Hello! We are a group of current UT Austin students seeking funding for our upcoming project, "Juliet is Dead, " for our advanced narrative production class. Scroll through our campaign to learn more about our project!

For more info/updates:

• Follow us on Instagram - @julietisdeadfilm
• Click the button to check out our director's website and portfolio! Director's Portfolio

After stumbling into the room of the newly dead bride, the wedding band grapples with death, shock, and somehow having to play for grieving wedding guests. 

As students, it is a hefty task to fully fund a short film with all the different components needed to complete a project. From equipment to locations to providing food for our crew, it takes a lot to bring an idea to life. We've created this campaign with the goal of meeting our budget of $1,760, which will be spread amongst the categories as outlined below. After weeks of pre-production, we are beyond excited to move forward in the process and secure funding to ensure that production runs smoothly, not only in fulfilling our vision but also in making our cast and crew feel comfortable and have fun on set!

For any project, funding is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome; thus, any amount helps us tremendously. Whether it's one dollar or a hundred, your donation helps us secure locations, production design/props/costumes, and meals for our crew.

We are thrilled to work on this film and are extremely grateful for any donations that come out of this campaign. This project would not be the same without our community's support, so thank y'all!

10 days till filming starts! Then, Juliet is dying...

Hello! My name is Ella Garber, and I am the writer & director of the short film, Juliet is Dead . This film is inspired by characters in Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, but takes a comedic twist, following a dysfunctional wedding band after they find the bride, Juliet, "dead." 

The concept for this film came from my experience this past summer at a program called Shakespeare at Winedale. We were performing Romeo and Juliet, and one of the characters that I was playing was the Musician, who only appears once. The Musicians' scene is an isolated moment of absurd comedy that interrupts a string of tragic events after Juliet takes a sleeping potion to fake her death. The musicians walk in and are thrown into the chaos of a grieving family. At first, the scene confused me, but over time, I was able to connect with it. My scene partners and I even made up obscure backstories for each musician. I loved the idea of expanding these minor characters and exploring themes of loss, acceptance, and friendship through them. And in true Shakespearean fashion, the film intertwines comedy with tragedy. For me, this film is a reflection of what I learned this summer about myself, my relationships, and storytelling.

Now in my last semester of college, it sometimes feels like the life I know is somehow going to cease to exist. An exaggeration (probably), but it lingers still. In a similar way, this story is about having to move on even when it feels impossible. This project means so much to me, and I hope that people will love this messy group of musicians as much as I do.

You're invited 💌

Equipment - $200

• We are grateful to have equipment provided by the University of Texas film department, however we are allocating a $200 bduget for any additional gear that UT does not currently have in its inventory like advanced camera lenses. 

Props/Costumes - $350

• This will be the largest chunk of our budget as the set design, props, costumes, hair, and makeup for a Shakespeare-inspired film are crucial. Our film incorporates a 90s aesthetic, and a wedding scene upon which the film's complexity and curiosity hinges. 

Locations - $200

• As we narrow down our final two location options that fit the 90s aesthetic and match the scale of a Shakespearean wedding, we are allocating $200 to account for the average price we are seeing. Any extra money from this allocation will be spread between Crafty, Cast, and Equipment. 

Crafty - $600

• We will be providing 1 meal per shoot day for our company of around 25 people to keep everyone happy, healthy, and productive. This portion of the budget will allow us to provide a meal every 6 hours on set in accordance with union rules.

Festivals - $250

• Our goal for this project is to extend beyond the classroom and help it reach its full potential and widest audience by submitting to a variety of film festivals across the country. This portion of the budget will account for entry costs and any related costs that arise during our festival run.

Contingency - $160

• Per industry standard, we have allocated an additional 10% of our $1600 budget for contingency should any obstacles arrive. Any leftover funds from this allocation will be put towards Crafty and compensating our Cast. 

Despite our budgetary limitations, we'd love to offer you some rewards to thank you for your support!

$10 - Save the Date (Tier 1)

• A warm thank-you shoutout on our Instagram
• Digital invitation to the premiere screening.

$25 - Book the Wedding Band (Tier 2)

• A warm thank-you shoutout on our Instagram
• Digital invitation to the premiere screening.
• Personalized thank you video from the set.

$50 - Cut the Cake (Tier 3)

• A warm thank-you shoutout on our Instagram
• Digital invitation to the premiere screening.
• Personalized thank you video from the set.
• Access to exclusive BTS Photos and Videos from set.

$100 - Say Your Vows (Tier 4)

• A warm thank-you shoutout on our Instagram
• Digital invitation to the premiere screening.
• Personalized thank you video from the set.
• Access to exclusive BTS Photos and Videos from set.
• Receive a Thank-You credit in the film's end credits. 
• Exclusive access to raw footage from the set. 

$200 - Offer your Condolences... (Tier 5)

• A warm thank-you shoutout on our Instagram
• Digital invitation to the premiere screening.
• Personalized thank you video from the set.
• Access to exclusive BTS Photos and Videos from set.
• Receive a Thank-You credit in the film's end credits.
• Exclusive access to raw footage from the set.
• A signed digital poster
• Executive Producer Credit

This film would not be possible without our community's support, and we are immensely grateful! If you can't donate at this time, we'd love for you to still share our project, follow us on Instagram (@julietisdeadfilm), and help us reach our goal! Thank you!