The Patron (2024)
Newberg, Oregon | Film Short
Horror, Mystery
Imagined by a lifelong librarian and Cthulhu aficionado, THE PATRON tells the mysterious and grotesque story of a strange patron and the librarian whose curiousity gets the better of him. Fans of creature features and cosmic horror will find this an eldritch delight.
The Patron (2024)
Newberg, Oregon | Film Short
Horror, Mystery
2 Campaigns | Oregon, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $11,585 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
32 supporters | followers
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Imagined by a lifelong librarian and Cthulhu aficionado, THE PATRON tells the mysterious and grotesque story of a strange patron and the librarian whose curiousity gets the better of him. Fans of creature features and cosmic horror will find this an eldritch delight.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
If there's something fishy at the library...there might be fish people involved.
Our hero, local librarian HOWARD, is at the center of a mystery. What is this odd patron up to, and why does he checkout hundreds of items every single day? How do the fish people fit into the picture? If Howard wants answers, he risks facing his own doom.
A chance encounter, a script on a shelf...
In January 2022, a chance meeting at a wedding reception dinner led this story to our desk. Will is a real life librarian and wrote a Lovecraftian-inspired script; Avery and Ty are filmmakers who were looking for a new project to stretch their creative muscles and tell a new story. Will liked their work, they liked his script, and things took off from there.
Familiar genre, uncommon elements...
The annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, OR showcases a wide array of stories inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror. In recent years, no film has featured fish-frog-hybrid humanoids hatching from eggs. It's also an exciting technical adventure for Casey, our special affects artist, who is known in Portland for her rich production design.
above: photoset of Casey's set design and wardrobe on Midnight Rhythms (2021) and Writer's Retreat (2022)
On the big screen October 2024...
The goals driving us forward center around the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival. We want to submit our film for the 2024 festival EARLY when the submission fees are low. We want to get accepted into festival. And, if our fresh story delights and disgusts people, we hope to achieve a "Best of" award at the festival.
Taking Care of Our Team
At the time of campaign launch, we have a script, locations, and the majority of crew on board. Our team is comprised of people who have been making films together, from one day shoots to three-year-long productions, for nearly ten years. These are folks who love making movies and give it their time and passion. Our budget accounts for their professional day rates, catering, and supplies and gear rentals so the shoot flows smoothly.
above: photoset of crew on the sets of Midnight Rhythms (2021)
Creating the Fish Monsters
The fish monsters are the most challenging part of the production. Our production team needs time and resources to create the ultimate version of these unsettling beings. This SEED&SPARK CAMPAIGN is what will allow us to manifest the vision to its fullest!
above: inspiration collage for the fish monster eggs
above: inspiration collage for the fish monsters
Help us summon this eldritch horror!
We hope you join us on this journey. Here are some ways you can support the film:
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CAMPAIGN
SHARE THE PROJECT WITH FELLOW CTHULHU FANS
ARE YOU A WILLAMETTE VALLEY LOCAL? REACH OUT!
We're looking forward to creating this film with you!
If you have any questions or are interested in contributing in other ways, send us a message at [email protected]
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering
Costs $2,240
A well fed cast and crew is a happy cast and crew!
Cast & Crew
Costs $8,973
Art team, hair and makeup, props, sound, camera, talent, extras, and more - all of the people it takes to make a movie!
Materials
Costs $3,250
Props, wardrobe, set dressing, rentals, equipment, and practical special effects.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WILL WORTHEY (writer) was was born and raised in Scotland in the town of Dumbarton. After obtaining a degree in library science from Strathclyde University he continued to work in libraries as he had as a teenager. He worked in libraries in all positions from shelver to director from 1985 to 2021. In 2021 things took an unexpected turn and he became the City Manager for the town of Newberg, Oregon. Always a librarian at heart, Will has had a lifelong obsession with all things Cthonic and Lovecraftian and has always dreamed of combining this with his career to help create a Cthulhu short film set in a public library.
AVERY ABIGAIL (director, co-producer) is an award-winning producer from Portland, Oregon. A public school educator by day and filmmaker by night, their passion is bringing people together to tell new stories that stretch their skills and experience. Their recent visual poem "Midnight Rhythms" directed by Quincy Woo has won awards at the Oregin Short Film Festival, the Tag! Queer Shorts Festival, DisOrient Asian American Film Festival, and more.
CASEY HASTINGS (costume and makeup) is a visual artist and production designer based in SE Portland. Since 2020, her work has been featured in multiple award-winning short films screening across the west coast. Endlessly inspired by both the divine and the depraved, Casey is on a journey to create the most beautifully disgusting worlds to be captured on film.
