The Pearl
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Music
Is the dream you’ve been chasing still worth it? The Pearl is a love letter to working-class artists who never made a plan B. A story about the personal & economic costs of creative ambition. A story for all of us who aren't where we expected to be. Featuring music by local Atlanta artists.
The Pearl
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Short
Drama, Music
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,895 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
56 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Is the dream you’ve been chasing still worth it? The Pearl is a love letter to working-class artists who never made a plan B. A story about the personal & economic costs of creative ambition. A story for all of us who aren't where we expected to be. Featuring music by local Atlanta artists.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
I once heard that artists spend their lives waiting to see if they are prophetic or delusional.
...It's a question I ask myself daily.
Our film is a snapshot into the lives of local Atlanta musicians stuck between a dream and the facts of life...
JEREMEY IS BACK IN HIS HOMETOWN OF ATLANTA, AFTER YEARS OF PURSUING HIS MUSIC CAREER IN LA...LOOKING FOR A NEW START.
MAX MUST CHOOSE BTWEEN RESPONSIBILITY AND DESIRE.
SALLY FINDS HERSELF AT A CROSSROADS, ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR.
Set in a local Atlanta venue, this short film follows three musicians, friends, ex-lovers, and former bandmates as their lives crash back into each other at The Pearl. Unresolved tension, shared memories, and their music have kept Jeremey, Sally, and Max connected over the years.
I'm ready to see stories that reflect what my friends and I are going through. Not only my artist friends, but so many people who are feeling stuck in life - feeling like they’re unable to make enough progress in their careers to achieve the life they dreamed of in their 20s.
Over the last 15 years, my friends and I have been juggling day jobs, heartbreaks, big bookings, slow years, a global pandemic, the rise of streamers, the collapse of the entertainment industries, and now the impending effect of AI…all while pursuing our artistic dreams.
Entering our 30s, the passion for our careers is starting to feel at odds with the building pressure of figuring out life's realities.
While others earned graduate degrees, got promoted, bought houses, and started families…we’ve been jumping from job to job between gigs, living with roommates, drinking cheap beer, and hoping our checks clear before the bills hit.
The Pearl is a love story to us. A film about musicians who have dedicated their lives to their creative careers…and who are now at a crossroads.
A love letter to working class artists.
Our story revolves around three old friends and ex-bandmates.
Even though they haven't talked in years, there's one song that keeps them tied together - whether they like it or not.
Jeremy - Talented. Charismatic. People pleaser. Took a record deal out of Atlanta. It didn’t work out. Now he’s bitter, broke, and back in town. He must find a way to get Sally (who he never stopped loving) and Max (who he never stopped competing with) to agree to a big favor.
Sally - A songwriter who is growing tired of the local music scene. She feels stuck in a cycle of late nights, same crowds, and barely affording rent. Sally yearns for change. Oh, and she used to be in love with Jeremey…and maybe still is.
Max - The heartbeat of the Pearl. His whole identity is wrapped up in the local music scene and has a huge chip on his shoulder about the current state of the music industry. He’s also Jeremey’s best friend and ex-bandmate…and they haven’t spoken in years.
The world of The Pearl is a fictional venue. But it is very much inspired by East Atlanta Village - a neighborhood that has its own personality.
Thigh tattoos.
Cigarette smoke.
Credit card debt.
Multigenerational main stream dissenters.
We’re in the pre-production phase of this project. As we assemble our crew and cast, your support will ensure everyone who joins this adventure can feel confident knowing they have a budget to work with and will be paid for their talent!
Where Your Support Will Go:
Location & Permits.
The location that will become The Pearl is paramount to telling this story. We consider The Pearl a character of her own.
Equipment
We'll need to rent gear and a steady cam rig.
Crew and Cast
It's important to us that everyone feels fairly compensated for their skills.
Insurance
Production insurance adds up fast! And we need to keep safety first with coverage for our cast, crew, and equipment,
Production Design
It takes attention to detail to create the authentic, lived-in environment of The Pearl.
Feeding everyone
Because we can't afford to let anyone get hangry.
So...if you were doing the math in your head and thinking, 'Hey, this list sounds like a lot more that $4,000,' you are CORRECT. While $4,000 will go a long way in helping us get this project off the ground, the total budget will definitely be more.
Our Stretch GOAL is $15,000!!
This budget goal would cover not only our production costs, but also post-production, marketing, and festival submissions.
From a bigger production standpoint, we’ve been working in the arts for a long time. KATE BONE (my fellow co-producer) and I met in theatre school. Our training is steeped in rehearsal, table work, and process. A BIG part of what draws us to the arts is the aspect of community. It’s important to us that our sets be a good time, with an economic model where everybody feels valued and respected.
