Better Off
Better Off
By examining fatherhood, masculinity, and friendship from a working-class and queer angle, Better Off shines a light on what it means to be a dad who runs, and what it means to be a dad who stays.
By examining fatherhood, masculinity, and friendship from a working-class and queer angle, Better Off shines a light on what it means to be a dad who runs, and what it means to be a dad who stays.
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Story
Inclusion Statement
A woman producer of color, a differently-abled queer writer-director, a trans production designer, and a working class director of photography bring their diverse perspectives to a story about masculinity, young fatherhood, and what it means to be a closeted bisexual, working class man.About The Project
“Better Off” explores one night in the lives of Eli and his best friend Danny. Eli’s girlfriend is pregnant, and in a fit of terror and fear, he ran out. Danny meets Eli at a nearby truck-stop, where Eli is about to leave town. He does his best to convince his friend to stay, not just for the child, but because Danny loves Eli, and has for years. In a story about fear of abandonment and abandoning, these two young men struggle with their identities as young fathers in rural New Hampshire and the relationship they have with one another.
“Better Off” was inspired by actor Joshua Gray’s true story as told to director Ben Hosking in the summer of 2017. Josh grew up without his father – who ran out on him and his mother – a father who himself grew up in a world of poverty and hurt. We wondered what might have happened if someone had been there to stop his father, someone who showed him love. Together, we co-wrote the short film, with Josh playing Eli. We drew upon Ben’s network of fantastic crew in Boston and discovered actor Bobby Gaglini on the casting site Backstage.
With these fantastic individuals, we shot the film on a late summer night in southern New Hampshire, at a truck-stop outside Auburn. However, the funds only covered us through production, and now we need your help for coloring the footage, sound design and mixing, licensing the score, and submission fees for festivals. This short film could very well find success on the festival circuit, and we hope to expand it into a feature film. Any additional funding over our target will go to the development of the feature as well as paying back earlier production costs.
We believe that this film occupies a unique place as an exploration of masculinity in the rural poor, generational trauma, and unspoken love. With your support, we can bring this narrative to audiences across the country.
Incentives
$15
Social Shout and Digital Link
We'll post a shout out for you and send you an early, backers only private link to the film - before it hits festivals.
$25
Microstory Cubed
In addition to the above, the director will write a three paragraph micro-story based on three words you provide as a prompt. An example: Singer, Tornado, Rural could be a story about a woman singing in the face of a tornado in the midwest. You will need to message the Facebook page after contributing OR email betteroffthefilm@gmail.com with your three words. Ben (director) will post the five best prompted stories on his website. Think outside the box with your words - he loves a challenge.
$50
"Special Thanks" End Credit
In addition to the above, your name will be placed in the credits in the Special Thanks section.
$150
Creative Consultation from the Director
In addition to the above, Ben Hosking (Director) will provide feedback on a piece of creativity from your wonderful brain, such as a short story, film, script, song, etc.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$250
Meet the Cast and Crew
In addition to the above, we invite you to meet the cast and crew at a completion party in Greater Boston, which is where they all met. Estimated date in July.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$500
Chat with the Director
In addition to the above, the director will take you out to lunch in Los Angeles or chat with you over Facetime/Skype about the making of the film, whichever is more convenient. You are responsible for transportation and accommodation in Los Angeles.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$1,000
Executive Producer
In addition to the above, you will be credited as an executive producer in the film and on imdb. Furthermore, you are invited to join the filmmakers at any festivals we are accepted to. You are responsible for your transportation and accommodations.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$4,000
Presented By
In addition to the above, we will include an exclusive, solo title card in the film credits as "Presented by (your name here)." Furthermore, the director will personally travel to your city to provide a private screening for you and your guests, with a Q&A following the film. You are responsible for the venue, which can be your home or business for example. US and Canada only.
Claimed: 0 of 1
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
Social Shout and Digital Link
We'll post a shout out for you and send you an early, backers only private link to the film - before it hits festivals.
$25
Microstory Cubed
In addition to the above, the director will write a three paragraph micro-story based on three words you provide as a prompt. An example: Singer, Tornado, Rural could be a story about a woman singing in the face of a tornado in the midwest. You will need to message the Facebook page after contributing OR email betteroffthefilm@gmail.com with your three words. Ben (director) will post the five best prompted stories on his website. Think outside the box with your words - he loves a challenge.
