Short Summary

I’m Phillip, a Los Angeles based artist born and raised in West Virginia. Visual storytelling is my lifeblood. After working as an actor and painter, Above the Salt–a film I wrote and am set to direct–has been the driving force of my artistic life for the past year. Now, it’s go-time. 

It’s been my dream for quite some time to make a film in my home state of West Virginia; a place that made me who I am today and that I feel is cinematically underserved. This campaign can make that dream a reality. The goal is to raise production funds. Any contribution is impactful.

We are filming in November 2023 in the iconic West Virginia settings of Snowshoe Mountain, J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works, and the Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 

What We Need & What You Get

Our production team is looking to raise $50,000 to help offset the production costs necessary to execute this film. “What are production costs,” you may be asking? Every cent will be allocated toward crew, talent, rentals, equipment, travel, lodging, and post-production services such as editing, visual effects, and score.

While every donation helps and is extremely appreciated, we are offering some incentives:

• Contribute $100 and receive access an exclusive gallery of Behind the Scenes photos and footage.
• Contribute $250 and receive an Exclusive Above the Salt t-shirt.
• Contribute $500 and receive an Above the Salt t-shirt and a hand written thank you note from the director. 
• Contribute $1000 and receive an Above the Salt t-shirt, a hand written thank you note from the director, and Special Thanks credit in the film.
• Contribute $5,000 and receive an Above the Salt t-shirt, a hand written thank you note from the director, a Special Thanks credit in the film, and Associate Producer credit in the film.

The Impact

Art has the ability to change the narrative and showcase a region that has otherwise been misrepresented. ​West Virginia and Appalachia are an untapped filmmaking hub begging for original stories; those filled with creativity, wonder, hope, fun, and mystery. You will be helping us create just that. A well-executed short film is the perfect way to illustrate larger scale potentiality. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

• Share our campaign with friends and family.
• Tune in once the film is finished and released to the world!