Join us in making a positive, hopeful, honest coming of age movie for teens - and everyone - searching for ways to find adventure and truth in a world that seems increasingly ruled by fear and anxiety. We need more adventures in life - YOU can help us make one!
Join us in making a positive, hopeful, honest coming of age movie for teens - and everyone - searching for ways to find adventure and truth in a world that seems increasingly ruled by fear and anxiety. We need more adventures in life - YOU can help us make one!
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Story
Mission Statement
Our film is going to be an incredible showcase for female talent. Written and directed by women, starring two women, and with strong female representation in our crew and supporting cast, What Lies West seeks to help as many women as possible break into the feature world.About The Project
2017 is a bleak year for just about anyone. As we've struggled to find a way to help, any way to help, we've found ourselves getting more and more exhausted. As we march to rallies and donate to the ACLU, it begins to feel like we're spending all our time chasing fires -- trying to put bad things out, rather than adding anything positive.
When What Lies West burst into our minds, it was in response to this thought: the world is awful, and girls are still growing up. All of the things we experienced as adolescents -- love, isolation, embarrassment, euphoria-- all of those are still happening to teens around the world. We might not have survived the teenage years without films and shows that spoke to us, that made us feel like we mattered; movies like Stand By Me and Now and Then, shows like My So-Called Life. They spoke to us when nothing in our real lives got through. Even in a time where it feels like the country is falling apart, we still need to send out the messages, and lucky for us, this is what we trained for.
The other driving force behind What Lies West is the natural beauty of Sonoma County. Often overlooked for its fancier cousin, Napa, Sonoma County remains a place of deep dark oak forest, shimmering rivers, and adventure behind every corner. Born and raised in Santa Rosa, writer/director Jessica Ellis grew up exploring the hidden depths of the county. something that was common to all SoCo kids of her age. It was never hard to believe that magic, myth, and mystery lurked just behind the next oak tree, and the permissiveness of child-rearing in the '80s and '90s allowed her to explore it to her heart's content.
While Sonoma County has long been a favorite of great filmmakers from Hitchcock to Coppola, it has often been as a backdrop to the story. What Lies West takes the role of Sonoma County further than ever before. The forests, parks, and trails of the county are an essential character in the story; drawn in by the irresistable beauty of the region, our heroines set out to find adventure in the west, a passion generations of Sonoma County residents can surely recognize.
Adventures are key to our growth and at the core of our evolution. In the darkest times, people have always set forth on journeys to bring a cure, a boon, or a light back to the world. While there are many crises to focus on, and many causes that need help, we can't ever forget how necessary those journeys are.
Join us in finding out What Lies West.
Incentives
$5
A SCREAM OF THANKS
Many of Jessica's twitter followers get a kick out of her regularly screaming passionate things about issues she cares about. Do YOU have an issue, big or small, that you would like a fun indignant tweet about? At this level, Jessica will SCREAM on twitter about one issue that is important, or at least infuriating, to you. Anything from "WHY CAN NO ONE MERGE RIGHT, EVEN GOATS CAN FIGURE THIS OUT??" to "WHAT IS EVEN THE POINT OF COAL MINING JOBS IF WE CANNOT BREATHE THE AIR AROUND COAL MINES?" Will get a touch of her signature outrage and humor. (Note: exclusions for racist, sexist, or other harmful content.)
$5
Thank You!
A personalized thank you postcard from Whiskey the Dog! We know its old school, but dogs don't know how to use a computer, come on.
$10
Thank You Even More!
A thank you in our credits!
$15
OMG So Many People Want to Thank You!
A personalized thank you postcard from Whiskey the Dog, PLUS a thank you in the credits!
$20
You are a Film Fan!
A thank you in the credits and a video thank you from our cast!
$25
You are just the best!
A huge thank you from everybody, including a postcard from Whiskey the Dog, a thank you video from the crew, a download of our sure-to-be-hilarious outtakes, and a thank you in the credits!
$25
The Magical Mug of Mug Madness Fame
THE REAL DEAL. The one and only WHAT LIES WEST mug!! Available only as a last day perk, plus a thank you in the credits!!
Claimed: 6 of 8
$25
Choose Your Own Adventure
What's YOUR adventure? Tahiti? Egypt? Mars? Send us a photo of your dream adventure spot, we'll transform it into the style of our poster and send it to you in an easily shareable format!
Claimed: 1 of 50
$30
Choose Your Own Adventure 2!
