Through The Darkness
Little Rock, Arkansas | Film Short
Drama
After their daughter’s death, a marriage hangs by a thread as two parents try to find a way through the darkness.
Through The Darkness
Little Rock, Arkansas | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | Arkansas, United States
12 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$600
Goal: $15,000 for production
After their daughter’s death, a marriage hangs by a thread as two parents try to find a way through the darkness.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Through The Darkness is an intimate, contained drama about a married couple navigating the aftermath of a devastating loss. Set almost entirely within their home, this film follows the quiet unraveling of their relationship as grief reshapes how they speak, move, and see each other.
Haunted by memories and unresolved guilt, Samual withdraws into silence while Mandy struggles to hold their lives together. Their shared routines (meals, mornings, nights) become emotional battlegrounds where love and resentment exist side by side. As outside help pushes them to confront what they’ve been avoiding, the couple is forced to face how grief has altered not just their family, but who they are to each other.
Rather than focusing on plot twists, this film centers on emotional realism, restrained performances, and small, human moments that reveal the cost of unspoken pain. It’s a story about love under pressure, the distance grief creates between people, and the fragile possibility of connection when everything feels broken.
The reason I wrote this Script is because I wanted to explore the depth of human emotion, especially between a husband and wife who deal with major grief, but don't know how to grieve together. My connection to this story is that I have lost many loved ones (particularly my best friend) at a very young age. I remember the intense emotion and exactly how devastating it was. So, with this film, I wanted to channel that emotion I felt at that young age. I wanted to show that even though you may be going through the darkest time of your life, there is always a way through the darkness. And most importantly I wanted to create an open honest dialogue for people to talk about their grief.
I plan to use lighting and dark shadows to create a mood of depression and darkness that is enveloping these two characters, as well as the use of wide shots, two shots, and negative space to showcase the physical and emotional distance between the couple. By the end of the film, when the two have finally come together and the resolution begins, that is when we will utilize close-ups and forgo the negative space, making the lighting brighter and full of hope.
We spent over a month looking through over 2,390 submissions and after careful consideration we have landed on these four extremely talented actors who are going to bring such deep and raw emotion to their roles. We have Hannah Reese (The Beldham, Possessions, The Mirror Within) David Matranga (Law & Order, Abide, My Hero Academia) Shelly Gibson (Law & Order, Dust To Malibu, The Mortuary Assistant)
The film’s color palette visually mirrors the emotional weight of grief and the slow return of connection.
Mandy’s world lives in dark, muted winter tones—cool greens, grays, and deep maroons—reflecting the sadness and heaviness she carries while trying to hold the household together.
Samual’s palette is even darker and more desaturated, visually isolating him as guilt and self-blame consume him.
Dr. Ellis’s office introduces warmer fall tones—burnt oranges, reds, and soft ambers—subtly breaking the visual coldness of the home and signaling a space of safety, warmth, and possibility. These colors don’t erase the darkness, but gently soften it, suggesting hope without forcing it.
The film as a whole remains grounded in dark, muted winter hues, reinforcing the emotional coldness of the couple’s shared space. Lighter autumn tones appear sparingly (primarily in moments of emotional openness and in the final visual beat) to symbolize warmth returning to their lives and the first steps out of the darkness.
These are just a few inspirations on how the film will look and feel as far as lighting and camera work is concerned. We want the audience to see the shift in tone when we enter into each different scene and as the story unfolds letting the audience see into the world of these characters and become emersed in the story.
As of right now we are focusing our efforts on raising funds for production costs and anything we receive over that amount will go towards our postproduction efforts
This budget is focused on putting the highest value on the screen. With most of the funds going toward production, covering crew, equipment, locations, and on-set needs to ensure we have a smooth shoot with a strong visual quality.
Cast compensation is prioritized to secure grounded, emotionally authentic performances. Pre-production funds support the foundation of the film, including permits, insurance, costumes, hair and makeup, and production design to establish the film’s grounded, intimate look.
Post-production resources are dedicated to editing, sound design, score, and festival submissions, ensuring the final film is polished, emotionally impactful, and ready for the festival circuit. A small portion is reserved for contingency and promotion, allowing flexibility for unexpected needs and early marketing support.
Beyond creating a powerful and emotionally resonant film, our goal is to bring this project to top-tier festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and New York Film Festival, where intimate, character-driven stories have a strong opportunity to connect with engaged audiences and industry professionals. The festival run is a key part of our strategy—not only for exposure, but to build momentum, critical response, and meaningful conversations around the film’s themes.
Following the festival circuit, we plan to actively pursue distribution through multiple avenues, including curated digital platforms such as Tubi and potentially premium outlets like Netflix. Our goal is to ensure the film reaches the widest possible audience while remaining accessible to viewers who connect with intimate, emotionally grounded storytelling.
