Short Summary
In a world that feels like it's becoming less magical by the day, MAGIC! aims to inject love and reinvigorate the magic that is slipping through everyday life.
The story starts colorless as Eric makes his catastrophic public debut, and through the exploration of Eric and Willa's relationship over time, blossoms and explodes into a myriad of colors in a song and dance number finale as the characters find themselves and their ability to help each other.
MAGIC! is a UNCW Honors Thesis Film produced by a group of passionate filmmakers. Any donation helps give aspiring filmmakers a professional learning experience, as well as the opportunity to develop their talents on set. All donations are tax-deductible thanks to our fiscal sponsor From The Heart Productions.
What We Need & What You Get
We are hoping to raise $5,000 for the production. This money will go towards:
- Location Rental Fees - We need a big space for the finale song and dance number.
- Feeding the Cast and Crew - We don't want to starve on set.
- Production Design and Costumes - The setting and clothes tell the story too!
- Music Licensing and Production - We need the synch rights for the music we are making.
- Lasers - What is magic without lasers?
We are offering up some awesome perks including custom playing cards, coffee mugs, shirts and posters.
Meet the Magicians!
Tyler Ferraro as Eric
Tyler Ferraro is a current senior at UNC-W where he is majoring in film studies. For most of his college career, Tyler has stayed behind the camera where he has worked in various jobs including grip, assistant director, and script supervisor. Most recently, Tyler co-directed a feature film which ended up being the largest student production to come out of UNCW. That being said, Tyler does not shy away from the camera. He loves acting and is eager to perform whatever the director wants him to. Tyler is very excited to be working on this project.
Emily Soppe as Willa
Emily Soppe is a senior at UNCW studying Film and Communication Studies. She spent her Summer in Los Angeles, where she was in multiple short films and web-series before coming back to Wilmington to complete her degree. Emily also has an extensive history in acting for theater.
Conner Keesling - Producer
Conner Keesling is a film student at UNC Wilmington who aspires to tell stories that people can connect with. During his time at UNCW he has taken on many different roles on set, such as Key Grip, Gaffer, and Sound Recorder. Conner produced the narrative short Apply Yourself (2016) and wrote and directed Complimentary Breakfast (2016). He just recently wrapped filming on One Summer Night, a film he produced and directed.
Kelby Roberson - Director of Photography
Kelby Roberson is a senior at UNCW who is majoring in both Film Studies and Marine Biology. In his youth, Kelby spent a lot of time outdoors with his parents' camera, fascinated by everything the world had to offer. This interest in detail still exists in his filmmaking today. Kelby has a creative affinity for photography, editing, acting, and music. He is excited to work on this film because it will allow him to pursue unique ideas of visual art that can help to create a narrative involving the curious practice of magic. Kelby has recently taken on various roles in the camera department on several short films and a web series. Also, this past summer Kelby worked as a post-production intern with the Oceanic Preservation Society who's films include the Academy Awarding winning The Cove (2009) and the Academy Award nominated Racing Extinction (2015).
Ian Blackburn - Writer/Director
Ian Blackburn, a senior studying Film and Digital Arts at UNCW, has a passion for telling stories tapping into the human condition. He worked as a producer for The Cleansing, a UNCW Honors Thesis Film, and made Ramona:About a Hamster, an official selection in Cucalorus 2015.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't donate and still want to help, please share this page with your friends or social media to help us get the word out and make the world a more magical place.