You're Not Well
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
Experience debilitating loneliness as an unemployed woman’s unhealthy obsession with a podcast disrupts both her professional and personal lives in this short film about work, mental health, podcast personalities, and the powerful, poisonous parasocial relationships we have with them.
You're Not Well
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
16 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$16,533
Goal: $50,000 for production
Experience debilitating loneliness as an unemployed woman’s unhealthy obsession with a podcast disrupts both her professional and personal lives in this short film about work, mental health, podcast personalities, and the powerful, poisonous parasocial relationships we have with them.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two quick things:
1- We know too many surface-level things about too many people.
2- Podcast hosts further complicate that by oversharing too many personal details.
Both come to a head in this female-led, wall-breaking, character-driven short drama that questions our relationships with content and the personalities of its creators, written by Jamison Anthony and directed by Nieves García Perchin.
Told across all four seasons, and structured by individual podcast episode titles, "You’re Not Well" follows Eileen as her obsession with a pop-culture podcast, “Now, That’s What I Call Content!” and host Danny Katz sends her spiraling out of reality when he announces a new weekly mailbag episode.
Over and over, she sends email after email, hoping to hear her question answered by Danny. Will Eileen ever hear her question answered — and at what cost?
Hi, Jamison here. Fun fact: ‘You’ve Got Mail’ was one of the first DVDs my family ever rented. I remember creating Word documents on the computer and trying to recreate their emails from memory afterwards. That was cute, but I was nine. This is maybe less so.
See, I was devastated to realize in 2015 that Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is the OG Catfish — the original man to misrepresent himself on the internet for love. It changed my entire perception of the movie and made me realize we’ve learned the wrong lesson about the internet.
But this isn’t some parody of ‘You’ve Got Mail.’ It’s a thoughtful examination of those little jokes we’ve been making to ourselves and each other since we entered the streaming era. That old TV show you revisit and rewatch over and over? Yeah, those are your friends. Movies you throw on as a comfort whenever you need them? Friends, too.
That podcast host that shares a bit too much personal information to the point where you feel you truly know them? Best friends you get to hang out with maybe two or three times a week. And that can be a problem, depending on who and what you’re listening to…
Look, if ‘You’ve Got Mail’ gave us the promise of genuine, human connection over the internet, this film is here to remind you how that was, unfortunately, just some '90s rom-com bullsh*t. This is a film about our media obsessions, our content consumption, and, of course, our collective, deteriorating mental health due to our doomscrolling screen addictions.
But filmmaking is a hard, expensive, group effort — and we need your help.
Who knew paying people what they’re worth to do what it costs well could add up? Well, our director, Nieves García Perchin, did.
Who knew paying people what they’re worth to do what it costs well could add up?
Our overall goal is $50,000. Where that money goes:
Production!
- Cast & Crew – and feeding them
- Equipment
- Location
- Equipment truck and other travel expenses
- Props and Set Dressing
- Wardrobe
And post-production!
- Editing
- Color Grade
- Sound
- Score
If we meet that goal, we have a stretch budget in mind to make an even better version of the movie we want to make already.
We'd love to raise $60K, but our high-end budget is $75,000. Why the difference?
- The extra $10-25K would allow us a full fourth day of filming with our whole crew, giving us more time to experiment with our actors, use more dynamic shots, and film additional beats for the story.
- We’d be able to hire a steadicam operator, enabling fluid and smooth camera movement as Eileen strolls the streets of Brooklyn, listening to her favorite podcast.
- We’d also cover off on post-production!
- Just want to reiterate how important that fourth full day of filming is!
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN*
March 2 - April 16, 2026
PRE-PRODUCTION
April 2026
PRODUCTION
May 2026
POST-PRODUCTION
June 2026
BEGIN SUBMITTING TO FESTIVALS
July 2026
The story behind “You’re Not Well” hits me personally in different ways. Moving all by myself to the US was a dream come true. What I always wanted, or was it? Yeah, I was working towards my dream of working in the American film industry, but I was also leaving my family and friends behind in Spain, and what I didn’t anticipate was the devastating loneliness that came with it.
