Synopsis

Young receptionist Carmen undergoes an extensive plastic surgery makeover at the suggestion of her lover Dr. Adrian Hoffman and now lives with a botched, off-putting appearance that has only worsened her self-image. She attempts to reconnect with him over dinner, but her plan for seduction slowly deteriorates into a primal hunger for self-preservation.

Rotten Meat is a story of reclamation. It is a story of survival, of how we persevere in a world which simply aims to eat us alive.

About the Film

Rotten Meat is a short thriller written and directed by Rebekah Strauss. The film is currently in pre-production and we currently need funding for shooting in late January/early February permitting CDC guidelines with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. By donating to this campaign, not only will you be supporting the arts in these difficult times, but you will also be elevating underrepresented groups in the film industry. We are proud to say that our entire crew is predominantly comprised of women, POC, and LGBTQ-identifying young filmmakers in a time where it is crucial that these voices are heard. Moreover, we hope to share our message as well as submit our film to festivals in the coming 2021 circuit, so we need YOUR help in making all of this possible!

What We Need & What You Get

The cost of making a film tends to be a lot higher than most people realize, especially for student filmmakers like us trying to break into the industry. So, what is your contribution going towards? Everything you can think of that goes into production: equipment rentals, costumes, insurance costs, props, food for the cast/crew, and more! Over time, these costs build up and our current budget is $16,215.66, so every cent that you donate gives us access to the tools we need to make this film the best that it can be. Below is a breakdown of our entire budget:

In addition, we are excited to announce some awesome, one-of-a-kind perks at varying costs that you can receive along with your contribution! Such offers include an official “Rotten Meat” tote bag and crewneck, a “Special Thanks” credit in the completed version of the film, a signed copy of the script, and more!

Meet the Department Heads

Rebekah Strauss is a writer/director currently studying Dramatic Writing at the Tisch School of the Arts as a sophomore. Her concentration lies in screenwriting and she aims to provide representation to marginalized groups through her writing. Her social justice work began in high school where she was awarded the Princeton Prize for Race Relations in 2018 for spreading racial awareness as well as arranging her own schoolwide sit-in. Recently, she wrote and directed another short film and is delighted to bring her passion and dedication to her next film.

Eamonn Wrightstone is an award-winning twenty-year-old photographer, social justice worker/educator, and filmmaker based in NYC. From childhood youtube videos produced on a mini DV camcorder to editing and creating his own short web series and short films, Eamonn is now studying film and television production studies at NYU. He is excited to take on Director of Photography on “Rotten Meat” and bring his talents to Strauss’s stunning script and vision.

Madison Wine is a twenty-year-old producer and director currently based in Maryland. Garnering an impressive amount of credit throughout her time as a filmmaker, Madi has produced several short films as well as directing and writing many of her own. Madi is excited to bring her wealth of experience to this project as Assistant Director and Producer.

Seamus Slattery comes from suburban Philadelphia, and is a current sophomore at Tisch, studying Film & Television with a double major in Performance Studies. His focus lies in production design and post-production. He became particularly interested in the intersection between studies of everyday life and pop culture, as well as how the two translate onto more local scales. As a subsection of this, Seamus is also very interested in how media and pop culture accelerate and define fashion in everyday life. These are all very influential in his practices and manifest themselves through his writing, design, and film work. He's usually caught running around NYC making short films with his friends, or writing in any open space he can find.

Why Rotten Meat? A Statement From the Director:

Rotten Meat originally began as a reflection of where my greatest insecurities as an aspiring filmmaker and young woman intersected in an all-consuming spiral of inadequacy. My first year of college was marred by self-doubt that permeated every aspect of my life, exacerbated further by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. For six months in isolation, I was left alone with my own intrusive thoughts: I was doubting myself, my work, and the path that I had chosen. In dedicating my writing to social justice, the story quickly evolved into a commentary on societal pressures for female-identifying people and the power of reclamation. Moreover, Carmen’s journey from self-hatred to enlightenment speaks to one of the most important lessons that I have grasped coming into my adulthood over this difficult time: learning how to be comfortable in your own skin. Imposter syndrome has become a defining trait of my generation and I believe that learning how to trust in yourself has been one of the biggest challenges that my peers and I have had to face. Rotten Meat is a story of self-love and self-preservation. It is a story of survival, of how we persevere in a world which simply aims to eat us alive.

-- Rebekah Strauss, writer/director

Other Ways You Can Help

If you cannot contribute financially, that's okay! Just by spreading the word about our film and this campaign can help get the message out to people who may be interested in donating! You can do that by sharing this page and visiting our website and Instagram below for updates!

Instagram: @rottenmeatfilm                            

Website: http://rottenmeatfilm.com