was it funny when he died?

WAS IT FUNNY WHEN HE DIED? is a short film about the odd nature of people's casual enjoyment of televised pain, torture or suffering, abut how people can profit and exploit their audience for fame and money. It also deals with ‘casually’ abusive relationships and how manipulation can be just as damaging. 

Upon taking an unknown protein pill, Jake discoveries that he can no longer die. Bullets hit, but then fall off. Knives pierce skin and then heal over. No pain is ever felt, no matter how badly he made be damaged. But while Jake wants to use his newfound abilities for good, his friend Bailey pushes him with more… monetary goals in mind, causing the friends to clash over how to deal with their newfound situation.

We're a small and growing team of filmmakers from Wellington with the passion to bring this story together. Our team - Killing Karma Studios - has done a few previous projects on YouTube, but we are finally delving into a more professional and fleshed out project

We have Hugo Montgomery and Miro Hannah-Smith as our Directors/Writers/Producers, both of them pushing this story forward behind every step. Both students currently at Massey University and majoring in Film Productions. They both have a lovely for deep and rich story telling, and finding new and creative ways to comment on topic that provoke them deeply.

We are bringing back our lovely DOP and Editor, Ben Smith. Ben is a graduate at Massey, and is find often using his skills of photography taking film photos of vintage/retro trains, cars and buildings. Ben's visual storytelling is often influenced by whichever media he has consumed recently, this time having a lot of love to the cinematography of Severance. 

AND Joining the team for the first time!! We have Sophie Papps behind our SFX, bring together the violence and bloodshed. Klara Toth on 1st AD, helping keep all of this on track. Will Werner as our Gaffer, and Ash Roberts as one of our composers

WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR TEAM!! So please, let us know if you are interesting in helping bring this together!! 

killingkarmastudios@gmail.com

Why Crowdfunding?

Because this is an indie project made by emerging creators, crowdfunding allows us to maintain creative freedom and build a community around the story from the very beginning. Your support will go directly into making this film possible. 

Here's how we'll use the funds:

• Venue Location (booking out rooms or locations)
• Prop/Set design (Weapons, Pills, and whatever else we think of)
• SFX (A lot of blood... a lot of guts)
• Paying cast & crew (All of whom are volunteering their time)
• Promotional (Gotta let people know)

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to telling this story with the care and quality it deserves.

WAS IT FUNNY WHEN HE DIED? is set to film in late June over a week, filled with passion and low resources. We want to bring our SFX and sets together as well as we can so we can sell this idea to our best ability!! 

The story came together after our two directors noticed an odd about of videos on Instagram Reels/TikTok of people being hit by cars, or being attacked or hurt in an accident, and stunned by the comments and likes. This script is written with that feeling of entertainment in mind! 

Once finished, we will premiere the film in a small venue, and the available on YouTube in the later week! 

Your support will go towards backing young and emerging filmmaking in Wellington, and the breath of new stories. We want to grow this new network of young wellington film makers, and growing out the film network.

By backing WAS IT FUNNY WHEN HE DIED? you will be giving back to the community and helping us filmmakers find our own voice.