To support this distribution strategy, we have DeWayne Adcock on our team, whose experience navigating the distribution landscape will be a major asset in positioning the film for the strongest possible release and long-term visibility.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $1,900
Everyone needs to eat and while on set we want to make sure that everyone has snacks and a solid meal to help get them through the day.
The Crew
Costs $3,900
Every good film needs a good crew to make a film happen and we want to be able to hire the best.
Camera & Film Equipment
Costs $4,200
A great film has a camera able to capture crisp, clear footage, and proper lighting and grip equipment to help capture the right image.
The Cast
Costs $4,500
A great film starts with finding solid actors and we would like to go for the best possible, potentially securing a name actor or actress.
Production Insurance
Costs $500
This will help cover any accidents on set and help keep our entire set, cast, and crew safe.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director & Writer Garrett Brenneman
Garrett Brenneman is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker writer, director, actor, and casting director whose work explores the emotional complexities of human connection across genres. From grounded drama to romantic comedy, psychological thrillers, and even musicals, his storytelling is driven by character, tone, and authenticity.
With twelve films to his credit, Garrett’s work has gained recognition on the festival circuit, earning over 7 wins and 26 nominations, including honors for Best Film, Director, and performance categories. His passion for storytelling was sparked early on by his father, whose encouragement of creative writing laid the foundation for his artistic voice. Garrett began directing through the Inception to Projection program, where he developed his first short film and continues to build a diverse and evolving body of work.
Producer Jen Nobles
Jen is a Producer, Writer, Director, and Actor who has over fifteen film credits. Her two directorial debuts have screened at such prestigious festivals as the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, POV Festival, and Roger's Short Film Festival. She has two nominations for her work and serves as the Creative Director for the Porchlight Film Festival. Jen is also a multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur.
Sound Design, Edit & Score DeWayne Adcock
DeWayne is a Musician, Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Sound Designer, Creative Consultant, and Producer, engaging a wide range of environments and genres. Whether helping to create a moment through a live event, crafting the sound of story through film, or assisting a fellow creative through consultation, the endgame is excellence. Always excellence.
Fundraising/Marketing Manager Kat Silva
Kat is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and voice-over artist with over 41 IMDb film credits spanning narrative, documentary, film, and television. Her short films have earned recognition at U.S. and international film festivals. She brings industry leadership experience, having served on the Board of Directors for Women in Film Arkansas, where she currently serves as an advisor. Most recently, she was commissioned to develop a new logo for The Hollywood Club LA @ The Women’s Club of Hollywood.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Through The Darkness is an intimate, contained drama about a married couple navigating the aftermath of a devastating loss. Set almost entirely within their home, this film follows the quiet unraveling of their relationship as grief reshapes how they speak, move, and see each other.
Haunted by memories and unresolved guilt, Samual withdraws into silence while Mandy struggles to hold their lives together. Their shared routines (meals, mornings, nights) become emotional battlegrounds where love and resentment exist side by side. As outside help pushes them to confront what they’ve been avoiding, the couple is forced to face how grief has altered not just their family, but who they are to each other.
Rather than focusing on plot twists, this film centers on emotional realism, restrained performances, and small, human moments that reveal the cost of unspoken pain. It’s a story about love under pressure, the distance grief creates between people, and the fragile possibility of connection when everything feels broken.
The reason I wrote this Script is because I wanted to explore the depth of human emotion, especially between a husband and wife who deal with major grief, but don't know how to grieve together. My connection to this story is that I have lost many loved ones (particularly my best friend) at a very young age. I remember the intense emotion and exactly how devastating it was. So, with this film, I wanted to channel that emotion I felt at that young age. I wanted to show that even though you may be going through the darkest time of your life, there is always a way through the darkness. And most importantly I wanted to create an open honest dialogue for people to talk about their grief.
I plan to use lighting and dark shadows to create a mood of depression and darkness that is enveloping these two characters, as well as the use of wide shots, two shots, and negative space to showcase the physical and emotional distance between the couple. By the end of the film, when the two have finally come together and the resolution begins, that is when we will utilize close-ups and forgo the negative space, making the lighting brighter and full of hope.
We spent over a month looking through over 2,390 submissions and after careful consideration we have landed on these four extremely talented actors who are going to bring such deep and raw emotion to their roles. We have Hannah Reese (The Beldham, Possessions, The Mirror Within) David Matranga (Law & Order, Abide, My Hero Academia) Shelly Gibson (Law & Order, Dust To Malibu, The Mortuary Assistant)
The film’s color palette visually mirrors the emotional weight of grief and the slow return of connection.
Mandy’s world lives in dark, muted winter tones—cool greens, grays, and deep maroons—reflecting the sadness and heaviness she carries while trying to hold the household together.