Missing my family and friends and key moments in their lives, the exhaustion of constantly speaking in English, the hardship of making friends, navigating a whole new culture — I felt so isolated. But where Eileen seeks refuge in a podcast, I found comfort in a band. I would watch full concerts, interviews, music videos, anything! And even though I knew I would never meet them, it gave me comfort to feel them close, like they understood my story through their lyrics and music. And even though it allowed my mind to disconnect and rest from the loneliness, it was only taking me further and further from the real world.
So yeah, any of us could be Eileen, obsessing with something that takes some of the pain and stress away. And when unchecked, it can jeopardize the things that really matter. It’s great to have something to look forward to. But everything in moderation. Unlike Eileen.
Jamison did a wonderful job of writing this character and her environment. “You’re Not Well" is a very unique take on the way Eileen interacts with the podcast host, her fantasy world coming to life, taking up more and more space as she descends into her obsession. “You’re Not Well” is not only a tragedy but also a cautionary tale. I’m really excited to help bring this story to life.
I have directed a few short films with a range of genres, characters, and budgets, but they all focus on mental health and isolation. I always strive to portray mental health kindly. I want the audience to sympathize with their struggles and to champion for them. I make sure that mental health is not what defines them, but rather something that makes them more human.
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/youre_not_well
Watch us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youre_not_well
"You’re Not Well’ is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Film Independent will receive grants for the charitable purposes of ‘You’re Not Well,’ provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of ‘You’re Not Well’ must be made payable to Film Independent and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Staff & Crew
Costs $20,000
This is for entire production, estimated over the course of 4 days!
Transportation
Costs $2,000
Travel for scouting, to-and-from production, rentals — it's all important!
Sound & Art
Costs $2,000
Production design, wardrobe, hair & makeup — everything that makes things look dope.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JAMISON BRUCE ANTHONY
WRITER/CREATOR
Jamison is a Rochester, New York-based copywriter. While this is his first film and screenwriting credit, he has penned a variety of finalist-accolade-winning works such as ‘Bet on Chet,’ a wall-breaking, half-hour casino crime comedy, ‘Our Father, The Future,’ a character-driven dramedy featuring a talking record player, and ‘Mid-Famous,’ a feature film reimagining an attempted reboot of the 2008-2011 web series “Mayne Street,” starring and written for/with former ESPN legend Kenny Mayne.
NIEVES GARCÍA PERCHIN
DIRECTOR
Nieves García Perchin is an award-winning director from Spain. She has studied film directing for six years, including a Master’s from Boston University. Based in NYC, she is also a union script supervisor and has worked with talent such as Susan Sarandon, Steve Buscemi, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Her short films and screenplays have been selected in dozens of film festivals, including Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and Woods Hole Film Festival. Her most recent film, “Room Service,” is currently in the festival circuit. She loves telling stories about loss, mental health, healing, and feeling misplaced.
SARAH SEEDS
EATIVE CONSULTING PRODUCER
A bicoastal actress, writer, and Emmy-considered producer, who has appeared in series, Films, off-Broadway plays, and national Voiceover campaigns. She is on the SAG-AFTRA Board and the Television Academy, and has written TV Pilots, sketches, short films, and commercials. As a creative producer, she has three filmed projects touring the festival circuit this year: the dystopian, award-winning sci-fi thriller (BEST SCI-FI at The Chain Film Festival 2025), "Bathed in the Night," in the lead role (and as the writer), the Lead Producer for "Jimmy's and Jenny's," a Comedic Greek-Diner Pilot, and a Producer the surrealist dark comedy, "Robotomy."
