-length screenplay, “The Dennis Boys,” won the Oscar Micheaux Award for excellence in screenwriting by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
JAMIE FORSLUND (producer / production designer) is an artist, educator, producer and production designer who has used her diverse talents to craft unique looks for award-winning short films and music videos. From development to post-production and every stage in between, Jamie is a true renaissance woman with invaluable knowledge and insight on a wide range of topics from character development, to cinematography, to special effects makeup, to marketing and graphic design. Having lived and traveled overseas for half a decade, Jamie has developed a keen aesthetic sensibility that allows her to push boundaries and experiment in fresh and exciting ways.
ADAMAH COLE (producer) is a creative media and business professional with degrees from Dartmouth College, the Wharton School of Business and the Lauder Institute for Management & International Studies. His professional experience includes media strategy and business development positions for MTV and Nickelodeon at Viacom, leading grassroots marketing for the independent film “3rd Street Blackout,” and leading global marketing campaigns from inception through launch as a member of the brand marketing team at YouTube, and leading the creative production unit for the online program management company Noodle. Adamah currently works as an independent consultant, driving brand strategy, content marketing, and PR initiatives for global e-commerce clients, while also nurturing his own creative skillset as a musician and screenwriter.
TATIANA ST. PHARD (producer / actor) Owner/Senior Producer of Teaspoon & Pound Media, Tatiana is an independent film and media maker who curates and amplifies the ancestral wisdom of subjects and characters rendered virtually invisible in mainstream media. Her current slate of projects include a children's web series and Ulrick Jean-Pierre documentary in post production. She uses her storytelling expertise to help her clients share their stories with online and live audiences. A working actress for over two decades, Tatiana can be seen in the recently released feature films The Upside and Glass. Tatiana is a 2018 Flaherty Seminar Fellow and has received Leeway Art and Change (2009, 2014, 2019) Her Film Project, Small But Mighty Arts and Lucius and Eva Eastman grants.
MATT SOMMA (animator) is owner/lead animator of Po-Town Studios, responsible for animated commercials across marquee brands such as Kate Spade, the National Hockey League, McDonalds, and many more during his 20 year career. From MTV’s Celebrity DeathMatch to his hilarious work on Doll Race 3000, Matt continues to push the bounds of stop motion, sculpting, and storytelling. His nuanced understanding of emotion and humor has delighted clients and audiences across the globe.