When Ever Comes
Baltimore, Maryland | Film Short
Drama, Experimental
When Ever Comes is a grounded short about people stuck in place, trying to find the courage to move forward. Supporting it means paying local artists fairly and helping bring an honest, character-driven story from our community to the screen. A story about waiting, doubt, and small acts of change.
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
44 supporters | followers
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When Ever Comes is a grounded short about people stuck in place, trying to find the courage to move forward. Supporting it means paying local artists fairly and helping bring an honest, character-driven story from our community to the screen. A story about waiting, doubt, and small acts of change.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our story takes place on one worn-down city block over the course of a single long day.
Two friends who’ve spent years “waiting for something to happen” sit on the same steps they always do, trading jokes, complaints, and half-serious plans they never act on. Their routine is interrupted by a loud, overconfident online “motivational” personality who shows up with his quiet cameraman, determined to turn the block—and everyone on it—into content.
As the day drags on, big talk collides with old wounds, money problems, mental health struggles, and the fear of actually changing. The influencer’s confidence starts to crack, the friends’ excuses stop working, and the quiet cameraman might be the one holding the real power.
Change is coming either way. Are they part of it, or just letting it happen to them?
When Ever Comes is inspired by the spirit and structure of Waiting for Godot, but it’s not a homework assignment or a straight adaptation. It’s a modern, grounded story about waiting, doubt, and the tiny, terrifying first steps toward change.
This is the kind of film that almost never gets made without direct support from people who see themselves in it. Most of what we’re offered now are giant franchises, reboots, or “content drops” we’re supposed to binge and forget.
I grew up loving smaller, character driven films the ones that took place over a single day or on a single street, where the biggest special effect was two people talking honestly. Those movies taught me that a simple setup can hit harder than the loudest blockbuster if the characters feel real.
That’s the energy I want to bring back with When Ever Comes.
This short is intimate: one block, a handful of characters, and a camera that really sits with them. But the ideas are big; how we fool ourselves, how we hide in talk instead of action, how easy it is to feel stuck in place while the world keeps spinning. I’m not trying to make a lecture or a “message movie.” I’m trying to make something human, funny, a little uncomfortable, and hopefully recognizable.
This film blends drama, dark humor, and a touch of surreal tension to explore the feeling of being stuck emotionally, financially, and creatively. The marble steps of a worn-down city block become a kind of mirror.
.png)
Because a lot of us are exhausted. We’re told to “grind harder” while the cost of everything rises. We compare ourselves to curated versions of other people’s lives. We feel like we’re already behind, even when we’re doing our best.
When Ever Comes is about that pressure, and about the messy, imperfect attempts to push back against it. It’s a proof of concept for a larger vision, but as a short it stands on its own as a small, honest snapshot of people on the edge of a decision they’ve been avoiding for years, do I stay who I’ve always been, or do I risk changing?
I’m making this now because I live inside that tension every day: working a full time job, showing up for my family, trying to honor my mental health, and still feeling pulled toward the stories I want to tell. This film is my way of putting that feeling on screen so other people don’t feel like they’re carrying it alone.
.png)
Because I want to make something that feels real and specific, but also universal.
The characters in When Ever Comes aren’t heroes or villains. They’re people you might recognize: the friend who talks a big game but never leaves, the person who hides behind “motivation” because they’re terrified of failing, the quiet one who sees everything but rarely speaks up.
This project lets me bring together everything I care about as a storyteller:
- Intimate performances
- Long, tense, funny conversations
- A strong sense of place
- And a theme that a lot of us quietly wrestle with: What if nothing ever changes… and it’s partly my fault?
Beyond proving the concept for a bigger project, this short is meant to stand as its own statement:
that small, character-driven films about ordinary people still matter, and they deserve to be treated with the same care and craft as anything else.
.png)
I’m a filmmaker, a parent of three, and someone who knows what it’s like to juggle responsibility with creative ambition.