CHASE SHAMLIAN
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Chase Shamlian is an award-winning director of photography based in New York. He studied film and cinematography at Boston University and has shot a variety of projects, from narrative and commercial to documentary and music video. As a DP, he believes that great cinematography is about more than just capturing beautiful images – it's about telling a story through the language of film. Over the years, he has honed his craft, developing a unique and personal style that brings nuance and depth to every scene he captures.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two quick things:
1- We know too many surface-level things about too many people.
2- Podcast hosts further complicate that by oversharing too many personal details.
Both come to a head in this female-led, wall-breaking, character-driven short drama that questions our relationships with content and the personalities of its creators, written by Jamison Anthony and directed by Nieves García Perchin.
Told across all four seasons, and structured by individual podcast episode titles, "You’re Not Well" follows Eileen as her obsession with a pop-culture podcast, “Now, That’s What I Call Content!” and host Danny Katz sends her spiraling out of reality when he announces a new weekly mailbag episode.
Over and over, she sends email after email, hoping to hear her question answered by Danny. Will Eileen ever hear her question answered — and at what cost?
Hi, Jamison here. Fun fact: ‘You’ve Got Mail’ was one of the first DVDs my family ever rented. I remember creating Word documents on the computer and trying to recreate their emails from memory afterwards. That was cute, but I was nine. This is maybe less so.
See, I was devastated to realize in 2015 that Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is the OG Catfish — the original man to misrepresent himself on the internet for love. It changed my entire perception of the movie and made me realize we’ve learned the wrong lesson about the internet.
But this isn’t some parody of ‘You’ve Got Mail.’ It’s a thoughtful examination of those little jokes we’ve been making to ourselves and each other since we entered the streaming era. That old TV show you revisit and rewatch over and over? Yeah, those are your friends. Movies you throw on as a comfort whenever you need them? Friends, too.
That podcast host that shares a bit too much personal information to the point where you feel you truly know them? Best friends you get to hang out with maybe two or three times a week. And that can be a problem, depending on who and what you’re listening to…
Look, if ‘You’ve Got Mail’ gave us the promise of genuine, human connection over the internet, this film is here to remind you how that was, unfortunately, just some '90s rom-com bullsh*t. This is a film about our media obsessions, our content consumption, and, of course, our collective, deteriorating mental health due to our doomscrolling screen addictions.
But filmmaking is a hard, expensive, group effort — and we need your help.
Who knew paying people what they’re worth to do what it costs well could add up? Well, our director, Nieves García Perchin, did.
Who knew paying people what they’re worth to do what it costs well could add up?
Our overall goal is $50,000. Where that money goes:
Production!
- Cast & Crew – and feeding them
- Equipment
- Location
- Equipment truck and other travel expenses
- Props and Set Dressing
- Wardrobe
And post-production!
- Editing
- Color Grade
- Sound
- Score
If we meet that goal, we have a stretch budget in mind to make an even better version of the movie we want to make already.
We'd love to raise $60K, but our high-end budget is $75,000. Why the difference?
- The extra $10-25K would allow us a full fourth day of filming with our whole crew, giving us more time to experiment with our actors, use more dynamic shots, and film additional beats for the story.
- We’d be able to hire a steadicam operator, enabling fluid and smooth camera movement as Eileen strolls the streets of Brooklyn, listening to her favorite podcast.
- We’d also cover off on post-production!
- Just want to reiterate how important that fourth full day of filming is!
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN*
March 2 - April 16, 2026
PRE-PRODUCTION
April 2026
PRODUCTION
May 2026
POST-PRODUCTION
June 2026
BEGIN SUBMITTING TO FESTIVALS
July 2026
The story behind “You’re Not Well” hits me personally in different ways. Moving all by myself to the US was a dream come true. What I always wanted, or was it? Yeah, I was working towards my dream of working in the American film industry, but I was also leaving my family and friends behind in Spain, and what I didn’t anticipate was the devastating loneliness that came with it.
