LIKE

Hello friend, reader, and potential backer. We – Ryan, Jazmyne, Gareth, Alex and Mike – are looking to raise a budget of ten thousand dollars to shoot our upcoming short film, LIKE. LIKE looks at the danger of disappearing into the false world of social media. It's an exploration of the online world and how it can shape the reality of our experiences, and can, in essence, take over and eclipse our individuality and our ability to be ourselves in a real moment or situation.

With a decent budget this short film will be able to present the ever-encroaching hold that social media has on our society, specifically the youth of today. Much like T.V shows and films such as BLACK MIRROR, HER, CAM, YEARS AND YEARS, and even Terry Gilliam’s BRAZIL which provide commentary and sound a warning about where we as a society are heading with certain social trends and technology, this film aims to explore the dual worlds that some people create and exist in, concerning social media. 

LIKE will highlight the mental and emotional impact that social media can have on our well being and sense of self. Studies continue to prove that social media is rewiring our brains, our concentration levels, and the way we think. Many of us have experienced a time when we have spent too long on one or more facets of social media, and found ourselves feeling 'less' than we truly are. Left, wanting, feeling inadequate, or not being with the ‘right’ people in the ‘right’ place. There's been a lot of research into the effects social media has on self esteem and how this might be exploited by retail companies and big money. The rise of the ‘social influencer’ lends credence to this concept. 

As a person who is greatly concerned with the consequences of this technology, I want to create a film that presents this issue in an engaging medium. Much as my previous short film JUMP explores the idea of male suicide through a comedic lens, I am very interested in taking this subject and making it a subject of discussion. I am a big fan of films such as FOUR LIONS, THE BABADOOK, and GET OUT, or groups such as the NAKED SAMOANS that can take a polarizing topic and view it through an accessible medium. 

I love film as a medium. I love making and being a part of films. It's something that really excites me. Up until this point we have been able to scrape together favours and scrounge equipment etc... to create our short films, including a test scene for this project. But, we are looking to make something bigger this time. Previously, our films have been very short, and have never exceeded seven minutes. This time around for LIKE, we're aiming to shoot something of high quality that runs for fourteen minutes. This time, a budget is needed to get us there. The budget money will be used to hire the quality equipment we need to make this look right, and would ensure everyone was fairly paid for their time. This budget would also cover post-production costs, as well as entry fees into international film festivals. Every cent will be well used, and set this film apart from our previous ventures.

We have a great team assembled so far.

Jazmyne van Gosliga (Actress/makeup) Gareth Williams (Producer) Mike Newport (Composer) Alexander Glucina (DOP) Ryan O'Kane (Writer/Director)

We would love your help, and support to raise this budget of ten thousand dollars. For that, or anything over, we feel we can do this film and pertinent topic justice. All while paying everyone fairly for their efforts.

Thank you all for your time and your support. We appreciate both, greatly.