The Detroit Short Films Feature
Detroit, Michigan | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
By supporting the DSFF with finishing funds, you can be a direct and vital part of our film community. Your help will push our amazing actors into the spotlight. Your financial encouragement will light up the silver screen with 12 beautiful, diverse stories. Time to put on your producer's hat!
The Detroit Short Films Feature
Detroit, Michigan | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | Michigan, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,825 for production phase 2. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
80 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
By supporting the DSFF with finishing funds, you can be a direct and vital part of our film community. Your help will push our amazing actors into the spotlight. Your financial encouragement will light up the silver screen with 12 beautiful, diverse stories. Time to put on your producer's hat!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It all started at The Actor's Workshop-Detroit. We don't know who came up with the original idea but Writer/Director Brian Lawrence decided to write ten film sketches, each in a different genre or style as material for his acting class students. Maybe it was Actor/Producer/Director Aïda Muñoz who suggested we invite different Detroit creatives to direct the shorts. Soon came the idea of putting these films together for a big, splashy screening. As interest grew, the project increased from ten to 12 short films. A dozen short films that would make up The Detroit Short Films Feature.
We reached out to a variety of people -- from high-profile advertising creatives, music video directors and a successful TV show host to award-winning indie filmmakers and even a few newcomers to the movie-making game. We realized that we were not only inviting experienced artists to participate but also discovering new talent. We were truly astonished at the overwhelming response! Some of the directors had their own regular crews in place and fully took on producing responsibilities, including post production. Other directors relied on the filmmaking experience that Brian and Aïda provided. We cast actors from our studio but occasionally there were roles that needed to be filled by other actors. Aïda, a longtime SAG-AFTRA member, pulled union actors (including the president of the Michigan local) into the project using SAG-AFTRA's Micro Budget Agreement.
To date, we've shot seven films and started production on the eighth, with four more to go. Of the seven films in the can, only two are completely finished; five are in post production. With your help, we will:
• Shoot the remaining four films this summer
• Complete all post production
• Premiere these film gems at a theater
The quality of the work to date has been outstanding and with your support, we plan to continue producing high quality, entertaining and compelling cinema.
One of the striking qualities of this project is its diversity. Among our crews and casts, we boast a wide range of backgrounds, experience, cultures and ages. We have brought together a rich array of talent, many working together for the first time. This has been an extraordinary creative endeavor and with your support, we can get this project over the finish line. The momentum has been building but for it to continue, we need a boost. We invite you to join us and be part of the team! 🎥🎬🎞️📽️
The 12 films in our project are:
- Home for Christmas - A young woman on the brink of a big decision seeks the wisdom of her dying grandfather.
- My Trip to Palermo - A petty gangster promises his long-suffering wife a trip to her ancestral home.
- Nick & Glenda's Adventures in Outer Space: Episode 31 - A retro-futuristic "show" about a pair of astronauts stranded on an unfamiliar planet.
- For Better or Worse - When the girl he loves is about to marry another, a young ex-con seeks the help of his childhood buddy.
- Ten Thousand Tears - A troubled young woman seeks to run away with her lover, only to discover he cannot join her.
- Happy Anniversary - In the West of the 1880s, a woman can no longer live with her husband's abuse.
- My New Boyfriend - A woman recovering from a breakup is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend on her doorstep.
- The Last Motel on the Edge of Nowhere - Young Amish woman flees her community, finding herself on the streets of a big Midwest city in the 1970s.
- Saturdays Used to Come Once a Week - Idealistic young man enlists his best friend in search of his beloved who has disappeared in New York City.
- According to His Need - In 1930s Chicago, an ambitious chauffeur is smitten by a pretty housemaid.
- I Must Be Crazy - Rural film noir tells the tale of a secret lovers' plan gone wrong.
- The Least of These - Little girl and her grandfather face their town's scrutiny over their mysterious past.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
1880s Costumes
Costs $1,250
One of our shorts, "Happy Anniversary" is a Western love story requiring authentic-looking period costumes.
1930s Butler, Chauffeur & Maid Costumes
Costs $750
"According to His Need" -- one of the most touching of our stories -- takes place in 1930s Chicago.
