Director's Statement

As a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Chicago during the internet era, I was exposed to a lot of information outlets while trying to form my identity.  It felt like I was in a state of limbo between the internet and reality. Normal life events and occurrences that should have been manifested organically, were evoked by social media too easily... thrusting me into situations I was not ready for. 

It seemed like youth should be a joyous time, but I was so lost as I compared myself to peers I saw on the internet. I felt like there was no room for error. I was lost and confused because I only saw the picture-perfect versions of everyone's lives on Social Media and in my neighborhood. And little did I know, adults can't be put on pedestals!  They don't have all the answers, and they can be just as lost as their kids under life's pressures. We all present ourselves the way we want to be seen, but we all have deep, dark secrets that we try to hide.

Nosy draws on the parallels between the mindset created by suburbia and the mindset created by the internet and social media. These distorted views are projected into the living spaces and surroundings of the characters in Nosy, creating an underlying sense of unease and anxiety, no matter how perfect it all may seem. Growing up in the North Shore of Chicago, a place where the pressure was on to have the perfect family, perfect clothes, and perfect looks, there was always a sense of mystery surrounding everyone else's perfect life. The themes of "curiosity killed the cat" and "the less you know, the better" play crucial roles in Nosy, as people seek to satisfy their curiosity and ease their anxieties by prying into the perfect lives of others. But once secrets are revealed, everything changes....

What We Need 

In able for the production of Nosy to start, we need funding in certain areas to bring the film to its full potential! All funding will go towards to all the necessities needed to make Nosy happen. Any donation you make will help feed our hardworking, passionate crew, allow us to rent the needed equipment (sound, lighting, camera, etc.) for the best quality, pay our professional actors, locations and permits to match the setting in the script, insurance to protect the film and our crew, and marketing expenses to let Nosy be showcased in festivals we handpicked for it. Your funding is what will make this film be 

What We Need 

Director: Tully Olsen is a Screenwriter and Director who is currently majoring in Cinema Arts + Science at Columbia College Chicago. After writing many short films, and creating numerous experimental pieces, such as Bardo, YUM!, and The Church’s Closet, he is breaking out into the directing world to finally make the visions of his stories come to life. Tully is currently writing a feature-length film titled MASC. as well as directing a short film called Finsta. He is excited to direct Nosy, a piece that is so personal to him, that will correlate with many, ultimately leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.

Producer: Madilynn Graefen is an independent film producer. She is currently attending Columbia College Chicago, majoring in Cinema Art and Science with a concentration in producing. She is known for working on films that give the raw and emotional truth in life. Many times, the themes or morals of the films she has worked on are the ones that need light shed on them.  In the past, she was the line producer for a short independent film called 1968, that is currently making it in festivals across the country known for its special quality of using musical aspects and a serious topic to gain the audience's’ attention. As the producer of Nosy, she hopes that this will give a spotlight on current problems in the suburban life of today’s society, giving a voice to the unspoken.

Director of Photography: Olivia Aquilina is a cinematographer who grew up in California and London. Based in Chicago, IL she attended Columbia College Chicago where she received her BA in Cinematography in 2017. Since then, Olivia has been working on many projects including multiple commercials with Nike, music videos for notable Chicago artists, and lots of narratives and web series projects. She recently shot a short film titled, Mulatto, that debuted at Cucalorus Film Festival. Additionally, she has worked in the camera department on Lifetime features, documentaries and several projects featuring Chance the Rapper, Hannibal Buress, Serena Williams and more. Olivia’s passion to create images, merged with her love of storytelling, drives her to generate stunning films, and Nosy is no exception.

Production Designer: Rose McDonald is a production designer, art director, screenwriter, and fiction writer. She is currently pursuing a BA in Cinema Arts + Sciences from Columbia College in Chicago, IL.  Rose has been working as a designer for just over a year now with. Rose recently designed a short film titled, Mulatto, that debuted at Cucalorus Film Festival. Additionally, she has worked in the art department on several notable music videos within the Chicagoland area including Local H’s “Innocents” starring actor Michael Shannon.  Co-writer of the series, The Pretenders, that accompanies pilot episode, Nosy, with writer and director Tully Olsen, Rose strives to tell stories from unique perspectives with visuals that guide audiences to other worlds.

Other Ways You Can Help

We appreciate any and all help we can get to make Nosy come to life! Other than a contribution, you can help us by spreading the word. You can do this by sharing our Indiegogo page, telling your friends and family, and post about us on social media.

Nosy is a film that will be made by a very passionate crew team who believe in this film and we hope it is something you can be passionate about too. Please join us on this fun and exciting adventure as we make Nosy become a reality!