OUR STORY

The Synopsis

Neighborhood is a short film about a young man's struggle to accept the realites of a post-apocalyptic world shortly after the death of his father and only companion. Upon finding an abandoned house still stocked with supplies, Chris uses this new found shelter to try and enjoy the comforts and safety of his childhood one last time.

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

As with most scripts, Neighborhood went through many changes before reaching the final draft. While it began as a rather simple post-apocalyptic concept, the script slowly focused less and less on the classic elements of that genre with each revision, as I found myself wanting to explore more of this character’s longing for companionship and a return to his childhood.

With that shift in focus, the script had developed these really strong themes of loss and isolation, and as I was writing it became very cathartic for me in viewing some of my own childhood experiences in a new light. That catharsis also helped me realize that, while still a thematically dark film, I wanted this film to stand apart by ending with a sense of hope and optimism in face of such sorrow. 

Those themes even bled into the production itself as, despite most having never worked together before, the crew bonded quickly and became a joyously cohesive team. The sense of community and comradery that developed on set was unlike anything I’d experienced before and it was truly humbling to be surrounded by so many passionate artists working to bring this story to life. 

Of course, we had no way of knowing, as we said our farewells that last day on set, just how special that connection was or how relevant those themes of loss and isolation would become only a few weeks later. 

Post-production began just as the coronavirus became a global pandemic, and like so many others, we watched as the stay-at-home orders rolled out across the United States, and our future grew frighteningly uncertain.

When it came time for us all to discuss how to best adapt to the current health crisis, one thing was immediately clear. We knew we needed to share our story now more than ever, but in that moment it became about far more than just a film to us. We wanted to share that sense of companionship and connection we’d all experienced on set with as many as we could.

Our film follows a young man as he struggles with fear, loss and isolation in a desolate world. Our story however is for those who stand in the face of such unimaginable circumstances yet still choose to reach out, to connect, and to hope.

It’s about the dream I think we all should share no matter our differing ideals or backgrounds, one of building a community that cares for each other….of finding our own little Neighborhood.

Thank you so much for your support and I wish you all the best,

- Michael Merrell

So What's in it for You?

First off, we'd like to send a sincere thank you to each and every person who's shown their support for not only our project, but to the countless filmmakers and organizations around the world in this chaotic time. Please know that your continued generosity and passion for independent film has meant so much to thousand of people around the world who hope to share their stories.
When you contribute to Neighborhood, we want you to feel a part of the crew. This is why we've created rewards that give you a unique connection to the film, and an inside look at how Neighborhood came to be. Those rewards include special screening invites, access to cast and crew interviews, exclusive posters, and a "Making of the Film" digital art book with gorgous concept art and images from the film!

How to Support the Project

Follow Us!
Seed & Spark doesn't just look at who's raising the most money, that's why we wanted to work with them. Just like the filmmakers, Seed & Spark knows that it's the audience that matters, which is why they offer additional resouces for us the more our audience grows.

Share our Story!
We've alway believed in quality over quantity when it comes to our fans, but there's no denying that having a solid presence online is crucial in bringing awareness to a project. By sharing this page with friends and family who share your love of film, you're helping our story to connect with those it might otherwise never reach. 

Support the team directly!
By making a financial contribution to the project and selecting an incentives package, you're doing far more than just showing your support. Everything raised during the 30 days goes directly to supporting this amazing team of people who donated their time and talents to this film, and anything beyond our goal will go to help get their hard work seen by as wide an audience as possible.

To get a better understanding of how you'll be supporting the project, take a look at our breakdown through the Wish List tab.

Thank you again, and welcome to the Neighborhood!!!