Location Sound Mixing
Costs $1,000
Some money is needed for location sound mixing services. Sound is half the picture!
Craft Services or Catering
Costs $1,000
Even if all the cast and crew contribute time and skills, they still have to be fed! Contributions of meals or snacks would be great!
Grip Gear
Costs $1,000
This funding will help us secure necessary equipment and expendables for efficient production.
Location Fees
Costs $1,000
Shooting on location is less expensive than building sets in a sound stage. Some locations have fees and associated costs.
Post Production
Costs $3,500
Post production is a multi-step process that incurs unavoidable cash costs. We still have several films to shepherd through post.
Theater for Premiere
Costs $1,000
All films deserve a nice premiere. While $1000 won't cover the entire cost of a theatre, it will give us the ability to secure a venue.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team consists of artists with a rich variety of backgrounds, experience, cultures, talents and ages. From veteran writer/director Brian Lawrence to Blu Owens, our youngest actress, the group reflects an array of personalities and stages of life. Our common thread, however, is our passion for storytelling.
DIRECTORS: Brian Lawrence - Feature Director; Screenwriter; Stage Director; Playwright; Acting/Screenwriting Teacher; Advertising Copywriter, Director, Producer; Musician/Songwriter. Gary Bredow - EP and Host of the long-running (13 seasons and counting), 6 time Emmy-nominated PBS series Start Up; Screenwriter ("The Beautiful Ones"); Documentary Film Director (High Tech Soul); Actor; Commercial Advertising Writer, Director, Producer; Songwriter. Anthony Garth - Acclaimed Music Video Director (White Stripes, Eminem, Von Bondies, D12, Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock); Commercial Director, Writer (Pure Michigan series, Chevy, Ford, GM, Harley Davidson, Chrysler "Lose Yourself", JEEP, Porsche Dassault and countless more). Marty Shea - Award-winning screenwriter, Filmmaker, Producer (21 Grams), Renowned Playwright and co-founder of Collabfeature (a record-breaking international movie collaboration). Lara Sfire - 2024 Kresge Artist Fellow; MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts; NYC-based credits for independent and commercial films plus network TV shows; PSA's; music videos; TV pilot; Co-Owner of The Film Lab. Erich Weimer - Creative Editor, Content Creator. Commercials: Bud Light, Buffalo Wild Wings, BMW, Under Armor Champion, Carhartt (to name a few); Music Videos: Linkin Park, Gwen Stefani, Weezer, The Roots, Ciara, Aloe Blacc, Daughtry; Independent filmmaker including the documentary feature When We Went MAD. Aida Munoz - SAG-AFTRA Actor; Filmmaker; Photographer; Painter; Graphic Artist; Writer; Acting Teacher; Career Consultant. Taylor Todd - Reality Series 313 Vs Everybody (EP, Director); Feature Film G.R.I.N.D. (Co-Producer); Taking of Courtroom One Two Three (EP); Necessary Sinz (EP, Screenwriter, Director); Owner StreamZvision Studio. Angelina Roach (Director), Mia Nesich (Cinematographer) - A creative TEAM that collaborates on all phases of film production. They also compose original music for and, perform with, an alt band. Laura Eagan - Veteran Actor, Stage Director, Musician, Singer, Painter, Photographer and Graphic Artist. Joshua Mullins - Accomplished Stage, Commercial and Screen Actor; Theater Director; Writer; Filmmaker.