I don’t have a studio behind me. I have a family, a full time job, military obligations, and a stubborn belief that stories like this are worth fighting for. I’ve spent years writing, re-writing, planning, and building this project piece by piece often in the early morning or late at night.
This is not a random impulse. When Ever Comes is the result of a long, deliberate process:
- developing the script
- building characters inspired by classic theater but rooted in real life
- assembling a cast and crew who believe in the story
- and designing a production that aims to be as professional as possible on a modest budget.
I know exactly the kind of film I want to make: grounded, visually thoughtful, performance-driven, and emotionally honest. This is a story I feel uniquely equipped to tell because I live so much of what it’s about waiting, fearing change, and choosing to move anyway.
Where We Are Now
We’re currently in pre-production with:
- A completed script
- Our core cast in place
- A cinematographer and key crew interested and engaged
- Our primary location concept locked (one block / stoop setting)
- Tentative shoot dates targeted for a three-day run
We’re using this time to refine shot lists, rehearse with actors, plan the visual style, and make sure that when we step onto set, every shot we capture is intentional.
How This Campaign Moves Us Forward
Your support directly funds the essentials that bring this film to life and allow us to deliver a polished, festival-ready short.
This campaign helps us:
- Pay cast and crew fairly for their time and talent
- Secure camera, sound, and lighting equipment that meets a high professional standard
- Cover insurance and any necessary permits
- Build simple but effective production design and wardrobe that grounds the world
- Feed everyone on set and create a safe, respectful working environment
- Complete post-production (editing, sound design, color correction)
- Submit the film to festivals so it has a chance to travel and be seen
Every dollar pushes the film from “planned” to “finished,” and gives the team behind it an opportunity to showcase what they can do.
What Happens When the Film Is Finished
Once we wrap production, we’ll move straight into editing and post.
Our plan:
- Lock picture with a dedicated editor
- Work with a sound designer to make sure the dialogue and environment feel immersive
- Color grade the film to match the tone—muted, lived-in, but cinematic
- Submit to film festivals over the following year
- After the festival run, share the finished film online with everyone who helped bring it to life
We want supporters to see where their contribution went, and to feel proud when their names appear in the credits.
Audience Delivery Timeline
- This Spring: Filming (3-day shoot)
- Spring - Summer: Editing, sound, color, and festival submissions
- After festival run: Online release for all supporters, plus behind-the-scenes updates
.png)
Stretch Goals
We’re planning to shoot as efficiently and responsibly as possible. Anything over our initial goal goes right back into making the film stronger.
If we surpass 100% of our goal, we’ll be able to:
125%
- Upgrade elements of our camera and lens package
- Put more resources into production design and wardrobe
- Add extra time for rehearsals and on-set fine-tuning
150%
- Invest more in detailed sound design and a richer mix
- Give our colorist more time to refine the look
- Increase our festival submission budget so the film can reach more audiences and cities
How You Can Help
PLEDGE
Any amount truly helps. Whether it’s $5, $25, or $500, you become part of bringing this story from the page to the screen.
SHARE
If you can’t give financially or even if you can sharing the campaign is huge. Send it to a friend who loves small, thoughtful films, post it on social media, or share it with anyone who’s ever said, “I feel stuck.”
FOLLOW
Follow the campaign to stay updated as we move through casting, rehearsals, production, and post. You’ll get a front-row seat to the chaos, problem solving, and creative joy of making this film together.
If you’ve ever felt like you were waiting for the “right moment” to change your life, When Ever Comes is for you. Thanks for considering helping us bring it into the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Pay
Costs $2,700
Paying our four adult actors and one child actor for three shoot days so everyone is compensated fairly for their time and talent.
Crew Pay
Costs $3,800
Covering our DP, 1st AC, gaffer, sound recordist, and a small support team so we can run a safe, professional set for three days.
Camera & Lighting Gear
Costs $2,200
Renting a cinema-quality camera package, lenses, and lighting so the film looks as good as the story deserves.
