Synopsis
Pokémon trainer Elyse is losing her fight against mysterious challenger Keith and his Demon Lord X. She only has one fighter left. She throws the Pokeball to the ground and out pops Piplup, a cute, inexperienced water Pokémon. He is dwarfed by the hulking mass of the dark, beastly Pokémon. Keith commands his Pokémon to use a one-shot attack. Demon Lord X jumps high into the sky. When the sun is directly behind, it spreads its wings and hoovers in place. Light particles begin pouring into its wings, charging it. The three below gaze up in awe. The very air stands still, and the Earth is silent. Suddenly, a giant beam is discharged from Demon Lord X and shoots down on Piplup. The pressure bearing down on him is immense, but it is just a start. The beam erupts into a massive explosion, turning the newly formed crater into glass. Both the trainers brace as the energy pushes them back.
Will Piplup survive this devastating attack? Will Elyse and her team walk away with victory?
Any donation will be SUPER EFFECTIVE in bringing this vision to life! By donating in the month of October, you can be an important part of bringing this project to life for release in November 2022.
Director’s Statement
Pokémon has been an important part of my life since I was 5 years old. In 1999 I received a Gameboy Color and a copy of Pokémon Blue. It was the year of Pokémon, it seemed like everyone was talking about what level they had achieved with their Charizard or if the fabled Mew was really hidden in the game code. I played it nonstop that year. It was so addicting. The music, the artwork, learning what types were weak against another, trading Pokémon with friends, and trying to be the very best. It sparked my imagination. That spark remains with me today. As the release of the latest Pokémon title approaches, I want to share the fun and imagination that was so important to me all those years ago. I want to make a short that brings my own vision of the creatures to the screen to share with the fan community and honor the continued success of these loveable creatures we call Pokémon.
The Team
Grant Oberhansli and Casey Oberhansli are a brother/filmmaking team that began making films when they were kids. Currently they work in the film and television industry in Hollywood, California. Together they have made short films, music videos, commercials, and feature films. Working closely, they move quickly through preproduction and writing.
Casey Oberhansli works as a cinematographer, producer, and director. He was trained at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah GA and later came out to Los Angeles to begin his career as a Steadicam operator.
Grant Oberhansli is also based in LA. He attended Los Angeles City College where he honed his skill in film production. One of his shorts was voted 1st place in the yearly student award contest. Outside of college, he has worked in the film business in many different jobs. Most recently he has worked on multiple Lifetime feature Films as a 2nd assistant director.
Our work
Grant and Casey Oberhansli have both worked in the film industry for years, making shorts, web series, product shoots, features, and many other categories of filmmaking. They use that knowledge to help create worlds of their own imagination. With Casey as director, and Grant as producer, the two created Pony Express – an original story of the pony express route and the dangers involved in the crossing. It won best cinematography at The Wild Bunch Film Festival and was nominated for many other awards. In the last year they have made two separate caveman shorts, The First Spear and The First Nutcracker. The latter winning the top prize at the Small Time Film Festival.
Looking Forward
After this Pokémon project, there are several other shorts in the pipeline that will be made for the first quarter of 2023. There is a Jurassic Park Short that is reimaging a classic scene from the first movie. A Call of Duty skit that looks at what a high-ranking COD player would be like in a realistic warzone. And lastly, an original story created by Casey and Grant that deals with bravery, honor, and horror in a land of Knights versus Witches. All of this is to build up an audience for their debut feature film coming in 2023. After that? Much more. Both brothers have many ideas that will see life in 2023 and beyond.
Production Budget
For this project, 6000 Dollars is our goal. For locations, hair and makeup (HMU), wardrobe, paying cast and crew, pre-production, production and post-production, 6000 dollars will cover everything. If you’re interested in supporting this project and helping bring this vision to life, please consider donating.
A budget of 6000 dollars will cover:
- Location fees (LA filming gets quite expensive as permitted location fees can easily get into the hundreds.
- Crew and Cast (As a fellow filmmaker in Hollywood, I understand the struggle of getting the next gig. Paying the cast and crew a competitive rate is very important)
- Wardrobe (Every aspect of a film is important, but Pokémon has always had distinctive clothing. There are several articles of clothing that I want for my characters that will make the world feel even more like Pokémon and give that Anime feel.)
- Pre-Production. (There are different props, practical effects and other pre pro related material that will need to be covered.)
- Post-Production (There are plugins and other useful post-production tools that will help bring the short to life in its fullest. There are different specialty shots that we want to use for both visual and practical effects and both can be costly.
- There are many other production costs: craft services, renting equipment, etc. but these are the main points. $6000 will also cover any unexpected events and believe me those events happen all the time in filmmaking.
Release
On the 23rd of November 2022, there will be a final promo teaser leading up to the release. Then enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends, but prepare for the release of Pokémon: Fire vs Water the very next day.
