The Flies!
Athens, Georgia | Film Short
Horror, Action
Two opposing factions of men on an uninhabited island are forced to work together in the face of an extraterrestrial threat-- The Flies! But the men's in-fighting continues... as two survivors persist, proving when we work together, there can be hope.
The Flies!
Athens, Georgia | Film Short
Horror, Action
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $11,805 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
56 supporters | followers
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Two opposing factions of men on an uninhabited island are forced to work together in the face of an extraterrestrial threat-- The Flies! But the men's in-fighting continues... as two survivors persist, proving when we work together, there can be hope.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Posters by Zack Jarrett @zackj_art
Shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, a group of men have seen hell-- now fractured into two opposing factions. On one side are Milo & Omar, who cling to their bond as they hunt and scavenge amongst the brutal island environment. On the other is Cody, a ruthless brute, and Reed, his equally animalistic lackey. Finley lags behind them, clinging to his humanity as he just tries to stay alive. These men represent the levels of id, ego, and superego that degenerate quickly in William Golding's Lord of the Flies.
"All of us are by nature wild beasts. Our duty as human beings is to become like trainers who keep their animals in check..." - Atsushi Nakajima
OUR STORY...
Milo & Omar are on the hunt for a pig when Cody, Reed, and Finley arrive. Conflict nearly erupts, but they're interrupted by a far away noise... something falling from high above-- when before they know it-- SPLASH! Something has crash landed off the shore of the island...
Enter...
A group of extraterrestrial women who move as one, a hivemind. They're like a swarm of flies-- hungry, fast, and relentless. They've crash landed onto Earth with a mission... to save their dying Elder. The Flies will stop at nothing to help her, killing and eating whoever stands in their way.
In Lord of the Flies, conspiracy and paranoia arises amongst the two factions over a "beast" who is supposedly murderous, terrifying, and hungry. In The Flies!, that beast becomes real-- taking the form of a group of women. Both paralleling and standing in contrast to the men, they're the perfect foil, and they just might win...
To realize the Flies, we are constructing costumes and creating special make-up effects. We will also be working with a choreographer to utilize dance & movement in creating the creepy synchronization that makes the Flies unique.
The Flies! is influenced by pulpy '70s-'80s sci-fi horror and action films like Predator (1987, dir. John McTiernan), The Fly (1986, dir. David Cronenberg), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978, dir. Philip Kaufman), while infusing the sensibilities of modern horror seen in No One Will Save You (2023, dir. Brian Duffield) and Sinners (2025, dir. Ryan Coogler). The film will be both intense and tender, exploring what Lord of the Flies may look like with LGBT+ characters.
Stylistically, wide lenses will show off the vast, all natural environment, while intense close-ups will punctuate the visceral horror these men are going through. An active, participatory camera will bring you into the middle of the action. It's going to be a wild, thrilling time for the audience-- all in 15-minutes!
The Flies! is my thesis film for the University of Georgia MFA Film, Television, and Digital Media program, to be shot in mid-April and completed by August. If you know me, you know my film & theatre works are high-stakes, analyzing humanity through extreme circumstances. For this film, I wanted to analyze the divisiveness that is plaguing my country, the United States of America, while still telling a genre story with science fiction, horror, and action elements. And what better way to express this than through Lord of the Flies, an essential piece of literature about a society existing in violent disunity.
With The Flies!, I'm analyzing complex gender, sexuality, and sociopolitical issues in a subtle way through a high-octane genre story. Genre films (meaning horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, etc.) are the highest-grossing films of the modern era-- The Flies! is a proof-of-concept short film, with the hopes to expand the story into a feature film and/or television series.
This campaign is vital towards the success of The Flies! for production and eventually a film festival run, with the potential to one day reach bigger, more ambitious heights.
Your donation will propel us to success. From myself, and the larger team-- we are so grateful for your support.
- Chris Pendry, writer / director
Your contribution will make this film possible.
