THE TEAM

Anthony Sellitti is a writer and director with a diverse range of projects. After graduating from The School of Visual Arts in New York, Sellitti moved to Los Angeles, where he started working with screenwriter Dan Harris (X-Men: Apocalypse, Superman Returns, X2) as an assistant, and then began collaborating with the X-Men scribe on several film and TV projects as a co-writer.

Shortly after, Anthony wrote and directed the sci-fi drama short ‘Imprints.’ Most recently, Anthony finished a pilot titled ‘Staten’, a crime drama set in his hometown of Staten Island, New York and a feature called ‘Camp Horizon,’ a psychological thriller in the vein of ‘Get Out’ in which a troubled gay teen is sent to a peaceful summer camp that turns out to be a radical form of conversion therapy.

Zachary Donohue attended NYU film school where he honed his screenwriting craft. In 2011, he wrote a found footage horror feature entitled ‘The Den’ while interning at Gold Circle Films. The script was picked up and later turned into a movie which can be watched on HULU and currently has a fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Donohue's horror feature script ‘The Becoming’ made it onto the 2016 BLOODLIST and was later optioned by Dichotomy Films. His horror feature script ‘The Lurking’ was optioned by Gold Circle Films in 2017. 

As filmmakers who have spent the past few years developing and writing several feature film and TV screenplays, it’s time to create the kind of content to get those projects off the ground. DEEP END is going to be a showreel for the talent and abilities for all those involved and a pitch for a feature film.

THE PROCESS

DEEP END will shoot over the course of three days. 1.5 of those days will be shot at a sunny pool location which be a rental, and in addition to that cost -- a lifeguard, a site representative, and a permit are all required. This amounts to thousands of dollars that need to be spent before any of it gets on screen. 

Our DP Bernard Hunt will be donating his RED camera package to the shoot, but in order to get the visual palette that we desire we’ll be shooting on vintage lenses (the same lenses used to shoot James Cameron’s ALIENS) to give the above-water look of the movie a soft, summery quality that has character and depth. 

When the shoot moves underwater for another 1.5 days, we need to be pragmatic about gear and safety which is of major importance to us. We’ll be shooting at night in order to create the look of the underwater realm practically, in camera, and need an expensive camera housing as well as scuba gear, oxygen, underwater lights, and more. 

Once the shoot is wrapped, we’ll need to make sure there’s enough time and money in our post schedule in order to make the world underwater look as unique and scary as possible. That’s where having enough money to pay for our talented VFX and post crew comes in. We don’t want to sacrifice quality and need every dollar to make sure every frame looks right. 

WHAT YOU GET 

We’ve got some fun Deep End swag that you can rock by the pool! Sport your love for the movie when you throw your pool towel into your tote bag -- then tell everybody at the pool how they shouldn’t go in because something may be waiting for them beneath the surface… 

For higher contributors, in addition to swag and posters, there’s an invite to the LA premiere screening as well as a party -- which you’re invited to! Our highest perk levels allow for a peek behind the scenes. You’ll be able to look at the concept art and previsualizations, get a first look at the feature film, and get a sense of how the movie is being built from the ground up and be a part of the journey as it comes together. 

THE IMPACT

We really think there is a cool, scary concept in this movie that lends itself to a full-length feature film. We truly want to make something that gets the audience’s imagination going wild. And with our combined experience we’re confident we’re going to be able to make a thrilling movie that’ll have you afraid of the pool in your or your neighbor’s backyard.

If we don’t reach our goal -- the accrued funds will all still be put toward the budget of the movie, and Anthony will attempt to bartend his way through the production and make enough money to bring it together and hopefully make it through the year without digging himself into a financial hole. (Please donate, guys.)

Of course, every contribution helps. But what also helps is awareness and excitement about the project -- so feel free to make some noise about it! Share it on social media, with family or friends -- anyone who you think will want to help bring something awesome to life.