Our stretch goal is $19,000, the actual amount we need for production. So if we are at $15,000 don't let that stop you from donating! We will also have post-production expenses to cover as well.

The Oldest is a narrative short film that explores the inner life of a girl, as she retreats inward under the weight of responsibility of taking care of her siblings and minding her father's drinking. At its heart, The Oldest is a coming of age slice-of-life film about a girl. While it also touches on themes of addiction, a fierce connection to nature, and generational trauma, it centers around Cate, a sensitive 12 year old girl who feels the weight of the responsibility of taking care of her siblings and worrying about her father. This film takes place in rural Iowa, home of cornfields, lakes and big blue skies. Its also where our director, Cathlin McCullough, grew up. This film is her love letter to Iowa.

Photos by Cathlin McCullough

12-year-old Cate’s father comes to a sudden stop on a gravel road, and tells Cate to take over driving his prized sports car, even though she doesn’t know how to drive a stick and her 4 younger siblings are in the car. Cate gets them all home safely, but she’s shaken by the experience when she realizes that her dad has been drinking again. Once home, Cate escapes by climbing out her window and taking refuge beneath Iowa’s huge sky.

"I have been working on this film seriously for two years, and less seriously for four. As a visual artist, the film started out as an image in my head of the opening scene, based on a memory from childhood that came back to me. I first thought it was a photograph I was seeing, but it quickly became apparent that what I was seeing was a moving picture.

I have had the desire to direct films for awhile, but hadn’t acted on it until now. I'm thrilled to be making my dream a reality. Like my photographs, I want this film to feel raw and evocative; make you feel something. And I want to center a girl's inner world. This film focuses on Cate and her reaction to the stress she feels in her family circumstance. Addiction has touched my family a great deal, and it's important for me to address the topic in a sensitive, but honest way from the perspective of a child. My personal experiences led me to give up alcohol myself, so it's a topic that I care deeply about." -Cathlin, Writer/Director of The Oldest

This story is loosely based on Cathlin's childhood, but is fictional. Cathlin wrote the character of Cate based on herself, "I was a serious and sensitive child, because I had to be". Cate represents the hardest parts of being the oldest child in a difficult family dynamic, as well as a child of a parent battling addiction. She is very responsible, and takes her role of taking care of her family very seriously. Cate yearns for freedom and the chance to just be a kid; Iowa's rural beauty holds her and gives her a place to escape into.

SHOOTING ON FILM VS. DIGITAL

This film is set in the late 80s, and we want a nostalgic look that feels accurate for the time, and also showcases the beauty of Iowa in a compelling way. Film does all of these things. It handles light so beautifully, and light is an important part of our visual language. There’s also a magic, intangible quality to film that feels like a living thing. We love the depth and warmth film provides.

BTS from the test shoot

Last year, in August of 2023, we did a full-day test shoot in order to test potential film stocks, and to test some ideas and get a chance to work together before the real deal. It gave Bruce another chance to work with film, and taught us a lot. Because film is so expensive, we had to really consider what the right medium would be, and not just choose film because we love it.

We plan on wide shots that showcase Iowa’s beauty, to close-up shots focused on emotions. The nature scenes should feel immersive. Color and tone play important roles, and we’ll be utilizing a couple different film stocks to subtly express feelings. This film should feel rich, warm and nostalgic. We want to use immersive sounds from nature to help tell the story of Cate’s love for Iowa, and show how she loses herself in nature.

The fundraising process has already started, beginning in early April. We've received the funds to pay for our 16mm camera and lens rentals from a very generous donor - thank you! (We have to rent in Minneapolis, Minnesota: approx 3 hours and 42 mins from where we will be shooting in Iowa, or about 244 miles). There are no 16mm cameras local to us, so we need to make a bit of a trek to make this film look dreamy. We know it's worth it!

"I'm making this film because I have to as an artist. Because it’s been such a loud calling, something I can’t ignore. I'm making it to process grief, to process childhood memories, and to tell a girl's story. To share the story with someone else who needs it and to shed light on the disease of addiction because I believe shame and secrecy hurts families. This film appeals to anyone who loves a coming of age story, to anyone wanting to support female filmmakers and stories about girls, to Midwesterners or anyone who loves nature like I do, to any oldest child, to children of parents battling addiction, to their parents, to families with a loved one battling addiction, and to those who have recovered." -Cathlin McCullough



This film is important now because we want to elevate the stories of girls and center women’s voices. Do you know that “Only 6% of directors across the 1,600 most popular movies between 2007 and 2022 were women”. -Annenburg Center for Inclusion

I don’t know many stories that tell a nuanced and tender story about family addiction, avoiding tired tropes of “good versus bad.  "28.320 million people, or 20% of people who drink alcohol, have an alcohol use disorder" - National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics

While there is some truth to the story, it is still fictional, we want to highlight how parental addiction effects children. Because this film is from Cate's perspective we get to see a unique insight on just that, the push and pull of responsibility and how badly she wishes to be just a child. We believe in the power of stories and representation and we hope that this story helps someone else feel less alone, and less different.

Lets breakdown the budget:

• PAYING OUR CREW: This is our biggest part of the budget and is ultimately most important to us. This crew consist of local Iowans who are ready to make this this beautiful film a reality. The crew is made up of the same people who did the test shoot summer 2023 and we're grateful to have them.
• FILM & DEVELOPING: We're shooting on 16mm film for this short and it ain't cheap. Shooting on film pushes this short forward. The cost of developing is included in the breakdown.
• PRODUCTION RENTALS: We're renting many things which is where this cost comes from. For example, walkies, generator, chairs, tables, first aid kit, gas, signs, etc. While this stuff is not the most exciting it help makes the film possible.
• GRIP & ELECTRIC: Have you ever been watching a movie and you come across just stunning lighting and it just fits perfectly with what the character is doing? They handle the lighting to make sure every shot is perfect. This covers the cost of rentals for our G&E team.
• CRAFTY & CATERING: We all have to eat and this covers the cost of feeding us. We want to make sure no one gets hangry and we can have a successful shoot.
• ART & WARDROBE: This film is set in the late 80's which makes it a period piece. To source vintage clothing and decorate the set accordingly we will have to search high and low to make that happen.
• PICTURE VEHICLE: Another thing about doing a period piece thats based in late 80's means making sure the characters drive matches the time frame.

Stretch Goals

We are fundraising in a variety of ways to support this film, and Seed & Spark crowdfunding is just one of them. We have additional needs not listed here such as transportation, hard drives, pre-production, and the entire post-production budget! We'll be fundraising after this campaign ends so sharing it with everyone you know is so important!

Other ways to support this film (they are all important)!

1. Follow us on Seed and Spark! We need to grow the community on our page and spread the word and boost visibility.

2. Give us a follow on our instagram and facebook page! Sharing posts and stories furthers our reach to other people to share this film.

3. Word of mouth. Let people know you're supporting this film and why!