Sleepyhead
New York City, New York | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
Newly dead Lillo Fante quests through the underworld in what seems like a vain attempt to get home to his beloved Parrot.
Sleepyhead
New York City, New York | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $16,385 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
146 supporters | followers
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Newly dead Lillo Fante quests through the underworld in what seems like a vain attempt to get home to his beloved Parrot.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It started with the car accident.
Eleven years ago I was hit by a drunk driver who ran a light. The police estimated that he was travelling over seventy-five miles per hour when he hit me. The collision sent my car off the road and nearly into the partially frozen Saw Mill River on a freezing January night.
The driver wasn't convicted of a crime and served no time.
I've been thinking a lot about the afterlife since then which has naturally led me to examine the nature of consequences. The world's religions have been talking about a second act for thousands of years, a basket for good eggs, and one for the rotten variety.
I'm not particularly religious, myself, but ... since I almost died, I can't help but wonder which basket I would've gone in--and I would urge you, now, to do the same. I can almost hear you.
"Oh, I'm good. I haven't killed anybody and I volunteer three times a year at a soup kitchen!"
Fair enough--but what if you woke up on the other side of eternity and found out that you weren't the model citizen that you thought you were? That's what Sleepyhead is about; it's about an ordinary Joe whose life on earth wasn't felonious, per se, but rather, one continuous misdemeanor.
Without even touching the God question, I think it's valuable to imagine being judged in some kind of afterlife in a similar manner to the way we're judged here on earth.The modern mind seems to allot very little bandwidth to it experiencing a “second act”, a place where we as formerly terrestrial animals that were more or less masters of our own domain face what could be called an Omega to our hubristic Alpha; and even if this consciousness wasn’t an eternal, all powerful God, but something like, say, the sum total of humanity’s thoughts, some us may have difficulty squaring the way we’ve lived with a probing, cosmic tribunal made up of our ancestors’ cosmic consiciousness.
Well, that's exactly what happens to Lillo Fante, Sleepyhead's main character, after a chance run in with thirty-three thousand volts of electricity.
I ask you: would a truly multicultural, multiracial jury of Hopi Indians, Dutch pelt traders, primitive stargazers and Okinawan pearl divers from all points in human history really judge your modern behavior as loving, moral and humane?
Sleepyhead asks you to ponder this.
What if you died and wound up in the third panel of Hieronymous Bosch's famous triptych? Hint: it would suck.
Although Lillo Fante wanders through a kind of Hell, Sleepyhead exists in a post-religious world. Hell is a convenient if too often used metaphor to give form to a place where one may face an eternal comeuppance many magnitudes of order worse than the Twitter mob.
Hell seems to have slipped the modern mind, though.
What was once a serviceable tool to keep us in check has lost its bite. Some modern thinkers have posited that we live in a digital simulation—something like a video game. But even video games have very little bearing (beyond the occasional doxxing) on the player’s real life. Video games, if anything, should be preparation for the next life—a Level 2—but the modern mind, for whatever reason, hasn’t reached this conclusion.
Today we split our time between three worlds—the physical waking world, the digital world (I would argue that there is a distinction), and our night time dreamworld. These are, in themselves, apt metaphors for the cause and effect relationships that exist in these separate worlds. If Sleepyhead compels the police, lovers, cyber bullies, soldiers, and citizens to examine the interplay and possible connection between their current behavior and some future reality that we can’t yet conceive of, I’ll be glad.
"So, disembodied voice--who are you anyway--and why should I support your little meditation on death?"
Good questions. I'm James Hilger, a writer and cartoonist from New York City. My fiction has appeared thoughout the literary press and as a lifelong student of the world's religions, folklore, and mythology (and almost dead person!), I feel uniquely qualified to tell this particular story, at this particular moment. You see, Sleepyhead was partially inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, specifically Inferno. In the begining of Inferno, the hero Dante finds himself.
“In the middle of the journey of our life [and] within a dark wood where the straight way was lost."
