At Rust’s infamous summer rooftop party, four clashing NYC friend groups collide—indie-sleaze musicians, model-influencer girls, finance bros, and the queer crew—each bringing their own baggage to a night of debauchery.

Rust, the enigmatic yet volatile host, is owed a fortune by finance bro Noah, a secret that threatens to explode. Check, the reluctant bartender, would rather be anywhere else. Beckett, freshly heartbroken, is forced to play it cool around his newly gay ex, Kat, who’s fully moved on. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Indigo’s roommate drama turns public, Sophie’s envy of Brooklyn's rising fashion career threatens to boil over, and India can’t hide her feelings for Sophie’s past sneaky link. Amidst it all, frat boys Mark and Jake fuel the chaos, pushing the party into reckless oblivion.

As indulgence blurs into paranoia and rivalries ignite, the night spirals into something no one saw coming. When the party reaches its breaking point, who will make it out, and who will go down with it?

CHECK, 24— gentle, laid-back, eager to launch his career as a singer/songwriter but he’s humble about his music. The most responsible out of his roommates, but more importantly, he isn’t the party type anymore.

RUST, 23— alcoholic, occasional DJ, ladies’ man, and a natural born leader. Check’s best friend for many years, their dream is to dominate the music industry together.

BECKETT, 22— gregarious, cocky at times, bisexual, life of the party. He has access to every drug imaginable and loves making sure everyone’s having a good time. Fresh out of a long-term relationship with Kat, with whom he’s still hopelessly in love.

ASH, 18— Beckett’s goofy, trouble-making little brother, newly moved to NYC for music school. A wannabe rockstar obsessed with starting a band, he prides himself on being a rebel—though everyone but him knows he’s secretly gay.

SOPHIE, 22— influencer/model, confident, sharp-tongued and judgemental. She thinks she’s the coolest, prettiest, upcoming young influencers in the city. Bitchy, she keeps even her best friends on edge.

BROOKLYN, 23— model since birth, effortlessly beautiful, outwardly sweet, though it’s unclear if she’s truly genuine. Recently signed to a top agency, she now walks in runway shows for Fashion Week.

INDIA, 20— a shy but ambitious fashion student with dreams of becoming a household name. Though intelligent and kind, she’s a major lightweight, and desperate to fit in with Sophie and Brooklyn.

KAT, 21— genuine, refined, trying to step out of her shell. Since breaking up with Beckett, she has embraced her true self as a lesbian with artistic endeavors and has found a new group of friends who accept her completely.

REBECCA “BECCA”, 23— fiery, witty, butch, Becca has proudly been out since childhood and is a staunch feminist. She dresses masculinely with a “feminine edge”, and never misses a protest or movement she believes in.

INDIGO, 22— the spacey, mysterious, self-proclaimed psychic of the group, and of course, everyone’s favorite gay. They drink whiskey on the rocks, dabble in witchcraft, and swear they can predict the future—but only when they’re blackout drunk.

NOAH, 22— short king, loud, total finance bro. He’s cocky and loves to party. Dripped out in designer brands, funded by his rich daddy, and always wearing the same gold chain. 

JAKE, 20— obnoxious, dumb, can outdrink anyone. He’s visiting from out of town for the weekend. His mom has just remarried Noah’s dad, making them step-brothers.

MARK, 25— always looks bored, could be a robot, talks monotone. He just graduated with a Law and Business degree and now works on Wall Street. Always in a suit, and mysterious for all the wrong reasons.

I set out to write What’s the Use of Worrying because I realized that while films like John Hughes’ classics made me feel seen as a teenager, there was nothing that truthfully captured the chaos of being in your early 20s. So I wanted to create that movie—a raw, darkly comedic, and trippy horror film that reflects the unapologetic self-centeredness of Generation Z.

Being in your 20s today in 2025 feels like a fever dream—you’re at a party with friends, maybe you have a bit too much to drink, or this is the night you decide to try that drug everyone’s talking about—and then boom, the lights grow dim, your surroundings start to close in on you, and what was supposed to be a fun night turns into an absolute nightmare. We currently live in a world where money, humor, sex, and drugs are the only ways to cope with the overwhelming chaos around us. Now I’m sure you’ve heard of "main character energy"... It isn't just a trend or mindset—it’s a distinct point of view that shapes how people navigate their life. It centers on the belief that life is a personal narrative, where the individual is the star and everyone else plays a supporting role. Social media fuels this perspective, reinforcing a self-focused reality where experiences are curated, conflicts feel cinematic, and personal stakes are always at their highest. Through blood, laughter, and unrelenting tension, this movie is a brutal satire about every character thinking they’re “the main character”.

I want audiences to feel like they’ve met these characters before—people they’ve crossed paths with at parties in their own lives. What’s the Use of Worrying delves into themes such as self-obsession, the illusion of control, the reckless pursuit of validation, and questions authenticity—revealing how quickly a night can spiral out of control and forcing us to confront who we truly are in moments of paranoia and chaos.

So if you're a movie goer that loves comedy ensembles and over the top gore, this one's for you!

Inspirations: Climax (2018), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Dazed and Confused (1993)

We started pre-production for What’s the Use of Worrying back in May 2024 and shot our proof of concept trailer with a $5,000 budget in November ‘24. We now have a bigger team, with even bigger plans to get this film officially off the ground.

We have planned a 10 day shoot scheduled for May 21st - June 3rd (weekdays only). After we wrap, we will head into post-production where we hope to have a finished product just in time for the festival circuit.

We are aiming to raise a minimum of $15,000. This includes equipment rentals, scouting & locations, food costs, and travel accommodations. As this is a low-budget independent project, we may be limited in some aspects, but we’re determined to build the world of What’s the Use of Worrying and provide an experience that audiences will take with them forever. To quote director, Sean Baker, “If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more.”

STRETCH GOAL 1: ($24,000)

With $15K as our minimum budget (excluding cast & crew compensation), reaching our $24K stretch goal would ensure that everyone involved is paid for their time, talent, and dedication. This additional funding would also allow us to secure better locations, upgrade our equipment for a higher-quality film, and provide more resources for food and travel.

STRETCH GOAL 2: ($88,117)

This stretch goal would allow us to add more details to our art department (costumes, set design, props, make-up and hair, special effects, and music). We’d be able to pay our cast and crew industry-standard rates, travel fairs and housing accommodations for our non-local talent, and support essential above-the-line costs such as insurance, story rights, production and post-production expenses, and publicity & distribution.

STRETCH GOAL 3: ($100,000)

DREAM BUDGET!!! Reaching this goal would elevate every aspect of our production and contribute to endless possibilities ! It’s an ambitious goal, but with your support, we can make it happen!

Our ultimate goal is to keep independent filmmaking alive and prove that we don’t need a multi-million dollar budget to tell the stories we want to tell. Thank you in advance for your support and we can’t wait to bring you along on this journey with us.

Follow us on Instagram: @whatstheuseofworrying

And our production company Instagram: @offtheroofproductions

With love,

The WTUOW Team <3