The Sonder
Monterey, California | Film Feature
Drama, Mystery
A woman searches for her missing sister, uncovering hidden messages in old photographs. As she pieces together the past, strange coincidences and shifting memories draw her toward an unsettling truth—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about loss, time, and perception.
The Sonder
Monterey, California | Film Feature
Drama, Mystery
1 Campaigns | California, United States
81 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$16,464
Goal: $20,000 for post-production
A woman searches for her missing sister, uncovering hidden messages in old photographs. As she pieces together the past, strange coincidences and shifting memories draw her toward an unsettling truth—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about loss, time, and perception.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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The Sonder is a feature film about a woman searching for her missing sister as her sense of reality starts to slip. What begins as a practical search turns into an emotional unraveling, forcing her to confront memory, grief, and the way the people we love continue to exist in our lives even when they are gone.
It is intimate, quiet, unsettling, and full of the questions we avoid until life forces them into the light.
This is the first feature film I have ever made, and the most personal project of my life.
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I am a disabled filmmaker living with a spinal cord injury, and I care deeply about bringing more disabled voices behind the camera. Authentic representation only happens when people with lived experience get to lead the creative process. This film carries pieces of my life, my grief, and my perspective as someone who has had to rebuild himself more than once.
I grew up in Monterey, California and I am moving away soon. This film is my way of saying goodbye to the place that shaped me. Real homes, real neighborhoods, and real people from my community became the foundation for the story. The film is rooted in the emotional landscape of this town.
Years ago, I lost my fiancée. That loss changed me in ways I still don’t have perfect language for. Themes of memory, legacy, and the strange echoes people leave behind became central to this story.
I also love films that trust the audience. Films that give space. Films that let tension build quietly. Those films rarely get mainstream support, so people like me have to build our own path. This campaign is part of that path.
I have made over ten short films as a director, writer, editor, colorist, and producer. I have spent years learning on sets, in post-production, and in collaboration with other filmmakers. I am ready to take the leap into feature filmmaking without waiting for industry permission.
This is the moment.
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We shot The Sonder in Monterey with a tiny three to four person crew. Production is complete. The film exists. Now we need to finish it at a professional level.
Your support directly funds:
- Sound Design, Foley, and Sound Mix - Essential for the tension, atmosphere, and emotional texture of the film. This will make our film a theatrical experience.
- Post Production Costs - Mastering, final exports, captions, delivery materials.
- Festival Submissions - Getting the film into festivals where audiences can actually see it.
When the campaign succeeds, we will complete post production in mid spring. Backers will receive updates throughout the process. Digital screeners will be delivered as soon as the film is finished and all other rewards will be delivered either during the campaign or soon after.
We have a stretch goal of $25,000. All extra funds will go toward supporting the costs of distribution and marketing.
If you want to support the film, you can:
- pledge
- follow the campaign
- share it with someone who loves indie cinema
- post one of our images or blurbs on your socials
Every bit helps more than you know.
.png)
I’m working with a small group of talented collaborators I met in film school. We have worked together on multiple projects and share the same love for grounded, emotionally honest filmmaking.
Our team includes filmmakers I have edited for, shot with, and built creative partnerships with for years. They know this film inside and out, and they have poured a ridiculous amount of time and care into bringing it into existence.
We are not a studio machine. We are a small, passionate crew using everything we have to make something true.
I also really love films that trust the audience, inviting them to think and feel without being spoon-fed every detail. Unfortunately, films like these don't get enough attention or funding. Supporting this project helps fill that gap and brings more thoughtful storytelling to the screen.
.png)
Your support means more than just finishing a film. It means supporting disabled creators, supporting Monterey artists, and supporting independent cinema that takes emotional risks.
I am proud of this project. I believe in it fully. If you join us, we will make something honest, thoughtful, and worth every bit of your belief.
Thank you for reading,
Jackson
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Marketing/Distribution
Costs $5,000
Creating marketing materials and organizing a guerilla outreach plan to get our film in front of audiences.