Well, if there's something that sounds more like what we call a "midlife crisis" in the west, then I don't know what it is.
I mention it because I'm middle-aged; I mention it because the world is experiencing a crisis, and I think the world needs this film now--like, pretty bad.
"Alright, you've convinced me. I'll break you off a few bones. How far into the process are you? How do you plan to release this movie?"
More good questions. By now I hope you've seen the teaser scene, so you can see the heat we're coming with ( I urge you to go and watch the entire scene on Vimeo). The lead is played by the inimitable Lillo Brancato of Robert DeNiro's directorial debut "A Bronx Tale" and we have a host of memorable suporting characters including Paul Malignaggi, two time world boxing champion and star of Showtime's Gravesend, and cult comedian D.C. Benny.
Our crew is fantastic. Behind the camera is Dominick Sivilli, our Director of Photography, and Mike DiLorenzo, our gaffer, is a certified movie buff and the reason The Liquor Store Scene just looks so damn good. My indie rocker friend Evan Stormo, of Los Doggies fame, is scoring the film. For a treat, go back to the scene and really turn the volume up. Some of our early help came from veteran storyboard artist John Davis. John has storyboarded everyhing from the James Bond film Skyfall to The Muppets Take Manhattan (so he had some experience dealing with muppets like us!)
Regarding Sleepyhead's release--naturally, we plan to go the festival route and seek distribution partners that way (Fingers crossed!).
So, this is where we're at.
We've got a fantastic cast and crew. The script is done (and good!). We've signed an agreement with SAG, hired most of the actors and secured a few of the locations. We have some of the wardrobe and a few of the props.
Now, we need you.
But wait--why are you doing this now?
We're doing this now because, to be frank, we're bursting at the seams with this story. The pandemic gave us all a heretofore unprecendented time to woolgather and if we can spin gold from the trials and tribulations of 2020, come hell or high water, we're going to do it. The story itself, of a man learning to be good when all appears to be lost, appeals to me, personally, as I move further into middle age (and time seems to have run out!). If someone can learn to be good at the end of the line, in hell, well, there just might be hope for humanity yet. My hope is that it will inspire personal growth in folks before the universe uses its big stick on them.
Our target is to raise $20,000, but in reality we need more than that (as I'm sure you can imagine) to make Sleepyhead as good as it can be. This isn't a handout; we really want you to be part of film's journey. We have some really cool perks, obviously, but more importantly, we want the film to open some dialogue about the way we treat each other.
Obviously, this is a difficult time for everyone, and, it presents a unique set of challenges to the production team. We're going to be keeping everyone safe on set by maintaining strict social distancing in adherence with New York State guidlines and requiring all cast and crew to wear personal protective equipment (provided by the production) at all possible times.
Thank you very much and please find us on social media @sleepyheadmovie. As Ghostbusters' Dr. Peter Venkman so eloquently put it:
See you on the other side.
James Hilger
February 25, 2021
Queens, New York
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $7,000
We're shooting on a RED Komodo with Leica lenses.
Talent
Costs $4,000
We need this amount to hire the best talent that we can find for the roles.
Lighting
Costs $3,000
It comes before "Camera" and "Action". It's an important part of the look of a film.
Sound
Costs $3,000
We need this to pay the best sound person we can.
Location Fees, Meals, Wardrobe and Props
Costs $3,000
We need this chunk of change for Location Fees, Meals, Wardrobe, and Props.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
James Hilger - Writer/Director
James Hilger is Pushcart nominated fiction writer and cartoonist. Before turning his hand to directing, he was head of ilias, an international Design firm. When he’s not caring for feral cats, he teaches creative writing to combat veterans. He holds a B.A. in English from SUNY New Paltz.
Dominick Sivilli - Director of Photography
Director of Photography on Red Giant which was directed by Leven Rambin (Purge 2, Hunger Games, True Detractive). He has worked on eight feature films, commercials and music videos since 2006. Recent feature credits include Striver's Row starring Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon , SAW, Predator 2).