Samual’s palette is even darker and more desaturated, visually isolating him as guilt and self-blame consume him.
Dr. Ellis’s office introduces warmer fall tones—burnt oranges, reds, and soft ambers—subtly breaking the visual coldness of the home and signaling a space of safety, warmth, and possibility. These colors don’t erase the darkness, but gently soften it, suggesting hope without forcing it.
The film as a whole remains grounded in dark, muted winter hues, reinforcing the emotional coldness of the couple’s shared space. Lighter autumn tones appear sparingly (primarily in moments of emotional openness and in the final visual beat) to symbolize warmth returning to their lives and the first steps out of the darkness.
These are just a few inspirations on how the film will look and feel as far as lighting and camera work is concerned. We want the audience to see the shift in tone when we enter into each different scene and as the story unfolds letting the audience see into the world of these characters and become emersed in the story.
As of right now we are focusing our efforts on raising funds for production costs and anything we receive over that amount will go towards our postproduction efforts
This budget is focused on putting the highest value on the screen. With most of the funds going toward production, covering crew, equipment, locations, and on-set needs to ensure we have a smooth shoot with a strong visual quality.
Cast compensation is prioritized to secure grounded, emotionally authentic performances. Pre-production funds support the foundation of the film, including permits, insurance, costumes, hair and makeup, and production design to establish the film’s grounded, intimate look.
Post-production resources are dedicated to editing, sound design, score, and festival submissions, ensuring the final film is polished, emotionally impactful, and ready for the festival circuit. A small portion is reserved for contingency and promotion, allowing flexibility for unexpected needs and early marketing support.
Beyond creating a powerful and emotionally resonant film, our goal is to bring this project to top-tier festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and New York Film Festival, where intimate, character-driven stories have a strong opportunity to connect with engaged audiences and industry professionals. The festival run is a key part of our strategy—not only for exposure, but to build momentum, critical response, and meaningful conversations around the film’s themes.
Following the festival circuit, we plan to actively pursue distribution through multiple avenues, including curated digital platforms such as Tubi and potentially premium outlets like Netflix. Our goal is to ensure the film reaches the widest possible audience while remaining accessible to viewers who connect with intimate, emotionally grounded storytelling.
To support this distribution strategy, we have DeWayne Adcock on our team, whose experience navigating the distribution landscape will be a major asset in positioning the film for the strongest possible release and long-term visibility.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $1,900
Everyone needs to eat and while on set we want to make sure that everyone has snacks and a solid meal to help get them through the day.
The Crew
Costs $3,900
Every good film needs a good crew to make a film happen and we want to be able to hire the best.
Camera & Film Equipment
Costs $4,200
A great film has a camera able to capture crisp, clear footage, and proper lighting and grip equipment to help capture the right image.
The Cast
Costs $4,500
A great film starts with finding solid actors and we would like to go for the best possible, potentially securing a name actor or actress.
Production Insurance
Costs $500
This will help cover any accidents on set and help keep our entire set, cast, and crew safe.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director & Writer Garrett Brenneman
Garrett Brenneman is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker writer, director, actor, and casting director whose work explores the emotional complexities of human connection across genres. From grounded drama to romantic comedy, psychological thrillers, and even musicals, his storytelling is driven by character, tone, and authenticity.
With twelve films to his credit, Garrett’s work has gained recognition on the festival circuit, earning over 7 wins and 26 nominations, including honors for Best Film, Director, and performance categories. His passion for storytelling was sparked early on by his father, whose encouragement of creative writing laid the foundation for his artistic voice. Garrett began directing through the Inception to Projection program, where he developed his first short film and continues to build a diverse and evolving body of work.
Producer Jen Nobles
Jen is a Producer, Writer, Director, and Actor who has over fifteen film credits. Her two directorial debuts have screened at such prestigious festivals as the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, POV Festival, and Roger's Short Film Festival. She has two nominations for her work and serves as the Creative Director for the Porchlight Film Festival. Jen is also a multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur.
Sound Design, Edit & Score DeWayne Adcock
DeWayne is a Musician, Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Sound Designer, Creative Consultant, and Producer, engaging a wide range of environments and genres. Whether helping to create a moment through a live event, crafting the sound of story through film, or assisting a fellow creative through consultation, the endgame is excellence. Always excellence.
Fundraising/Marketing Manager Kat Silva
Kat is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and voice-over artist with over 41 IMDb film credits spanning narrative, documentary, film, and television. Her short films have earned recognition at U.S. and international film festivals. She brings industry leadership experience, having served on the Board of Directors for Women in Film Arkansas, where she currently serves as an advisor. Most recently, she was commissioned to develop a new logo for The Hollywood Club LA @ The Women’s Club of Hollywood.