What’s in the Woods is an homage to classic thriller films. Ten years ago the script was born out of a nightmare. Three friends alone in a home when a mysterious person comes to them from the woods. Then more. Surrounded and scared, they have to work together to make it through the night.
What’s in the Woods is an homage to classic thriller films. Ten years ago the script was born out of a nightmare. Three friends alone in a home when a mysterious person comes to them from the woods. Then more. Surrounded and scared, they have to work together to make it through the night.
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Story
Mission Statement
This script was written by a 43 year-old lesbian and is being directed by a Mexican-American female in her twenties. The director is married to our producer— a white dude who identifies as a feminist. Our sets are an inclusive environment for all races, ages, genders and sexual orientation/identity.About The Project
Poster by Jessie Dowd
THE FILM
After a stressful move from New York City into their new country home, Lauren and Jerry unwind with their closest friend Megan in the dimly lit cottage. The calm only lasts so long. Megan discovers an ashen little boy in the yard, shivering and alone… or so they think.
The three friends act quickly to protect this boy from a frightening man and his gang of drifters who seem intent on getting this child.
The cops won’t come, and the men don’t scare easily. It becomes utterly clear that in the country you are on your own.
The only thing that separates them from horror is a dirty pane of glass or a creaking wooden door. But how long can you keep the wolves out when their prey lies within?
The friends’ resilient city mentalities cannot stave off what lingers in the darkness, will not stop the evil at their door. How could they possibly be prepared for what’s in the woods?
INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY AND DIRECTOR'S VISION
This story is about our fear and how we approach it, how we let our fear control us and guide us. How far will you let your fear push you? What do we have to live with when we let our fear rule us?
Our director, Michel Dominguez-Beddome was inspired by the Goya painting: Saturn Devouring his Son and the light within the darkness of the painting. The duality of choices and our inner conflict with those choices. No choice is ever as simple as it appears.
Saturn Devouring His Son, Francisco Goya (1819-1832)
THE WORK WE HAVE DONE SO FAR
The process of getting here has been ongoing. We started this journey last year working together to rewrite the script and update it to more current times, while casting and looking for a DP interested in working with us.
During this process, a marketing project was born to pair with the fundraiser. We have spent the beginning of this year shooting a web series, to coincide with the fundraiser that is in the final edits now. HORROR IN HAMELIN will bring you into the lives of our characters and leave you wanting to know what exactly did happen that night.
Simultaneously, we have been working endlessly on social media and a website to launch as well, bringing more awareness to our project and enticing people to follow our journey.
This is just the beginning of a bigger story, stay involved to follow the true mystery that explains it all.
WHAT WE NEED NOW
Now that we have created the foundation for the production of this, by putting in the time for preproduction, we need money to see this work come to life. We have almost everything lined up, we just need the final steps to pay the costs we have budgeted for.
Crew Costs
Location Fees
Gear Costs
Travel Costs
Meals and Crafty
Post Production
Film Festival Submission Fees
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
Follow us on Seed and Spark
Follow us on social media
Check out our website!
Subscribe to our mailing list
Sharing is Caring:
Share us on Social Media
Email friends and family
Follow our hashtag #innocenceisbliss
THANK YOU!
Incentives
$10
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scream Queens Unite!
At this tier, you'll receive:
Social Media Shout out for your support!
$30
"I'll Be Right Back!"
That noise outside? Probably just the wind. Stop over reacting, you're being crazy, I'll take care of everything.
At this tier, you'll receive:
Special thanks in credits of the film + a digital download
$50
"I Think We Should Split Up!"
We're being stupid, sitting together in this invincible phalanx of Spartan ingenuity! We should trickle off, one by one, and rely on our senses that may or may not be somewhat flickery from that nearby car that exploded recently. What? No he's fine, it was only a small shiv to the back. Pick your partner, and let's do this!
At this tier, you'll receive:
DVD copy of the film with a collection of bonus features not available for digital download (including behind the scenes videos, more interviews with the filmmakers, the web series "Horror in Hamelin" about what really happened that night in the woods, etc) + all of the above incentives
$75
"We Made It!"
The pyscho killer is dead! He's been underwater for two to three minutes already. I can't swim, so I'm sure he can't either. Let's crack open a cool budweiser and sit on the dock --formerly an Indian Burial Dock-- and relax. This is well earned!
At this tier, you'll receive:
E-Book with Behind the Scenes Photos, Commentary, and Concept Art + all of the above
$100
LAURIE STRODE: ***Survivor Level***
Oh my god! You survived!! In honor of that huge achievement, you'll get a video of producer Mikey drinking carolina reaper hot sauce courtesy of Señor Lechuga's Hot Sauce. Don't be fooled, their motto is "Caliente As F***." You survived-- now see if he can.
+ all of the above.
