Tomato Soup
East Lansing, Michigan | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
Tomato Soup tells the story of a recently signed baseball player who, while excited to start a new chapter in life, struggles letting go of his past. As time runs out, he becomes increasingly desperate to find a reason to stay.
Tomato Soup
East Lansing, Michigan | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
2 Campaigns | Michigan, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,310 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
112 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Tomato Soup tells the story of a recently signed baseball player who, while excited to start a new chapter in life, struggles letting go of his past. As time runs out, he becomes increasingly desperate to find a reason to stay.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Is one night enough time to say goodbye?
Surrounded by half-packed boxes, Dodd is forced to confront his nostalgic longing for home as he prepares to move after signing his first professional contract as a baseball player. He takes this sentiment to the next level: treating his household items as though they were life long friends who must part. But when it isn't enough, his search for closure continues late into the night as he scrambles to appreciate every last moment.
Dodd is an awkward, but endearing athlete who finds happiness in the small parts of life, like a warm bowl of soup or an episode of his favorite sitcom. With one night left before moving, his final farewell to all the little things is difficult to process: every object he can’t bring with him, cold beers at a local spot in town, and a certain someone he never got to tell how he truly felt.
Cornelia is a struggling chef whose future is full of uncertain anxiety after an incident at work. She takes pride in her cooking, but doesn't believe she's anything special. As her doubts begin to get the best of her, she meets someone who may be able to help find her way.
For some reason, being in a place for the last time always makes me emotional. Whether it be an Airbnb I've spent two nights in or my childhood home that's officially "for sale," looking at a space and thinking "this it it" has always unexpectedly become a heartache. Tomato Soup is a film I hope will unite individuals who share this feeling, and offer them a sense of understanding.
You're not just saying "goodbye house, goodbye moon, goodbye childhood bedroom." You're saying goodbye to the relationships you built while living there. When my parents sell our house and I can never go back, it's not as though I can never see or talk to them again. They'll always be around. Even my closest friends in Shrewsbury - I can still reach out to them anytime. It's the smaller relationships that I'm losing. My classmates I graduated with, coworkers from my old job, even waiters or store clerks I had come to know simply by frequenting their places of business. Those are the connections I find myself losing, and it's those people who made up the details of my old home. This movie is for them, and for the masses who too feel the struggle of saying "this is it."
The team behind Tomato Soup is dedicated to bringing this deeply personal story to the screen through intricate budgeting, scheduling, and testing that will ensure all is accounted for prior to setting foot on set. We firmly believe our level of preparation for this project guarantees it to be the most quality film we’ve produced yet, both logistically in organization and as creatives looking to make names for ourselves.
Brendan Conant - Writer & Director
Brendan Conant has written and directed a variety of short films and award-winning screenplays over the past few years, each different in style and tone, but all the same in expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words. His stories come from a personal, genuine place he hopes will find an audience who can relate.
Ethan Seelig - Director of Photography
Ethan Seelig is an incredibly versatile and passionate cinematographer, constantly searching for new ways to bring scripts to life through unique, intentional visuals. He regularly pushes for experimentation to capture the look he and the director envision. A close collaborator of Brendan since the beginning of their filmmaking careers.
Simon Richards - First Assistant Director
Simon Richards is keen on keeping production organized as possible to make the creative process fun, productive, and meaningful for all involved. He and Brendan have been making films together for years, developing a close working relationship over their shared passion for storytelling. They understand the vision, and more importantly each other.
How do we plan to make this happen? With your help we’re hoping to raise $10,000.
Your money will go towards:
- Renting industry-standard equipment to ensure an efficient set rather than prolonging shoots with less resources.
- Festival submission fees to help share our film to a wider audience, creating a variety of exciting opportunities for a group of independent, up-and-coming filmmakers.
- Travel reimbursements for our talented, hard working crew members dedicated to making the drive all the way out to East Michigan and back.
- Securing liability insurance to guarantee all locations and equipment are legally accounted for.
- Production design to immerse viewers into Dodd’s nostalgia-embodied world.
- And more!
Even if you're unable to donate to our campaign there is still lots you can do to help us reach our goal:
- Sharing this page with friends, family, or anyone you think would enjoy watching a film like this.
