LISTEN TO OUR WRITER/DIRECTOR DISCUSS WHY WE NEED APOPHENIA!

APOPHENIA IS FISCALLY SPONSORED BY: 

APOPHENIA is a crime thriller limited series. This 5-minute 5-episode series follows Eva Nicholson, a struggling recluse who falls into the public spotlight as a superhero when a series of premonitions lead her to a serial killer moments away from claiming the life of his next victim. As Eva basks in the attention, her boyfriend is the only person even remotely concerned that Eva also brutally murdered the serial killer in the process. Then it happens again. And again. And as Eva’s body count rises, so do the suspicions surrounding who, or what, she really is. 

WATCH: APOPHENIA SIZZLE REEL

It is estimated that 2 out of 3 Americans enjoy true crime/crime thriller content. Meanwhile, the canon of fictional serial killers in film are most often middle-aged heterosexual white men. Studies have shown that the homogeneity of the serial killer profile reinforces the societal hierarchy in America. In a bold way, Apophenia tackles representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, by mitigating the constant barrage of victimization on individuals who experience oppression in real life. 

It is said that women are often interested in true crime because these stories make them feel more prepared for the horrors that exist in the real world. Apophenia is a series that will not capitalize on the victimization of women (or minorities), which is a significant psycho-social shift. 

WHY APOPHENIA? THIS IS WHY: 

Apophenia needs to be made not only for diverse representation but to also encourage moral and ethical discussions surrounding the perception of communities that are solely represented as the victim. 

Apophenia benefits anyone who has ever experienced systematic oppression and lived in a state of constant fear of violence; it is for true crime/crime thriller audiences so they do not get comfortable with the current status quo of what they see on screen.

 Apophenia is a nonlinear journey, framed through the interrogation of the main character. Throughout the story, Eva will transition from being small and overlooked to a cocky and narcissistic unreliable narrator. 

The series will have elements of neo-noir, which builds the world that exists in the gritty underbelly of America, connected by the interstate system. The neo-noir style will also establish the series’ dark and morbid tone. 

As a crime thriller, violence will be conveyed through tableaus of the aftermath that do not shy away from grotesque images of gore. In an era where there is an over-saturation of content, shock value is king. Apophenia will also not shy away from being NSFW (not safe for work) and NSFLV (not safe for life violence- an acronym reserved for content that may be nauseating or disturbing). This is an important aspect of Apophenia, as it will be one of the few portrayals of crime thriller violence that is not filtered through either the white gaze or the male gaze.

The financial requirement for APOPHENIA is $50,000. $50,000 will cover the pre-production, production, and post-production deliverables for the series. The goal is for Apophenia to obtain financing through a combination of the following: crowdfunding (70%), grants (10%), and in-kind contributions (20%).

Based on the outcome of Apophenia's financing period (January 2023-April 2023), the series can be produced at three budget levels: $25,000, $50,000, and $75,000. 

Increasing the budget tier will allow cast and crew to be paid closer to a liveable wage, and increase the amount of funds allocated for locations and equipment. This will not only increase the production value of the series, but will ultimately improve the quality of the work environment for the cast and crew. 

Below are examples of budgeting considerations for production: 

Los Angeles County minimum wage is $15 an hour, which is $900 per person for a 5-day production. For a minimum cast and crew size of 15 per day, this is $13,500 in total. 
On average, film locations in the Los Angeles area are a minimum of $2000/day, which is $10,000 for a five-day shoot. 

The Seed & Spark campaign is set at $31,250 because 80% of the total fundraising goal must be raised for the project to be 'green lit'. 80% of $31,250 is $25,000, which is the minimum amount needed for the project to go into production. 

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE HERE: FILM INDEPENDENT

The goal of this Seed & Spark campaign is to build the Apophenia community and begin series' financing period to defray costs associated with independent film/TV production.  

Apophenia is actively in pre-production and raising funds, with principal photography slated for April 2023. Following principal photography, post-production will commence. The series is scheduled to be festival-ready in October 2023. This is intended to capitalize on the energy of the Halloween season. At this time, financiers will also receive exclusive online screening access to the series. 

To date, fifteen festivals have been identified. Apophenia’s submission period for festival runs will take place from November 2022 to September 2024 with the following festivals. During this time, public release of Apophenia will be scaffolded in consideration of festival eligibility.

Film Independent's Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. The projects and makers participating in the program express a uniqueness of vision, celebrate diversity and advance the craft of filmmaking through the creation of these special works. Supporters of Apophenia can make tax-deductible donations on the organization's website: my.filmindependent.org/apophenia

Fruitloops is a weekly podcast where two true crime enthusiasts bring you stories about people of color who rarely get media coverage - bringing diversity to the true crime conversation. Follow and listen to their show HERE.

To achieve our goal, we’ll need to reach people beyond our networks. Spreading the word will help us reach those people. Give us a BOOST on social media, SHARE with your friends and family. We’re grateful for anything you can do to get the word out.

And please connect with us if you would like to learn more about the project. We would love to hear from you!