Senior Capstone Film Production

To all supporters, thank you for taking a minute to learn about what brought me to this point. My name is John McElrath, and I have spent the last four years dedicated to pursuing my BA in Screen Studies/Film Production at The New School in Manhattan.

The world of cinema has always fascinated me, and for me, movies are the most powerful empathy machine in all the arts. They provide us with the experience of living in somebody else's life for a while– to experience what it's like to walk in somebody else's shoes, what it’s like to be a member of a different gender, a different race, a different economic class, to live in a different time, to have a different belief. This is a humanizing influence on me. It gives me a broader mind.

This Spring, I will be entering my final semester at The New School and will be completing my Senior Capstone. This means, over the next few months, I will be Producing and Directing a Short Film called Mirage. This project carries significant weight not only for earning my degree, but also as part of my portfolio for earning my way into the film industry.

I'm seeking support in my efforts to fund this project and to spread awareness of the challenges that drug addiction presents.

The film is a Psychological Drama that follows the story of Rose, a young homeless woman from New York, who has just lost her boyfriend to a drug overdose. While struggling with addiction herself, she grieves her boyfriend Marcus's death and tries to get help, but her mind can't seem to let him go.

I wanted to tell this story as a way to empathize with and humanize those who are struggling outwardly and internally. The story includes tough subject matter, such as substance abuse and overdose, and one of my goals as a filmmaker is to take on difficult situations or conversations with a sense of truth and authenticity. In order to do that, I have to make sure all members of my cast and crew are well taken care of, comfortable, and feel good about the work they're doing.

What I will need funding for:

I hope that people will connect with both the story and how the film is portrayed. In order to complete the film, I will need help supporting:

- The Cast

- Location costs

- Equipment

- Meals, Water, and Snacks

- Vehicles/ Transportation

- Wardrobe

- Festival Costs

Thank you so much for helping to make this possible. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!

-John