The Pearl is an earnest drama with a documentary feel. And a tone somewhere between The Big Chill, My Dinner with Andre, Once, and The Bear. Steadicam and documentary feel blended with intimate dialogue and room to breathe.
I'm curious about exploring the relationship between sound, music, the rhythm of a bar, and how it plays into the energy and emotional drive of our story.
We’ll be collaborating with Atlanta musicians and local venues to bring you into the world of working-class musicians.
The soundtrack for The Pearl will be recorded in Atlanta and will exclusively feature music by local artists!
Throughout the production process we’ll be giving supporters insight into the music component - bringing you behind the scenes into the process.
#WorkingClassArtistsUnite
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal for the project to be funded.
We must reach this goal in 30 days or we won't receive a single penny!
With your support we'll reach our GOAL!!
Even if you can't contribute monetarily, you can still help make The Pearl a success!
FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN PAGE!!!
We need to gain at least 250 followers on Seed&Spark before August 26th.
Share our campaign with your friends, family, co-workers - anyone who loves music, live shows, indie films, or who wants to hear more stories about life in the trenches as an artist in 2025.
This campaign is participating in the Georgia Rally!
If we reach our goal, we'll also be qualified to win additional funding and support from
FILM IMPACT GEORGIA and TRILITH STUDIOS
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
Cameras, lights, sound gear, rental fees to bring The Pearl's gritty East Atlanta world to life.
Location
Costs $1,000
The location is vital the heart of this film.
Pre-Production Design
Costs $500
The design and feel of The Pearl tells your the story before dialogue begins.
Pre-Production Music Development
Costs $500
The music and musicians we'll be working with will be helping to design the music and sound as we finalize our shot list.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi, we're the producing team for The Pearl. We've known each other for a long time. It all started in class while studying at the Theater, Film, and Television School of UCLA. Then we performed in independent theatre together. Then we both moved to Atlanta (not together, but it's funny how things work out). We come from 10+ years of being working-class artists as performers and writers on stage, in front of the camera & behind the camera. Literally, just give us a camera and we'll be there. It's been a long time coming, but the story of The Pearl has brought us back into collaboration to tell the story of...us. Of our communities. Of how our 30s had thrown us into the deep end. Of how life and the pursuit of art aren't always on the same page.
We are so excited to bring together musicians, actors, filmmakers, and Atlanta to tell a story that is deeply personal...and inevitably universal. We are committed to creating a collaborative and supportive creative ecosystem. It's hard out there for artists in 2025, but through this project we hope to make people feel seen, loved, and reconnected with the love of storytelling. After all, it's what got us into this mess.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
I once heard that artists spend their lives waiting to see if they are prophetic or delusional.
...It's a question I ask myself daily.
Our film is a snapshot into the lives of local Atlanta musicians stuck between a dream and the facts of life...
JEREMEY IS BACK IN HIS HOMETOWN OF ATLANTA, AFTER YEARS OF PURSUING HIS MUSIC CAREER IN LA...LOOKING FOR A NEW START.
MAX MUST CHOOSE BTWEEN RESPONSIBILITY AND DESIRE.
SALLY FINDS HERSELF AT A CROSSROADS, ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR.
Set in a local Atlanta venue, this short film follows three musicians, friends, ex-lovers, and former bandmates as their lives crash back into each other at The Pearl. Unresolved tension, shared memories, and their music have kept Jeremey, Sally, and Max connected over the years.
I'm ready to see stories that reflect what my friends and I are going through. Not only my artist friends, but so many people who are feeling stuck in life - feeling like they’re unable to make enough progress in their careers to achieve the life they dreamed of in their 20s.
Over the last 15 years, my friends and I have been juggling day jobs, heartbreaks, big bookings, slow years, a global pandemic, the rise of streamers, the collapse of the entertainment industries, and now the impending effect of AI…all while pursuing our artistic dreams.
Entering our 30s, the passion for our careers is starting to feel at odds with the building pressure of figuring out life's realities.
While others earned graduate degrees, got promoted, bought houses, and started families…we’ve been jumping from job to job between gigs, living with roommates, drinking cheap beer, and hoping our checks clear before the bills hit.
The Pearl is a love story to us. A film about musicians who have dedicated their lives to their creative careers…and who are now at a crossroads.
A love letter to working class artists.
Our story revolves around three old friends and ex-bandmates.
Even though they haven't talked in years, there's one song that keeps them tied together - whether they like it or not.
Jeremy - Talented. Charismatic. People pleaser. Took a record deal out of Atlanta. It didn’t work out. Now he’s bitter, broke, and back in town. He must find a way to get Sally (who he never stopped loving) and Max (who he never stopped competing with) to agree to a big favor.
