Whitch
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
After putting her daughter to bed, Aura discovers an intruder in her house: an elderly lady who acts strangely familiar, and is hell-bent on performing a bloody ritual before midnight. • Join us in summoning this short film into being!
Whitch
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $26,617 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
172 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After putting her daughter to bed, Aura discovers an intruder in her house: an elderly lady who acts strangely familiar, and is hell-bent on performing a bloody ritual before midnight. • Join us in summoning this short film into being!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
So the toughie about pitching a five minute film is that anything you say spoils a lot... so are you okay with that?
Okay... if you say so...
WHITCH is the story of a mom who, after tucking her daughter into bed, finds that an elderly woman has broken into her house. This woman acts real familiar with the mom, which is strange because the mom’s never met her. The intruder’s got a live rabbit on her lap and a knife. She strips naked, slits the rabbit’s throat and begins performing a ritual.
The intruder, we learn, is a witch, and she’s mistaken the mom (a Wiccan) for a witch as well. When the intruder spots the mom’s daughter, she assumes the little girl is a sacrifice, and I just can't bring myself to spoil anymore, so we'll stop there...
Inspiration
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area around some adults who called themselves “witches.” I would eventually learn that these folks aren’t broom riders with malignant powers. They're people (often kind) who practice a form of Neo-Paganism called Wicca. (Though many do use terms like “covens” and “spells” which added to my pre-teen confusion).
I always got a kick out of the idea of a mythical witch crossing a person who practiced Wicca. I thought whatever mayhem that interaction produced would be fun to watch. So I decided to write it.
Visual Style
While this short is comedy, I believe it will only play if we make it scary. Whitch means embracing a dreadful horror look and tone, non-ironically.
We'll keep it sober even when the comedy creeps in, whitch we believe will make the comedy even sweeter.
A Little on our Planning and Budget
Budgeting began with an animatic.
I drew each moment in the film by hand, cut it together (complete with me doing funny voices for each role), and used this as a reference point for our team to determine our production needs.
Most of the costs are going to cast and crew. From there, the biggest expenditures are the tools and materials for our grip, electric, and art teams. The next biggest slice is location expenses, followed by make-up and special effects, followed by food.
Not included in what we're trying to raise is contingency. Sometimes sh&t happens. And we believe we should be ready for budget spill over. So we are putting forward $3k ourselves (10% of the total budget), in case sh&t should occur.
Schedule:
We want to shoot in October and have the film done in the fall!
We can't do this without you! Thank you!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hard Drives
Costs $200
A drive and back up drive for storing our footage.
Meals and Craft Service
Costs $1,480
We will be feeding about 17+ actors, crew, and craftspeople a day across three days of shooting.
Grip Equipment/Dolly Rental
Costs $3,000
The tools our grip crew will use across three shoot days. Contact Hoku for more info if you want to support our grip equip needs.
Lighting Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,500
The tools our electric team will be using across three shoot days. Contact Hoku for more info if you want to support lighting.
Production Design Purchases and Rentals
Costs $2,550
A great deal of our storytelling and character building comes from the design of the set in which the story takes place.
Wardrobe Purchases and Rentals
Costs $300
Wardrobe is key to storytelling and character building.
Fake Rabbits
Costs $1,900
We are not hurting any animals making this film. This means we need believable puppets/props for some shots of our bunny.
Fake Blood
Costs $500
This little movie has a lot of blood.
Location Rentals and Permits
Costs $3,100
Location is one of our biggest challenges and costs. We're looking for a house with a similar layout to the above. But we're flexible.
Cast
Costs $3,120
Great performances are central to any successful movie.
Crew
Costs $9,850
Crew is key to any successful movie. If you're interested in crewing with us, email Hoku!
Real Living Rabbit + Handler
Costs $1,000
There's a rabbit in our movie. And for shots where the rabbit is safe, we'll be using a real bunny, cared for by a pro handler.
Wind fans
Costs $500
We have scenes where mysterious and magical winds signal the brewing of dark forces. We need fans.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hoku Uchiyama • Director:
Cannes Young Director Award winner Hoku Uchiyama’s directing work has garnered tens of millions of online views and has been screened in festivals in the US, Europe and Asia. The work has also been featured at the LA County Museum of Art and in a series produced by the Modern Art museum Centre Pompidou of Paris.
He and his sometimes directing partner, Adam Bolt, have made a name crafting fun, technical commercials under the moniker “Hoku & Adam.” Their clients include Starbucks, Google and FedEx. They’ve also created award winning spots for National Geographic, Wilkinson Sword (by animating facial hair), and YouTube (using 18 styles of animation in one film).
Their animated music video for Katy Perry’s “Harleys in Hawai’i” won the Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Music Video. Hoku also directed the documentary “Upaj: Improvise” which was broadcast nationally in the US on PBS World.
www.hokuuchiyama.com
Kelly King • Producer
Kelly King is an eclectic producer hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. His passion for filmmaking was ignited at a young age when he dropped out of university to work on Disney's High School Musical. Kelly's dedication and talent caught the attention of director Kenny Ortega, who became an influential mentor. With a focus on immersive experiences, he ventured into music videos, commercials, and virtual reality content, earning accolades and leaving an indelible mark on the industry. As the founder of INC FILMS, Kelly's mission has always been to create authentic and memorable storytelling experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Kenneth Wales • Director of Photography
Kenneth Wales is an accomplished cinematographer based in Los Angeles with a deep passion for the art of filmmaking. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, he has worked on a wide range of projects, from independent films, commercials, to large multicam live events. Kenneth is known for his technical expertise, creative vision, and ability to bring stories to life. He has a keen eye for detail and a love for all aspects of the cinematic language, including lighting, composition, and camera movement. Kenneth is dedicated to his craft and is always seeking new ways to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
So the toughie about pitching a five minute film is that anything you say spoils a lot... so are you okay with that?