$50
"Special Thanks" End Credit
In addition to the above, your name will be placed in the credits in the Special Thanks section.
$150
Creative Consultation from the Director
In addition to the above, Ben Hosking (Director) will provide feedback on a piece of creativity from your wonderful brain, such as a short story, film, script, song, etc.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$250
Meet the Cast and Crew
In addition to the above, we invite you to meet the cast and crew at a completion party in Greater Boston, which is where they all met. Estimated date in July.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$500
Chat with the Director
In addition to the above, the director will take you out to lunch in Los Angeles or chat with you over Facetime/Skype about the making of the film, whichever is more convenient. You are responsible for transportation and accommodation in Los Angeles.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$1,000
Executive Producer
In addition to the above, you will be credited as an executive producer in the film and on imdb. Furthermore, you are invited to join the filmmakers at any festivals we are accepted to. You are responsible for your transportation and accommodations.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$4,000
Presented By
In addition to the above, we will include an exclusive, solo title card in the film credits as "Presented by (your name here)." Furthermore, the director will personally travel to your city to provide a private screening for you and your guests, with a Q&A following the film. You are responsible for the venue, which can be your home or business for example. US and Canada only.
Claimed: 0 of 1
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
When Josh and I set out to make Better Off, I knew we'd need a rock-solid, cool-under-pressure team if we were going to shoot a 9 minute short in one 8 hour evening. That's fast, in film terms - most films aim for 4-5 pages/minutes in a 12 hour day. So, I immediately thought of Malaika, who is the calmest, most disciplined producer I've worked with. And, I wanted someone who would help develop the story with me, who would provide feedback and push for an ever-stronger story - a creative producer. Which Malaika is in spades.
(Malaika on set - Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
Casting Better Off was simple for one half - Josh played Eli, aka his adapted-to-screen father. But casting Danny was tough. We used Backstage, a great casting site for early-career actors and short productions... And Bobby Gaglini wow'd my socks off in the first audition. But the real breakthrough came in the callback, where he did scene work with Josh. They clicked SO well. And now they are real life best friends.
(Bobby Gaglini and Joshua Gray on the set of Better Off looking like goofballs - Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
Our production designer, art director, wardrobe and make-up key, behind the scenes photographer, and all around superhero Ray Bernoff worked with Ben Hosking on a documentary at Tufts University, their alma mater. Ray's got an eye for set design and visual quality. Not to mention he can balance a variety of on set jobs like a pro.
(Ray Bernoff with a classic Ray Bernoff smile - Photo Credit: Probably Ben Haven Taylor. Probably.)
And who to capture all the amazing work: Ben Haven Taylor - yes, having a director and cinematographer with the same name and similar initials can be slightly confusing, but he's just so damn good at his job! Ben shot my (Ben Hosking)'s last film, "Dancing on the Yellow Edges," and he and I have some sort of mind meld on set in regards to shots, timing, choreography, and all-around demeanor. A key component of director/cinematographer relationships is trust, and I trust Ben to get the footage we need, and in the time we have. Plus, he brought the legendary assistant camera team of Samuel Lusted (1AC) and Will Park (2AC). These three worked at night, in the rain, and pulling manual focus (that's really hard) like pros - because they are.
(Camera team looking intense. Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
Our gaffer was Danielle Bryant. Aka lighting technician extraordinaire (and a great cinematographer too - check out her stuff). She and Ben Haven Taylor worked together to light up the world, putting up stands and LEDs and practicals and being just awesome.
(Danielle gaffing on set - Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
Shoutouts to our location manager Randall Sanderson, and our great PAs/Grips: Emily Friedlander, Ceili Hale, and Viola Castagna. Not to mention sound recordist and location mixer Christ Whetzel!
And the person who's writing all these people's praises: me, Ben Hosking!
(It's me! Ben Hosking - Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
Oh, and I directed it too. But none of this would have been possible without all of these amazing people. So grateful. So thankful. So excited to see where their wonderful careers take them!
(Ben Hosking, Malaika Woluchem, and Ben Haven Taylor having fun during location scout - Photo Credit: Ray Bernoff)
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