Woke
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Drama
Two women battle their cravings at Feeders Anonymous, a 12-step program designed for vampires grappling with their supernatural addiction... We're in post-production and we're funding for editing, color correction, music, sound and VFX!
Green Light
This campaign raised $8,150 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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Two women battle their cravings at Feeders Anonymous, a 12-step program designed for vampires grappling with their supernatural addiction... We're in post-production and we're funding for editing, color correction, music, sound and VFX!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
One fateful night, Gwen becomes captivated by a mysterious woman in a lively nightclub, an encounter that changes her life forever. Attacked in the parking lot, she undergoes a horrifying transformation into a 'feeder,' a being trapped in a waking nightmare, plagued by an insatiable hunger. The dazzling lights of the club fade into obscurity as she confronts the monstrous reality of her new life, a life where beauty and horror intertwine.
Years later, Gwen finds refuge in a clandestine support group called Feeders Anonymous, aimed at those struggling with the curse of vampirism. To her surprise, she learns that the enigmatic woman from the nightclub, Sabina, is the featured speaker at the very meeting she attends. Although visibly disturbed by Gwen's arrival, Sabina shares her chilling story of becoming a feeder, a story that dates back two centuries to a plantation in the southern United States.
Mia Ellis as Sabina, Left; Sam Aotaki as Gwen, Right
Why now? Why is this the right time? Why this particular story?
Why another vampire story when there are countless others out there?
This isn't simply a vampire story. It's an analogy for addiction and the challenges of living with the legacy of slavery in your homeland.
I don't expect this modest film to change anything, but I feel I've stumbled across a unique way to express these personal battles within a mainstream genre, reflecting themes commonly seen in the gothic styles of Octavia E. Butler and Toni Morrison.
In November 2023, we wrapped up principal photography after an intense three-day shoot. The shoot occurred in East Los Angeles and in Sherman Oaks, California. The commitment and hard work of our team yielded remarkable results that we are truly proud of. Now, we find ourselves in need of support to secure the necessary post-production resources to bring this project to completion.
The director and producer both draw from their own experiences with addiction to lend authenticity to this project. The producer has worked on numerous episodes of the Emmy-winning documentary series 'Intervention' on A&E, which focuses on substance abuse. Meanwhile, the writer and director's own struggles with recovery were a strong influence on this one-of-a-kind horror story.
The term 'woke' has become a controversial expression that has lost its original meaning. The phrase 'stay woke' first emerged in a 1938 Black protest song by Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter, serving as a cautionary note regarding the dangers of navigating through racially hostile regions like Alabama. Today, however, it seems to be more about an extreme form of political correctness rather than its roots in social awareness.
This film does not focus on the misappropriation and distortion of idioms rooted in Black American culture. Instead, it examines the lives of individuals whose affliction is a 'wokeness,' a perpetual state of awareness, focusing on a woman who exchanged the horror of life on a slave plantation for the terrifying eternity of a bloodthirsty existence. We're embracing the horror genre to explore themes on ancestral identity and survival in a society where the past continues to haunt the present... Plus, we're making a stylish horror film that will be a lot of fun!
OUR GOAL
We need to raise $10,000. We've made some headway in the editing stage, but there's still a lot left to tackle. Your contributions will help us finish the editing, handle color correction, design the sound, compose the music, and submit to festivals, among other essential tasks.
Since WOKE is a horror flick, we used green screen during filming, which means we’ll need to add a bunch of special effects in post-production. This is going to add to our costs, as we’ll be diving into After Effects to bring those scenes to life.
STRETCH GOAL
Honestly, $10,000 is the absolute minimum we need for post-production. If we manage to surpass that goal, we hope to reach a stretch goal of $15,000. There's always a possibility that our meager quotes could go up -- like that, just like many independent filmmakers often find out. Not to mention, we're definitely going to need extra funds to handle film festivals and promotion, especially if we are fortunate to get accepted by any of the high ticket festivals.
- THE BIG MEET
- POLYVORE
- BLACK WHITE AND THE GREYS
- A&E's INTERVENTION
- & MORE
If you're unable to pitch in, we would greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word about our campaign on social media! Every little bit helps!
