Short Summary
HELLO FROM THE WALTER TEAM!
We are Rose Hanish and Alan Arias, and we are a writer/director duo currently studying at Emerson College in New England. We are seeking YOUR help for our upcoming short film, Walter, shooting in Boston in March 2023.
Walter is a surrealist dark comedy that follows Mike, a struggling actor who desperately wants the role of a fast food chain spokesman—until he begins facing terrifying visions of the company mascot: a giant, anthropomorphic hot dog.
The inspiration for this story came during the summer of 2021. While scrolling through casting websites, Rose stumbled across an ad for a hot-dog commercial (yes—she did audition, and no—she did not hear back…though, she remains cautiously optimistic), and that’s where the story began to unfold.
As seasoned student film veterans, we had plenty of experience to pull from when crafting this screenplay and vision, and we hope that our genuine passion for the subject shines through in the finished project.
But we cannot ensure that without your help!
What We Need & What You Get
We’re aiming to hit a $3,100 goal, the bulk of which would cover costs such as equipment, locations, and costumes, in addition to marketing and an eventual festival run. In the event that we do not raise this full budget, those are the areas that will be prioritized. The full budget breakdown is illustrated in the graphic below.
Contributors will get access to perks such as memorabilia, behind-the-scenes footage, sneak peeks, special thanks credit, and—of course—a WHOLE lotta hot dogs!
Our Creative Vision
Our story follows our lead character undergoing a dramatic downward spiral, so we want to back our movie with visuals that complement the script’s trademark sense of dark humor and surrealism.
With Walter, we seek to meld our writer’s lived experience as an actress with the unique comedic tone of TV series like HBO's Barry, as well as the subject matter of films like 2014's Birdman. We also seek to give the project a sort of vintage, filmic aesthetic to emphasize to the surrealist and retro vibes.
To achieve this vision, we will employ the help of a talented creative team, chock-full of resourceful young creatives who are well-professed in the challenges of independent filmmaking.
Risks & Challenges
Unfortunately, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic. However, our team will be comprised of students who came of age making films during this unprecedented time, and we have extensive experience working around its unique challenges. We are completely committed to working with a vaccinated cast and crew who will remain in compliance with the most up-to-date COVID safety guidelines both from the CDC and Emerson College.
Other Ways You Can Help
Spread the word!
We appreciate every penny, but we cannot overstate the impact of sharing the links to this Indiegogo campaign as well as to our Instagram, where you will find plenty of updates and other Walter-related information!
Follow our Instagram!