Lillo Brancato - Lead
Lillo Brancato is an American actor known for his performance as Calogero Anello in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He also played Matthew Bevilaqua, a young mobster, on The Sopranos.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It started with the car accident.
Eleven years ago I was hit by a drunk driver who ran a light. The police estimated that he was travelling over seventy-five miles per hour when he hit me. The collision sent my car off the road and nearly into the partially frozen Saw Mill River on a freezing January night.
The driver wasn't convicted of a crime and served no time.
I've been thinking a lot about the afterlife since then which has naturally led me to examine the nature of consequences. The world's religions have been talking about a second act for thousands of years, a basket for good eggs, and one for the rotten variety.
I'm not particularly religious, myself, but ... since I almost died, I can't help but wonder which basket I would've gone in--and I would urge you, now, to do the same. I can almost hear you.
"Oh, I'm good. I haven't killed anybody and I volunteer three times a year at a soup kitchen!"
Fair enough--but what if you woke up on the other side of eternity and found out that you weren't the model citizen that you thought you were? That's what Sleepyhead is about; it's about an ordinary Joe whose life on earth wasn't felonious, per se, but rather, one continuous misdemeanor.
Without even touching the God question, I think it's valuable to imagine being judged in some kind of afterlife in a similar manner to the way we're judged here on earth.The modern mind seems to allot very little bandwidth to it experiencing a “second act”, a place where we as formerly terrestrial animals that were more or less masters of our own domain face what could be called an Omega to our hubristic Alpha; and even if this consciousness wasn’t an eternal, all powerful God, but something like, say, the sum total of humanity’s thoughts, some us may have difficulty squaring the way we’ve lived with a probing, cosmic tribunal made up of our ancestors’ cosmic consiciousness.
Well, that's exactly what happens to Lillo Fante, Sleepyhead's main character, after a chance run in with thirty-three thousand volts of electricity.
I ask you: would a truly multicultural, multiracial jury of Hopi Indians, Dutch pelt traders, primitive stargazers and Okinawan pearl divers from all points in human history really judge your modern behavior as loving, moral and humane?
Sleepyhead asks you to ponder this.
What if you died and wound up in the third panel of Hieronymous Bosch's famous triptych? Hint: it would suck.
Although Lillo Fante wanders through a kind of Hell, Sleepyhead exists in a post-religious world. Hell is a convenient if too often used metaphor to give form to a place where one may face an eternal comeuppance many magnitudes of order worse than the Twitter mob.
Hell seems to have slipped the modern mind, though.
What was once a serviceable tool to keep us in check has lost its bite. Some modern thinkers have posited that we live in a digital simulation—something like a video game. But even video games have very little bearing (beyond the occasional doxxing) on the player’s real life. Video games, if anything, should be preparation for the next life—a Level 2—but the modern mind, for whatever reason, hasn’t reached this conclusion.
Today we split our time between three worlds—the physical waking world, the digital world (I would argue that there is a distinction), and our night time dreamworld. These are, in themselves, apt metaphors for the cause and effect relationships that exist in these separate worlds. If Sleepyhead compels the police, lovers, cyber bullies, soldiers, and citizens to examine the interplay and possible connection between their current behavior and some future reality that we can’t yet conceive of, I’ll be glad.
"So, disembodied voice--who are you anyway--and why should I support your little meditation on death?"
Good questions. I'm James Hilger, a writer and cartoonist from New York City. My fiction has appeared thoughout the literary press and as a lifelong student of the world's religions, folklore, and mythology (and almost dead person!), I feel uniquely qualified to tell this particular story, at this particular moment. You see, Sleepyhead was partially inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, specifically Inferno. In the begining of Inferno, the hero Dante finds himself.
“In the middle of the journey of our life [and] within a dark wood where the straight way was lost."
Well, if there's something that sounds more like what we call a "midlife crisis" in the west, then I don't know what it is.
I mention it because I'm middle-aged; I mention it because the world is experiencing a crisis, and I think the world needs this film now--like, pretty bad.
