About
$25,656
113
CAST ANNOUNCED
Kerri Kenney
Thomas Lennon
Charlyn Yi
John Gemberling
Tim Robbins
Bridey Elliot
Mark Proksch
Genevieve Morton
Raymond Lee
Paige Elkington
and more to come!
a note from the director
when I was 12 years old I was given a mini-dv camera from my parents, and broke it a week later.
The week in which it survived was one of the most alive weeks of my life. From dunk videos on my 6 foot hoop, to pranks with my friends, to recording the tender moments of new york that I would only watch later.
Eventually I grew up and mini DV turned to HD and I could finally grow facial hair. I went to college in California and started making movies at USC.
After I graduated, I've followed this dream and been lucky enough to make projects I love with people I love and respect.
VHYES to me is going to be fucking funny, and like nothing you've seen. If you've ever seen my movies, i promise this one is next level.
The wild thing is, we have amazing actors ready, locations, vomit machines but we really do need your support. Without hitting our goal in eight days we would really need to either cut a lot of key stuff, or I would have to sell my kidney.
Anyway, I am humbled and I really don't want to sell my Kidney. But if you love our project, or our other movies, or our general vibe. Please please help us. Plus! you'll get dope stuff back that will mean a lot when the movie is dope. Plus I will dance with your mom.
with love your future friend,
Jack Henry Robbins
VHYes!
It’s 2018 and technological advancement has forever changed how films are made and consumed. Each year the latest technology improves the landscape of indie filmmaking. The image becomes more dense with definition and color. In embracing the times, we’re setting out to make a feature length anthology film with the absolute latest technology…from 1984.
VHYes! will immediately transport you back to your childhood (or an earlier time in your adulthood if you're old). Imbued with nostalgia and genuine love for the all-but-lost, yet far-from-forgotten, format and strangeness of VHS, VHYes! will have something for everyone and make you laugh.
Our first two short films, "Painting with Joan" and “Hot Winter: a film by Dick Pierre” premiered at the 2017 and 2018 Sundance Film Festivals and have won numerous awards around the world. Writer/Director Jack Henry Robbins promises that VHYes! will be a film unlike any (in the last 30 years).
The Story
VHYes! is an anthology film, structured around an 11-year-old boy who unknowingly records over his parents' wedding tape. The film is a journey through his life; the things he records on cable TV; the home movies he makes with his friends. It's an exploration of all the facets of the 1980's VHS universe. Think Monty Python meets interdimensional cable from Rick & Morty.
Our Story
Three years ago, we wrote a film we never thought would do anything beyond make us laugh. It was a strange premise: the first movie ever to address the now very real issue of global warming, was 1980's porno about climate change called "Hot Winter: A film by Dick Pierre". The film we are seeing has been re-edited without the sex in a PBS style show in order not to distract from the films important conscious message.
We set out to make the movie, and with no resources at our disposal, made what is to this day my favorite piece of work that I've made. As a joke, we submitted it to the Sundance Film Festival.
One day, my co-writer and the star of "Hot Winter," Nunzio Randazzo, and I were driving home from a basketball game when we got a call. Through a bout of laughter, the Sundance programmer on the other end of the line informed us that our seventeen-minute faux porno, shot entirely on VHS, had been selected for the festival.
Here we are three years later. We own eight VHS cameras manufactured before our births. We've written a feature film that is entirely different and unique and we plan on really making a movie that would never pass muster in a studio or network pitch. Watch our second Sundance short Painting With Joan Starring Kerry Kenney here.
Why VHS?
People often ask why I film on actual VHS cameras and don't just film digitally and fake it in post. Well, VHS cameras contain certain mechanics that are unique and inform not just the look of the image, but what we, as filmmakers, do to achieve what we're setting out to accomplish. The crappy zooms and shifting focus don't just look like crappy zooms and shifting focus; they force certain timing and responses from the actors in front of the cameras and the operators behind them. The unexpected glitches or occasional moments in which a camera totally craps out aren't disasters on set, they're unforeseen opportunities for potential gold! These elements can't be faked. We genuinely love not just the look of these images, but what they represent. They take us back to a different time. They make us feel all warm and fuzzy, just like the picture on the screen. Plus this is actually what people would be shooting on.
Meet the Crew
All photos taken by Lindsey Ellary
Other fun stuff
Here is a video of us Trolling Park City TV
Clip From Hot Winter: Rico the Quarterback!
Articles about Hot Winter: a film by Dick Pierre
https://phi-centre.com/en/post/en-hot-winter-interview-jack-henry-robbins/
https://deadline.com/2017/02/hot-winter-short-film-jack-henry-robbins-sundance-interview-1201895659/
What you can buy
Behind the scenes of Jack getting a Dan Marino signature
Risks and challenges
Our idea is insanely ambitious. Because VHYES is an anthology film we explore so many different facets of the 1980's VHS universe. This resulted in over 30 + locations and 100 cast members. Yeah that's a lot. The beautiful thing about filming on VHS is, as along as you have amazing costumes, hair makeup, and locations, your shot is transported into the 1980's. We have amazing crew members who are all taking way low rates to work on this passion project. Most of our money will be going towards finding the right locations and paying cast and crew. We have already raised some money, but if this campaign is very successful we will be able to expand our world even further, and get better more fitting locations for our film!
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Funding period
- (30 days)