Godhead
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Drama, Family
In a world increasingly fractured by ideology, we want to tell a story about the bonds challenged when families are torn apart because of their beliefs. How far would you go to reunite your broken family?
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,477 for production phase 2. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
44 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
In a world increasingly fractured by ideology, we want to tell a story about the bonds challenged when families are torn apart because of their beliefs. How far would you go to reunite your broken family?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the early 1970s, my uncle went off the grid. Like many Americans, the arrival of the counterculture in that period hit hard, resulting in almost every family having at least someone who broke from the norm. Parents watched from afar as their children changed, lost touch, and sometimes reconnected. The American dream took on new, strange, and sometimes cultish permutations as a new generation sought out "something different".
Fast forward to 2020, and as a film graduate student at UT Austin, I was staying with my parents during COVID. We'd watch the news every night, wondering what the future could hold. One night, after my parents had gone to bed, I sat there wondering...
What if there were fundamental truths that split us apart? And what can a family do once those differences take hold so deeply that the family is split apart. From there, the seed of "Godhead" took hold.
As a filmmaker I've always been attracted to family dramas, especially ones that reflect experiences we can all see in our households. With this film, however, I knew it was time for something different. This isn't a film about any time, but rather about our time. I feel on a deeper level this film is asking how, and if, we can heal going forward. For my thesis film at UT Austin it felt right to take a chance and, as one of my mentors says, to "swing for the fences". After all, as a legally blind and completely color blind filmmaker, even having the chance to tell this story in a graduate film program is just that - a one of a kind chance. I hope you'll take your own leap of faith and hear out this story:
We follow Marianne, a woman in search of her estranged son, Sean. "Godhead" is also a story of a broken America and the desire for family redemption. Set in the heart of Texas, as Marianne finally touches base with Sean after years of searching, we follow those tense opening moments as the two attempt to navigate their distance and determine what is left of their relationship in the shadow of an overwhelming and dangerous ideology known as Godhead.
We're so excited to tell this story, which feels extremely relatable to the current climate of the country, and will use this funding to build on what we've already shot. In August of 2021 we were able to shoot the majority of this film, but due to weather delays and unique logistical challenges tied to the ambitions of bringing a cult ideology to life, still have some important establishing sequences to shoot. Realizing this potent moment where Marianne and Sean first cross paths, truly clarifying their personal view points, will help the opening moments of the film shine, giving the audience important context for events to come.
Along with this desire to shoot more footage comes the practical elements of what is needed for the shoot, including funds for the excellent Austin actors we have on-board in Babs George and John Reynolds. Likewise, to bring the epic kidnapping which begins the film to life, additional capitol for vehicles, set design, and locations is one of our top priorities. We want you to believe as deeply in the power of Godhead as our own characters!
Beyond this upcoming shoot, we're thrilled to further develop this world via post-production. Our most important priorities in this regard, reflected in our wishlist, include VFX, scoring, color timing, and the all-important capitol for distribution. While we're so glad that some of the facilities and resources can be covered through working with the University of Texas at Austin, the fact remains that to create art of the highest quality, we'll need your help to take things to the next level.
Having shot our first portion of the film during the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021, we know how important it is to maintain high health and safety standards on our set. To this end, a portion of our funding will be allotted to providing mandatory regular testing and materials to crew in need as well as high quality PPE and regular disinfection on our set.
While pledges will assist with the above elements of production and finishing, the work won't stop there. Should we reach our initial goals, we'll be excited to share additional stretch goals that will further magnify the reach of this project. We're excited to share this story with the world and additional funding for distribution and to deepen our post-production team can make a tremendous difference.