Sometimes the hardest part of an adventure is visualizing yourself there. We can help--send us your dream adventure spot, and we'll send you a customized Choose Your Own Adventure story where only a very few paths end with you dying horribly.
Claimed: 8 of 20
$40
Multi-Media Magician
A digital download of the film, a thank you in the credits! You can watch it in your jammies! No one will know!
$50
The Savvy Cameraperson (Light)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $50 level, and we will give you $65 off any single rental of $80 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$50
Music to our Ears
Digital downloads of the film AND our incredible title song by Molly Alphabet and Chet Vincent!
$60
The Pitch Package
Got a big pitch coming up? This perk gets you a 1-hour Skype consultation with none other than Kevin T. Morales, an Executive Producer at Futuregraph Entertainment. Kevin and Futuregraph are producing multiple scripted television series, so if you want to learn how to turn turn that pilot pitch into a sale, don't miss this opportunity! Only FIVE sessions are availble, so do not delay!
Claimed: 1 of 5
$75
The Swag Bag
Digital downloads of the film, our theme song, AND a What Lies West tote!
$100
The Savvy Cameraperson (Medium)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $100 level, and we will give you $125 off any single rental of $150 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$100
What Lies West Backpack
Already have your own adventure gear and only want our gorgeous What Lies West backpack?? This is the perk for you! This canvas pack is ready for adventure! Not only does it have plenty of room for adventuring items, it can also fit your laptop or tablet, books, notebooks, and just about anything else! It fits PERFECTLY under an airplane seat, making it your perfect weekend getaway pack! PLUS get a download of the film!! Emblazoned with our awesome logo, the WHAT LIES WEST backpack is the perfect option for the adventurer on the go!
$100
The Constructive Critique
A 30 minute script consultation with writer/director Jessica Ellis, an award winning screenwriter and AFI graduate with more than three years of experience providing coverage for studio scripts.
Claimed: 5 of 25
$125
The Kill-Your-Darlings
A 3-4 page detailed script analysis by Jessica Ellis, award-winning screenwriter and experienced coverage analyst!
Claimed: 5 of 20
$200
The Journeyman
A gorgeous What Lies West tote bag, downloads of the film and song, a thank you in the credits, PLUS an easily sharable PERSONALIZED thank you video from the cast and crew!
$250
The Savvy Cameraperson (Mighty)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $250 level, and we will give you $325 off any single rental of $400 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$250
The Insider
Exclusive access to our Film Diaries, a blog where we'll record our experience planning, casting, shooting, and finishing the film! An amazing resource for aspiring filmmakers who want an inside look at the process of making an independent film. Oh and a thank you in the credits! And of course a DL of the finished film!
$250
The Adventure Pack
What's the point of supporting adventures if you aren't ready for your own? The Adventure pack includes a gorgeous What Lies West backpack, a logo water bottle, a compass, and a hiking guide to your area. And of course a DL of the finished film!
$400
In on the Action
Exclusive access to our on-set webcam, so you can check in on the filmmaking process any time you want. We'll even send you a call sheet so you know when to check in on the set. If the Internet is being snotty we'll post a video summary at the end of the day. And of course a DL of the finished film!
$400
The Swag Master
An Adventure Pack, a What Lies West tote, a PERSONALIZED video thank you from the cast and crew, and downloads of the film and song! You truly are the master of all swag!
$500
The Savvy Cameraperson (Max)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $500 level, and we will give you $650 off any single rental of $800 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$1,000
The VIP
An associate producer credit and a gift certificate to a gorgeous Sonoma County restaurant, where you can plan your own adventure! And of course a DL of the finished film!
$2,500
The Executive
Associate producer credit, lunch with the cast and crew on set, and exclusive What Lies West swag! (transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set from the local area!) Downloads of the film and song to boot!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$5,000
The You-Should-Be-In-The-Picture!
Associate producer credit, lunch with the cast and crew, and a walk-on role! You can even bring a friend as your own personal entourage! (Transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set from the local area!) Plus our finished film to download!
$10,000
The God of Adventures
Producer credit and a luxury wine country weekend including gorgeous accommodations, activities tailored to you, a beautiful picnic lunch with the cast and crew, and a walk-on role. (transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set in a limo!) Also downloads of the f ilm and song, and any swag you like!
