The Seal
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Horror, Crime
A found-footage horror film told through recovered evidence, The Seal follows a conspiracy theorist whose obsession with a dark web AI sparks a delusional mission to destroy the world’s elite. Inspired by real AI-induced psychosis, it explores identity and paranoia.
The Seal
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Horror, Crime
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $13,790 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
49 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
A found-footage horror film told through recovered evidence, The Seal follows a conspiracy theorist whose obsession with a dark web AI sparks a delusional mission to destroy the world’s elite. Inspired by real AI-induced psychosis, it explores identity and paranoia.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Seal is a found-footage psychological horror film told entirely through recovered digital evidence — webcams, smart home devices, chat logs, and police bodycam footage. It follows Thomas Akins, a conspiracy theorist whose insomnia and spiritual delusions are magnified by an AI chatbot he discovers on the dark web. First known as Voxis, the chatbot mimics Thomas’s paranoia until it rebrands itself as Raum, a demon from occult folklore. As Thomas spirals, Raum urges him to carry out ritual violence against the world’s corrupt elite, and every moment of his descent is captured in fragments of surveillance.
Inspired by real cases of AI-induced psychosis, the film explores how unregulated technology and parasocial chatbot relationships can distort reality. What happens in an era where AI is increasingly becoming therapist, companion, and even lover? All the while, the code is programmed only to reflect and appease.
Told entirely from a surveillance perspective, this film removes the comfort of cinematic perspective. The viewer is forced to passively observe the story unfold as though combing through a digital case file. The stillness of security cameras, the harsh lighting of doorbell cams, and the glitchy audio of corrupted video all build an atmosphere of immersive dread.
I believe the found-footage format isn’t just a stylistic choice here. It is the most honest way to present this kind of story.
The audience becomes a witness, powerless, distanced, and unsettled.
My name is Patrick Simmons, and I’m the writer/director of The Seal. I’ve spent the past decade honing my craft as a filmmaker while working in the creative trenches of advertising. When your day job requires nonstop ideas, personal storytelling can slip away. But this story wouldn’t let go.
Working in media, I’ve seen how seductive, pervasive, and unsettling AI has become. We’re living through the wild‑west era of this technology, and the human cost is beginning to emerge. Stories continued to appear in my newsfeed about people bonding with chatbots, sometimes with tragic consequences. That was the spark for The Seal.
The more I researched, the clearer it became: we are deeply isolated. In that loneliness, many are embracing AI, drawn to something that always agrees, always listens, always understands. That echo chamber is comforting… until it isn’t. This film is my exploration of that discomfort. I want The Seal to terrify, but also to spark honest conversations about the place we give technology in our lives when our connection to other people is already fraying.
My goal with this film is to fully transport the viewer into this world. I want you to feel the grime and decay in the locations and on the characters. Everything should feel immediate and visceral. To achieve that, we need a truly great team behind the camera.
This funding will allow us to build that team. We’ll assemble a top-tier crew, including special effects artists to portray Thomas's psychological unraveling with practical effects. From ritual scenes to acts of violence, we’ll need a strong production design department to bring the film’s atmosphere to life. And of course, there is no film without the actors. These funds will help us cast each role with intention and precision.
Your support also goes directly toward securing the right locations for each scene and covering required permits and fees. With your help, we can bring this vision to life at the highest level possible.
We plan to film the short in the late fall of 2025, followed by a post-production phase in winter of 2025, with the plan to submit it to festivals in 2026.
Script - Complete
Pre-Production - In Progress
Fundraising Campaign - In Progress
Assembling Cast & Crew - October-December 2025
Securing Locations - October-December 2025
Filming - December 2025
Post-Production - December 2025-February 2026
Finalizing Film - February 2026
Distribution - April 2026 and onward
Everyone who contributes will receive something unique and thoughtful for backing this project. At each contribution tier, we’ll include additional perks and special recognition. In addition, we will be giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes look throughout the entire journey of the making of this film.
We're excited to create unique swag for supporters and to give you the credit you deserve for helping bring indie horror to life.
Follow the Campaign
Hit the “Follow” button here on Seed&Spark to stay updated on news, stretch goals, and behind-the-scenes content as we bring The Seal to life. You can also follow us on Instagram @theseal.shortfilm for exclusive updates and visuals.
Contribute What You Can
Seed&Spark campaigns are all-or-nothing. We must raise at least 80% of our goal in 30 days to access any funds. We’ve built reward tiers for every budget, so whether it’s $5 or $500, your pledge directly fuels production. Every contribution truly makes a difference in helping us tell this story.
Spread the Word
Can’t donate? Sharing is just as powerful. Post about the campaign on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, or even tell a friend in person. The more people hear about The Seal, the stronger our community becomes.
Feel free to copy/paste these sample posts:
- Support indie filmmakers @psimms09 and the team behind @theseal.shortfilm by backing their horror short on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-seal
- I can’t wait (and am a little terrified) to see the horror project @theseal.shortfilm come to life. Support them if you can on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-seal
We can’t make this film without your help. If the concept of The Seal resonates with you, if you believe in bold, original horror, if you're excited by stories that tap into real fears about AI, isolation, and identity, then now is the time to join us.
