Short Film - The Lost Boys

My name is Bryan Young and I’m a writer and a filmmaker. I’ve received a grant from a non-profit organization called Mental Healthy F.i.T. to begin work on a short film I’m directing in January, and I’m putting some of my own money in, too, but that gets me to about half of where I need to make this short film something truly special and I would appreciate your help in making it a reality.

The Lost Boys tells the story of a young man who is racked with guilt and struggling with suicidal ideation. Heading to a funeral, he has a conversation that may well change his life forever. The script was strong enough to get the grant because Mental Healthy F.i.T. found the story important. They are a non-profit organization that works to end the stigma of mental health issues and ties that to film, whether that’s telling stories that end that stigma in film, or teaching those with mental health issues to use filmmaking as a coping device.

The final film will be between 5 and 8 minutes long and after it premieres at an event for Mental Healthy F.i.T., it will be on the festival circuit.

If you donate, you will get a special mention in the credits, a link to the finished product, an invite to a screening, and my eternal gratitude!

A copy of the script is available for anyone interested in donating.

Budget:

Right now, we have $1500 from Mentally Healthy F.i.T. and $1500 out of my pocket. I’m hoping we can get twice that to make the film as good as it can be, so we’re asking for $3000.

To do the film right, I need to pay the craftspeople involved, rent the necessary equipment, pay for permits and locations, pay for music licensing, pay my actors, and keep everyone fed and hydrated during the shoot. Any leftover funds would be used for festival entry fees.

Timeline:

Right now we’re planning on moving ahead with the shoot in January of 2024, so time is tight. We have actors cast and locations scouted. We just need to be able to hire the rest of the elements we need. The finished film will be screened at an event for Mentally Healthy Fit in March 2024 and we can hold an event to screen it for everyone who donated.

About Me:

I’ve been making films since I was a kid. When I was 19, instead of going to film school, I built a spaceship in my mom’s backyard and co-directed a film inside of it. That turned into Missy, which did some festivals back in 2001. After that, I wrote and produced documentaries that were called “filmmaking gold” by the New York Times and then, in 2007, transitioned into doing video communications for Salt Lake City Government until February of 2023, when I transitioned back into becoming a full-time storyteller again.

Right now, I write books in universes like BattleTech in addition to my original work. But I also want to go back to narrative filmmaking again and this short film is my first step back into that world. I have a long, documented history of making films and getting them out there, so you know your donation is going to be used wisely. You can read more about me at www.swankmotron.com.

About the Non-Profit:

https://mentalhealthyfit.org/

WHAT? Innovative arts and creativity programs for the advancement communities and mental health.

HOW? Createucation and Edutainment for a world without stigma through FILMS, IDEAS and TIPS.

WHY? To EXPERIENCE mental health and MAKE sense of pressing issues.

Offering educational expressive events and workshops with lasting impact.

Focusing on themes of Mental Health, Recovery and Disability.