Missing my family and friends and key moments in their lives, the exhaustion of constantly speaking in English, the hardship of making friends, navigating a whole new culture — I felt so isolated. But where Eileen seeks refuge in a podcast, I found comfort in a band. I would watch full concerts, interviews, music videos, anything! And even though I knew I would never meet them, it gave me comfort to feel them close, like they understood my story through their lyrics and music. And even though it allowed my mind to disconnect and rest from the loneliness, it was only taking me further and further from the real world.
So yeah, any of us could be Eileen, obsessing with something that takes some of the pain and stress away. And when unchecked, it can jeopardize the things that really matter. It’s great to have something to look forward to. But everything in moderation. Unlike Eileen.
Jamison did a wonderful job of writing this character and her environment. “You’re Not Well" is a very unique take on the way Eileen interacts with the podcast host, her fantasy world coming to life, taking up more and more space as she descends into her obsession. “You’re Not Well” is not only a tragedy but also a cautionary tale. I’m really excited to help bring this story to life.
I have directed a few short films with a range of genres, characters, and budgets, but they all focus on mental health and isolation. I always strive to portray mental health kindly. I want the audience to sympathize with their struggles and to champion for them. I make sure that mental health is not what defines them, but rather something that makes them more human.
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/youre_not_well
Watch us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youre_not_well
"You’re Not Well’ is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Film Independent will receive grants for the charitable purposes of ‘You’re Not Well,’ provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of ‘You’re Not Well’ must be made payable to Film Independent and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Staff & Crew
Costs $20,000
This is for entire production, estimated over the course of 4 days!
Transportation
Costs $2,000
Travel for scouting, to-and-from production, rentals — it's all important!
Sound & Art
Costs $2,000
Production design, wardrobe, hair & makeup — everything that makes things look dope.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JAMISON BRUCE ANTHONY
WRITER/CREATOR
Jamison is a Rochester, New York-based copywriter. While this is his first film and screenwriting credit, he has penned a variety of finalist-accolade-winning works such as ‘Bet on Chet,’ a wall-breaking, half-hour casino crime comedy, ‘Our Father, The Future,’ a character-driven dramedy featuring a talking record player, and ‘Mid-Famous,’ a feature film reimagining an attempted reboot of the 2008-2011 web series “Mayne Street,” starring and written for/with former ESPN legend Kenny Mayne.
NIEVES GARCÍA PERCHIN
DIRECTOR
Nieves García Perchin is an award-winning director from Spain. She has studied film directing for six years, including a Master’s from Boston University. Based in NYC, she is also a union script supervisor and has worked with talent such as Susan Sarandon, Steve Buscemi, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Her short films and screenplays have been selected in dozens of film festivals, including Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and Woods Hole Film Festival. Her most recent film, “Room Service,” is currently in the festival circuit. She loves telling stories about loss, mental health, healing, and feeling misplaced.
SARAH SEEDS
EATIVE CONSULTING PRODUCER
A bicoastal actress, writer, and Emmy-considered producer, who has appeared in series, Films, off-Broadway plays, and national Voiceover campaigns. She is on the SAG-AFTRA Board and the Television Academy, and has written TV Pilots, sketches, short films, and commercials. As a creative producer, she has three filmed projects touring the festival circuit this year: the dystopian, award-winning sci-fi thriller (BEST SCI-FI at The Chain Film Festival 2025), "Bathed in the Night," in the lead role (and as the writer), the Lead Producer for "Jimmy's and Jenny's," a Comedic Greek-Diner Pilot, and a Producer the surrealist dark comedy, "Robotomy."
CHASE SHAMLIAN
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Chase Shamlian is an award-winning director of photography based in New York. He studied film and cinematography at Boston University and has shot a variety of projects, from narrative and commercial to documentary and music video. As a DP, he believes that great cinematography is about more than just capturing beautiful images – it's about telling a story through the language of film. Over the years, he has honed his craft, developing a unique and personal style that brings nuance and depth to every scene he captures.