KICKSTARTER

ABDUCTION

Is a short film written by Tim Earle and Ian Wexler. It is also something we have been thinking about ever since we discovered that 3.7 million people in the U.S. believe that they have been taken by aliens.

How is it that the general public denies the existence of aliens and yet such a huge population genuinely believes they have had an experience with beings from another planet? The disparity fascinates us.

Ultimately, we think the belief in abduction has become a fable so rooted in pop culture that even those who do not believe in aliens know the whole story from start to finish. To us the alien abduction story serves so many functions: It’s a nightmare and a conspiracy, but also a fantasy: a belief that there is some terrible, beautiful adventure waiting for you in your sleep, just outside your window, but also in space, beyond the realm of humanity.

OUR STORY

Is about a group of men who perpetuate the myth of alien abductions by staging them.

From the billowing curtains to the spaceship operating room to the classic image of the little grey men with big black eyes, this group of believers miss no detail. These men, led by Mark and Brian, create the elaborate hoaxes in order to convince a growing number of abductees that aliens do, in fact, exist and are a serious threat. Things have been going pretty well for the group until, of course, it all goes wrong. Holly, the latest “target,” discovers just how human her abductors are causing everything the group has worked to hang in the balance. What started as a bizarre hobby may have disturbing consequences for all.

Update: Check out some story boards!

THE FILM

Is a 15-minute, absurd, dark comedy and an intimate character study that we will be co-directing this July along with a very talented crew of young filmmakers, most of whom we met and collaborated with at Emerson College in Boston, MA. This group includes but is not limited to Houston Yang, Jay Lewis, Rose Hamlet, Domenic Yovina, Jared Kowalczyk, Dan Pelegero, Kayla Kilby, Fernanda Vasquez, and Phil Trudel.

THE LARGER PROJECT

Is a feature film, TV mini-series or web series. We are developing five 15-minute episodes which include this short film as the first chapter in a larger story, delving into the backstories of each of the main characters, and shedding light on the actions and decisions that they make in the short. We hope to complete the short film (which will be able to stand alone) and submit it to film festivals, but also to use it to gain interest and find funding for the feature film, TV mini-series or web series.

THE FUNDS

Your generous donations will help cover the cost of the following necessities:

5 days of food for the cast and crew

Transportation

Location rentals

Equipment rentals

Production designs and props

Hair, makeup and wardrobe (making our aliens a reality)

Insurance

Film festival submission fees

THE FILMMAKERS

Timothy Earle (Director) graduated from Emerson College with a major in Film Production. He has directed award winning short films and currently lives in Los Angeles. He has never been abducted by aliens.

Ian Wexler (Director)also graduated from Emerson College with a major in Directing Narrative Fiction. He is best known for his work on the feature length documentary, With My Own Two Wheels (http://www.withmyowntwowheels.org/). Ian lives and works in New York City. He has never been abducted by aliens.

Danielle Malambri (Producer) is also an Emerson College alumni. She graduated with honors, an EVVY nomination and a BA in Directing Narrative Fiction. Currently, Danielle lives and works in Los Angeles. She has never been abducted by aliens.