About this project
Our goal is to produce a powerful short film that challenges the audience by blending genre conventions and bringing a macabre twist to a love story. Thank you so much for your interest and support!
You can download and share a PDF detailing of our vision for this project here.
THE STORY
Snow Jacket is about the external forces and circumstances that long-distance couple BRETT and SARA must weather when Brett meets Sara’s roommate—and ex-boyfriend—for the first time. Written and directed by Derek Wibben, the ambitious short film realizes elements of horror, romance, and dark humor as Brett and Sara grapple with their baggage in a pressure cooker of tension. It deals with themes of protection, intimacy, and commitment in an intimate and uniquely exciting way.
THE CAST
Sean McBride as BRETT
Teresa Decher as SARA
Sal Salas as GUILLERMO
THE KEY CREW
A dedicated crew of veteran young filmmakers supports this labor of love. It’s a creative team made up of friends, roommates, neighbors, family, and old college classmates (many alumni of Chapman University’s film school) with experience, talent, and panache.
Derek Wibben - Writer/Director
Alexander Dobbs - Cinematographer
Michael Cox - Editor/Producer
Matthew Parkhill - Production Designer/Producer
Tracy Clark III - Producer
Lauren Johnson - Producer
Here's a teaser trailer for the short film we shot Fall 2011:
THE BUDGET
Outside of feeding and transporting our cast and crew, we'll be directing funds to these main things:
Location fees
We plan to shoot “Snow Jacket” in the Los Angeles area in February 2012. Creating Sara’s New York apartment in LA is a particular location-scouting challenge. To fulfill our need for crucial elements to the story—the hardwood floors, building entry, and interesting layout, evoking an authentic Brooklyn place—we’re looking to use several different sets to make up the apartment. Funds in this category will go toward location permits and insurance, as well as renting multiple dynamic spaces to realize Sara and Ryan’s home, a place where West-Coaster Brett will have the unsettling sense of being a fish-out-of-water.
Production design and wardrobe
To enhance our vision of the apartment, we will also have to design the location(s). This includes constructing architectural elements within locations as well as dressing the space with furnishings, décor accessories, and props. In order to create a realistic lived-in world and design scheme rich in texture and color, we are acquiring vintage items and clothing selected with our specific characters—their ages, personalities, backgrounds, and styles—in mind. Costumes will highlight story elements, serving as visual cues of Brett and Sara’s changing dynamics.
Camera equipment and film
After lengthy discussions on the exact tone, feel, and look of this project, our creative team has outlined a plan to shoot “Snow Jacket” on 16mm film. This choice, which is significantly more expensive than using digital means, is uncommon in today’s filmmaking climate. But because film is an increasingly rare medium, we believe that it will set “Snow Jacket” apart from the crowd in special ways, beyond the extraordinary picture quality that it provides. Film will visually capture the mood of the story and a universal sense of nostalgia that fully expresses the nature of a relationship stretched over time and distance, offering an allusion to filmic inspirations that this project draws upon.
REWARDS
$10+ gets you this handmade snow jacket ornament
$40+ gets you an original snow jacket print by Manabu Takahashi
See the sidebar for more details on what you could get for being involved.
CONTACT
You can reach us at SnowJacketFilm@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, or pep talks. Also, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, because we're insecure.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 8.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A digital postcard with production stills and huge shout-out THANK YOU on Twitter from Team "Snow Jacket" (@SnowJacketFilm).
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A unique "Snow Jacket" holiday ornament.
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A DVD copy of our last short film "Test" and Ryan's Manhattan chowder recipe.
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An original art print inspired by "Snow Jacket" by Manabu Takahashi. Each 6" x 4.5" print is unique and signed by the artist. Limited quantities available in black and blue. (Check out pictures in our "updates" section!)
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A PDF copy of the "Snow Jacket" screenplay with the director's handwritten notes and edits, a unique "Snow Jacket" holiday ornament, a DVD copy of our last film "Test", and Ryan's Manhattan chowder recipe (created by our friend Nathan).
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Code for advance screening of "Snow Jacket" online, a DVD copy of our last short film "Test", a unique "Snow Jacket" holiday ornament, and Ryan's Manhattan chowder recipe.
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Invitation to an advance screening party for "Snow Jacket" and Associate Producer credit on the film.
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Brunch with the creative team at an LA eatery (featuring a life-coaching session from producer Matthew Parkhill, charmingly featured in our video), and Executive Producer credit
Project By
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Derek specializes in treefrog photography, his favorite color is milk. He lives on the missing piece of wikipedia's puzzel globe. He was 78 years old.