- Following us on social media to receive exclusive BTS content and production updates up until the release date.
- Copy and pasting the following message on your own social media: Help support indie filmmakers and contribute to #TomatoSoup! Show them some love @seedandspark www.seed&spark.com/fund/tomato-soup#story
Thank you so much for your consideration and contribution to Tomato Soup. We're beyond excited to take you on this journey and make something SOUPERB!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,200
Provide our camera team with the resources necessary for making Tomato Soup look the best it possibly can. Lenses, filters, and more!
Cast & Crew Wages
Costs $2,000
Help us pay our cast & crew with fair wages to show how much we appreciate their dedication to this project.
Post-Production Costs
Costs $400
Investing in high quality storage equipment will guarantee a smooth and productive editing workflow.
Festival Fees
Costs $250
Covering costs for festivals allows us to share Tomato Soup with a bigger platform, creating exciting opportunities for our team.
Lighting Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Every cent utilized by the lighting team will give them the ability to perform at their very best with high quality equipment.
Legal Costs
Costs $250
Securing liability insurance for both locations and equipment will guarantee all is accounted for when we're on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
The most important part of immersing viewers into this world is through the costumes, sets, props, and overall visual aesthetic.
Transportation Costs
Costs $200
Reimburse cast & crew for making the time to travel to and from filming locations.
Marketing
Costs $200
Make sure our promotional content is the best it can be to help get as many eyes on this film as we can.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Securing the best locations requires booking and or renting out spaces for the day.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Brendan Conant - Writer & Director
Brendan Conant has written and directed a variety of short films and award-winning screenplays over the past few years, each different in style and tone, but all the same in expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words. His stories come from a personal, genuine place he hopes will find an audience who can relate.
Ethan Seelig - Director of Photography
Ethan Seelig is an incredibly versatile and passionate cinematographer, constantly searching for new ways to bring scripts to life through unique, intentional visuals. He regularly pushes for experimentation to capture the look he and the director envision. A close collaborator of Brendan since the beginning of their filmmaking careers.
Simon Richards - First Assistant Director
Simon Richards is keen on keeping production organized as possible to make the creative process fun, productive, and meaningful for all involved. He and Brendan have been making films together for years, developing a close working relationship over their shared passion for storytelling. They understand the vision and more importantly each other.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Is one night enough time to say goodbye?
Surrounded by half-packed boxes, Dodd is forced to confront his nostalgic longing for home as he prepares to move after signing his first professional contract as a baseball player. He takes this sentiment to the next level: treating his household items as though they were life long friends who must part. But when it isn't enough, his search for closure continues late into the night as he scrambles to appreciate every last moment.
Dodd is an awkward, but endearing athlete who finds happiness in the small parts of life, like a warm bowl of soup or an episode of his favorite sitcom. With one night left before moving, his final farewell to all the little things is difficult to process: every object he can’t bring with him, cold beers at a local spot in town, and a certain someone he never got to tell how he truly felt.
Cornelia is a struggling chef whose future is full of uncertain anxiety after an incident at work. She takes pride in her cooking, but doesn't believe she's anything special. As her doubts begin to get the best of her, she meets someone who may be able to help find her way.
For some reason, being in a place for the last time always makes me emotional. Whether it be an Airbnb I've spent two nights in or my childhood home that's officially "for sale," looking at a space and thinking "this it it" has always unexpectedly become a heartache. Tomato Soup is a film I hope will unite individuals who share this feeling, and offer them a sense of understanding.
You're not just saying "goodbye house, goodbye moon, goodbye childhood bedroom." You're saying goodbye to the relationships you built while living there. When my parents sell our house and I can never go back, it's not as though I can never see or talk to them again. They'll always be around. Even my closest friends in Shrewsbury - I can still reach out to them anytime. It's the smaller relationships that I'm losing. My classmates I graduated with, coworkers from my old job, even waiters or store clerks I had come to know simply by frequenting their places of business. Those are the connections I find myself losing, and it's those people who made up the details of my old home. This movie is for them, and for the masses who too feel the struggle of saying "this is it."
