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THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

A semi-successful self help guru has an existential crisis in a public restroom.

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

A semi-successful self help guru has an existential crisis in a public restroom.

A semi-successful self help guru has an existential crisis in a public restroom.

A semi-successful self help guru has an existential crisis in a public restroom.

A semi-successful self help guru has an existential crisis in a public restroom.

Upper Hand
Upper Hand
Upper Hand
Upper Hand
1 Campaign |
Los Angeles, United States
$750 USD 5 backers
15% of $5,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

What We Need & What You Get

We are seeking funding to help provide us our location and pay for our crew. This movie has a creature, so the costume is key (mock up below). As is making sure that we have all the required insurance and permits to provide us a safe set. Our incentives are integrated with the film and it’s characters providing a harmonious experience.

 

Who We are

Upper Hand is an independent production company based in Los Angeles, California. The team consists of Jacob Figueroa and Bryan Biebl.

Jacob Figueroa is an American-Latino writer/director/producer/actor. His most recent short THE MARIGOLDS LISTEN (2021) is currently on the festival circuit and an official selection for the 2022 Tallgrass and NewFilmmakers LA festivals. In addition, he has multiple screenplays in various stages of development, including ScreenCraft Fellowship Quarterfinalist Feature Film, TEXAS WHEN I DIE. As an actor he has worked with Fox, Warner Brothers, Amazon and Disney. His diverse biological buildup and upbringing allow him to express different perspectives with familiar sensibilities in an attempt to express the human experience.

Bryan Biebl is a writer/producer based in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently developing three features and a television series. Accolades include ScrrenCraft Fellowship and Tagble Read My Screenplay Quaterfinalist Feature Film, TEXAS WHEN I DIE and Los Angeles International Screenplay Award Finalist, THE FOOL.

 

The Story

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS

A stage. The light beams down on Duke, this is his shining moment. The words flow with ease as he touches on all of his self-made techniques; The Alpha Breathwork to his pillars of success- DCUPS. Dream, Concieve, Unblock, Persevere, Suceed! From the outside looking in, he's got it all; a healthy hairline, a million dollar smile, he's the 16th most downloaded motivational speaker in the Southwestern United States. But suddenly we realize, this isn't the stage. This is the public restroom of the auditiorium that houses the stage. This is an exercise, an exhibition, a test run. Too much time in preparation allows demons in.

Enter the Grimbleworm.

A slithering amalgamation of doubt and fear, hellbent on removing Duke's mask. A battle over ego and self-belief transpires. A worm in human form is terrifying enough, but give it a voice and those deep dark thoughts that reside inside and you have yourself a nightmare incarnate. Duke cowers into a bathroom stall. He's got nowhere to hide. The Grimbleworm might finally get the best of him.

But!

Duke has a secret weapon; his wife, Piper, the star of "Hustler Mommy Grind Time" herself. One phone call could end this all and put the Grimbleworm back deep where he came from. Sometimes all you need is a reminder of who and what you are!

This story is about the "ALPHA" mindset. It's more satire, poking at the ego and false sense of self. How one can peddle a certain mindset but inside house something deeper that wavers their own belief of self. All in the fun form of man vs demon or, in this case, man vs his own demons.

 

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

This film, like it's premise, deals with the layers of the human psyche. On the surface this story can seem fun and funky but deep down inside there is a lingering void opening wide that will consume us, if we allow it. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS is very much about the masks we wear, the labels we give ourselves and the voices that we attempt to silence in order to represent them.

For as long as I can remember I've been making up stories, whether with assitance from my action figures in my toybox growing up or the backstories I give the grocery clerk. We all have stories and we all have history, I've found that I enjoy playing with them; the good, the bad and the ugly, they're all valid in this medium.

I hope that you decide to take this trip with me and venture into the internal world that we all avoid. The one full of darkness and doubt, the other side of the ego- the one we wish we could flush down (pun intended).

Thank you for your time and consideration,

JACOB FIGUEROA.

 

 

 

 

 

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Choose your Perk

DREAM

DREAM

$10 USD
DREAM; the first pillar in Duke Diaz’s DCUPS methodology. This perk helps support the dream of getting this film made and seen by you and others. With this you receive your name in the THANK YOU section of credits. Link to finished film. And a special discount code for the Upper Hand Shop.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • THANK YOU credit
  • Link to finished film
0 claimed
CONCEIVE

CONCEIVE

$25 USD
CONCEIVE; Pillar 2 of DCUPS. Helping us go just a little further into the dream, helping it take form. Includes everything provided for DREAM - PLUS a downloadable Duke Diaz DCUPS motivational flyer.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • THANK YOU credit
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
0 claimed
UNBLOCK

UNBLOCK

$50 USD
UNBLOCK; Pillar 3. The most important building block, the center of it all- the midpoint. Unblocking all the fuzz and blockage, helping us see our way to the other side. Includes everything in CONCEIVE - PLUS a Duke Diaz DCUPS event t-shirt.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • THANK YOU credit
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
1 claimed
Ships to United States of America
PERSEVERE

PERSEVERE

$100 USD
PERSEVERE; Pillar 4. Even when everything seems clear, there’s always a little muck to trudge through. Perseverance goes a long way. When we persevere, we learn, we grow and we just might… (see next perk). Includes everything in UNBLOCK - PLUS a personalized motivational clip from Duke himself.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • THANK YOU credit
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
  • Personalized Duke Diaz clip
2 claimed
Ships to United States of America
SUCCEED

SUCCEED

$250 USD
SUCCEED; The End. Or is it the beginning? Of a new you. A new form of existence. If anything this perk provides us with the feeling that success is just around the corner. Everything in PERSEVERE - PLUS THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUCCESS crew baseball cap.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • THANK YOU credit
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
  • Personalized Duke Diaz clip
  • TAS Crew baseball cap
2 claimed
Ships to United States of America
ARCHITECT

ARCHITECT

$500 USD
To be an ARCHITECT is to be present at ground level. That’s what this perk represents, having a hand in it all. Your name not only as a thank you but as being part of the process. Includes everything in SUCCEED - PLUS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT (IMDb and on screen) and access to post-production updates.
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
  • Personalized Duke Diaz clip
  • TAS Crew baseball cap
  • ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America
CO-PRODUCER

CO-PRODUCER

$1,000 USD
CO-PRODUCER. That’s mid-level executive shit. You not only have a hand in it, but you have skin in the game now. This could just be the beginning for you. Includes everything in SUCCEED - PLUS CO-PRODUCER CREDIT (IMDb and on screen), access to production and post-production updates as well as a set visit (if local to LA).
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
  • Personalized Duke Diaz clip
  • TAS Crew baseball cap
  • CO-PRODUCER credit
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

$2,000 USD
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. That credit stands alone. Literally has it’s own frame. 5 seconds of glory and everything that comes with it. Includes everything in SUCCEED - PLUS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT (IMDb and on screen), production and post-production updates as well as a set visit and dinner with team (if local to LA).
Included Items
  • Custom discount code
  • Link to finished film
  • Downloadable Duke Diaz flyer
  • Duke Diaz event t-shirt
  • Personalized Duke Diaz clip
  • TAS Crew baseball cap
  • EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit
0 claimed
Ships to United States of America
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