Give at one of our incentive levels or at any amount of your choosing by clicking "Make a Pledge"! With a $10,000 goal, any amount helps!
Budget
Visit our "Wishlist" tab to learn more about our budget breakdown!
Visit our "The Team" tab to learn more about writer/director Chris Pendry and all about the producer Lora Hogan, director of photography Addison Brown, and designers: Leilani Chun, Brittany Swearingen, & Eliza Lou Divine!
Lastly, follow us!
By following us on Seed & Spark, you're helping our campaign reach more people! You'll also receive newsletters on The Flies! and its journey. Visit our "Updates" tab to see past posts! You can also follow along on Instagram: @theflies_film !
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department
Costs $3,000
Costumes! Make-up! Hair! Our art department is vital in realizing this film, and is our biggest expensive. Support them today!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $2,750
Breakfast & lunch for our cast & crew keeps spirits high and bellies full, while snacks & drinks throughout the day help maintain energy!
The Crew
Costs $1,000
Secures our wonderful crew and assists in their transportation to and from Athens for production.
The Cast
Costs $1,000
Secures our talented cast and assists in their transportation to and from Athens for production.
Contingency
Costs $1,000
This provides our production with a cushion for any and all additional expenses that may be incurred throughout the process.
Safety & Stunts
Costs $750
This film is action-packed. Hiring a choreographer and stunt coordinator is key to realizing this vision and keeping our talent safe.
Post-Production
Costs $500
To help realize the vision of the island, there are some shots that require visual effects. This is crucial to bringing the island to life.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer / Director - Chris Pendry
Chris Pendry (he/him) is elated to bring The Flies! to life as his thesis for the University of Georgia MFA Film, Television, and Digital Media program. Chris is from Lawrence, KS, where he also graduated from the University of Kansas in Film Production and Theatre Performance. Since graduating, he has worked for the Kansas City Chiefs, Lawrence Arts Center, Circus Flora, and the Florida Studio Theatre. He also trained as playwright at the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College, where he developed his play Destroyed by Horses. A reading of Destroyed by Horses will be held at the Marigold Auditorium on February 11th to benefit The Flies! Chris specializes in high-stakes horror and thriller works for both film and theatre and is so elated to be working with an amazing team to realize The Flies!
Producer - Lora Hogan
Lora Hogan (she/her) is an Athens-based actress and producer with a passion for storytelling and using film and theater in an impactful way. Producer credits include: Paulina, Buckhead Belle (both directed by MFA graduate Alex Richard Thomas and with DP Addison Brown), family friendly anti-bullying vertical Wryb, the comedic Headbanging, and more. She always thanks Sesame Street for getting her career started, yoga for keeping her present every day, and all the amazing people she's been able to work with on stage, screen, in the writer's room, and more.
Costume Designer for The Flies - Leilani Chun
Leilani Chun (she/her) is a tailor, multi-media artist, and owner of Chun Tailoring, a custom sewing and repair business in Lawrence, Kansas. Leilani has previously worked on film, theater, and photo productions as a crew member, actor, dancer, composer, designer, and cinematographer. The Flies! is up next in a lifetime of collaborations with Chris Pendry, and she is excited to join such a talented team in bringing this horrifying dream to life.
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Costume Designer for The Lords - Brittany Swearingen
Brittany Swearingen (she/they) is a Kansas City-based fashion stylist and marketing specialist. They bring a love for story-telling, fashion, and film to The Flies! production. They have experience as a producer and director on King's Court: The Documentary and as a creative consultant for some of Pendry's previous works. This will be her first foray into scripted production. She is elated to collaborate with this brilliant team of designers, performers, producers, and artists on this project.