We know that getting the word out about an exciting new project can be just as valuable as a pledge. For that reason, we have put together a brief statement you can share on social media to help raise awareness and share your support. Please share the following and help this message reach the world:
I'm excited to announce my support for the upcoming short film "Godhead" by director Andrew Neylon (@neylonsmagiclantern)! Check out the project and lend your support on @seedandspark at www.seedandspark.com/fund/godhead
Have you heard the good word? "Godhead", a new short film following a mother's journey to extricate her son from a mysterious cult, is crowdfunding! Help them tell this story of family, belief, and reconciliation and learn more on @seedandspark at www.seedandspark.com/fund/godhead
Thank you for your support! By pledging to this campaign, you’re helping bring this story one step closer to completion and investing in independent filmmakers. Art that explores our unique political and cultural landscape is crucial to processing the world we live in and your backing make this possible. All support, signal boosting, and shares bolster our campaign. More than that, they help ensure this film finds its family.
Welcome to Godhead. Stay with us and you'll never want to leave.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Talent
Costs $1,300
Travel and time compensation for our wonderful cast.
Production Design
Costs $2,000
Fund the props, expertise, and vehicles needed to bring this story to life!
Sets
Costs $1,500
Pledge to help us rent locations for sequences of the film.
Equipment
Costs $1,000
Ensure we have the proper camera rig and monitors to make set a breeze!
Crafty
Costs $400
A well-fed crew can never go wrong!
Covid Safety
Costs $300
On-set safety in this unique time for filmmaking is a top priority!
Festival Submissions
Costs $500
Help us get this film seen by a wider audience!
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Color timing, mastering, and final quality assurance at the finish line!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team is a group of creative individuals spread out all across the United States, with a focus in Austin, Texas. From working remotely through the Art Collective SalmonHouse to working with some of the best and brightest graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin, we're thrilled to take on an epic project that reaches into the depths of one of our most common bonds - family.
Andrew Neylon is a Director & Writer currently pursuing an MFA in Media Production at The University of Texas at Austin. Andrew's work spans narrative & documentary filmmaking, poetry, music criticism, and beyond. Forthcoming works seek to explore & explode notions of multi-media, genre and gender boundaries, and the sound / vision of our collapsible future.
Sebastián Valdivieso is a director and cinematographer based in Austin, Texas, who is a current Masters of Production (MFA) student at the University of Texas at Austin. Sebastián was born in Ecuador. However, he spent his young adult life living in many places across Latin America, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, where he completed his undergraduate degree in communication. He has written and directed two short films which combine aspects of magical realism with stories about a father and a daughter crossing the U.S. – Mexico border and of an aging Texan farmer who confronts mystery and loss in his life. He was the cinematographer for “Instructions for How to Let Go,” which competed in the Voices Short section of the prestigious International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2020.
Mary-Elizabeth Eis a Texas-born writer/director and producer dedicated to resilient storytelling. She’s focused on expanding Black and Brown representation in front of and behind the lens. Mary-Elizabeth is currently pursuing an MFA in Film & Media Production at UT Austin. Her most recent short film, “biracial.” is featured at the Studio Museum in Harlem’s Memories for the Future series. The showcase highlights work from filmmakers across the globe focused on memory preservation in visual and sonic form.
Sinead was born and raised in New York, NY and attended Middlebury College, earning a B.A. in Film and Media Culture. She worked as a post production assistant to Director Todd Haynes on Carol (2015) and at WGBH Educational Foundation as a Production Assistant on more than 13 series for Lifestyles and National Programming.
Cristin Stephens is a documentary and narrative filmmaker hailing from Philly, PA. Her non-fiction work has centered media representations of black and brownness, of settlement communities, and has explored tenants' rights and gentrification. Her narrative work leans toward the off-kilter and comedic. Cristin’s films have screened at several film festivals including SXSW and New Orleans Film Festival, and her film installation Dear Black Girl premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is also a contributing member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia the Beautiful Project Collective.
Erlan Rots is SALMONHOUSE'S Graphic Designer and Art Director. When viewing SALMONHOUSE content, there is often some element of Erlan Rots' work involved, sometimes hidden in the background. Erlan is described as an eccentric designer focusing on the unconventional abstract and uniquely functional. He's constantly exploring many artistic mediums including video and audio, but is most comfortable in the digital visual world. Erlan was trained by talented designers and artists such as Mike "Daarken" Lim and Casey Christofferson.
