To Hank and Chang Lee, it’s a seven-million-dollar opportunity. To George, it’s three hundred years of divine music. To the Butler, it’s the very mark of prestige itself.

To pretty much everyone else, it’s a violin.

A really, really, expensive violin.

For one night only, the insufferably wealthy George Willoughby has the Lipiński Stradivarius on lease from the St. Louis Art Museum. In celebration, he has opened his doors to an exclusive gathering of the social elite. However, unbeknownst to George, three nefarious guests with their eyes on the violin have been preparing for years, waiting for this opportunity.

It’s a night of impostors, sloppy pedants, and crab beignets. A night of a mysterious turtle disappearance and a suspicious Mongolian violin prodigy.

It’s the night of the Lipiński.

Last January, John brought Nate and Oliver a news story about a Stradivarius violin that had been stolen in Milwaukee. The thief had apparently stalked the violinist for nearly a decade, meticulously planning the theft.

Surprisingly, when push came to shove, the thief decided to just stun the violinist with a Taser he had purchased from his barber. Within eight days, he was in handcuffs.

As we delved deeper into the story, it quickly became apparent that the thief completely transcended the story of the actual theft. It was clearly his story to tell. So, we plucked him out of the news and threw him into our fiction, crafting our story around this fascinating character.

The Lipiński has proven such a natural fit for our team. As young filmmakers, we sympathize with its themes of self-image, of desiring respect, and of the need for control. The tale’s inherent absurdity spoke to our sense of humor. The story is even set in our hometown of St. Louis, lampooning and celebrating the culture we come from.

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We have taken every measure to keep our costs low. Thanks to the many talented people enthusiastically volunteering their time and resources, we are looking at a remarkably professional production for a fraction of the cost.

Every penny will go into one of six categories:

For a more specific budget breakdown, don't hesitate to shoot us an email.

NATE TOWNSEND - CO-WRITER/DIRECTOR

Nate Townsend is a young award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California.  Born and raised in St. Louis, he moved to Los Angeles in 2010 to attend Loyola Marymount University, where he received a degree in Film Production.  As screenwriter and director his work has been recognized by such festivals as the Boston International Film Festival, LA Indie Film Festival, Moondance International Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, and others.

JOHN HAYDEN - PRODUCER/"HANK"

Also playing the role of Hank, John Hayden (also known as Hayes) is an actor and producer based in Los Angeles.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Economics at UT Austin, John set his sites on Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. He is the Executive Producer of Goodnight Marilyn (2016) and Suspect. As an actor, he has appeared in Running With Fear, Beat The House, and Tabloid.

OLIVER REED - CO-WRITER/ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Oliver Reed studied at Butler University in Indianapolis and St. Andrews University in Scotland. From Butler, he earned both a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, Cum Laude, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Magna Cum Laude. After graduating in 2014, Oliver moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in screenwriting. He has worked on the production sets of Project Runway All-Stars, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Cold Justice, Katy Perry’s Prismatic World Tour, and more.

KYLE KRUPINSKI - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/AP

Kyle is a DP based in Los Angeles.  He made his start in the St. Louis production community, working on commercial and film projects for the major production companies there.  He has a passion for telling stories through visuals, using light and framing to create compelling events.  He and Director Nate Townsend have collaborated for over four years.

JACK KEHLER as OLIVER

Jack has appeared in over 60 feature films, including I Love You to Death, Forces of Nature and Men in Black II. One of his most memorable performances was in the film Love Liza as Denny, an energetic radio control hobbyist trying to help Philip Seymour Hoffman's character come to terms with the suicide of his wife. He also had a brief role in The Big Lebowski as The Dude's (Jeff Bridges) landlord.

SPENCER JONES as CHANG LEE

Currently a middle school student in St. Louis, “The Lipinski” is Spencer’s first short film.  He aspires to move to Los Angeles after high school to work in commercial and narrative production.

JACK MAHANEY as THE RANGER

Jack Mahaney first started acting just a few years ago, starring in Nate Townsend’s first short film The Painter.  He has since starred in several short films and commercials.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Jack is looking forward to eventually bringing his talent to feature films and Los Angeles-based productions.

We attribute this opportunity entirely to people like yourself who support and believe in us. Along with a great script and our wonderful team, we are thrilled about what we can show you with The Lipiński.

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