Okay... if you say so...
WHITCH is the story of a mom who, after tucking her daughter into bed, finds that an elderly woman has broken into her house. This woman acts real familiar with the mom, which is strange because the mom’s never met her. The intruder’s got a live rabbit on her lap and a knife. She strips naked, slits the rabbit’s throat and begins performing a ritual.
The intruder, we learn, is a witch, and she’s mistaken the mom (a Wiccan) for a witch as well. When the intruder spots the mom’s daughter, she assumes the little girl is a sacrifice, and I just can't bring myself to spoil anymore, so we'll stop there...
Inspiration
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area around some adults who called themselves “witches.” I would eventually learn that these folks aren’t broom riders with malignant powers. They're people (often kind) who practice a form of Neo-Paganism called Wicca. (Though many do use terms like “covens” and “spells” which added to my pre-teen confusion).
I always got a kick out of the idea of a mythical witch crossing a person who practiced Wicca. I thought whatever mayhem that interaction produced would be fun to watch. So I decided to write it.
Visual Style
While this short is comedy, I believe it will only play if we make it scary. Whitch means embracing a dreadful horror look and tone, non-ironically.
We'll keep it sober even when the comedy creeps in, whitch we believe will make the comedy even sweeter.
A Little on our Planning and Budget
Budgeting began with an animatic.
I drew each moment in the film by hand, cut it together (complete with me doing funny voices for each role), and used this as a reference point for our team to determine our production needs.
Most of the costs are going to cast and crew. From there, the biggest expenditures are the tools and materials for our grip, electric, and art teams. The next biggest slice is location expenses, followed by make-up and special effects, followed by food.
Not included in what we're trying to raise is contingency. Sometimes sh&t happens. And we believe we should be ready for budget spill over. So we are putting forward $3k ourselves (10% of the total budget), in case sh&t should occur.
Schedule:
We want to shoot in October and have the film done in the fall!
We can't do this without you! Thank you!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hard Drives
Costs $200
A drive and back up drive for storing our footage.
Meals and Craft Service
Costs $1,480
We will be feeding about 17+ actors, crew, and craftspeople a day across three days of shooting.
Grip Equipment/Dolly Rental
Costs $3,000
The tools our grip crew will use across three shoot days. Contact Hoku for more info if you want to support our grip equip needs.
Lighting Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,500
The tools our electric team will be using across three shoot days. Contact Hoku for more info if you want to support lighting.
Production Design Purchases and Rentals
Costs $2,550
A great deal of our storytelling and character building comes from the design of the set in which the story takes place.
Wardrobe Purchases and Rentals
Costs $300
Wardrobe is key to storytelling and character building.
Fake Rabbits
Costs $1,900
We are not hurting any animals making this film. This means we need believable puppets/props for some shots of our bunny.
Fake Blood
Costs $500
This little movie has a lot of blood.
Location Rentals and Permits
Costs $3,100
Location is one of our biggest challenges and costs. We're looking for a house with a similar layout to the above. But we're flexible.
Cast
Costs $3,120
Great performances are central to any successful movie.
Crew
Costs $9,850
Crew is key to any successful movie. If you're interested in crewing with us, email Hoku!
Real Living Rabbit + Handler
Costs $1,000
There's a rabbit in our movie. And for shots where the rabbit is safe, we'll be using a real bunny, cared for by a pro handler.
Wind fans
Costs $500
We have scenes where mysterious and magical winds signal the brewing of dark forces. We need fans.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Hoku Uchiyama • Director:
Cannes Young Director Award winner Hoku Uchiyama’s directing work has garnered tens of millions of online views and has been screened in festivals in the US, Europe and Asia. The work has also been featured at the LA County Museum of Art and in a series produced by the Modern Art museum Centre Pompidou of Paris.
He and his sometimes directing partner, Adam Bolt, have made a name crafting fun, technical commercials under the moniker “Hoku & Adam.” Their clients include Starbucks, Google and FedEx. They’ve also created award winning spots for National Geographic, Wilkinson Sword (by animating facial hair), and YouTube (using 18 styles of animation in one film).
Their animated music video for Katy Perry’s “Harleys in Hawai’i” won the Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Music Video. Hoku also directed the documentary “Upaj: Improvise” which was broadcast nationally in the US on PBS World.
www.hokuuchiyama.com
Kelly King • Producer
Kelly King is an eclectic producer hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. His passion for filmmaking was ignited at a young age when he dropped out of university to work on Disney's High School Musical. Kelly's dedication and talent caught the attention of director Kenny Ortega, who became an influential mentor. With a focus on immersive experiences, he ventured into music videos, commercials, and virtual reality content, earning accolades and leaving an indelible mark on the industry. As the founder of INC FILMS, Kelly's mission has always been to create authentic and memorable storytelling experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Kenneth Wales • Director of Photography
Kenneth Wales is an accomplished cinematographer based in Los Angeles with a deep passion for the art of filmmaking. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, he has worked on a wide range of projects, from independent films, commercials, to large multicam live events. Kenneth is known for his technical expertise, creative vision, and ability to bring stories to life. He has a keen eye for detail and a love for all aspects of the cinematic language, including lighting, composition, and camera movement. Kenneth is dedicated to his craft and is always seeking new ways to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.