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Hair & Make-Up Designer - Eliza Lou Divine
As a life-long theatre practitioner, Eliza Lou Divine (she/they) is thrilled to be transferring their skills from stage to screen for the very first time. Her previous credits include hair and make-up design for Dragons Love Tacos at the University of Minnesota - Duluth and directing for the Women in New Theatre Play Festival at the Duluth Playhouse. Lou adores all aspects of storytelling, and has been so inspired by the horrific artistic playground presented in The Flies! It's a dream come true for them to work on such an intriguing project with such dear friends.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Posters by Zack Jarrett @zackj_art
Shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, a group of men have seen hell-- now fractured into two opposing factions. On one side are Milo & Omar, who cling to their bond as they hunt and scavenge amongst the brutal island environment. On the other is Cody, a ruthless brute, and Reed, his equally animalistic lackey. Finley lags behind them, clinging to his humanity as he just tries to stay alive. These men represent the levels of id, ego, and superego that degenerate quickly in William Golding's Lord of the Flies.
"All of us are by nature wild beasts. Our duty as human beings is to become like trainers who keep their animals in check..." - Atsushi Nakajima
OUR STORY...
Milo & Omar are on the hunt for a pig when Cody, Reed, and Finley arrive. Conflict nearly erupts, but they're interrupted by a far away noise... something falling from high above-- when before they know it-- SPLASH! Something has crash landed off the shore of the island...
Enter...
A group of extraterrestrial women who move as one, a hivemind. They're like a swarm of flies-- hungry, fast, and relentless. They've crash landed onto Earth with a mission... to save their dying Elder. The Flies will stop at nothing to help her, killing and eating whoever stands in their way.
In Lord of the Flies, conspiracy and paranoia arises amongst the two factions over a "beast" who is supposedly murderous, terrifying, and hungry. In The Flies!, that beast becomes real-- taking the form of a group of women. Both paralleling and standing in contrast to the men, they're the perfect foil, and they just might win...
To realize the Flies, we are constructing costumes and creating special make-up effects. We will also be working with a choreographer to utilize dance & movement in creating the creepy synchronization that makes the Flies unique.
The Flies! is influenced by pulpy '70s-'80s sci-fi horror and action films like Predator (1987, dir. John McTiernan), The Fly (1986, dir. David Cronenberg), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978, dir. Philip Kaufman), while infusing the sensibilities of modern horror seen in No One Will Save You (2023, dir. Brian Duffield) and Sinners (2025, dir. Ryan Coogler). The film will be both intense and tender, exploring what Lord of the Flies may look like with LGBT+ characters.
Stylistically, wide lenses will show off the vast, all natural environment, while intense close-ups will punctuate the visceral horror these men are going through. An active, participatory camera will bring you into the middle of the action. It's going to be a wild, thrilling time for the audience-- all in 15-minutes!
The Flies! is my thesis film for the University of Georgia MFA Film, Television, and Digital Media program, to be shot in mid-April and completed by August. If you know me, you know my film & theatre works are high-stakes, analyzing humanity through extreme circumstances. For this film, I wanted to analyze the divisiveness that is plaguing my country, the United States of America, while still telling a genre story with science fiction, horror, and action elements. And what better way to express this than through Lord of the Flies, an essential piece of literature about a society existing in violent disunity.
With The Flies!, I'm analyzing complex gender, sexuality, and sociopolitical issues in a subtle way through a high-octane genre story. Genre films (meaning horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, etc.) are the highest-grossing films of the modern era-- The Flies! is a proof-of-concept short film, with the hopes to expand the story into a feature film and/or television series.
This campaign is vital towards the success of The Flies! for production and eventually a film festival run, with the potential to one day reach bigger, more ambitious heights.
Your donation will propel us to success. From myself, and the larger team-- we are so grateful for your support.
- Chris Pendry, writer / director
Your contribution will make this film possible.
Give at one of our incentive levels or at any amount of your choosing by clicking "Make a Pledge"! With a $10,000 goal, any amount helps!
Budget
Visit our "Wishlist" tab to learn more about our budget breakdown!