"Alright, you've convinced me. I'll break you off a few bones. How far into the process are you? How do you plan to release this movie?"
More good questions. By now I hope you've seen the teaser scene, so you can see the heat we're coming with ( I urge you to go and watch the entire scene on Vimeo). The lead is played by the inimitable Lillo Brancato of Robert DeNiro's directorial debut "A Bronx Tale" and we have a host of memorable suporting characters including Paul Malignaggi, two time world boxing champion and star of Showtime's Gravesend, and cult comedian D.C. Benny.
Our crew is fantastic. Behind the camera is Dominick Sivilli, our Director of Photography, and Mike DiLorenzo, our gaffer, is a certified movie buff and the reason The Liquor Store Scene just looks so damn good. My indie rocker friend Evan Stormo, of Los Doggies fame, is scoring the film. For a treat, go back to the scene and really turn the volume up. Some of our early help came from veteran storyboard artist John Davis. John has storyboarded everyhing from the James Bond film Skyfall to The Muppets Take Manhattan (so he had some experience dealing with muppets like us!)
Regarding Sleepyhead's release--naturally, we plan to go the festival route and seek distribution partners that way (Fingers crossed!).
So, this is where we're at.
We've got a fantastic cast and crew. The script is done (and good!). We've signed an agreement with SAG, hired most of the actors and secured a few of the locations. We have some of the wardrobe and a few of the props.
Now, we need you.
But wait--why are you doing this now?
We're doing this now because, to be frank, we're bursting at the seams with this story. The pandemic gave us all a heretofore unprecendented time to woolgather and if we can spin gold from the trials and tribulations of 2020, come hell or high water, we're going to do it. The story itself, of a man learning to be good when all appears to be lost, appeals to me, personally, as I move further into middle age (and time seems to have run out!). If someone can learn to be good at the end of the line, in hell, well, there just might be hope for humanity yet. My hope is that it will inspire personal growth in folks before the universe uses its big stick on them.
Our target is to raise $20,000, but in reality we need more than that (as I'm sure you can imagine) to make Sleepyhead as good as it can be. This isn't a handout; we really want you to be part of film's journey. We have some really cool perks, obviously, but more importantly, we want the film to open some dialogue about the way we treat each other.
Obviously, this is a difficult time for everyone, and, it presents a unique set of challenges to the production team. We're going to be keeping everyone safe on set by maintaining strict social distancing in adherence with New York State guidlines and requiring all cast and crew to wear personal protective equipment (provided by the production) at all possible times.
Thank you very much and please find us on social media @sleepyheadmovie. As Ghostbusters' Dr. Peter Venkman so eloquently put it:
See you on the other side.
James Hilger
February 25, 2021
Queens, New York
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera
Costs $7,000
We're shooting on a RED Komodo with Leica lenses.
Talent
Costs $4,000
We need this amount to hire the best talent that we can find for the roles.
Lighting
Costs $3,000
It comes before "Camera" and "Action". It's an important part of the look of a film.
Sound
Costs $3,000
We need this to pay the best sound person we can.
Location Fees, Meals, Wardrobe and Props
Costs $3,000
We need this chunk of change for Location Fees, Meals, Wardrobe, and Props.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
James Hilger - Writer/Director
James Hilger is Pushcart nominated fiction writer and cartoonist. Before turning his hand to directing, he was head of ilias, an international Design firm. When he’s not caring for feral cats, he teaches creative writing to combat veterans. He holds a B.A. in English from SUNY New Paltz.
Dominick Sivilli - Director of Photography
Director of Photography on Red Giant which was directed by Leven Rambin (Purge 2, Hunger Games, True Detractive). He has worked on eight feature films, commercials and music videos since 2006. Recent feature credits include Striver's Row starring Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon , SAW, Predator 2).
Lillo Brancato - Lead
Lillo Brancato is an American actor known for his performance as Calogero Anello in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He also played Matthew Bevilaqua, a young mobster, on The Sopranos.