We're super excited about showcasing this project at film festivals and having you experience it on the big screen.
Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $1,500
We’re thrilled to have an awesome Assistant Editor joining us to finalize the film.
Color Correction
Costs $800
An amazing team we've collaborated with in the past is gearing up to handle the color correction for the film.
Sound Design/Mix
Costs $2,000
We're fortunate to know some amazing post sound mixers, and we got a really awesome friend rate for post production.
Music Score
Costs $1,500
We’ve got a few music composers in mind that we want to reach out to for creating a certain swampy, synthwave vibe.
Visual Effects
Costs $3,000
Bringing realistic vampires to life on screen needs some VFX, and we've found a few fantastic companies that can work within our budget.
DCP Mastering
Costs $150
A DCP is a top-notch format that allows the festival to showcase your film on a big screen for the audience.
Promotion/Marketing
Costs $400
We're looking to use social media ads, print posters, and set up a website to promote our film.
Film Festivals
Costs $650
Submitting to film festivals and traveling for them can get pretty pricey, so anything extra is appreciated!
Share this update!
About This Team
Xian Elder grew up in Los Angeles and has received the de Groot Foundation’s Writer of Note Award for his powerful play #NWORD. He’s the son of Oscar-nominated writer Lonne Elder, III (SOUNDER). Xian is also the director, co-writer, and producer of the award-winning short film THE BIG MEET, which you can find on Amazon Prime Video. His films have been showcased at several festivals, like LA Shorts Fest International, Hill Country Film Festival, and the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. His newest short film, POLYVORE, is a romantic comedy that dives into modern relationships and is currently available on YouTube's Omeleto platform.
Jessica Mathews serves as a producer for the Emmy Award winning documentary series on substance abuse, A&E's INTERVENTION. Her production experience spans television, short films, web series, music videos, and feature films. She produced both THE BIG MEET and POLYVORE. Among her significant feature film credits are Larry Clark's MARFA GIRL, THE LAST TREASURE HUNT, and the acclaimed drama BLACK WHITE AND THE GREYS, which explores the challenges faced by an interracial family in divided times. This year, Jessica has returned to produce new seasons of INTERVENTION and SIDE HUSTLERS, a reality show highlighting female entrepreneurs on the Roku channel.
Mia Ellis is currently in the National Tour of the Tony Award Winning Broadway production of JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING, written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Whitney White. She was recently cast in the horror feature, THE SURRENDER, starring Colby Minifie and Kate Burton, written and directed by Julia Max. Mia was also a producer and actor for the feature film, LAVENDER MEN, written by Roger Q. Mason and directed by Lovell Holder, which had its World Premiere at OutSouth Film Festival in Durham, NC in August 2024 and has also been selected for The Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles in October 2024. In addition, Mia received her MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep after graduating from Tougaloo College in Mississippi, where she was born and raised. She is based in LA, has lived in NY, and loves snow, classical music, and sunsets.
Instagram: @ellismia09.
Sam Aotaki is a Los Angeles Native and has been acting since she was 13 years old. She has been in a variety of commercials, including two Super Bowl commercials in her career as well as feature films such as XOXO on Netflix. Sam’s career began to shape in her younger years and has continued to thrive into her early 30’s with new roles and new opportunities. Sam is currently signed with JVC Agency for both commercial and theatrical and started the year off strong with her role in the Immersive Squid Games Experience: The Trials.
Instagram: @SamAotaki_
Dushaun Thompson is an American actor, songwriter and pro-dancer from Richmond, Virginia. In 2017, he graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s in mass communication and moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. Dushaun was also a finalist in the AAU national ESPN Olympics becoming first in the nation in the discus in track and field breaking multiple records. Soon after doing track and field, he went to West Virginia Weslyan college to play football. Gaining so much discipline in sports Dushaun soon gained interest for entertainment and took the big move to Los Angeles, California. Now Dushaun is using his gifts to motivate, encourage and be a positive impact in the industry.