TY CAYATINETO (editor) is an Indigenous filmmaker from New Mexico. He grew up immersed in the myths and folklore of the American Southwest, which gives him an edge to tell stories that get under your skin and make your hair stand on end.
RUSSELL BOWEN (director of photography) is a cinematographer from the Pacific Northwest.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
If there's something fishy at the library...there might be fish people involved.
Our hero, local librarian HOWARD, is at the center of a mystery. What is this odd patron up to, and why does he checkout hundreds of items every single day? How do the fish people fit into the picture? If Howard wants answers, he risks facing his own doom.
A chance encounter, a script on a shelf...
In January 2022, a chance meeting at a wedding reception dinner led this story to our desk. Will is a real life librarian and wrote a Lovecraftian-inspired script; Avery and Ty are filmmakers who were looking for a new project to stretch their creative muscles and tell a new story. Will liked their work, they liked his script, and things took off from there.
Familiar genre, uncommon elements...
The annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, OR showcases a wide array of stories inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror. In recent years, no film has featured fish-frog-hybrid humanoids hatching from eggs. It's also an exciting technical adventure for Casey, our special affects artist, who is known in Portland for her rich production design.
above: photoset of Casey's set design and wardrobe on Midnight Rhythms (2021) and Writer's Retreat (2022)
On the big screen October 2024...
The goals driving us forward center around the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival. We want to submit our film for the 2024 festival EARLY when the submission fees are low. We want to get accepted into festival. And, if our fresh story delights and disgusts people, we hope to achieve a "Best of" award at the festival.
Taking Care of Our Team
At the time of campaign launch, we have a script, locations, and the majority of crew on board. Our team is comprised of people who have been making films together, from one day shoots to three-year-long productions, for nearly ten years. These are folks who love making movies and give it their time and passion. Our budget accounts for their professional day rates, catering, and supplies and gear rentals so the shoot flows smoothly.
above: photoset of crew on the sets of Midnight Rhythms (2021)
Creating the Fish Monsters
The fish monsters are the most challenging part of the production. Our production team needs time and resources to create the ultimate version of these unsettling beings. This SEED&SPARK CAMPAIGN is what will allow us to manifest the vision to its fullest!
above: inspiration collage for the fish monster eggs
above: inspiration collage for the fish monsters
Help us summon this eldritch horror!
We hope you join us on this journey. Here are some ways you can support the film:
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CAMPAIGN
SHARE THE PROJECT WITH FELLOW CTHULHU FANS
ARE YOU A WILLAMETTE VALLEY LOCAL? REACH OUT!
We're looking forward to creating this film with you!
If you have any questions or are interested in contributing in other ways, send us a message at [email protected]
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering
Costs $2,240
A well fed cast and crew is a happy cast and crew!
Cast & Crew
Costs $8,973
Art team, hair and makeup, props, sound, camera, talent, extras, and more - all of the people it takes to make a movie!
Materials
Costs $3,250
Props, wardrobe, set dressing, rentals, equipment, and practical special effects.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WILL WORTHEY (writer) was was born and raised in Scotland in the town of Dumbarton. After obtaining a degree in library science from Strathclyde University he continued to work in libraries as he had as a teenager. He worked in libraries in all positions from shelver to director from 1985 to 2021. In 2021 things took an unexpected turn and he became the City Manager for the town of Newberg, Oregon. Always a librarian at heart, Will has had a lifelong obsession with all things Cthonic and Lovecraftian and has always dreamed of combining this with his career to help create a Cthulhu short film set in a public library.
AVERY ABIGAIL (director, co-producer) is an award-winning producer from Portland, Oregon. A public school educator by day and filmmaker by night, their passion is bringing people together to tell new stories that stretch their skills and experience. Their recent visual poem "Midnight Rhythms" directed by Quincy Woo has won awards at the Oregin Short Film Festival, the Tag! Queer Shorts Festival, DisOrient Asian American Film Festival, and more.
CASEY HASTINGS (costume and makeup) is a visual artist and production designer based in SE Portland. Since 2020, her work has been featured in multiple award-winning short films screening across the west coast. Endlessly inspired by both the divine and the depraved, Casey is on a journey to create the most beautifully disgusting worlds to be captured on film.
TY CAYATINETO (editor) is an Indigenous filmmaker from New Mexico. He grew up immersed in the myths and folklore of the American Southwest, which gives him an edge to tell stories that get under your skin and make your hair stand on end.
RUSSELL BOWEN (director of photography) is a cinematographer from the Pacific Northwest.