Claimed: 0 of 2
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
A SCREAM OF THANKS
Many of Jessica's twitter followers get a kick out of her regularly screaming passionate things about issues she cares about. Do YOU have an issue, big or small, that you would like a fun indignant tweet about? At this level, Jessica will SCREAM on twitter about one issue that is important, or at least infuriating, to you. Anything from "WHY CAN NO ONE MERGE RIGHT, EVEN GOATS CAN FIGURE THIS OUT??" to "WHAT IS EVEN THE POINT OF COAL MINING JOBS IF WE CANNOT BREATHE THE AIR AROUND COAL MINES?" Will get a touch of her signature outrage and humor. (Note: exclusions for racist, sexist, or other harmful content.)
$5
Thank You!
A personalized thank you postcard from Whiskey the Dog! We know its old school, but dogs don't know how to use a computer, come on.
$10
Thank You Even More!
A thank you in our credits!
$15
OMG So Many People Want to Thank You!
A personalized thank you postcard from Whiskey the Dog, PLUS a thank you in the credits!
$20
You are a Film Fan!
A thank you in the credits and a video thank you from our cast!
$25
You are just the best!
A huge thank you from everybody, including a postcard from Whiskey the Dog, a thank you video from the crew, a download of our sure-to-be-hilarious outtakes, and a thank you in the credits!
$25
The Magical Mug of Mug Madness Fame
THE REAL DEAL. The one and only WHAT LIES WEST mug!! Available only as a last day perk, plus a thank you in the credits!!
Claimed: 6 of 8
$25
Choose Your Own Adventure
What's YOUR adventure? Tahiti? Egypt? Mars? Send us a photo of your dream adventure spot, we'll transform it into the style of our poster and send it to you in an easily shareable format!
Claimed: 1 of 50
$30
Choose Your Own Adventure 2!
Sometimes the hardest part of an adventure is visualizing yourself there. We can help--send us your dream adventure spot, and we'll send you a customized Choose Your Own Adventure story where only a very few paths end with you dying horribly.
Claimed: 8 of 20
$40
Multi-Media Magician
A digital download of the film, a thank you in the credits! You can watch it in your jammies! No one will know!
$50
The Savvy Cameraperson (Light)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $50 level, and we will give you $65 off any single rental of $80 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$50
Music to our Ears
Digital downloads of the film AND our incredible title song by Molly Alphabet and Chet Vincent!
$60
The Pitch Package
Got a big pitch coming up? This perk gets you a 1-hour Skype consultation with none other than Kevin T. Morales, an Executive Producer at Futuregraph Entertainment. Kevin and Futuregraph are producing multiple scripted television series, so if you want to learn how to turn turn that pilot pitch into a sale, don't miss this opportunity! Only FIVE sessions are availble, so do not delay!
Claimed: 1 of 5
$75
The Swag Bag
Digital downloads of the film, our theme song, AND a What Lies West tote!
$100
The Savvy Cameraperson (Medium)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $100 level, and we will give you $125 off any single rental of $150 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$100
What Lies West Backpack
Already have your own adventure gear and only want our gorgeous What Lies West backpack?? This is the perk for you! This canvas pack is ready for adventure! Not only does it have plenty of room for adventuring items, it can also fit your laptop or tablet, books, notebooks, and just about anything else! It fits PERFECTLY under an airplane seat, making it your perfect weekend getaway pack! PLUS get a download of the film!! Emblazoned with our awesome logo, the WHAT LIES WEST backpack is the perfect option for the adventurer on the go!
$100
The Constructive Critique
A 30 minute script consultation with writer/director Jessica Ellis, an award winning screenwriter and AFI graduate with more than three years of experience providing coverage for studio scripts.
Claimed: 5 of 25
$125
The Kill-Your-Darlings
A 3-4 page detailed script analysis by Jessica Ellis, award-winning screenwriter and experienced coverage analyst!
Claimed: 5 of 20
$200
The Journeyman
A gorgeous What Lies West tote bag, downloads of the film and song, a thank you in the credits, PLUS an easily sharable PERSONALIZED thank you video from the cast and crew!
$250
The Savvy Cameraperson (Mighty)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $250 level, and we will give you $325 off any single rental of $400 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$250
The Insider
Exclusive access to our Film Diaries, a blog where we'll record our experience planning, casting, shooting, and finishing the film! An amazing resource for aspiring filmmakers who want an inside look at the process of making an independent film. Oh and a thank you in the credits! And of course a DL of the finished film!
$250
The Adventure Pack
What's the point of supporting adventures if you aren't ready for your own? The Adventure pack includes a gorgeous What Lies West backpack, a logo water bottle, a compass, and a hiking guide to your area. And of course a DL of the finished film!