Shiela Sawhny is a Los Angeles based actor, writer and director originally from Mumbai. She is a winner of the Slamdance Feature Screenwriting Competition and a Fellow of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab and DreamAgo Plume et Pellicule Screenwriting Lab in Switzerland. A founding member of Synchronicity Theatre Group NY, she has acted, written, directed and produced in NY, LA and Europe. A long time member of Neo Ensemble, she wrote and starred in theatrical productions ALL RIGHT MAN and THE BEST BEST WESTERN, and was the writer and director of NO TELL MOTEL and BABY STEPS. She is in pre-production to direct the short film “Peanuts” written by Gary Klavans.
Jeremy Bassett is a performer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. His short film The Call spent two years on the film festival circuit and his short films Not a Toy Gun and Wrong Family are finishing up post-production and will be going out to film festivals soon.
Matthew Skala is a Cinematographer based in Los Angeles—known for his ability to deliver high production value to low budget features. He is a skilled and experienced artist—credited on over a hundred films. His work is featured on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Showtime and other platforms. He's also screened films at dozens of festivals, including The Cannes Film Festival and Slamdance.
Steven received a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The program is one of the richest and most diverse in the nation. He quickly immersed himself in the profession of storytelling in the literary, cinematic and studio arts. His screenplay Nightsoilers was optioned to Sunset Pictures, and his dark drama script Dark Timber placed him as a Finalist at the Philadelphia Terror Film Festival.
Matilde Matteucci, originally from Italy, pursued her passion for storytelling by studying film. Over time, she transitioned from acting into the costume department, gaining experience in wardrobe as a costumer and costume supervisor. Her keen eye for detail and love for character development through wardrobe led her to earn her first major credit as a costume designer on Woke. Matilde is known for her ability to bring characters to life with authenticity and creativity through her costume designs.
Meet Anup Kulkarni celebrated Hollywood Cinematographer and VFX supervisor, who’s happy to be called a globe trotter. In his career, he has had the opportunity to work in some prestigious and Academy award-winning projects like Life of Pi, Thor 2, Percy Jackson, R.I.P.D, and many more. His work speaks loud, and it is this magic and experience that has won him a total of six Best Cinematography awards and accolades. His cinematography, photography & VFX knowledge has taken him all over the world, working on a variety of formats, like features, TV shows, short films, international documentaries, music videos, etc.
WOKE PROMOTIONAL SHOOT
@ABYSSMALENTERTAINMENT
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
One fateful night, Gwen becomes captivated by a mysterious woman in a lively nightclub, an encounter that changes her life forever. Attacked in the parking lot, she undergoes a horrifying transformation into a 'feeder,' a being trapped in a waking nightmare, plagued by an insatiable hunger. The dazzling lights of the club fade into obscurity as she confronts the monstrous reality of her new life, a life where beauty and horror intertwine.
Years later, Gwen finds refuge in a clandestine support group called Feeders Anonymous, aimed at those struggling with the curse of vampirism. To her surprise, she learns that the enigmatic woman from the nightclub, Sabina, is the featured speaker at the very meeting she attends. Although visibly disturbed by Gwen's arrival, Sabina shares her chilling story of becoming a feeder, a story that dates back two centuries to a plantation in the southern United States.
Mia Ellis as Sabina, Left; Sam Aotaki as Gwen, Right
Why now? Why is this the right time? Why this particular story?
Why another vampire story when there are countless others out there?
This isn't simply a vampire story. It's an analogy for addiction and the challenges of living with the legacy of slavery in your homeland.
I don't expect this modest film to change anything, but I feel I've stumbled across a unique way to express these personal battles within a mainstream genre, reflecting themes commonly seen in the gothic styles of Octavia E. Butler and Toni Morrison.
In November 2023, we wrapped up principal photography after an intense three-day shoot. The shoot occurred in East Los Angeles and in Sherman Oaks, California. The commitment and hard work of our team yielded remarkable results that we are truly proud of. Now, we find ourselves in need of support to secure the necessary post-production resources to bring this project to completion.
The director and producer both draw from their own experiences with addiction to lend authenticity to this project. The producer has worked on numerous episodes of the Emmy-winning documentary series 'Intervention' on A&E, which focuses on substance abuse. Meanwhile, the writer and director's own struggles with recovery were a strong influence on this one-of-a-kind horror story.