Visit our "The Team" tab to learn more about writer/director Chris Pendry and all about the producer Lora Hogan, director of photography Addison Brown, and designers: Leilani Chun, Brittany Swearingen, & Eliza Lou Divine!
Lastly, follow us!
By following us on Seed & Spark, you're helping our campaign reach more people! You'll also receive newsletters on The Flies! and its journey. Visit our "Updates" tab to see past posts! You can also follow along on Instagram: @theflies_film !
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Art Department
Costs $3,000
Costumes! Make-up! Hair! Our art department is vital in realizing this film, and is our biggest expensive. Support them today!
Catering & Craft Services
Costs $2,750
Breakfast & lunch for our cast & crew keeps spirits high and bellies full, while snacks & drinks throughout the day help maintain energy!
The Crew
Costs $1,000
Secures our wonderful crew and assists in their transportation to and from Athens for production.
The Cast
Costs $1,000
Secures our talented cast and assists in their transportation to and from Athens for production.
Contingency
Costs $1,000
This provides our production with a cushion for any and all additional expenses that may be incurred throughout the process.
Safety & Stunts
Costs $750
This film is action-packed. Hiring a choreographer and stunt coordinator is key to realizing this vision and keeping our talent safe.
Post-Production
Costs $500
To help realize the vision of the island, there are some shots that require visual effects. This is crucial to bringing the island to life.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer / Director - Chris Pendry
Chris Pendry (he/him) is elated to bring The Flies! to life as his thesis for the University of Georgia MFA Film, Television, and Digital Media program. Chris is from Lawrence, KS, where he also graduated from the University of Kansas in Film Production and Theatre Performance. Since graduating, he has worked for the Kansas City Chiefs, Lawrence Arts Center, Circus Flora, and the Florida Studio Theatre. He also trained as playwright at the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College, where he developed his play Destroyed by Horses. A reading of Destroyed by Horses will be held at the Marigold Auditorium on February 11th to benefit The Flies! Chris specializes in high-stakes horror and thriller works for both film and theatre and is so elated to be working with an amazing team to realize The Flies!
Producer - Lora Hogan
Lora Hogan (she/her) is an Athens-based actress and producer with a passion for storytelling and using film and theater in an impactful way. Producer credits include: Paulina, Buckhead Belle (both directed by MFA graduate Alex Richard Thomas and with DP Addison Brown), family friendly anti-bullying vertical Wryb, the comedic Headbanging, and more. She always thanks Sesame Street for getting her career started, yoga for keeping her present every day, and all the amazing people she's been able to work with on stage, screen, in the writer's room, and more.
Costume Designer for The Flies - Leilani Chun
Leilani Chun (she/her) is a tailor, multi-media artist, and owner of Chun Tailoring, a custom sewing and repair business in Lawrence, Kansas. Leilani has previously worked on film, theater, and photo productions as a crew member, actor, dancer, composer, designer, and cinematographer. The Flies! is up next in a lifetime of collaborations with Chris Pendry, and she is excited to join such a talented team in bringing this horrifying dream to life.
Costume Designer for The Lords - Brittany Swearingen
Brittany Swearingen (she/they) is a Kansas City-based fashion stylist and marketing specialist. They bring a love for story-telling, fashion, and film to The Flies! production. They have experience as a producer and director on King's Court: The Documentary and as a creative consultant for some of Pendry's previous works. This will be her first foray into scripted production. She is elated to collaborate with this brilliant team of designers, performers, producers, and artists on this project.
Hair & Make-Up Designer - Eliza Lou Divine
As a life-long theatre practitioner, Eliza Lou Divine (she/they) is thrilled to be transferring their skills from stage to screen for the very first time. Her previous credits include hair and make-up design for Dragons Love Tacos at the University of Minnesota - Duluth and directing for the Women in New Theatre Play Festival at the Duluth Playhouse. Lou adores all aspects of storytelling, and has been so inspired by the horrific artistic playground presented in The Flies! It's a dream come true for them to work on such an intriguing project with such dear friends.