ACTORS: The ensemble casts feature Eric Wydra (SAG-AFTRA MI Local President); David Jeffrey (starred in stage productions in New York and Toronto as well as locally at Meadowbrook and the Michigan Opera Theater, studied with Bill Hickey and Michael Shurtleff, shared screen time with movie icons Jean Pierre Aumont, Elliot Gould); Aida Muñoz (Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ides of March, Corrupted Minds, Chicago Fire); Robert Paul (Ghostbusters, After the Bomb, Under the Blinking Light); Josh Mullins (Nothing Ever Changes, After the Bomb, Killer Caine); Laura Eagan (After the Bomb, LoveTalk!, Nothing Ever Changes); Jerry O' Connor (Nothing Ever Changes, Dreams, Rocket Ship); Elaina Medva (Nothing Ever Changes, LoveTalk!, Midsummer Night’s Dream); Jim Howey (Elm City, Nothing Ever Changes, Ghost Sonata); Melissa Runge-Morris (Midsummer Night's Dream, Nothing Ever Changes, 1-900-THE-SH0W); D'eAndre Squalls (Stand-up Comedy, Nothing Ever Changes, B-Movie II, Dreams); Mark Bishop (SAG-AFTRA commercials, films, classical and contemporary theater credits including Detroit Rep); Gary Bredow (renowned TV host and film narrator); Karly Coffee (Nothing Ever Changes, Ophelia, Method & Madness); Joseph Catalano (Warpath, Elm City, Under the Blinking Light); Melissa Montaleone (Strike of Love, Code: Blackout, Love Drunk); Kavon Dalton (Nothing Ever Changes, Killer Caine); Avon Nox (actor, screenwriter); Allison Yoon (screen actor, filmmaker, trained with nationally prominent drama teachers); Rebecca Bredow (commercial, TV, screen actor); Zara Korso (screen actor, stunt performer); Stacy Latnie (actor, athlete, coach); Trey Brinker (stage and screen actor); Riki Lopez (actor, writer); Aricka Rushan (SAG veteran actor); Garrett Bauer (stage actor - West Side Story); Adalyna Mislevy (musical theater, screen actor); Sherry Miller (commedienne, actor); plus popular indie film actors Alex Herndon, J.T. Simms and Malachi Blades.
CHILD PERFORMERS: Blu Owens (Whitney Springs, Nothing Ever Changes); Marino Jones (Commercial Actor, Nothing Ever Changes); Breslin Pursley (dancer, musical theater actor, Nothing Ever Changes); Kash Parker (Nothing Ever Changes); Karter Bell (professional child actor, model); Tate Parker (Nothing Ever Changes).
Additional TEAM MEMBERS: Doug Jezak (Post Production Supervisor); Max Watkins (Production, Post Production); Mary Petryshyn (Production Advisor, AD); Dani Parker (Stunt Coordinator); Tessa Hawkes (Wardrobe, Makeup); Geoff George (Cinematography); Sandy Hopkins (Locations, Set Coordinator) and many, many more.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It all started at The Actor's Workshop-Detroit. We don't know who came up with the original idea but Writer/Director Brian Lawrence decided to write ten film sketches, each in a different genre or style as material for his acting class students. Maybe it was Actor/Producer/Director Aïda Muñoz who suggested we invite different Detroit creatives to direct the shorts. Soon came the idea of putting these films together for a big, splashy screening. As interest grew, the project increased from ten to 12 short films. A dozen short films that would make up The Detroit Short Films Feature.
We reached out to a variety of people -- from high-profile advertising creatives, music video directors and a successful TV show host to award-winning indie filmmakers and even a few newcomers to the movie-making game. We realized that we were not only inviting experienced artists to participate but also discovering new talent. We were truly astonished at the overwhelming response! Some of the directors had their own regular crews in place and fully took on producing responsibilities, including post production. Other directors relied on the filmmaking experience that Brian and Aïda provided. We cast actors from our studio but occasionally there were roles that needed to be filled by other actors. Aïda, a longtime SAG-AFTRA member, pulled union actors (including the president of the Michigan local) into the project using SAG-AFTRA's Micro Budget Agreement.
To date, we've shot seven films and started production on the eighth, with four more to go. Of the seven films in the can, only two are completely finished; five are in post production. With your help, we will:
• Shoot the remaining four films this summer
• Complete all post production
• Premiere these film gems at a theater
The quality of the work to date has been outstanding and with your support, we plan to continue producing high quality, entertaining and compelling cinema.