The term 'woke' has become a controversial expression that has lost its original meaning. The phrase 'stay woke' first emerged in a 1938 Black protest song by Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter, serving as a cautionary note regarding the dangers of navigating through racially hostile regions like Alabama. Today, however, it seems to be more about an extreme form of political correctness rather than its roots in social awareness.
This film does not focus on the misappropriation and distortion of idioms rooted in Black American culture. Instead, it examines the lives of individuals whose affliction is a 'wokeness,' a perpetual state of awareness, focusing on a woman who exchanged the horror of life on a slave plantation for the terrifying eternity of a bloodthirsty existence. We're embracing the horror genre to explore themes on ancestral identity and survival in a society where the past continues to haunt the present... Plus, we're making a stylish horror film that will be a lot of fun!
OUR GOAL
We need to raise $10,000. We've made some headway in the editing stage, but there's still a lot left to tackle. Your contributions will help us finish the editing, handle color correction, design the sound, compose the music, and submit to festivals, among other essential tasks.
Since WOKE is a horror flick, we used green screen during filming, which means we’ll need to add a bunch of special effects in post-production. This is going to add to our costs, as we’ll be diving into After Effects to bring those scenes to life.
STRETCH GOAL
Honestly, $10,000 is the absolute minimum we need for post-production. If we manage to surpass that goal, we hope to reach a stretch goal of $15,000. There's always a possibility that our meager quotes could go up -- like that, just like many independent filmmakers often find out. Not to mention, we're definitely going to need extra funds to handle film festivals and promotion, especially if we are fortunate to get accepted by any of the high ticket festivals.
- THE BIG MEET
- POLYVORE
- BLACK WHITE AND THE GREYS
- A&E's INTERVENTION
- & MORE
If you're unable to pitch in, we would greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word about our campaign on social media! Every little bit helps!
We're super excited about showcasing this project at film festivals and having you experience it on the big screen.
Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $1,500
We’re thrilled to have an awesome Assistant Editor joining us to finalize the film.
Color Correction
Costs $800
An amazing team we've collaborated with in the past is gearing up to handle the color correction for the film.
Sound Design/Mix
Costs $2,000
We're fortunate to know some amazing post sound mixers, and we got a really awesome friend rate for post production.
Music Score
Costs $1,500
We’ve got a few music composers in mind that we want to reach out to for creating a certain swampy, synthwave vibe.
Visual Effects
Costs $3,000
Bringing realistic vampires to life on screen needs some VFX, and we've found a few fantastic companies that can work within our budget.
DCP Mastering
Costs $150
A DCP is a top-notch format that allows the festival to showcase your film on a big screen for the audience.
Promotion/Marketing
Costs $400
We're looking to use social media ads, print posters, and set up a website to promote our film.
Film Festivals
Costs $650
Submitting to film festivals and traveling for them can get pretty pricey, so anything extra is appreciated!
Share this update!
About This Team
Xian Elder grew up in Los Angeles and has received the de Groot Foundation’s Writer of Note Award for his powerful play #NWORD. He’s the son of Oscar-nominated writer Lonne Elder, III (SOUNDER). Xian is also the director, co-writer, and producer of the award-winning short film THE BIG MEET, which you can find on Amazon Prime Video. His films have been showcased at several festivals, like LA Shorts Fest International, Hill Country Film Festival, and the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. His newest short film, POLYVORE, is a romantic comedy that dives into modern relationships and is currently available on YouTube's Omeleto platform.
Jessica Mathews serves as a producer for the Emmy Award winning documentary series on substance abuse, A&E's INTERVENTION. Her production experience spans television, short films, web series, music videos, and feature films. She produced both THE BIG MEET and POLYVORE. Among her significant feature film credits are Larry Clark's MARFA GIRL, THE LAST TREASURE HUNT, and the acclaimed drama BLACK WHITE AND THE GREYS, which explores the challenges faced by an interracial family in divided times. This year, Jessica has returned to produce new seasons of INTERVENTION and SIDE HUSTLERS, a reality show highlighting female entrepreneurs on the Roku channel.