Post-Production Sound Work
Costs $10,000
Removing background noise, enhancing dialogue, creating sound effects and ensuring the film sounds professional in a theatrical environment.
Festival Submissions
Costs $5,000
45-50 high quality festival submissions increase our chances of playing in front of an audience that cares about the next voices in cinema.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We're excited to introduce you to the passionate team behind our film, dedicated to creating a story that's both emotionally powerful and thought-provoking.
Jackson Sherry - Writer/Director/Producer Jackson is a filmmaker who’s directed three short films—Laddie, Metamorphosis, and June Goes for a Bike Ride—that have screened at festivals like the Wyoming International Film Festival, Studio City Film Festival, and San Francisco Frozen Film Festival. With his extensive experience in editing and post-production, Jackson has a keen understanding of exactly how each scene needs to be shot to best support the final edit and storytelling. A graduate of CSU Monterey Bay's Cinematic Arts and Technology program, he's deeply inspired by films such as The Tree of Life, Memoria, A Ghost Story, and Upstream Color.
Vincent Charles Prograce - Cinematographer, Colorist Vincent, our cinematographer and colorist, graduated alongside Jackson at CSU Monterey Bay. Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, Vincent has a talent for subtle, meaningful cinematography that enriches storytelling. He was the cinematographer and colorist on June Goes for a Bike Ride and served as writer, director, and cinematographer on The Cellphone Situation. Influenced by visually striking films like Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Uncut Gems, Whiplash, and Lost in Translation, Vincent ensures our visuals are immersive, authentic, and unforgettable.
Ezekiel Lazaroo - Editor, Sound Designer Ezekiel hails from Malaysia and is another graduate of CSU Monterey Bay’s Cinematic Arts and Technology program. Known for his intuitive storytelling and sharp post-production skills, he previously edited Jackson’s short film June Goes for a Bike Ride and wrote, directed, and edited his own film The Distance Between Us. Currently working as a trailer assistant editor, Ezekiel finds inspiration in films like A Brighter Summer Day, Yi Yi, Beau Travail, and Jeanne Dielman.
Together, our close-knit and dedicated team is committed to crafting a film that resonates deeply with our audience. We’re thrilled at the opportunity to share our vision with you, and your support means everything to us.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Sonder is a feature film about a woman searching for her missing sister as her sense of reality starts to slip. What begins as a practical search turns into an emotional unraveling, forcing her to confront memory, grief, and the way the people we love continue to exist in our lives even when they are gone.
It is intimate, quiet, unsettling, and full of the questions we avoid until life forces them into the light.
This is the first feature film I have ever made, and the most personal project of my life.
I am a disabled filmmaker living with a spinal cord injury, and I care deeply about bringing more disabled voices behind the camera. Authentic representation only happens when people with lived experience get to lead the creative process. This film carries pieces of my life, my grief, and my perspective as someone who has had to rebuild himself more than once.
I grew up in Monterey, California and I am moving away soon. This film is my way of saying goodbye to the place that shaped me. Real homes, real neighborhoods, and real people from my community became the foundation for the story. The film is rooted in the emotional landscape of this town.
Years ago, I lost my fiancée. That loss changed me in ways I still don’t have perfect language for. Themes of memory, legacy, and the strange echoes people leave behind became central to this story.
I also love films that trust the audience. Films that give space. Films that let tension build quietly. Those films rarely get mainstream support, so people like me have to build our own path. This campaign is part of that path.
I have made over ten short films as a director, writer, editor, colorist, and producer. I have spent years learning on sets, in post-production, and in collaboration with other filmmakers. I am ready to take the leap into feature filmmaking without waiting for industry permission.
This is the moment.
We shot The Sonder in Monterey with a tiny three to four person crew. Production is complete. The film exists. Now we need to finish it at a professional level.
Your support directly funds:
- Sound Design, Foley, and Sound Mix - Essential for the tension, atmosphere, and emotional texture of the film. This will make our film a theatrical experience.