Kaylie Padgett is a writer and the social media manager for Women & Children First Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the early 1970s, my uncle went off the grid. Like many Americans, the arrival of the counterculture in that period hit hard, resulting in almost every family having at least someone who broke from the norm. Parents watched from afar as their children changed, lost touch, and sometimes reconnected. The American dream took on new, strange, and sometimes cultish permutations as a new generation sought out "something different".
Fast forward to 2020, and as a film graduate student at UT Austin, I was staying with my parents during COVID. We'd watch the news every night, wondering what the future could hold. One night, after my parents had gone to bed, I sat there wondering...
What if there were fundamental truths that split us apart? And what can a family do once those differences take hold so deeply that the family is split apart. From there, the seed of "Godhead" took hold.
As a filmmaker I've always been attracted to family dramas, especially ones that reflect experiences we can all see in our households. With this film, however, I knew it was time for something different. This isn't a film about any time, but rather about our time. I feel on a deeper level this film is asking how, and if, we can heal going forward. For my thesis film at UT Austin it felt right to take a chance and, as one of my mentors says, to "swing for the fences". After all, as a legally blind and completely color blind filmmaker, even having the chance to tell this story in a graduate film program is just that - a one of a kind chance. I hope you'll take your own leap of faith and hear out this story:
We follow Marianne, a woman in search of her estranged son, Sean. "Godhead" is also a story of a broken America and the desire for family redemption. Set in the heart of Texas, as Marianne finally touches base with Sean after years of searching, we follow those tense opening moments as the two attempt to navigate their distance and determine what is left of their relationship in the shadow of an overwhelming and dangerous ideology known as Godhead.
We're so excited to tell this story, which feels extremely relatable to the current climate of the country, and will use this funding to build on what we've already shot. In August of 2021 we were able to shoot the majority of this film, but due to weather delays and unique logistical challenges tied to the ambitions of bringing a cult ideology to life, still have some important establishing sequences to shoot. Realizing this potent moment where Marianne and Sean first cross paths, truly clarifying their personal view points, will help the opening moments of the film shine, giving the audience important context for events to come.
Along with this desire to shoot more footage comes the practical elements of what is needed for the shoot, including funds for the excellent Austin actors we have on-board in Babs George and John Reynolds. Likewise, to bring the epic kidnapping which begins the film to life, additional capitol for vehicles, set design, and locations is one of our top priorities. We want you to believe as deeply in the power of Godhead as our own characters!
Beyond this upcoming shoot, we're thrilled to further develop this world via post-production. Our most important priorities in this regard, reflected in our wishlist, include VFX, scoring, color timing, and the all-important capitol for distribution. While we're so glad that some of the facilities and resources can be covered through working with the University of Texas at Austin, the fact remains that to create art of the highest quality, we'll need your help to take things to the next level.
Having shot our first portion of the film during the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021, we know how important it is to maintain high health and safety standards on our set. To this end, a portion of our funding will be allotted to providing mandatory regular testing and materials to crew in need as well as high quality PPE and regular disinfection on our set.
While pledges will assist with the above elements of production and finishing, the work won't stop there. Should we reach our initial goals, we'll be excited to share additional stretch goals that will further magnify the reach of this project. We're excited to share this story with the world and additional funding for distribution and to deepen our post-production team can make a tremendous difference.
We know that getting the word out about an exciting new project can be just as valuable as a pledge. For that reason, we have put together a brief statement you can share on social media to help raise awareness and share your support. Please share the following and help this message reach the world:
I'm excited to announce my support for the upcoming short film "Godhead" by director Andrew Neylon (@neylonsmagiclantern)! Check out the project and lend your support on @seedandspark at www.seedandspark.com/fund/godhead
Have you heard the good word? "Godhead", a new short film following a mother's journey to extricate her son from a mysterious cult, is crowdfunding! Help them tell this story of family, belief, and reconciliation and learn more on @seedandspark at www.seedandspark.com/fund/godhead
Thank you for your support! By pledging to this campaign, you’re helping bring this story one step closer to completion and investing in independent filmmakers. Art that explores our unique political and cultural landscape is crucial to processing the world we live in and your backing make this possible. All support, signal boosting, and shares bolster our campaign. More than that, they help ensure this film finds its family.
