J.A.F.A. Episode Two: 20 Questions

Kia ora to our earliest supporters!

Thank you so much for jumping right on to our campaign on the very first day. It means everything to us that you believe in what we're doing enough to back us so early. $150 in just 12 hours - thank you so much, that's truly epic. 

We're looking forward to regaling you for the next five weeks with our regular updates. It's not just going to be gushing like the above. No, we have a whole five week calendar of details to deliver to those who want to know. 

In today's update, let's deep dive into the story of Episode Two: '20 Questions'...

Joey and Cara make it to a house in the apocalyptic wasteland, with zombies hot on their heels. In their tussle to slam the door shut, Joey is injured and infected. Feeling the unstoppable transformation taking over his body, he asks Cara to let him die in the manner of his choice: not screaming, bleeding, wailing. Just talking.

Writing and directorial team Ben and Amy (who you will get to know a little better soon in the coming update where we interview them) wanted to explore another aspect of the J.A.F.A. setting in this second episode. It was already established that this was Aotearoa in the zombie apocalypse. And we like to subvert things a little bit down this end of the world, don't we? The previous episode showed a small, silly moment in a fairly average day for two survivors. This time we wanted to do something a little higher in stakes, still showcasing the human and the domestic... just with the zombie apocalypse as the setting.

The zombie genre is full of men making heroic sacrifices to save their families, or communities, or even just one other survivor. So what if we took that trope, and subverted it by making poor Joey's death ultimately not all that special, except perhaps to him and Cara? After all, so many of us don't get a big dramatic death where we are glorified afterwards as a sort of martyr. Even if his circumstances seem extreme, Joey's doing something so normal and human, as we all must do some day. We're lucky if we get as much choice as he does.

The script is gripping and tender, and we cannot wait to bring it to life for you.

Thank you again for your support!