Sally - A songwriter who is growing tired of the local music scene. She feels stuck in a cycle of late nights, same crowds, and barely affording rent. Sally yearns for change. Oh, and she used to be in love with Jeremey…and maybe still is.
Max - The heartbeat of the Pearl. His whole identity is wrapped up in the local music scene and has a huge chip on his shoulder about the current state of the music industry. He’s also Jeremey’s best friend and ex-bandmate…and they haven’t spoken in years.
The world of The Pearl is a fictional venue. But it is very much inspired by East Atlanta Village - a neighborhood that has its own personality.
Thigh tattoos.
Cigarette smoke.
Credit card debt.
Multigenerational main stream dissenters.
We’re in the pre-production phase of this project. As we assemble our crew and cast, your support will ensure everyone who joins this adventure can feel confident knowing they have a budget to work with and will be paid for their talent!
Where Your Support Will Go:
Location & Permits.
The location that will become The Pearl is paramount to telling this story. We consider The Pearl a character of her own.
Equipment
We'll need to rent gear and a steady cam rig.
Crew and Cast
It's important to us that everyone feels fairly compensated for their skills.
Insurance
Production insurance adds up fast! And we need to keep safety first with coverage for our cast, crew, and equipment,
Production Design
It takes attention to detail to create the authentic, lived-in environment of The Pearl.
Feeding everyone
Because we can't afford to let anyone get hangry.
So...if you were doing the math in your head and thinking, 'Hey, this list sounds like a lot more that $4,000,' you are CORRECT. While $4,000 will go a long way in helping us get this project off the ground, the total budget will definitely be more.
Our Stretch GOAL is $15,000!!
This budget goal would cover not only our production costs, but also post-production, marketing, and festival submissions.
From a bigger production standpoint, we’ve been working in the arts for a long time. KATE BONE (my fellow co-producer) and I met in theatre school. Our training is steeped in rehearsal, table work, and process. A BIG part of what draws us to the arts is the aspect of community. It’s important to us that our sets be a good time, with an economic model where everybody feels valued and respected.
The Pearl is an earnest drama with a documentary feel. And a tone somewhere between The Big Chill, My Dinner with Andre, Once, and The Bear. Steadicam and documentary feel blended with intimate dialogue and room to breathe.
I'm curious about exploring the relationship between sound, music, the rhythm of a bar, and how it plays into the energy and emotional drive of our story.
We’ll be collaborating with Atlanta musicians and local venues to bring you into the world of working-class musicians.
The soundtrack for The Pearl will be recorded in Atlanta and will exclusively feature music by local artists!
Throughout the production process we’ll be giving supporters insight into the music component - bringing you behind the scenes into the process.
#WorkingClassArtistsUnite
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal for the project to be funded.
We must reach this goal in 30 days or we won't receive a single penny!
With your support we'll reach our GOAL!!
Even if you can't contribute monetarily, you can still help make The Pearl a success!
FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN PAGE!!!
We need to gain at least 250 followers on Seed&Spark before August 26th.
Share our campaign with your friends, family, co-workers - anyone who loves music, live shows, indie films, or who wants to hear more stories about life in the trenches as an artist in 2025.
This campaign is participating in the Georgia Rally!
If we reach our goal, we'll also be qualified to win additional funding and support from
FILM IMPACT GEORGIA and TRILITH STUDIOS
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
Cameras, lights, sound gear, rental fees to bring The Pearl's gritty East Atlanta world to life.
Location
Costs $1,000
The location is vital the heart of this film.
Pre-Production Design
Costs $500
The design and feel of The Pearl tells your the story before dialogue begins.
Pre-Production Music Development
Costs $500
The music and musicians we'll be working with will be helping to design the music and sound as we finalize our shot list.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hi, we're the producing team for The Pearl. We've known each other for a long time. It all started in class while studying at the Theater, Film, and Television School of UCLA. Then we performed in independent theatre together. Then we both moved to Atlanta (not together, but it's funny how things work out). We come from 10+ years of being working-class artists as performers and writers on stage, in front of the camera & behind the camera. Literally, just give us a camera and we'll be there. It's been a long time coming, but the story of The Pearl has brought us back into collaboration to tell the story of...us. Of our communities. Of how our 30s had thrown us into the deep end. Of how life and the pursuit of art aren't always on the same page.
We are so excited to bring together musicians, actors, filmmakers, and Atlanta to tell a story that is deeply personal...and inevitably universal. We are committed to creating a collaborative and supportive creative ecosystem. It's hard out there for artists in 2025, but through this project we hope to make people feel seen, loved, and reconnected with the love of storytelling. After all, it's what got us into this mess.