Hot Water: a short film that holds corruption accountable

Hello GoFundMe,

Thank you so much for taking the time to click the link. We are Cassie Kramer (credits include Candyman, Bettendorf Talks (SXSW), Close Ties to Home Country (Sundance), Chicago Fire, Chicago PD) and Miles Gunter (comic writer for DC Vertigo, Dark Horse Entertainment, Image Comics and Amazon).

We are Chicago-based storytellers trying to realize a live action short film called Hot Water.

Synopsis:

A corrupt kidnapped judge has until a pot of water boils to admit to wrong doing otherwise his head goes into the scalding water.

As Americans we bear witness everyday to a society where corruption often goes unchecked. Public servants abusing their power and remaining insulated from consequence is a part of everyday life. All of this contributes to an unrelenting feeling of helplessness. We’re all walking around trying to live our lives while carrying this awareness on our backs everyday. There’s no release from it. There’s only a further piling on, and it feels like we’ve gotten used to living like this.

Hot Water was created out of a desire for a catharsis from this terrible feeling. What if public servants like cops and judges who operate in a system designed to protect them had to answer for their gross abuses of power? What if their protective bubble was popped and they were confronted and held accountable for their damaging actions? Right now we need stories that remind us that it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to submit to feeling helpless, and one of the best ways we can do that is by channeling our frustration into art.

In addition to a catharsis we also want to explore what happens when power dynamics shift. What happens when a powerful person loses the things that keep them insulated from accountability and a regular person is suddenly in a position of power?

We hope that Hot Water provides an entertaining release from the stress of these very serious times. Since we started working on this, there’s been an amplification of judicial corruption on a scale we’ve never seen here in the United States and the desire for accountability has only gotten stronger. Given that, we feel there’s an appetite for stories like this among filmgoers that’s not being met.

We understand times are tough for everyone. If what we’re trying to do resonates with you and you have the room to help, your donation would go towards paying our small cast and crew, renting equipment, post-production, and paying for festival submissions.

If you can’t spare a donation, we would so appreciate your sharing this page to help spread the word.

We're also included a link to watch our previous short film eGGs.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lrsxxjpunqeg0q3ztya9j/eGGs-v5.mp4?rlkey=cktrffflcmzodk18ifnmqzlkx&st=c58k6llu&dl=0

Thank you so much for making the time to check out our page.

Stay safe and thanks for your time!

-Cassie and Miles