- Post Production Costs - Mastering, final exports, captions, delivery materials.
- Festival Submissions - Getting the film into festivals where audiences can actually see it.
When the campaign succeeds, we will complete post production in mid spring. Backers will receive updates throughout the process. Digital screeners will be delivered as soon as the film is finished and all other rewards will be delivered either during the campaign or soon after.
We have a stretch goal of $25,000. All extra funds will go toward supporting the costs of distribution and marketing.
If you want to support the film, you can:
- pledge
- follow the campaign
- share it with someone who loves indie cinema
- post one of our images or blurbs on your socials
Every bit helps more than you know.
I’m working with a small group of talented collaborators I met in film school. We have worked together on multiple projects and share the same love for grounded, emotionally honest filmmaking.
Our team includes filmmakers I have edited for, shot with, and built creative partnerships with for years. They know this film inside and out, and they have poured a ridiculous amount of time and care into bringing it into existence.
We are not a studio machine. We are a small, passionate crew using everything we have to make something true.
I also really love films that trust the audience, inviting them to think and feel without being spoon-fed every detail. Unfortunately, films like these don't get enough attention or funding. Supporting this project helps fill that gap and brings more thoughtful storytelling to the screen.
Your support means more than just finishing a film. It means supporting disabled creators, supporting Monterey artists, and supporting independent cinema that takes emotional risks.
I am proud of this project. I believe in it fully. If you join us, we will make something honest, thoughtful, and worth every bit of your belief.
Thank you for reading,
Jackson
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Marketing/Distribution
Costs $5,000
Creating marketing materials and organizing a guerilla outreach plan to get our film in front of audiences.
Post-Production Sound Work
Costs $10,000
Removing background noise, enhancing dialogue, creating sound effects and ensuring the film sounds professional in a theatrical environment.
Festival Submissions
Costs $5,000
45-50 high quality festival submissions increase our chances of playing in front of an audience that cares about the next voices in cinema.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We're excited to introduce you to the passionate team behind our film, dedicated to creating a story that's both emotionally powerful and thought-provoking.
Jackson Sherry - Writer/Director/Producer Jackson is a filmmaker who’s directed three short films—Laddie, Metamorphosis, and June Goes for a Bike Ride—that have screened at festivals like the Wyoming International Film Festival, Studio City Film Festival, and San Francisco Frozen Film Festival. With his extensive experience in editing and post-production, Jackson has a keen understanding of exactly how each scene needs to be shot to best support the final edit and storytelling. A graduate of CSU Monterey Bay's Cinematic Arts and Technology program, he's deeply inspired by films such as The Tree of Life, Memoria, A Ghost Story, and Upstream Color.
Vincent Charles Prograce - Cinematographer, Colorist Vincent, our cinematographer and colorist, graduated alongside Jackson at CSU Monterey Bay. Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, Vincent has a talent for subtle, meaningful cinematography that enriches storytelling. He was the cinematographer and colorist on June Goes for a Bike Ride and served as writer, director, and cinematographer on The Cellphone Situation. Influenced by visually striking films like Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Uncut Gems, Whiplash, and Lost in Translation, Vincent ensures our visuals are immersive, authentic, and unforgettable.
Ezekiel Lazaroo - Editor, Sound Designer Ezekiel hails from Malaysia and is another graduate of CSU Monterey Bay’s Cinematic Arts and Technology program. Known for his intuitive storytelling and sharp post-production skills, he previously edited Jackson’s short film June Goes for a Bike Ride and wrote, directed, and edited his own film The Distance Between Us. Currently working as a trailer assistant editor, Ezekiel finds inspiration in films like A Brighter Summer Day, Yi Yi, Beau Travail, and Jeanne Dielman.
Together, our close-knit and dedicated team is committed to crafting a film that resonates deeply with our audience. We’re thrilled at the opportunity to share our vision with you, and your support means everything to us.