For the last few months, I’ve been outlining a new feature script. I was determined to hammer out the outline before doing any actual “writing” of scenes. And I got there! The next step was writing a treatment, and that’s the real hard part.

It seems every time I try writing treatments, I get in the weeds. I start getting into specifics, planning actual scenes and shots. Will I ever get to a place where I can write a generalized treatment, or am I more a “scriptment” person like James Cameron? Maybe I shouldn’t worry about it so much, if it works for him.

In any case, I was knee-deep in scriptment worry when I heard about the Vimeo Short Film Grant presented by Nikon and RED. They were offering 30k to filmmakers who wanted to make a twelve minute short film. The requirements? Have all your ducks in a row. Meaning, provide a screenplay, logline, synopsis, budget, timeline, artist statement, bio for you and key crew members, even plans for what to discuss with Vimeo’s panel of mentors.

So I gave myself permission to jump ahead and write out a segment of the feature, turning that sequence into a short screenplay. It came out great! And now I can get to work on the rest of the script, fitting together with the puzzle piece of the short.

It was nice to fantasize about having 30k to spend on just this section. Mainly, the money would go to paying people for their labor. The piece includes some animation and effects that might be intimidating for some, but lately I’ve done a lot of similar client work with my colleagues at Ameriscope Pictures. I also have access to lighting and grip equipment, sound equipment, as well as animation and editing software.

So what’s the story? I’m calling it Haunted Circuits for now. Here are some of the elements I submitted to the contest. I’ll hold back on posting the budget publicly, but here’s the rest. Yes, even the screenplay! I do a lot of mentorship as a Stage32.com lounge moderator, as well as teaching film students at RIT, so I hope showing these elements can be of use to others.

Do I think I’ll be one of the contest winners? Doubtful, but I love that it gave me the kick in the pants to get the screenplay started.

HAUNTED CIRCUITS

Screenplay

Haunted Circuits short screenplay PDF.

Project Logline

In a gothic horror story with a sci-fi twist, a young man searches for the remains of his robot father with the help of a vampire guide.

Project Summary

Another place, another time. A young man dressed in a medieval cloak named Marcus makes a nighttime journey, an untrustworthy vampire as his guide. Their destination is the Grand Cemetery, where Marcus’ father was buried. Many years ago, they were separated when his father was called away on a quest for scientific knowledge. During Marcus’ journey, he checks data from a small palm computer, giving a hint as to the nature of technology in this world. Upon reaching the graveyard, the two are attacked by ghoulish rat-creatures. The vampire helps fight them off at first, but leaves Marcus when another imposing creature approaches. Marcus escapes into his father’s crypt, and soon discovers his remains. Marcus’ father is a robot with human flesh, now decomposing off his metal and plastic form. Marcus attempts to reboot his father, but the memory module is missing. His father spouts “demo mode” banalities while Marcus fights off other resuscitated robots. The two escape into the night, off to find the man who can help reconnect Father’s memories.

Statement of intent

In my career as an animator and filmmaker, I have done hand-drawn, digital, and stop motion animation. For client work, I have learned new programs and methods to accomplish specialized looks. Using my skills as an editor, I have seen client projects through post-production, handing off feature films to distributors for release on streaming. However, I have yet to find the time and resources to produce a significant project personal to me.

My love for gothic horror films and sci-fi inspired HAUNTED CIRCUITS, which I’m writing as a feature. The structure of it is such that each segment can work as a short, and I am submitting one such segment for this grant. I love the style and substance of horror films from Universal and Hammer, with archetypal elements such as vampires, zombies, and fog-covered graveyards. To give it a new twist, I’ve created a world where these horror elements exist years after a technological boom changed everything. The development of AI led to a singularity — human minds and computers could merge to become one. But something went wrong, and there was a collapse of society, throwing the world into a new dark age. Those with scientific knowledge in this new world are thought to be alchemists, who use that knowledge for power. Our hero doesn’t want to change the world, just repair his corner of it. To find his father, whose self was uploaded into a synthetic form, and rebuild his family unit.

The story includes elements that will be shot on stage and location with a small cast. Robots will be achieved with a mix of costumes and live puppetry. Creature elements will be done with stop-motion animation, composited into live action plates. I am accustomed to working with special effects and doing post production, including animation compositing.

My business partner John Vincent is an accomplished cinematographer, stop motion animator, and production designer. Last year we worked to provide creature effects work for a werewolf feature called Frenzy Moon. We’re comfortable working at this scale, creating all elements that will appear in frame.

If this grant committee is looking to fund a thought provoking, exciting film with fantastical elements, I can provide that. If you’re looking for a young person, that’s not me. I have been working in the business as an independent for over 20 years (and I now teach animation to young people and college students). However, I have never directed a feature, and funding this short would be a serious stepping stone on my journey to that goal. I have confidence that HAUNTED CIRCUITS would be a strong film to showcase Vimeo and its sponsors.

Links to two directorial work samples

H. P. LOVECRAFT’S THE OTHER GODS
Animated short film created under a pseudonymn. LINK.

UNMASKED
Comedy/crime short film. LINK.

Project budget and financing plan

The funds awarded would allow me to purchase materials for sets and costumes, pay crew and actors, and secure locations. Budget available upon request. (Budget created with the StudioBinder template.)

Production timeline
Timeline proposal

Proposal for six-month production.

Goals for mentorship sessions

For our mentorship sessions, I look forward to discussing approaches to replicating the cinematography of classic horror films. Also hearing from mentors on their best practices for working with actors. I’m sure there may be some technical issues with the new cameras to work out as well.

Marketing, audience engagement, festival, and/or distribution goals

I’m very involved with my local film community, so they are my first audience, followed by friends, clients, and film fans I’ve met over the years. (I have about 1300 names on my email list.) I use social media, but I find more engagement with email newsletters and websites like Stage 32. I would love to involve some RIT students and arrange a screening there once the film is complete. I’ll enter horror film festivals such as Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, and Anomaly (local to Rochester, NY). Distribution is difficult to predict for shorts, but I maintain an account with Amazon Prime Video Direct. The ultimate goal is to make this part of a feature or series of episodes that add up to a feature length story.