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Strangers - A Short Film

A coming-of-age comedy short, written and directed by University of Arizona student Max Cunningham.

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Strangers - A Short Film

Strangers - A Short Film

Strangers - A Short Film

Strangers - A Short Film

Strangers - A Short Film

A coming-of-age comedy short, written and directed by University of Arizona student Max Cunningham.

A coming-of-age comedy short, written and directed by University of Arizona student Max Cunningham.

A coming-of-age comedy short, written and directed by University of Arizona student Max Cunningham.

A coming-of-age comedy short, written and directed by University of Arizona student Max Cunningham.

Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham
2 Campaigns |
Tucson, United States
$3,100 USD 28 backers
103% of $3,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects
Overview
I'm Max Cunningham, a senior film student at the University of Arizona. "Strangers" is my senior thesis film, a coming-of-age comedy that I'm very excited about. Focused on relatable and contemporary issues, "Strangers" tells the story of a young college student who is struggling to deal with a changing world around him. Please make sure to check everything out on the page, as films like these could not be made without your help!

The Story

Recovering from a recent break-up, Jessie is an anxious, 21-year-old college student who is also struggling to come to grips with his best friend Ryan’s recent announcement that he’s gay, something that was kept from Jessie specifically. Angered by this recent exclusion, Jessie is forced to hilariously and painfully confront Ryan at his 21st birthday party, which he attends with his other good friend, Harvey.

The Inspiration

For years, one of my favorite genres in storytelling has been the coming of age tale. It’s such a timeless and relatable framework for a story under nearly any circumstance, because it’s something we can all relate to: growing up. At times both embarrassing and hysterical, these transitions that we make in our lives are things we never forget, because they’re always so unmistakably human.

As a coming of age comedy, Strangers strives to always exist in that place of being human and relatable, by creating characters that feel genuine, honest, but always entertaining. These are qualities that exist in all of my favorite films from this genre: "Dazed and Confused", "The Kings of Summer", and "Stand by Me".

With this film in particular, I wanted to tell a story that felt relevant and honest to today’s generation of young people, and the inclusion of a character who is coming out for the first time just felt right to me. The exploration of this issue isn’t so much of a character coming out in the first place, but instead how the people around that person react, and the fact that they have to learn that things around them are changing, whether they like it or not.

The Plan

We are currently in the final stages of pre-production, with our film cast and crewed up to prepare for our two weekends of shooting, which will happen in the last two weeks of January, 2017.

After we wrap production, we plan to move into post-production immediately, with a plan of having picture locked by March 15th. From there, we will move into all sound, color, and scoring, with a finished date of May, 2017.

The Team

We are fortunate enough to have a tremendous creative team on board, many of whom have had great success already making various short films both inside and outside of the University of Arizona’s film program. Below, you can find examples of some of their past work, along with successful Indiegogo campaigns that they’ve launched in the past.

Cast:

Dylan Cotter - Jessie

Matthew Osvog - Ryan

Aubrey King - McGraw

Marissa Munter - Stephanie

Tyler Reaser - Tiffany

Crew:

Max Cunningham - Director/Writer/Producer/Editor

Evan Colten - Producer/Assistant Director

Jack Alexander - Director of Photography

Links to Previous Works:

https://vimeo.com/180124223

https://vimeo.com/157819109

https://vimeo.com/132611772

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/john-a-short...

https://www.instagram.com/maxscunningham/

What Your Money is Going Towards

With a budget of $3,000, we plan on allocating our funds towards a number of things, all essential to bringing this project to fruition. We’ve designed this budget in a way that keeps the costs as low as possible but still gives us the tools we need.

 

How You Can Help

The biggest way you can help contribute to this project is by donating any amount you can give. You can also select a number of the rewards listed here too, and in exchange for your financial generosity, you also receive a number of cool and fancy prizes related to the film.

If you can’t afford to donate but still want to help, you can share this page in a number of ways to bring exposure to this project. By posting about our film on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter or even emailing it to your friends and family, we have an even greater chance of reaching our goal.  

Risks and Challenges

As mentioned in our video, we are lucky enough to receive some equipment from our school for making the film. However, there are still a number of items and services that we require to make this film the best it can be, that are only offered outside of our University. These include work that will be done on the film for scoring and sound work, specialized camera equipment for achieve the aesthetic we have designed for the film, or production design costs to create a rich and believable world that the film takes place in.

All of these services and items are hugely important to our film’s success, and any help that you can provide will help inch us closer to that reality. Now, if for whatever reason we do not reach out goal on this campaign, we will still move forward on making the film, but again, the money that you can donate here will make that process far more productive and fruitful if you can provide your help.

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

Natural Ice

$5 USD
If you're drinking Natural Ice, well, you're kind of at a personal low. But don't worry, we've all been there. This perk gets you a personalized thank you email, along with updates via email on the project that include set photos, posters, and more!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
0 claimed

Keystone

$10 USD
Hey! You've stepped it up with Keystone, so I guess things aren't so bad. This perk will get you a "Special Thanks" in the credits, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
Estimated Shipping
May 2017
0 claimed

Pabst Blue Ribbon

$25 USD
PBR, one of the cheapest beers that we all either think is really cool to drink, or not at all. This perk gets you an HD Digital Download of the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
3 claimed

Old Milwaukee

$50 USD
I've never actually tried Old Milwaukee, and I'm not sure if I want too, just because beers with the word "old" in the title make me nervous. This perk gets you a Blu Ray copy of the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Busch

$75 USD
Busch's beer, not to be confused of course, with the famous Bush's beans. This perk gets you a signed set photo from the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Old German

$100 USD
To be completely honest, I found this beer by googling "cheap beers", and, like Old Milwaukee, am too afraid to try it. This perk gets you a poster from the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Miller High Life

$150 USD
The most "hipster" of the cheap beers, this one can be found held in the hands of people wearing old sweaters and cool hats all around America. This perk gets you the credit of "Associate Producer" on the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Bud Lite

$200 USD
Bud Lite gets extra points for their cool blue, glass-shaped but somehow plastic can, that also seems indestructible. This perk includes a half hour Skype interview with the director, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
  • 30min Skype Interview w/ Dir.
2 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Bud Lite Lime

$250 USD
The "lime" part of this gets extra points, for both interesting me and scaring me all at once. This gets you a 45 minute photo session with the director, who is a photographer, specializing in portraits! Work can be found listed in the "The Team" description, but you must live in AZ. This also includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
  • 30min Skype Interview w/ Dir.
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 out of 5 of claimed
Ships to United States of America

Coors

$500 USD
If you're gonna get a cheap beer, you can't go wrong with a Coors. This perk includes an "Executive Producer" credit on the film, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
  • 30min Skype Interview w/ Dir.
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Lone Star

$1,000 USD
If you happen to find yourself in the great state of Texas (or just an extra awesome dive bar), grab a Lone Star, and you won't be disappointed. This perk includes eight hours of free videography work from the director, and includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
  • 30min Skype Interview w/ Dir.
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 out of 3 of claimed
Ships to United States of America

Rolling Rock

$3,000 USD
The king of all cheap beers, it really is brewed with fresh spring water (maybe). This perk gets you just about everything: the director will drive to your home town, buy you a meal of your choice, and make you the first person to see the film! It also includes all of the other perks previously mentioned!
Included Items
  • Personalized thank you email
  • Emailed updates on the project
  • Special thanks in credits
  • HD Digital Download of Film
  • Blu Ray Copy of the Film
  • Signed set photo
  • Poster for the Film
  • Associate Producer credit
  • 30min Skype Interview w/ Dir.
Estimated Shipping
June 2017
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America
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