Sound Gear
Costs $700
Renting professional audio gear (mics, mixer/recorder, headphones) so the performances are clear and immersive.
Locations, Permits & Insurance
Costs $1,200
Securing our primary block/stoop location, production insurance, and any permits we need to protect the team and the project.
Production Design & Wardrobe
Costs $900
Dressing the block, the stoop, and the characters: props, small set pieces, and wardrobe that ground the world in a real place and time.
Food & Craft Services
Costs $1,000
Feeding cast and crew well for the full shoot—meals, snacks, water, and coffee to keep everyone going.
Post-Production (Edit, Sound, Color)
Costs $1,500
Editing the film, doing sound design/mix, and color grading so the final short feels polished and festival-ready.
Festival Submissions & Marketing
Costs $600
Submission fees for festivals plus basic marketing materials (posters, graphics, screeners) so the film can find an audience beyond our bloc
Contingency & Fees
Costs $400
Covering platform/processing fees and giving us a small cushion for the unexpected (extra tape, batteries, last-minute needs).
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Executive Producer — Rich Ford
Rich Ford is our Executive Producer and a trusted industry professional with deep experience bringing creative projects to life. He’s been a long time supporter of my work, and from the moment he connected with When Ever Comes, he understood what we’re trying to say and do. Rich’s guidance, standards, and belief in this film add real momentum to the team and we’re lucky to have his support as we push this story from script to screen.
Producer / Line Producer — Kichonee Davis
Kichonee Davis is serving as Producer / Line Producer, helping drive both the creative and logistical engine of the film. She brings strong experience collaborating with artists across disciplines and around the world, and she knows how to turn big ideas into real plans schedules, coordination, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Kichonee is also deeply committed to making the process ethical, intentional, and creatively supportive, so the work behind the camera matches the integrity of what we want on screen.
Writer / Director — Louis Skinner
I’m Louis Skinner, the Writer/Director of When Ever Comes. I’m a Baltimore-based storyteller with a background in UX/design and creative direction, which shapes how I approach filmmaking story structure, visual clarity, tone, and the emotional experience of the audience. This film is personal to me, rooted in the feeling of being stuck and the quiet urgency to change, and I’m focused on creating something cinematic, grounded, and honest built with a small team that cares about craft and meaning.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our story takes place on one worn-down city block over the course of a single long day.
Two friends who’ve spent years “waiting for something to happen” sit on the same steps they always do, trading jokes, complaints, and half-serious plans they never act on. Their routine is interrupted by a loud, overconfident online “motivational” personality who shows up with his quiet cameraman, determined to turn the block—and everyone on it—into content.
As the day drags on, big talk collides with old wounds, money problems, mental health struggles, and the fear of actually changing. The influencer’s confidence starts to crack, the friends’ excuses stop working, and the quiet cameraman might be the one holding the real power.
Change is coming either way. Are they part of it, or just letting it happen to them?
When Ever Comes is inspired by the spirit and structure of Waiting for Godot, but it’s not a homework assignment or a straight adaptation. It’s a modern, grounded story about waiting, doubt, and the tiny, terrifying first steps toward change.
This is the kind of film that almost never gets made without direct support from people who see themselves in it. Most of what we’re offered now are giant franchises, reboots, or “content drops” we’re supposed to binge and forget.
I grew up loving smaller, character driven films the ones that took place over a single day or on a single street, where the biggest special effect was two people talking honestly. Those movies taught me that a simple setup can hit harder than the loudest blockbuster if the characters feel real.
That’s the energy I want to bring back with When Ever Comes.
This short is intimate: one block, a handful of characters, and a camera that really sits with them. But the ideas are big; how we fool ourselves, how we hide in talk instead of action, how easy it is to feel stuck in place while the world keeps spinning. I’m not trying to make a lecture or a “message movie.” I’m trying to make something human, funny, a little uncomfortable, and hopefully recognizable.