$400
In on the Action
Exclusive access to our on-set webcam, so you can check in on the filmmaking process any time you want. We'll even send you a call sheet so you know when to check in on the set. If the Internet is being snotty we'll post a video summary at the end of the day. And of course a DL of the finished film!
$400
The Swag Master
An Adventure Pack, a What Lies West tote, a PERSONALIZED video thank you from the cast and crew, and downloads of the film and song! You truly are the master of all swag!
$500
The Savvy Cameraperson (Max)
Making your own film, music video, or short? Donate at the $500 level, and we will give you $650 off any single rental of $800 or more, of any in stock equipment at Iguana Digital Cinema! (must pick up in Los Angeles)
$1,000
The VIP
An associate producer credit and a gift certificate to a gorgeous Sonoma County restaurant, where you can plan your own adventure! And of course a DL of the finished film!
$2,500
The Executive
Associate producer credit, lunch with the cast and crew on set, and exclusive What Lies West swag! (transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set from the local area!) Downloads of the film and song to boot!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$5,000
The You-Should-Be-In-The-Picture!
Associate producer credit, lunch with the cast and crew, and a walk-on role! You can even bring a friend as your own personal entourage! (Transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set from the local area!) Plus our finished film to download!
$10,000
The God of Adventures
Producer credit and a luxury wine country weekend including gorgeous accommodations, activities tailored to you, a beautiful picnic lunch with the cast and crew, and a walk-on role. (transportation to Sonoma County not included, but we'll get you to set in a limo!) Also downloads of the f ilm and song, and any swag you like!
Claimed: 0 of 2
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Jessica Ellis, Writer/Director:
A graduate of UCLA and AFI with degrees in playwriting and screenwriting. Past accolades include the Alfred P Sloan Science in Film grant and the Women in Film grant. Her scripts have won at the California Film awards and the Creative World Awards. She was a 2016 semi-finalist for the Nickelodeon TV writing program, and has developed pilots with Lawrence Mark Productions and Robert Cort Productions. She is a story editor on the forthcoming digital series, Local Air. A Sonoma County native, Jessica's career-long dream has been to make movies in her home region.
Sean Carroll, Cinematographer:
A graduate of Point Park University and AFI, Sean is the owner of Iguana Digital Cinema, a camera rental company. Past work includes steadycam operating for Lifetime's original movie High School Holiday Reunion, independent feature Waitingin the Wings, and commercials for Nike. Camera team work highlights includes Sons of Anarchy, YouTube series Side Effects, and several comedy shorts for Funny or Die.
Nixolette Ellis, Actor:
Nicolette graduated from California State University, Chico with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theatre. Throughout her career she has been featured in productions of Into the Woods, Almost, Maine, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, and more and most recently closed How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She is excited to work with the cast and crew of What Lies West.
Chloe Moore, Actress:
Chloe lives in Santa Rosa, California, and is sixteen years old. She first became involved in theater in a sixth grade play of Charlie in the Chocolate Factory as Willy Wonka, and has since been in the ensemble of Beauty and the Beast and the character Whitney in Legally Blonde during middle school. She will soon be a junior at Maria Carrillo High School, and spends her free time baking, playing with her two cats, Cougar and Foggy, reading, and writing poetry.
President of SADI Productions/ Producer-
Jennifer S. Milliman
Jennifer worked as an assistant director for 7 years in the Austin area, before moving to Los Angeles to attend the American Film Institute, where she obtained her Masters Degree. Since graduation she has worked on everything from familiar summer blockbuster feature films (Thor, John Carter of Mars,
Horrible Bosses, Savages, etc.), to independent passion projects (Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing, ConMan, etc .) , prime time television shows (Parks & Recreations, CSI Miami, Major Crimes, Stalker, Sons of Anarchy, etc.), reality shows (Deadliest Warrior), as well as countless new media streaming content, commercials and music videos. All of this experience has given her invaluable knowledge, and allowed her to develop many great working relationships with other talented professionals. In addition to her constant crew work, she has spent her own time working to
develop projects for her own production company, SADI Productions. What Lies West promises to be another in a line of incredible projects developed in close collaboration with two talented classmates from AFI.
Whiskey, Dog:
Whiskey is pretty sure there will be cheese in this venture, so he has "volunteered" to be in charge of morale. He looks forward to writing postcards to everyone from set.
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