The Story:

As human beings, we long for love, affection, and acceptance in a seemingly indifferent world.
But when we find it, will we be smart enough to recognize it? Or will we sacrifice ourselves, and each other, in the face of an unattainable dream?  "Into the Rose Garden" is a short film about three friends struggling to make sense of their relationships in the midst of a life-changing event. It is a story of trust, betrayal, but most of all, love.

Jud and Joseph are two rival best friends who share passion, drive, and perhaps a lot more. Our story follows them through a night of drinking and celebrating at Juds new apartment where the festivities take a sharp turn upon the arrival of Josephs girlfriend, Sylvia. The intention of her visit and the cycle of events that take place following her entrance, spark questions that dissolve into a revelation of secrets with the power to change their relationships forever. The evening dissipates into a meticulous chess game, challenging Jud, Joseph and Sylvia to call into question their deepest desires and our most basic human flaws.

Note from the Director:

I am a professional working actor, and an aspiring director, and writer who many would describe as a very passionate individual. I believe that a major part of the human experience is to discover true love. Because we are so fervent and anxious to connect, the quest can make us blind.  It allows us to accept anything, fight anyone, and just about destroy ourselves in the process.

At times, we are so afraid of being hurt, that we combat vulnerability with self-destruction as a means to an end. And have the ability to lose ourselves in this struggle without ever realizing it. The potential to love and be loved is as apparent as the potential to denounce and devastate.  Does the struggle become harder as we grow older and more jaded to experience, or is it never too late?

Why I Am Doing This:

Into The Rose Garden originated as a one-act play that was work-shopped with a group of actors and a director to be presented on-stage. Over the course of time, it has been re-worked and developed into a short film that I am very excited to create support for, in order to take it to the next level.

My desire to explore this particular subject matter was my original inspiration for creating this project. But my enthusiasm has grown with the wonderful feedback I have received thus far, and the quality of individuals who have come on board. I hope to generate a great deal of support for my film. Please jump on board! Its going to be a good one, guys!

Who I Am and What Is Needed:

I have had the opportunity to work with people in the industry, from Martin Scorsese to Michael Shannon on such shows as Boardwalk Empire.  Opportunities to work on projects as prestigious as this one continue to inform the level of my work. I plan to utilize connections I've made during my experiences, and put them to use in making this film as good as it can possibly be.  The types of connections I am utilizing involve Director/Actress/Coach Jennifer Gelfer, who directed In Between Men and teaches both here and abroad.  I also have Jendra Jarnagin as my Director of Photography, who has worked on Sex and the City to Law and Order, and Malia Kulp as my Producer, who has worked on Smell the Coffee to In Between Men.  This project will be seen by many very important people in the industry, and we all have confidence that it's going to make an impact!

We are aiming for $10,000 to cover the initial production costs. With the ultimate goal of reaching $15,000 in order to complete a gorgeous product carried through post production.  Once production begins, updates will be added to our networking pages and a new campaign will begin to raise the remaining $5,000.

Your financial support will be used to cover the cost of crew, equipment rental and location permits. The greater the budget we are able to build, the more specific we can get to the images and tone I am aiming to create.  Upon its completion, we are going to submit to various festivals in the hopes of generating interest in a possible feature film.

What Else Can Be Done:

If you would like to donate in a form other than money, there are many ways that you can help!  Click on the links provided on this page to connect to our networking sites on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc, and either Like or Subscribe to what suits your preference.  By doing this, you will be kept in the loop as to the progress of the project, and you can help generate support through your contacts.  :)  Thank you deeply.

Once you're connected to us, invite your friends and family to get involved and spread the word. We love our team and support is always welcome!

We also gratefully accept material contributions, in contrast to funds. One of the most important parts of a film shoot is keeping the cast and crew well fed and happy! We will be looking for breakfast and lunch for 3 days on the weekend of our shoot. We also need a cube truck for the Thursday before and Monday after for load-in/load-out. If you would like to donate a hair and make up kit/accessories, we will need those as well.  Anything else that you think we could benefit from on our project, please let us know!

Thank you for your time and interest.
We love you. And look forward to creating this with you!