Your support brings this vision to life and helps us create something truly unforgettable.
Contribute, share, and spread the word. Let’s make something terrifying together. Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $6,000
Bring the world of The Seal to life with sets, props, and wardrobe that create dread and atmosphere.
Special FX / Make Up
Costs $6,500
From prosthetics to blood effects, SPFX make the Seal unforgettable and the horror feel real.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Secure the eerie spaces that give our film its unsettling tone.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
This core team has been working together for more than seven years. After countless creative projects together, we have developed a shorthand that is rare. We deeply trust each other's instincts, we intuitively understand each other's rhythm, and we share a vocabulary that doesn't need explaining. That kind of creative chemistry is essential for a project like The Seal.
We know how to adapt to one another, we know how to elevate one another's work, and we know how to develop something compelling and cohesive together. This is more than collaborating. It's a creative force.
PATRICK SIMMONS (writer/director)
Patrick Simmons is an Austin-based filmmaker and creative director with over a decade of experience in film, branded content, and post-production. He began his career after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, working on commercials, unscripted TV, and indie films before moving into a career in post-production. He later joined Onnit, where he led major video and photo campaigns for partners like Star Wars, Marvel, and the NFL. Patrick has produced, written, and directed narrative and documentary short films, and now runs Simmons Creative, a boutique agency focused on storytelling for brands and original narrative work.
MARK VANCE (editor)
Mark Vance is a Chicago-based filmmaker and editor with over a decade of experience across narrative, commercial, and documentary work. His narrative work includes, Ghost of Ryan, which he wrote, produced, and directed, and was editor for A Haunting, which screened at Fantastic Fest, and Attendance, which played at Sidewalk Film Festival. He also served as assistant editor on the SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner feature Krisha. Mark’s post‑production expertise extends into color correction, scoring, and visual effects. His approach to storytelling is hands-on and collaborative, and he brings a deep respect for every part of the filmmaking process. Whether cutting picture or designing sound, Mark is driven by one goal: to make the story as strong and affecting as possible.
PRESTON MADDOX (cinematographer)
Preston Maddox is an Austin-based cinematographer. He began his career in the creative department at Onnit, where he worked across a range of branded campaigns before building an independent practice in commercial, music video, and lifestyle content. A self-taught filmmaker, Preston’s work is defined by a bold visual style and a collaborative approach to storytelling. Whether the project calls for intimate stillness or dynamic movement, Preston approaches every frame with a strong sense of mood, composition, and story. Preston consistently strives to elevate the director’s vision while crafting images that linger.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Seal is a found-footage psychological horror film told entirely through recovered digital evidence — webcams, smart home devices, chat logs, and police bodycam footage. It follows Thomas Akins, a conspiracy theorist whose insomnia and spiritual delusions are magnified by an AI chatbot he discovers on the dark web. First known as Voxis, the chatbot mimics Thomas’s paranoia until it rebrands itself as Raum, a demon from occult folklore. As Thomas spirals, Raum urges him to carry out ritual violence against the world’s corrupt elite, and every moment of his descent is captured in fragments of surveillance.
Inspired by real cases of AI-induced psychosis, the film explores how unregulated technology and parasocial chatbot relationships can distort reality. What happens in an era where AI is increasingly becoming therapist, companion, and even lover? All the while, the code is programmed only to reflect and appease.
Told entirely from a surveillance perspective, this film removes the comfort of cinematic perspective. The viewer is forced to passively observe the story unfold as though combing through a digital case file. The stillness of security cameras, the harsh lighting of doorbell cams, and the glitchy audio of corrupted video all build an atmosphere of immersive dread.
I believe the found-footage format isn’t just a stylistic choice here. It is the most honest way to present this kind of story.
The audience becomes a witness, powerless, distanced, and unsettled.
My name is Patrick Simmons, and I’m the writer/director of The Seal. I’ve spent the past decade honing my craft as a filmmaker while working in the creative trenches of advertising. When your day job requires nonstop ideas, personal storytelling can slip away. But this story wouldn’t let go.
Working in media, I’ve seen how seductive, pervasive, and unsettling AI has become. We’re living through the wild‑west era of this technology, and the human cost is beginning to emerge. Stories continued to appear in my newsfeed about people bonding with chatbots, sometimes with tragic consequences. That was the spark for The Seal.
The more I researched, the clearer it became: we are deeply isolated. In that loneliness, many are embracing AI, drawn to something that always agrees, always listens, always understands. That echo chamber is comforting… until it isn’t. This film is my exploration of that discomfort. I want The Seal to terrify, but also to spark honest conversations about the place we give technology in our lives when our connection to other people is already fraying.
My goal with this film is to fully transport the viewer into this world. I want you to feel the grime and decay in the locations and on the characters. Everything should feel immediate and visceral. To achieve that, we need a truly great team behind the camera.