Mia Ellis is currently in the National Tour of the Tony Award Winning Broadway production of JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING, written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Whitney White. She was recently cast in the horror feature, THE SURRENDER, starring Colby Minifie and Kate Burton, written and directed by Julia Max. Mia was also a producer and actor for the feature film, LAVENDER MEN, written by Roger Q. Mason and directed by Lovell Holder, which had its World Premiere at OutSouth Film Festival in Durham, NC in August 2024 and has also been selected for The Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles in October 2024. In addition, Mia received her MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep after graduating from Tougaloo College in Mississippi, where she was born and raised. She is based in LA, has lived in NY, and loves snow, classical music, and sunsets.
Instagram: @ellismia09.
Sam Aotaki is a Los Angeles Native and has been acting since she was 13 years old. She has been in a variety of commercials, including two Super Bowl commercials in her career as well as feature films such as XOXO on Netflix. Sam’s career began to shape in her younger years and has continued to thrive into her early 30’s with new roles and new opportunities. Sam is currently signed with JVC Agency for both commercial and theatrical and started the year off strong with her role in the Immersive Squid Games Experience: The Trials.
Instagram: @SamAotaki_
Dushaun Thompson is an American actor, songwriter and pro-dancer from Richmond, Virginia. In 2017, he graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s in mass communication and moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. Dushaun was also a finalist in the AAU national ESPN Olympics becoming first in the nation in the discus in track and field breaking multiple records. Soon after doing track and field, he went to West Virginia Weslyan college to play football. Gaining so much discipline in sports Dushaun soon gained interest for entertainment and took the big move to Los Angeles, California. Now Dushaun is using his gifts to motivate, encourage and be a positive impact in the industry.
Shiela Sawhny is a Los Angeles based actor, writer and director originally from Mumbai. She is a winner of the Slamdance Feature Screenwriting Competition and a Fellow of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab and DreamAgo Plume et Pellicule Screenwriting Lab in Switzerland. A founding member of Synchronicity Theatre Group NY, she has acted, written, directed and produced in NY, LA and Europe. A long time member of Neo Ensemble, she wrote and starred in theatrical productions ALL RIGHT MAN and THE BEST BEST WESTERN, and was the writer and director of NO TELL MOTEL and BABY STEPS. She is in pre-production to direct the short film “Peanuts” written by Gary Klavans.
Jeremy Bassett is a performer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. His short film The Call spent two years on the film festival circuit and his short films Not a Toy Gun and Wrong Family are finishing up post-production and will be going out to film festivals soon.
Matthew Skala is a Cinematographer based in Los Angeles—known for his ability to deliver high production value to low budget features. He is a skilled and experienced artist—credited on over a hundred films. His work is featured on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Showtime and other platforms. He's also screened films at dozens of festivals, including The Cannes Film Festival and Slamdance.
Steven received a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The program is one of the richest and most diverse in the nation. He quickly immersed himself in the profession of storytelling in the literary, cinematic and studio arts. His screenplay Nightsoilers was optioned to Sunset Pictures, and his dark drama script Dark Timber placed him as a Finalist at the Philadelphia Terror Film Festival.
Matilde Matteucci, originally from Italy, pursued her passion for storytelling by studying film. Over time, she transitioned from acting into the costume department, gaining experience in wardrobe as a costumer and costume supervisor. Her keen eye for detail and love for character development through wardrobe led her to earn her first major credit as a costume designer on Woke. Matilde is known for her ability to bring characters to life with authenticity and creativity through her costume designs.
Meet Anup Kulkarni celebrated Hollywood Cinematographer and VFX supervisor, who’s happy to be called a globe trotter. In his career, he has had the opportunity to work in some prestigious and Academy award-winning projects like Life of Pi, Thor 2, Percy Jackson, R.I.P.D, and many more. His work speaks loud, and it is this magic and experience that has won him a total of six Best Cinematography awards and accolades. His cinematography, photography & VFX knowledge has taken him all over the world, working on a variety of formats, like features, TV shows, short films, international documentaries, music videos, etc.
WOKE PROMOTIONAL SHOOT
@ABYSSMALENTERTAINMENT