Warning! Warning! Warning!

Before reading any further please, let it be understood that this is a story of pure fiction. Any similarities to real serial killers or podcast hosts is merely coincidental. Phew! Now that we’ve got that out of the way. Please continue… This is an important story for me to tell because it deals with the dangers of social media and online engagement. It deals with people being held accountable not just for their actions, but for the actions of their followers that believe the lies some of these people are selling. It's a dangerous world and in today's society there is no reprieve from it. We are constantly checking our phones whether it's Instagram or TikTok or whatever social media platform is on the rage. We are responsible for the footsteps we leave and the people that follow in them, whether right or wrong.

CLAXTON KING is a true crime podcaster. He has just booked his “dream” guest. A serial killer.

If there are two things CLAXTON KING knows its podcasts and serial killers. He is the host of the true crime podcast “MENACING MINDS” where he delves into the lives, hobbies and crimes of all types of killers. He decides to risk it all by inviting “ self proclaimed” serial killer ARTHUR JACK MILES on to his show. However the tables begin to turn when it’s revealed that there is a serial killer in the studio, but it might not be the one everyone expected.

Claxton King is very tech savvy handling all of the audio and video needs of his podcast,”MENACING MINDS”, but wants to move out of the background and be taken seriously as a podcaster. The one thing that he has really found a talent for is being a “killer” host. He thinks his “guests” are serving the greater good by allowing themselves to open up and be honest and not dying without getting whatever they need to off of their chest. His “guests” are usually social media influencers or content creators parading around in public as the complete antithesis of who they are privately.

Arthur Jack Miles is a loner. He has no family. No friends. He drinks too much. He thinks he’s the smartest person in every room he enters. He can say more with a look than most people can with a monologue. He has to be in charge and can’t handle when he is challenged in any way. He is also a pathological liar with grandiose ideas of himself and his accomplishments. 

This story starts off with everything being taken at face value. A typical thriller/horror film where the nerdy podcast hosts is doomed against the seasoned serial killer. However as the story slowly progresses, the roles of the interviewer and subject begin to shift. This story deals with accountability for your actions in person and both online as well as the dangers of a hobby becoming an obsession. Everyone has a podcast nowadays so it's not about just having one it's about what you do with it. So the question we’re asking is… What would you do with it? And what would you want your last words to be?

Claustrophobic, cynical, and cheerfully manic. A back and forth game of cat and mouse. Starting as a light interview before transforming into a dark interrogation. Equal parts funny and fearful with a touch of awkward silences. We are shooting in tight quarters so the overall feel is going to be very contained struggling to bust free.

While many find it educational or entertaining, some psychological perspectives suggest that obsessively using true crime for relaxation can be a potential red flag, indicating emotional numbness or a, perhaps, subconscious attraction to chaos. Research also indicates that, like other intense interests, it can lead to negative feelings or unhealthy parasocial relationships with the subjects.

A modern media phenomenon defined by intimate, long-form audio storytelling, niche community building, and "parasocial" relationships where listeners feel a personal connection to hosts.

From more recent films like The Menu to more cult movies from the 1990's like Serial Mom inspirations come from all over to help us form the visual look of Verifiable.

The Menu (2022) - Inspired by the dark humor and the shifting of supposed roles in society.

American Psycho (2000) - Inspired by the mind of a killer and the dangers of fantasies.

Taxi Driver (1976) - Inspired by the obsessive nature of a man that thinks he’s right.

The King of Comedy (1982) - Inspired by the cult of personality and wanting to be a star.

Serial Mom (1994) - Inspired by the killers that live amongst the mundaneness of the suburbs.

• Panavision cameras and equipment are not cheap, but luckily we did get approved for The New Filmmaker’s Fund Equipment Grant so that takes care of most of that.
• The cast and crew we have are absolutely amazing for both pre production, production and post production and we need to make sure they are compensated accordingly. Even on the most micro of budgets crew and cast need to be paid.
• While Panavision is going to help in supplying cameras and lenses we still need dollys and jibs to be able to create lots of movement for a story that takes place in one location. Movement of the cameras will be key. We are shooting in 8K full frame so the memory will fill up very fast so WE NEED TO GET BIG HARD DRIVES at least 4TB each and we’ll need two for safety. We also need to rent a truck to be able to move the equipment to and from the shooting location.
• It is amazing to have Panavision on board supporting this project, but using Panavision equipment does require us to get the best insurance in order to cover anything that may happen. We also have to get permits and anyone that makes movies in Los Angeles know how expensive proper permits are.
• We have found an amazing location that fits all of the interior and exterior needs of the story, but it’s not free. It’s an amazing space with a super accommodating host and we have to pay to play.
• While we do have some sound equipment we still need to get an interface and podcast mics so we can collect practical audio as well as the audio from mic’ing the room.
• Last but certainly not least, Craft Services. We need to feed everyone. A well fed crew is a happy crew which makes for the best shoot.

We are off to an amazing start. We are crewed up. We have scouted locations and have found the perfect spot. We are filming in October so this campaign is going to help us know exactly what we are able to get for the production and come up with any contingency plans. We have given ourselves enough time for anything that might come up before. We have so many people that have already put in so much time and energy into this project and this is our best chance at making sure we can make this movie as magical as we know it can be.

This is the last hump we are trying to get over so every little bit helps. If we can reach 16,000$ between pledges and loans we will receive the greenlight for this campaign. We are so close and are working around the clock to make sure this film becomes a reality.

Making movies in general is hard as can be learned from one of my favorite movie podcasts, “How Did This Get Made?”. Making movies in Los Angeles can be even harder. Once we have secured funds we will be able to lock down location, submit crew and cast contracts, secure permits and insurance all before we pick up the PANAVISION cameras and lenses. We will also know what gear and equipment we can afford in order to make this the best film it can possibly be.

Our campaign ends three weeks before we go into production so we are asking for any help anyone is willing to give in getting us across this finish line. We are giving ourselves the second half of October through December for post production. This gives us plenty of time for editing, sound mixing, color correction, and scoring the finished film. The goal is to have a finished product by January so we can spend a full year submitting to every film festival we can. Thank you so much again for even taking the time to read this.

And……..

Verifiable will be….