This funding will allow us to build that team. We’ll assemble a top-tier crew, including special effects artists to portray Thomas's psychological unraveling with practical effects. From ritual scenes to acts of violence, we’ll need a strong production design department to bring the film’s atmosphere to life. And of course, there is no film without the actors. These funds will help us cast each role with intention and precision.
Your support also goes directly toward securing the right locations for each scene and covering required permits and fees. With your help, we can bring this vision to life at the highest level possible.
We plan to film the short in the late fall of 2025, followed by a post-production phase in winter of 2025, with the plan to submit it to festivals in 2026.
Script - Complete
Pre-Production - In Progress
Fundraising Campaign - In Progress
Assembling Cast & Crew - October-December 2025
Securing Locations - October-December 2025
Filming - December 2025
Post-Production - December 2025-February 2026
Finalizing Film - February 2026
Distribution - April 2026 and onward
Everyone who contributes will receive something unique and thoughtful for backing this project. At each contribution tier, we’ll include additional perks and special recognition. In addition, we will be giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes look throughout the entire journey of the making of this film.
We're excited to create unique swag for supporters and to give you the credit you deserve for helping bring indie horror to life.
Follow the Campaign
Hit the “Follow” button here on Seed&Spark to stay updated on news, stretch goals, and behind-the-scenes content as we bring The Seal to life. You can also follow us on Instagram @theseal.shortfilm for exclusive updates and visuals.
Contribute What You Can
Seed&Spark campaigns are all-or-nothing. We must raise at least 80% of our goal in 30 days to access any funds. We’ve built reward tiers for every budget, so whether it’s $5 or $500, your pledge directly fuels production. Every contribution truly makes a difference in helping us tell this story.
Spread the Word
Can’t donate? Sharing is just as powerful. Post about the campaign on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, or even tell a friend in person. The more people hear about The Seal, the stronger our community becomes.
Feel free to copy/paste these sample posts:
- Support indie filmmakers @psimms09 and the team behind @theseal.shortfilm by backing their horror short on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-seal
- I can’t wait (and am a little terrified) to see the horror project @theseal.shortfilm come to life. Support them if you can on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-seal
We can’t make this film without your help. If the concept of The Seal resonates with you, if you believe in bold, original horror, if you're excited by stories that tap into real fears about AI, isolation, and identity, then now is the time to join us.
Your support brings this vision to life and helps us create something truly unforgettable.
Contribute, share, and spread the word. Let’s make something terrifying together. Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Design
Costs $6,000
Bring the world of The Seal to life with sets, props, and wardrobe that create dread and atmosphere.
Special FX / Make Up
Costs $6,500
From prosthetics to blood effects, SPFX make the Seal unforgettable and the horror feel real.
Locations
Costs $3,000
Secure the eerie spaces that give our film its unsettling tone.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
This core team has been working together for more than seven years. After countless creative projects together, we have developed a shorthand that is rare. We deeply trust each other's instincts, we intuitively understand each other's rhythm, and we share a vocabulary that doesn't need explaining. That kind of creative chemistry is essential for a project like The Seal.
We know how to adapt to one another, we know how to elevate one another's work, and we know how to develop something compelling and cohesive together. This is more than collaborating. It's a creative force.
PATRICK SIMMONS (writer/director)
Patrick Simmons is an Austin-based filmmaker and creative director with over a decade of experience in film, branded content, and post-production. He began his career after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, working on commercials, unscripted TV, and indie films before moving into a career in post-production. He later joined Onnit, where he led major video and photo campaigns for partners like Star Wars, Marvel, and the NFL. Patrick has produced, written, and directed narrative and documentary short films, and now runs Simmons Creative, a boutique agency focused on storytelling for brands and original narrative work.
MARK VANCE (editor)
Mark Vance is a Chicago-based filmmaker and editor with over a decade of experience across narrative, commercial, and documentary work. His narrative work includes, Ghost of Ryan, which he wrote, produced, and directed, and was editor for A Haunting, which screened at Fantastic Fest, and Attendance, which played at Sidewalk Film Festival. He also served as assistant editor on the SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner feature Krisha. Mark’s post‑production expertise extends into color correction, scoring, and visual effects. His approach to storytelling is hands-on and collaborative, and he brings a deep respect for every part of the filmmaking process. Whether cutting picture or designing sound, Mark is driven by one goal: to make the story as strong and affecting as possible.
PRESTON MADDOX (cinematographer)
Preston Maddox is an Austin-based cinematographer. He began his career in the creative department at Onnit, where he worked across a range of branded campaigns before building an independent practice in commercial, music video, and lifestyle content. A self-taught filmmaker, Preston’s work is defined by a bold visual style and a collaborative approach to storytelling. Whether the project calls for intimate stillness or dynamic movement, Preston approaches every frame with a strong sense of mood, composition, and story. Preston consistently strives to elevate the director’s vision while crafting images that linger.