$250
JASON VOORHIES: ***Momma Knows Best Level***
We know our mom's love us just as much as Jason's did, yet aren't as savage. AND! Just like Jason's undying love for his own mother, we have that too!
At this tier you'll get:
A video of our Maggie's mom and her neighborhood friends watching our movie and giving their reaction to it. They don't know we are offering this, so this should be fun!
+ all of the above incentives
$500
FREDDY KRUEGER: ***Nancy's Drunk Mother Level***
I think we can all agree, Nancy's drunk mother was one of the highlights of the first Nightmare on Elm Street. So in honor of that, we will re-enact your favorite horror sequence drunk as a skunk. + all of the above
$750
MICHAEL MYERS: ***Pure Evil Level***
I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up, because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil.
Look I know we all grow up wanting to be ballerinas or firefighters... but sometimes we just want to be... evil. It's a human instinct. We can't all be innocent. So today, embrace your evil side. At this tier, you will receive:
1x Date with Mikey to the Horror Movie of Your Choosing -- he will buy you popcorn and squeeze your hand until the blood recedes into your chest. He's a damn coward, but a lovable coward. Let him treat you to his fear of clowns.
$1,000
Steven King
You're so in, it's like you wrote the book on horror films. Well now you have... co-producer! Can I get your autograph? #YouMyMaineSqueeze. Get it? Maine? Pshhh, maybe you should have less Derry. Get it? Derry? Man I think you're Overlook...ing the hilarity of this whole situation. Man, I slay myself... and my whole family.
At this tier, you'll receive:
A Co-Producer Credit + all of the above
Claimed: 2 of 5
$2,000
Wes Craven
Do you ever wonder what happens to all those severed heads and monkey paws from your favorite tale of terror? That's right you guessed it... PINK SLIME! Nope... don't google that. It'll ruin your day. But seriously, they gotta go somewhere.
Well at this tier, you'll receive:
One to-be-determined prop of your choosing from the film, in the order of who throws down. Really want that nasty grusome one? Better act quick. We're classy, we keep our gore tight. You don't want to get stuck with that houseplant do you?
Claimed: 0 of 5
$3,000
Hitchcock
You're top dog. Or Queen of the Birds in this case. You care so much about this movie getting made that the thought of it not happening is giving you Vertigo. You'd even buy binoculars to see into someone's Rear Window just to get a glimpse of the trailer. Well fortunately that's not necessary.
At this tier, you're one of us:
Executive Producer credit in the film as well as an engraved slate with your name on it. How cool is that? Show it off to your mom, put it on your Linkedin, hang it in your diner. You're in the biz now. Call it, slap it, flip it, cause that's a tail slate!
Claimed: 2 of 3
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scream Queens Unite!
At this tier, you'll receive:
Social Media Shout out for your support!
$30
"I'll Be Right Back!"
That noise outside? Probably just the wind. Stop over reacting, you're being crazy, I'll take care of everything.
At this tier, you'll receive:
Special thanks in credits of the film + a digital download
$50
"I Think We Should Split Up!"
We're being stupid, sitting together in this invincible phalanx of Spartan ingenuity! We should trickle off, one by one, and rely on our senses that may or may not be somewhat flickery from that nearby car that exploded recently. What? No he's fine, it was only a small shiv to the back. Pick your partner, and let's do this!
At this tier, you'll receive:
DVD copy of the film with a collection of bonus features not available for digital download (including behind the scenes videos, more interviews with the filmmakers, the web series "Horror in Hamelin" about what really happened that night in the woods, etc) + all of the above incentives
$75
"We Made It!"
The pyscho killer is dead! He's been underwater for two to three minutes already. I can't swim, so I'm sure he can't either. Let's crack open a cool budweiser and sit on the dock --formerly an Indian Burial Dock-- and relax. This is well earned!
At this tier, you'll receive:
E-Book with Behind the Scenes Photos, Commentary, and Concept Art + all of the above
$100
LAURIE STRODE: ***Survivor Level***
Oh my god! You survived!! In honor of that huge achievement, you'll get a video of producer Mikey drinking carolina reaper hot sauce courtesy of Señor Lechuga's Hot Sauce. Don't be fooled, their motto is "Caliente As F***." You survived-- now see if he can.
+ all of the above.
$250
JASON VOORHIES: ***Momma Knows Best Level***
We know our mom's love us just as much as Jason's did, yet aren't as savage. AND! Just like Jason's undying love for his own mother, we have that too!
At this tier you'll get:
A video of our Maggie's mom and her neighborhood friends watching our movie and giving their reaction to it. They don't know we are offering this, so this should be fun!