One of the striking qualities of this project is its diversity. Among our crews and casts, we boast a wide range of backgrounds, experience, cultures and ages. We have brought together a rich array of talent, many working together for the first time. This has been an extraordinary creative endeavor and with your support, we can get this project over the finish line. The momentum has been building but for it to continue, we need a boost. We invite you to join us and be part of the team! 🎥🎬🎞️📽️
The 12 films in our project are:
- Home for Christmas - A young woman on the brink of a big decision seeks the wisdom of her dying grandfather.
- My Trip to Palermo - A petty gangster promises his long-suffering wife a trip to her ancestral home.
- Nick & Glenda's Adventures in Outer Space: Episode 31 - A retro-futuristic "show" about a pair of astronauts stranded on an unfamiliar planet.
- For Better or Worse - When the girl he loves is about to marry another, a young ex-con seeks the help of his childhood buddy.
- Ten Thousand Tears - A troubled young woman seeks to run away with her lover, only to discover he cannot join her.
- Happy Anniversary - In the West of the 1880s, a woman can no longer live with her husband's abuse.
- My New Boyfriend - A woman recovering from a breakup is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend on her doorstep.
- The Last Motel on the Edge of Nowhere - Young Amish woman flees her community, finding herself on the streets of a big Midwest city in the 1970s.
- Saturdays Used to Come Once a Week - Idealistic young man enlists his best friend in search of his beloved who has disappeared in New York City.
- According to His Need - In 1930s Chicago, an ambitious chauffeur is smitten by a pretty housemaid.
- I Must Be Crazy - Rural film noir tells the tale of a secret lovers' plan gone wrong.
- The Least of These - Little girl and her grandfather face their town's scrutiny over their mysterious past.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
1880s Costumes
Costs $1,250
One of our shorts, "Happy Anniversary" is a Western love story requiring authentic-looking period costumes.
1930s Butler, Chauffeur & Maid Costumes
Costs $750
"According to His Need" -- one of the most touching of our stories -- takes place in 1930s Chicago.
Location Sound Mixing
Costs $1,000
Some money is needed for location sound mixing services. Sound is half the picture!
Craft Services or Catering
Costs $1,000
Even if all the cast and crew contribute time and skills, they still have to be fed! Contributions of meals or snacks would be great!
Grip Gear
Costs $1,000
This funding will help us secure necessary equipment and expendables for efficient production.
Location Fees
Costs $1,000
Shooting on location is less expensive than building sets in a sound stage. Some locations have fees and associated costs.
Post Production
Costs $3,500
Post production is a multi-step process that incurs unavoidable cash costs. We still have several films to shepherd through post.
Theater for Premiere
Costs $1,000
All films deserve a nice premiere. While $1000 won't cover the entire cost of a theatre, it will give us the ability to secure a venue.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team consists of artists with a rich variety of backgrounds, experience, cultures, talents and ages. From veteran writer/director Brian Lawrence to Blu Owens, our youngest actress, the group reflects an array of personalities and stages of life. Our common thread, however, is our passion for storytelling.
DIRECTORS: Brian Lawrence - Feature Director; Screenwriter; Stage Director; Playwright; Acting/Screenwriting Teacher; Advertising Copywriter, Director, Producer; Musician/Songwriter. Gary Bredow - EP and Host of the long-running (13 seasons and counting), 6 time Emmy-nominated PBS series Start Up; Screenwriter ("The Beautiful Ones"); Documentary Film Director (High Tech Soul); Actor; Commercial Advertising Writer, Director, Producer; Songwriter. Anthony Garth - Acclaimed Music Video Director (White Stripes, Eminem, Von Bondies, D12, Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock); Commercial Director, Writer (Pure Michigan series, Chevy, Ford, GM, Harley Davidson, Chrysler "Lose Yourself", JEEP, Porsche Dassault and countless more). Marty Shea - Award-winning screenwriter, Filmmaker, Producer (21 Grams), Renowned Playwright and co-founder of Collabfeature (a record-breaking international movie collaboration). Lara Sfire - 2024 Kresge Artist Fellow; MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts; NYC-based credits for independent and commercial films plus network TV shows; PSA's; music videos; TV pilot; Co-Owner of The Film Lab. Erich Weimer - Creative Editor, Content Creator. Commercials: Bud Light, Buffalo Wild Wings, BMW, Under Armor Champion, Carhartt (to name a few); Music Videos: Linkin Park, Gwen Stefani, Weezer, The Roots, Ciara, Aloe Blacc, Daughtry; Independent filmmaker including the documentary feature When We Went MAD. Aida Munoz - SAG-AFTRA Actor; Filmmaker; Photographer; Painter; Graphic Artist; Writer; Acting Teacher; Career Consultant. Taylor Todd - Reality Series 313 Vs Everybody (EP, Director); Feature Film G.R.I.N.D. (Co-Producer); Taking of Courtroom One Two Three (EP); Necessary Sinz (EP, Screenwriter, Director); Owner StreamZvision Studio. Angelina Roach (Director), Mia Nesich (Cinematographer) - A creative TEAM that collaborates on all phases of film production. They also compose original music for and, perform with, an alt band. Laura Eagan - Veteran Actor, Stage Director, Musician, Singer, Painter, Photographer and Graphic Artist. Joshua Mullins - Accomplished Stage, Commercial and Screen Actor; Theater Director; Writer; Filmmaker.