This film blends drama, dark humor, and a touch of surreal tension to explore the feeling of being stuck emotionally, financially, and creatively. The marble steps of a worn-down city block become a kind of mirror.
Because a lot of us are exhausted. We’re told to “grind harder” while the cost of everything rises. We compare ourselves to curated versions of other people’s lives. We feel like we’re already behind, even when we’re doing our best.
When Ever Comes is about that pressure, and about the messy, imperfect attempts to push back against it. It’s a proof of concept for a larger vision, but as a short it stands on its own as a small, honest snapshot of people on the edge of a decision they’ve been avoiding for years, do I stay who I’ve always been, or do I risk changing?
I’m making this now because I live inside that tension every day: working a full time job, showing up for my family, trying to honor my mental health, and still feeling pulled toward the stories I want to tell. This film is my way of putting that feeling on screen so other people don’t feel like they’re carrying it alone.
Because I want to make something that feels real and specific, but also universal.
The characters in When Ever Comes aren’t heroes or villains. They’re people you might recognize: the friend who talks a big game but never leaves, the person who hides behind “motivation” because they’re terrified of failing, the quiet one who sees everything but rarely speaks up.
This project lets me bring together everything I care about as a storyteller:
- Intimate performances
- Long, tense, funny conversations
- A strong sense of place
- And a theme that a lot of us quietly wrestle with: What if nothing ever changes… and it’s partly my fault?
Beyond proving the concept for a bigger project, this short is meant to stand as its own statement:
that small, character-driven films about ordinary people still matter, and they deserve to be treated with the same care and craft as anything else.
I’m a filmmaker, a parent of three, and someone who knows what it’s like to juggle responsibility with creative ambition.
I don’t have a studio behind me. I have a family, a full time job, military obligations, and a stubborn belief that stories like this are worth fighting for. I’ve spent years writing, re-writing, planning, and building this project piece by piece often in the early morning or late at night.
This is not a random impulse. When Ever Comes is the result of a long, deliberate process:
- developing the script
- building characters inspired by classic theater but rooted in real life
- assembling a cast and crew who believe in the story
- and designing a production that aims to be as professional as possible on a modest budget.
I know exactly the kind of film I want to make: grounded, visually thoughtful, performance-driven, and emotionally honest. This is a story I feel uniquely equipped to tell because I live so much of what it’s about waiting, fearing change, and choosing to move anyway.
Where We Are Now
We’re currently in pre-production with:
- A completed script
- Our core cast in place
- A cinematographer and key crew interested and engaged
- Our primary location concept locked (one block / stoop setting)
- Tentative shoot dates targeted for a three-day run
We’re using this time to refine shot lists, rehearse with actors, plan the visual style, and make sure that when we step onto set, every shot we capture is intentional.
How This Campaign Moves Us Forward
Your support directly funds the essentials that bring this film to life and allow us to deliver a polished, festival-ready short.
This campaign helps us:
- Pay cast and crew fairly for their time and talent
- Secure camera, sound, and lighting equipment that meets a high professional standard
- Cover insurance and any necessary permits
- Build simple but effective production design and wardrobe that grounds the world
- Feed everyone on set and create a safe, respectful working environment
- Complete post-production (editing, sound design, color correction)
- Submit the film to festivals so it has a chance to travel and be seen
Every dollar pushes the film from “planned” to “finished,” and gives the team behind it an opportunity to showcase what they can do.
What Happens When the Film Is Finished
Once we wrap production, we’ll move straight into editing and post.
Our plan:
- Lock picture with a dedicated editor
- Work with a sound designer to make sure the dialogue and environment feel immersive
- Color grade the film to match the tone—muted, lived-in, but cinematic
- Submit to film festivals over the following year
- After the festival run, share the finished film online with everyone who helped bring it to life
We want supporters to see where their contribution went, and to feel proud when their names appear in the credits.
