At the height of the Detroit Garage Rock revival in 1999, a wheelchair-bound father, his musician son and his band bond on a raucous road trip as they war with a rival band on the way to South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.

It’s Little Miss Sunshine meets Almost Famous meets Kodachrome

Though we have secured modest funding for Band on the Run, writer/director Jeff Hupp and Executive Producer Maria Capp are looking for contributions to film, edit, and post-finish the indie production beginning this summer, 2023.

Ten percent of what is raised for Band on the Run will go to the National MS Society, Michigan Chapter to support those who live with the debilitating physical and psychological effects of MS.

The production will hire an all-Michigan cast and crew.

About Band on the Run Screenplay

“…Hupp infuses charm and life into Band on the Run by bringing a lot of love and passion to the time period and the characters that exist within it…”

 “…The script combines the fun energy of Almost Famous with the pathos of a father/son road trip seen in such films as Nebraska and Kodachrome…”

“…On an audience level, this emotional range takes the viewer on a ride from slapstick comedy to deep feelings of potential loss and regret…”

“Recommend!”

For Band on the Run

In 1999, writer/director Jeff Hupp was a struggling musician from the suburbs of Detroit while his mother was grappling with the late stages of debilitating Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—living at home alone—amidst a separation from his father.

During this stressful time, he and his band was accepted into the coveted South by Southwest music festival— a chance (finally) to be seen by industry professionals and label representatives who had the power to sign his band— and perhaps change his life forever.

After some trepidation, working to make sure his mom was safe and sound after becoming her part-time caregiver, with her blessing, the band went to the festival. But soon after they returned to Detroit, the band fizzled out and Jeff began to pursue other creative endeavors.

Years later, after his Mother, Kara, had passed from complications from MS, he got to thinking, “What If?”;

“What if” he had decided to bring his ailing parent along with his band to the South by Southwest festival?

“What if” he would’ve had the chance to bond on one last, glorious, life-changing road trip?

And “what if” that trip would have changed his and his parent’s life in ways he wouldn’t recognize today?

These thoughts gnawed at him and from those “what ifs,” Band on the Run was born. 

About Writer/Director Jeff Hupp

Born and raised in Berkley, MI, Jeff Hupp is an advertising professional, musician, and screenwriter. In the 90s, Jeff’s band, the Detroit-based The Atomic Numbers, performed and recorded for various record labels, had a song included in Super Sucker, a movie from Michigan-native Jeff Daniels and rocked venues across the US, including the infamous local fave, Pine Knob Music Theatre, in Clarkston, MI.

During the pandemic, Jeff began screenwriting and soon placed in major screenwriting competitions, including The Page International (for his script Maybe Before New Year’s) and the Austin Screenwriting Competition (for his comedy script “Band Freaks“). Jeff is looking forward to producing and directing his first indie film, Band on the Run, in the summer of ’23, utilizing an all Michigan-based production crew and actors.

Jeff’s IMDB page is here // email jeff here // LinkedIn is here

About Executive Producer Maria Capp

Maria Capp has served the arts community on Long Island, NY, and in Los Angeles for over 20 years. Her multi-disciplinary expertise includes work as an award-winning writer, director, producer, entrepreneur, and acting coach. She has served as an advocate, speaker, committee, and board member for such organizations as Women In Media, The Millie D’Agostino Scholarship Fund, Breaking into Hollywood, Youth Biz Alliance, NYSTEA, EdTA, BOCES – Arts in Education, and Kids for Kids Productions.

After returning to her roots with the successful world premiere of the one-act play, Pizza & Whine, conceived and co-written by her daughter Raffaela, Maria and screenwriters Elliott Estrada brought the play to the screen as Four Cousins and a Christmas. The feature, directed by Maria, stars Teri Polo, Nicholas Turturro, Raffaela Capp, Robert Davi, Jared Sandler, and Natasha Capp, and premiered across Hulu, Peacock, Tubi, Fudu Fans, and VIZIO TV’s.

Maria’s IMDB is here // LinkedIn here

Your generous contribution will help cover the costs of the production:

Thank you!

THANK YOU for contributing to our campaign for Band on the Run! We are so excited to finish this project and bring it to the screen– we think you’ll love it!

Here are some other ways to help:

SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends, family, neighbor, bandmates, exes, whomever—anyone can help!

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Band on the Run IMDB page is here.