+ all of the above incentives
$500
FREDDY KRUEGER: ***Nancy's Drunk Mother Level***
I think we can all agree, Nancy's drunk mother was one of the highlights of the first Nightmare on Elm Street. So in honor of that, we will re-enact your favorite horror sequence drunk as a skunk. + all of the above
$750
MICHAEL MYERS: ***Pure Evil Level***
I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up, because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil.
Look I know we all grow up wanting to be ballerinas or firefighters... but sometimes we just want to be... evil. It's a human instinct. We can't all be innocent. So today, embrace your evil side. At this tier, you will receive:
1x Date with Mikey to the Horror Movie of Your Choosing -- he will buy you popcorn and squeeze your hand until the blood recedes into your chest. He's a damn coward, but a lovable coward. Let him treat you to his fear of clowns.
$1,000
Steven King
You're so in, it's like you wrote the book on horror films. Well now you have... co-producer! Can I get your autograph? #YouMyMaineSqueeze. Get it? Maine? Pshhh, maybe you should have less Derry. Get it? Derry? Man I think you're Overlook...ing the hilarity of this whole situation. Man, I slay myself... and my whole family.
At this tier, you'll receive:
A Co-Producer Credit + all of the above
Claimed: 2 of 5
$2,000
Wes Craven
Do you ever wonder what happens to all those severed heads and monkey paws from your favorite tale of terror? That's right you guessed it... PINK SLIME! Nope... don't google that. It'll ruin your day. But seriously, they gotta go somewhere.
Well at this tier, you'll receive:
One to-be-determined prop of your choosing from the film, in the order of who throws down. Really want that nasty grusome one? Better act quick. We're classy, we keep our gore tight. You don't want to get stuck with that houseplant do you?
Claimed: 0 of 5
$3,000
Hitchcock
You're top dog. Or Queen of the Birds in this case. You care so much about this movie getting made that the thought of it not happening is giving you Vertigo. You'd even buy binoculars to see into someone's Rear Window just to get a glimpse of the trailer. Well fortunately that's not necessary.
At this tier, you're one of us:
Executive Producer credit in the film as well as an engraved slate with your name on it. How cool is that? Show it off to your mom, put it on your Linkedin, hang it in your diner. You're in the biz now. Call it, slap it, flip it, cause that's a tail slate!
Claimed: 2 of 3
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
The creative team members for this film all come from different places, but have connected through a day job to start a collective in the hopes of pursuing our dreams of creativity. Together we have found a balance between our day to day lives with an unrelenting passion to produce our own original material.
Maggie Colligan - Writer
Maggie Colligan is the writer and producer of the film What’s in the Woods. She comes from the sprawling metropolis of Wayne Michigan, just outside of Detroit Rock city. She attended San Francisco State University where she studied screenwriting and film theory, while faithfully giving her all to the karaoke circuit in the Bay Area. Her heroes in life are her family, who are all public servants in some way, shape, or form. Her love for horror movies comes directly from the influence of her sisters.
Michel Dominguez Beddome - Director
Florida-native, Michel Dominguez Beddome, began acting at the age of 5 while attending Julie Rohr Academy for the Performing Arts. Raised by two Mexican parents, Michel is a first generation Mexican-American fluent in Spanish. She continued following her creative passion through high school all the way to the Big Apple where she attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts. While at NYU, Michel explored various forms of acting through David Mamet’s Atlantic Acting Studio, the Experimental Theater Wing, etc. Michel graduated from NYU with a BFA in theater in 2013. She has since gotten the opportunity to explore all facets of production through her work with tv and commercial production companies—like TV Boy LLC—to learn what goes on behind the camera.
Michael Dominguez-Beddome - Producer
Michael Dominguez-Beddome was born and raised in Chicago, and has been living in NYC since 2007. He went to NYU Tisch School of the Arts for film and television with a minor in philosophy. He co-founded AireBedd Productions in 2011. AireBedd is an NYC based production company that specializes in digital media (short films, branded videos, music videos, etc). One of their most recent short films, by AireBedd co-founder David E. Munz Maire, "Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir," has been tearing up the film circuit with over 250+ official selections, 70 awards, and another 60+ nominations. Michael is also a writer. His first book, La Cucaracha & Other Tales of Apocalyptic Revelry, is a dark comedy about the end of the world. But he’s an optimist. He’s a Cubs fan after all…
Constantly Growing
Since the start of this journey we have been lucky enough to work with over 20 different professionals who have joined our team as cast and crew. We are so lucky that these extremely talented professionals have donated their time, resources, and of course their true excitement to help us continue giving life to this project.
More on Inclusion
Representation has been at the forefront of our minds, starting with the web series we made to promote the film. We made sure our casting was inclusive of all races and genders, and used an immigrant as our DP. As we build our crew for the film shoot, we are actively seeking a balance of men and women for our crew. We are a group that is very proactive about making an all inclusive set that represents many different races, sexual identities, ages, and genders.
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