Audience Delivery Timeline
- This Spring: Filming (3-day shoot)
- Spring - Summer: Editing, sound, color, and festival submissions
- After festival run: Online release for all supporters, plus behind-the-scenes updates
Stretch Goals
We’re planning to shoot as efficiently and responsibly as possible. Anything over our initial goal goes right back into making the film stronger.
If we surpass 100% of our goal, we’ll be able to:
125%
- Upgrade elements of our camera and lens package
- Put more resources into production design and wardrobe
- Add extra time for rehearsals and on-set fine-tuning
150%
- Invest more in detailed sound design and a richer mix
- Give our colorist more time to refine the look
- Increase our festival submission budget so the film can reach more audiences and cities
How You Can Help
PLEDGE
Any amount truly helps. Whether it’s $5, $25, or $500, you become part of bringing this story from the page to the screen.
SHARE
If you can’t give financially or even if you can sharing the campaign is huge. Send it to a friend who loves small, thoughtful films, post it on social media, or share it with anyone who’s ever said, “I feel stuck.”
FOLLOW
Follow the campaign to stay updated as we move through casting, rehearsals, production, and post. You’ll get a front-row seat to the chaos, problem solving, and creative joy of making this film together.
If you’ve ever felt like you were waiting for the “right moment” to change your life, When Ever Comes is for you. Thanks for considering helping us bring it into the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Pay
Costs $2,700
Paying our four adult actors and one child actor for three shoot days so everyone is compensated fairly for their time and talent.
Crew Pay
Costs $3,800
Covering our DP, 1st AC, gaffer, sound recordist, and a small support team so we can run a safe, professional set for three days.
Camera & Lighting Gear
Costs $2,200
Renting a cinema-quality camera package, lenses, and lighting so the film looks as good as the story deserves.
Sound Gear
Costs $700
Renting professional audio gear (mics, mixer/recorder, headphones) so the performances are clear and immersive.
Locations, Permits & Insurance
Costs $1,200
Securing our primary block/stoop location, production insurance, and any permits we need to protect the team and the project.
Production Design & Wardrobe
Costs $900
Dressing the block, the stoop, and the characters: props, small set pieces, and wardrobe that ground the world in a real place and time.
Food & Craft Services
Costs $1,000
Feeding cast and crew well for the full shoot—meals, snacks, water, and coffee to keep everyone going.
Post-Production (Edit, Sound, Color)
Costs $1,500
Editing the film, doing sound design/mix, and color grading so the final short feels polished and festival-ready.
Festival Submissions & Marketing
Costs $600
Submission fees for festivals plus basic marketing materials (posters, graphics, screeners) so the film can find an audience beyond our bloc
Contingency & Fees
Costs $400
Covering platform/processing fees and giving us a small cushion for the unexpected (extra tape, batteries, last-minute needs).
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Executive Producer — Rich Ford
Rich Ford is our Executive Producer and a trusted industry professional with deep experience bringing creative projects to life. He’s been a long time supporter of my work, and from the moment he connected with When Ever Comes, he understood what we’re trying to say and do. Rich’s guidance, standards, and belief in this film add real momentum to the team and we’re lucky to have his support as we push this story from script to screen.
Producer / Line Producer — Kichonee Davis
Kichonee Davis is serving as Producer / Line Producer, helping drive both the creative and logistical engine of the film. She brings strong experience collaborating with artists across disciplines and around the world, and she knows how to turn big ideas into real plans schedules, coordination, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Kichonee is also deeply committed to making the process ethical, intentional, and creatively supportive, so the work behind the camera matches the integrity of what we want on screen.
Writer / Director — Louis Skinner
I’m Louis Skinner, the Writer/Director of When Ever Comes. I’m a Baltimore-based storyteller with a background in UX/design and creative direction, which shapes how I approach filmmaking story structure, visual clarity, tone, and the emotional experience of the audience. This film is personal to me, rooted in the feeling of being stuck and the quiet urgency to change, and I’m focused on creating something cinematic, grounded, and honest built with a small team that cares about craft and meaning.