UMBRA, Short Horror Film

WHAT IS THE FILM?
UMBRA is a period short horror film about a family rushing across the arid plains of California to escape a menacing evil that is chasing them.  We plan on filming the movie in the middle of October of this year and the film will be ready to be viewed online in time for Halloween. We want to have a tight skeleton crew consisting of Director, DP, Producer, Audio, AD, Wardrobe/Makeup, and Gaffer.

STORY
Umbra takes place in the early 1800s. A plague has swept the land, a plague of darkness. Daylight is gone, the sun has vanished and no one knows why. Lurking in the dark are murderous Banshees who terrorize the people they capture. But they fear light, and so a candle, lantern, or torch is the protagonists' only chance of survival. This story follows The Connors , a farming family who are making their way west across country to find "The Refuge", a sanctuary with perpetual burning light. Elijah Connor heard about the Refuge from an old friend, and took his family on the risky and arduous journey towards safety.

CHARACTERS

Elijah Connor
Elijah Connor is the patriarch of the Connor family and a resourceful farmer who is fleeing with his wife Abigail and daughter Betty across the nation. Elijah is knowledgeable of the situation regarding the perpetual darkness and the also the nature of the banshees. Elijah is the one who implored his wife and daughter to venture out west to rendezvous with an old friend of his named John O'Riley who knows the way to "The Refuge". Elijah acts as the sturdy oak type but secretly fears the banshees perhaps even more than his wife and daughter, thus prompting him to desperately seek sanctuary at The Refuge.

Abigail ConnorAbigail Connor is Elijah's caring and strong willed wife who keeps the family calm under pressure. Abigail fears the banshees but never lets her fear overcome her logic and will stop at nothing to protect her daughter Betty, even if it means sacrificing Elijah.  Abigail believes that the banshees are the spirits of witches that have been executed in America since the 1700s and that the "forever night" is a punishment from a higher power, akin to one of the plagues of Egypt.

Betty Connor


Betty is the inquisitive and brave daughter of Elijah and Abigail. She is mature and has been through a lot already at such a young age. Betty's knowledge of the banshees and the perpetual darkness is small, but she understands how dire her family's situation is. Still, she remains calm and listens to her parents and whatever they say.

THE BANSHEESThe Banshees are the  female humanoid supernatural beings of unknown origin that are terrorizing humanity during this period of "forever night", or "Umbra". The banshees are sensitive and seemingly hurt by light of any kind and thus live and thrive in the dark, also due to this, the only people who have seen the banshees even a little have been either killed or severely injured. Many people across the world believe them to be the tortured ghosts of witches that were burnt on the stake across the nation, returned now to exact revenge on the populace. Others believe them to be angels who have come to cull the world of sinners and that the Umbra is a type of rapture. Their origins are unknown and they appeared the same day the sun "went out". They seem to be a forlorn species that aren't aggressive, but rather in despair, as many people describe hearing "wailing, ululating or weeping" before they are attacked by a banshee. It is unknown how Banshees hurt or kill people, or if they roam in groups or are mostly solitary beings. 



WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

This film needs monetary support in order to be executed properly. We plan on filming October 13th and 14th in the Palm Springs, CA and then cutting between October 16th-20th, for the film to be released near Halloween. 

The money from the fundraiser will be used to:

- Pay Cast and Crew
- Equipment (Camera & Audio)
- Wardrobe (very important)
- Props
- Makeup and practical VFX

WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS

For the simple love of telling stories. We love horror films and think they bring something to entertainment that no other genre does. It's fun, exciting, intriguing and mysterious and it will be made just in time for Halloween! 

CONTRIBUTOR PERKS
Everyone who donates will get have exclusive first viewing access to the film online. Contributors who live in the Los Angeles area will be invited to the premiere screening in Glendale California. 

 Sunlight Tier - $10 -  Contributors will get a special thanks in the credits.

Moonlight Tier - $20 -  Contributors will get a special thanks. Early Online Access and an Invitation to the premiere in Glendale.

Eclipse Tier -$50 -  Contributors will get everything in the $20 tier and also a video recorded thanks from Director Scott Naar and Producer Sarah Naar.

Antumbra Tier - $100- Contributors will get everything in the $20 and $50 Tier as well as a signed digital copy of the film poster.

Penumbra Tier - $200- Everything above, plus an Associate Producer credit and your own personal drawing of yourself in 1800s clothes by our concept art illustrator Jesse Kong.

UMBRA Tier - $500- Everything above, an Executive producer Credit and also a digital copy of the film.