ACTORS: The ensemble casts feature Eric Wydra (SAG-AFTRA MI Local President); David Jeffrey (starred in stage productions in New York and Toronto as well as locally at Meadowbrook and the Michigan Opera Theater, studied with Bill Hickey and Michael Shurtleff, shared screen time with movie icons Jean Pierre Aumont, Elliot Gould); Aida Muñoz (Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ides of March, Corrupted Minds, Chicago Fire); Robert Paul (Ghostbusters, After the Bomb, Under the Blinking Light); Josh Mullins (Nothing Ever Changes, After the Bomb, Killer Caine); Laura Eagan (After the Bomb, LoveTalk!, Nothing Ever Changes); Jerry O' Connor (Nothing Ever Changes, Dreams, Rocket Ship); Elaina Medva (Nothing Ever Changes, LoveTalk!, Midsummer Night’s Dream); Jim Howey (Elm City, Nothing Ever Changes, Ghost Sonata); Melissa Runge-Morris (Midsummer Night's Dream, Nothing Ever Changes, 1-900-THE-SH0W); D'eAndre Squalls (Stand-up Comedy, Nothing Ever Changes, B-Movie II, Dreams); Mark Bishop (SAG-AFTRA commercials, films, classical and contemporary theater credits including Detroit Rep); Gary Bredow (renowned TV host and film narrator); Karly Coffee (Nothing Ever Changes, Ophelia, Method & Madness); Joseph Catalano (Warpath, Elm City, Under the Blinking Light); Melissa Montaleone (Strike of Love, Code: Blackout, Love Drunk); Kavon Dalton (Nothing Ever Changes, Killer Caine); Avon Nox (actor, screenwriter); Allison Yoon (screen actor, filmmaker, trained with nationally prominent drama teachers); Rebecca Bredow (commercial, TV, screen actor); Zara Korso (screen actor, stunt performer); Stacy Latnie (actor, athlete, coach); Trey Brinker (stage and screen actor); Riki Lopez (actor, writer); Aricka Rushan (SAG veteran actor); Garrett Bauer (stage actor - West Side Story); Adalyna Mislevy (musical theater, screen actor); Sherry Miller (commedienne, actor); plus popular indie film actors Alex Herndon, J.T. Simms and Malachi Blades.
CHILD PERFORMERS: Blu Owens (Whitney Springs, Nothing Ever Changes); Marino Jones (Commercial Actor, Nothing Ever Changes); Breslin Pursley (dancer, musical theater actor, Nothing Ever Changes); Kash Parker (Nothing Ever Changes); Karter Bell (professional child actor, model); Tate Parker (Nothing Ever Changes).
Additional TEAM MEMBERS: Doug Jezak (Post Production Supervisor); Max Watkins (Production, Post Production); Mary Petryshyn (Production Advisor, AD); Dani Parker (Stunt Coordinator); Tessa Hawkes (Wardrobe, Makeup); Geoff George (Cinematography); Sandy Hopkins (Locations, Set Coordinator) and many, many more.