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Join the MUSE filmmaking team as we embark on our quest to create the next great independent horror / thriller feature film. By becoming a part of the project, you will get a taste of the movie making experience. It's our goal to involve you in each step of the process. You'll have access to concept art, page excerpts from the script, location photos and a chance to visit the set. In addition, you'll even get to weigh in on important decisions like casting and the way a character gets killed off in interactive Facebook postings!
THE STORY
MUSE centers around Adam, a lonely frustrated artist living in a dilapidated loft who is barely making ends meet. Adam's too meek to ask the girl next door, Maria, out on a date. Nor can he stand up to his abusive landlord, Lance. Desperate for money, he agrees to do a "delivery" for a nefarious neighbor. While making the delivery, he finds a frail naked girl lying unconscious on the side of the road. Adam takes her in and nurses her back to health, but soon begins to realize that there's something very strange about her. In addition to being a mute, her movements are animal-like and her eyes seem hypnotic. The girl and Adam develop a bizarre affinity for one another, soon inspiring him to paint his most accomplished works, often using her as the focal point. His paintings are passionate, violent, terrifying and real. But his newfound fortune comes at a price. Like an overly protective dog, the Girl viciously and mercilessly kills anyone that gets too close to Adam. When Maria's life becomes in danger Adam must try and stop his new found friend, lover and muse.
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Making a great film is like crafting a watch. Every single gear, spring, screw and weight must work in perfect unison in order for everything to work. The MUSE team is such a unit. Hungry, passionate and experienced - there is not a team more suited for the task of delivering to you an indie horror / thriller like MUSE.
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JOHN BURR // WRITER + DIRECTOR
A horror-thriller enthusiast, John prefers dark, edgy material featuring complicated and unique protagonists. He has directed various genre pieces during his time at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, from the slasher-horror feature
THE BEAST to the vampire thriller short
SANCTUARY. As a dark, sexy, violent thriller, the tone and vision of Muse serves as an ideal project for his style and sensibility.
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JOSH MILLS // PRODUCER
Josh Mills is an award winning Producer/Director who has over 15 years of production and finance experience in both film and television. He has worked on hit shows such as ABC’s IN JUSTICE, Comedy Central’s THREE SPIKES and the CBS Crime Drama THE UNIT. Josh has produced and directed several commercials and feature films including the feature documentary SUGAR WARS and feature film BROTHER’S KEEPER.
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AUSTIN SEPULVEDA // PRODUCER
Austin is an accomplished short film producer who hails from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, having worked on over 27 short films, documentary shorts, promotional videos and commercials, including a $110,000 short film starring FAST & THE FURIOUS star Michelle Rodriguez. He has worked at a variety of companies quickly being recognized as a valuable asset in story development, such as Robert Downey Jr.'s Team Downey (SHERLOCK HOLMES), Legendary Entertainment (THE DARK KNIGHT) and Skydance Productions (STAR TREK).
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MICHAEL SMIY // PRODUCER
Michael is a Producer/Director graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts with a specialty background in marketing and branding. He has been involved in numerous film projects, commercials and photo shoots. Michael has worked at International Creative Management Partners for representatives of directors such as Tom Hooper (LES MISÉRABLES) and Peter Weir (DEAD POET’S SOCIETY), Robert Zemeckis’s ImageMovers (FORREST GUMP) and Daniel Dubiecki’s The Allegiance Theater (JUNO).
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You can learn more about her work on her official webpage, www.elleevansofficial.com
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We will need Visual Effects (VFX) in order to enhance The Girl's movements and ravenous behavior. Our director, John Burr, subscribes to the philosophy of doing as much in camera (for real) as possible. After all, we're aiming to bring the most exciting and authentic experience to the viewer. But there are certain things you just can't do in real life. And moving at whiplash speeds is one of them. Almost all of the film will be done practically, but VFX we will be needed to really elevate some of the horror and supernatural qualities of the girl and the film. VFX are REALLY REALLY expensive, but the MUSE team will be calling in all the favors to get some of the industry's top VFX artists to help bring Muse to life.
Where does the Indiegogo money fit in? Good question. We've budgeted our film to the last penny and with your help, we'll have every dollar we need. All of our campaign money will go directly toward VFX and nothing else, so you know exactly how your money is being spent.
Have any questions? We'd be happy to answer them!
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We know. You've backed a crowd-funded project before and that was the last you ever heard of it. So how do you know backing this project will actually lead to a finished film? Well for one, each one of us has made film content before. The filmmaking team has worked on over 75 films combined and knows how to get a film made. We have the infrastructure to produce the content and the funds we have raised thus far are for principal photography next month.
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The USC School of Cinematic arts has trained us well and taught us both the business and art of filmmaking. We seek to uphold the proud tradition of those who came before us and we look forward to adding to the impressive array of titles that USC alumnus have been associated with.
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The creative team behind MUSE has been hard at work making this film a reality and as we enter production, we look forward to adding more members of the MUSE family. The calendar below gives you an idea of what the schedule of the filming, completion and delivery of the final film looks like.
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We wanted to thank you for stopping at our campaign page. Whether you choose to contribute to MUSE or not, we'd love for you to join us on the journey of making this feature film. Stay up to date on our Facebook page listed below for production updates in the coming weeks. And be sure to share with your friends!
...And that's all there is to it!