The team behind Tomato Soup is dedicated to bringing this deeply personal story to the screen through intricate budgeting, scheduling, and testing that will ensure all is accounted for prior to setting foot on set. We firmly believe our level of preparation for this project guarantees it to be the most quality film we’ve produced yet, both logistically in organization and as creatives looking to make names for ourselves.
Brendan Conant - Writer & Director
Brendan Conant has written and directed a variety of short films and award-winning screenplays over the past few years, each different in style and tone, but all the same in expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words. His stories come from a personal, genuine place he hopes will find an audience who can relate.
Ethan Seelig - Director of Photography
Ethan Seelig is an incredibly versatile and passionate cinematographer, constantly searching for new ways to bring scripts to life through unique, intentional visuals. He regularly pushes for experimentation to capture the look he and the director envision. A close collaborator of Brendan since the beginning of their filmmaking careers.
Simon Richards - First Assistant Director
Simon Richards is keen on keeping production organized as possible to make the creative process fun, productive, and meaningful for all involved. He and Brendan have been making films together for years, developing a close working relationship over their shared passion for storytelling. They understand the vision, and more importantly each other.
How do we plan to make this happen? With your help we’re hoping to raise $10,000.
Your money will go towards:
- Renting industry-standard equipment to ensure an efficient set rather than prolonging shoots with less resources.
- Festival submission fees to help share our film to a wider audience, creating a variety of exciting opportunities for a group of independent, up-and-coming filmmakers.
- Travel reimbursements for our talented, hard working crew members dedicated to making the drive all the way out to East Michigan and back.
- Securing liability insurance to guarantee all locations and equipment are legally accounted for.
- Production design to immerse viewers into Dodd’s nostalgia-embodied world.
- And more!
Even if you're unable to donate to our campaign there is still lots you can do to help us reach our goal:
- Sharing this page with friends, family, or anyone you think would enjoy watching a film like this.
- Following us on social media to receive exclusive BTS content and production updates up until the release date.
- Copy and pasting the following message on your own social media: Help support indie filmmakers and contribute to #TomatoSoup! Show them some love @seedandspark www.seed&spark.com/fund/tomato-soup#story
Thank you so much for your consideration and contribution to Tomato Soup. We're beyond excited to take you on this journey and make something SOUPERB!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,200
Provide our camera team with the resources necessary for making Tomato Soup look the best it possibly can. Lenses, filters, and more!
Cast & Crew Wages
Costs $2,000
Help us pay our cast & crew with fair wages to show how much we appreciate their dedication to this project.
Post-Production Costs
Costs $400
Investing in high quality storage equipment will guarantee a smooth and productive editing workflow.
Festival Fees
Costs $250
Covering costs for festivals allows us to share Tomato Soup with a bigger platform, creating exciting opportunities for our team.
Lighting Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Every cent utilized by the lighting team will give them the ability to perform at their very best with high quality equipment.
Legal Costs
Costs $250
Securing liability insurance for both locations and equipment will guarantee all is accounted for when we're on set.
Production Design
Costs $2,500
The most important part of immersing viewers into this world is through the costumes, sets, props, and overall visual aesthetic.
Transportation Costs
Costs $200
Reimburse cast & crew for making the time to travel to and from filming locations.
Marketing
Costs $200
Make sure our promotional content is the best it can be to help get as many eyes on this film as we can.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Securing the best locations requires booking and or renting out spaces for the day.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Brendan Conant - Writer & Director
Brendan Conant has written and directed a variety of short films and award-winning screenplays over the past few years, each different in style and tone, but all the same in expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words. His stories come from a personal, genuine place he hopes will find an audience who can relate.
Ethan Seelig - Director of Photography
Ethan Seelig is an incredibly versatile and passionate cinematographer, constantly searching for new ways to bring scripts to life through unique, intentional visuals. He regularly pushes for experimentation to capture the look he and the director envision. A close collaborator of Brendan since the beginning of their filmmaking careers.
Simon Richards - First Assistant Director
Simon Richards is keen on keeping production organized as possible to make the creative process fun, productive, and meaningful for all involved. He and Brendan have been making films together for years, developing a close working relationship over their shared passion for storytelling. They understand the vision and more importantly each other.