Welcome to Godhead. Stay with us and you'll never want to leave.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Talent
Costs $1,300
Travel and time compensation for our wonderful cast.
Production Design
Costs $2,000
Fund the props, expertise, and vehicles needed to bring this story to life!
Sets
Costs $1,500
Pledge to help us rent locations for sequences of the film.
Equipment
Costs $1,000
Ensure we have the proper camera rig and monitors to make set a breeze!
Crafty
Costs $400
A well-fed crew can never go wrong!
Covid Safety
Costs $300
On-set safety in this unique time for filmmaking is a top priority!
Festival Submissions
Costs $500
Help us get this film seen by a wider audience!
Post-Production
Costs $1,000
Color timing, mastering, and final quality assurance at the finish line!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team is a group of creative individuals spread out all across the United States, with a focus in Austin, Texas. From working remotely through the Art Collective SalmonHouse to working with some of the best and brightest graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin, we're thrilled to take on an epic project that reaches into the depths of one of our most common bonds - family.
Andrew Neylon is a Director & Writer currently pursuing an MFA in Media Production at The University of Texas at Austin. Andrew's work spans narrative & documentary filmmaking, poetry, music criticism, and beyond. Forthcoming works seek to explore & explode notions of multi-media, genre and gender boundaries, and the sound / vision of our collapsible future.
Sebastián Valdivieso is a director and cinematographer based in Austin, Texas, who is a current Masters of Production (MFA) student at the University of Texas at Austin. Sebastián was born in Ecuador. However, he spent his young adult life living in many places across Latin America, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, where he completed his undergraduate degree in communication. He has written and directed two short films which combine aspects of magical realism with stories about a father and a daughter crossing the U.S. – Mexico border and of an aging Texan farmer who confronts mystery and loss in his life. He was the cinematographer for “Instructions for How to Let Go,” which competed in the Voices Short section of the prestigious International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2020.
Mary-Elizabeth Eis a Texas-born writer/director and producer dedicated to resilient storytelling. She’s focused on expanding Black and Brown representation in front of and behind the lens. Mary-Elizabeth is currently pursuing an MFA in Film & Media Production at UT Austin. Her most recent short film, “biracial.” is featured at the Studio Museum in Harlem’s Memories for the Future series. The showcase highlights work from filmmakers across the globe focused on memory preservation in visual and sonic form.
Sinead was born and raised in New York, NY and attended Middlebury College, earning a B.A. in Film and Media Culture. She worked as a post production assistant to Director Todd Haynes on Carol (2015) and at WGBH Educational Foundation as a Production Assistant on more than 13 series for Lifestyles and National Programming.
Cristin Stephens is a documentary and narrative filmmaker hailing from Philly, PA. Her non-fiction work has centered media representations of black and brownness, of settlement communities, and has explored tenants' rights and gentrification. Her narrative work leans toward the off-kilter and comedic. Cristin’s films have screened at several film festivals including SXSW and New Orleans Film Festival, and her film installation Dear Black Girl premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is also a contributing member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia the Beautiful Project Collective.
Erlan Rots is SALMONHOUSE'S Graphic Designer and Art Director. When viewing SALMONHOUSE content, there is often some element of Erlan Rots' work involved, sometimes hidden in the background. Erlan is described as an eccentric designer focusing on the unconventional abstract and uniquely functional. He's constantly exploring many artistic mediums including video and audio, but is most comfortable in the digital visual world. Erlan was trained by talented designers and artists such as Mike "Daarken" Lim and Casey Christofferson.
Kaylie Padgett is a writer and the social media manager for Women & Children First Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois.