The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Drama, Comedy

Henry Thompson

2 Campaigns | California, United States

Green Light

This campaign raised $4,005 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

18 supporters | followers

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77% of suicides are by men. Middle-aged men are statistically the most likely group to die by suicide, & suicide is the leading cause of death in young people. These statistics led to the script that you're helping to fund - who's best to talk to? What do you say? Is there one good answer?

About The Project

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Mission Statement

Writing this script was a journey in itself. I want to bring people on that journey too. I want people to believe there is hope, and I want people to believe that there is always another option. I want you to laugh, to cry, and to see that love and connections can always win.

The Story

*IMPORTANT UPDATE: WE’VE NOW GONE THROUGH PRODUCTION, AND FILMED AN AMAZING FILM USING THE FUNDS THAT THE AMAZING LEE STRASBERG INSTITUTE HAS GIVEN US. THIS FUNDRAISER IS NOW PURELY FOR POST PRODUCTION!*


77% of suicides are by men.


Middle-aged men are statistically the most likely group to die by suicide.


Suicide is the leading cause of death in young people.


This is a story about two men different in just about everything, but on the same path. George is young, but leading a life estranged from anything he thought it would be. Earl  is a little older, but has lost a wife who was everything to him, and wants for nothing other than to be close to her again.  Both men are neighbours, and dislike each other intensely; their relationship is one of insults and petty property damage. But when George climbs up to a roof, ready to jump off, he sees that Earl is already sitting there. Shocked to discover their cruel similarities, they sit, and talk, and speculate on life, death, and the meaning of it all.  Is it enough to save their lives?



This story is inspired by two things - firstly the incredible story of Kevin Hines, who survived jumping from the Golden Gate bridge, and now campaigns for suicide prevention after revealing that, the second he jumped, he wished he hadn't. Secondly, when walking  to work one day, I (Henry) saw someone getting ready to jump from a building in Bank, London. There was a crowd below; and police, and everything seemed so futile - nothing looked like it would be in any way convincing enough to work. I wondered - who would be the best qualified person to save someone in that situation?


Read Kevin's story here.



Thank you so much for reading, we look forward to having you on board our journey!


Love, 

Henry (writer) and Jackson (director)



Wishlist

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On-Set Crew

Costs $2,000

The heart and soul of the production - lights, camera, sound, it all starts here. The most essential money we could be spending!

Equipment

Costs $1,000

This is all the equipment that comes with the main crew - we have a lot of stuff already, but we're getting new lenses etc...

VFX/Post Production

Costs $1,000

We have a particularly complicated VFX section that needs solid attention, and we also want the whole thing to look as strong as possible!

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

About This Team

Henry and Jackson studied together at the Lee Strasberg Institute in LA, and subsequently fundraised and filmed another script together. With Henry in the writers' room, and Jackson as boots on the ground, they create a strong team - both have similar creative inspirations and visions, and a strong friendship underlies everything they work on. Jackson has recently (2023) won awards for a short comedy he produced and directed: "Shave Me From Myself", and the two are about to release a coming-of-age superhero film called "Blind Optimism" that is as silly as it is heartwarming. "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" is an opportunity for Henry & Jackson to showcase some more serious chops, show that they can deal with some heavier material, and ask some bigger questions, whilst still injecting their trademark sense of fun. Have a look at this trailer for Jackson's award-winning film, "Shave Me From Myself".(Above) Henry on set of "Blind Optimism"














(Right) Jackson on set of "Blind Optimism"

Current Team

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