Our young protagonist, Henry, is a space-obsessed 12-year old boy who is nonverbal and has Cerebral Palsy. The story follows Henry's journey as he tries to overcome anxieties about going to a new school while also dealing with his brother (and his best friend) becoming more distant. In the midst of all this, Henry comes in contact with an alien creature, whose mysterious powers allow Henry to speak and move during their nightly encounters.

Henry finds comfort and acceptance in his alien friend, which he feels like he sometimes lacks in his daily life. But as the film progresses, Henry begins to wonder whether he needs the alien as much as he thinks he does. 

Why should we be telling this story? I've been working with children with special needs for the past three summers, and I think it's incredibly important that children with disabilities get to see themselves as the hero of the story in films. Often, people don't realize that children with special needs are just kids at the end of the day, and they have a lot of the same wants and needs as other children. Fish Out of Water is a story that sets out to show people this and give kids with disabilities a hero they can relate to. We've also collaborated with organizations like Variety Village and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital to make sure we were properly portraying a child with Cerebral Palsy, as well as reaching out to members within the disability community. 

Making an alien isn't cheap! And neither is an arcade location! 

Even for a student short, costs start adding up pretty quickly. In addition to creating an alien, lots of our budget went into our art department to make sure we had the proper equipment that a child like Henry would need such as a motorized bed and manual wheelchair. 

As students, we are expected to fund our own films entirely out of pocket, which is on top of paying our tuition costs. If we want to graduate without being in massive debt, we need your help! 

We've got some cool stuff for you if you decide to donate! Get your hands on exclusive, one-of-a-kind perks such as actual props used in the film, high quality prints of our alien concept art, an exclusive director's commentary version of the film, and more! 

And if you don't feel like you want a perk? That's fine too! If you want to just donate, choose the "Make a Contribution" option instead of selecting a perk. 

From our producer, to our cinematographer, to our art department and more, the majority of our key creatives and crew have been women. By supporting this film, not only are you supporting a story that is important, but you are also supporting the budding careers of young females in the film industry. 

Your donations are much appreciated by our hard-working team! This film has been in the works since its early stages in September of 2017, and we wouldn't be able to do this without your support! 

If you can't donate, please consider sharing our campaign with your family and friends! Every little bit counts!

Thanks for your support!