Mission Statement

Prescott Confidential holds true to the same mission statement as the Production Company producing it:

"Telling stories that humanize those that feel othered or alienated from society with a commitment for authentic representation in front of and behind the camera."

The Story

Log Line:

After losing her mother, a working- homeless millennial becomes guardian to her adult brother, with a developmental disability. Desperate to create a sense of stability for them both, she takes a job house sitting. There's just one problem. The homeowners left something behind that a trigger happy sociopath is coming to collect.

Synopsis:

When Madison "Mads" takes a job housesitting for Arizona Snowbirds, she thinks she's found the solution to all of her problems. She's been living out of her car, just lost her mom, and her developmentally disabled brother, William, is getting evicted from his group home. A solution at the perfect moment, or so it seems.

Meanwhile, a man simply known as the cowboy murders his way through hired hands, en route to Prescott, where he hires two locals to help him break and enter into the Snowbird's home. When Madison and William leave to run errands, the crew makes its move only to be surprised by Mad’s friend stopping by with groceries. One of the locals calms her suspicions, only for the cowboy to kill her anyway, shocking the locals, who never thought the job could end in bloodshed.

Now, two locals in way over their heads must try to temper the cowboy's trigger-happy tendencies to avoid more bloodshed as they are pulled into the cowboy’s dangerous world right as Madison and William return.

Characters

Mads

"Mads" or Maddison is a millennial who starts the film with severe Depression while living out of her car. She's recently lost her mother and has been struggling to find a job, leaving her feeling worthless and like she has no hope of supporting William, her brother who she's just become guardian to. She's struggling to find her place in William's life while he's also in mourning and not eager to accept a new care giver. She's struggling to find a way to rise to the occasion of what's required of her and provide the support she knows her brother deserves as they relocate for the promise of stability only to be met with chaos.

William

William is "Mad's" adult brother with Developmental Disabilities (casting will dictate the specific disabilities he's living with but this could include things such as Autism, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and/or Down's syndrome). While able to do many things on his own, these conditions cause him to require assistance from a caregiver. He'd previously adjusted to the concept of needing help from his mom and the group home he'd been living in, but now he's being forced into a new situation and fully dependent on his sister. "Mads" hasn't been in his life for awhile at the start of the film and he's still freshly grieving, unable to accept that "Mads" is all he has. Add to that that he fears she still sees him as a child and this creates added tension as the two struggle to find common ground and reforge their family bonds while finding the right balance of care and support between each other.

Why This Matters

Historically, when stories about people with developmental disabilities have been told in film, they've been played by actors who don't hold these same disabilities. But as the industry changes, this has also adapted and movies like Yargos Lanthimos' "Bugonia," are featuring actors with these disabilities. In that film, Aidan Delbis, an actor with Autism, delivers a performance more authentic to lived experience and less showboat than previous actors pretending to have a disability. Delbis' character adds to the stakes of the film and provides more insight into the dynamic between him and Jesse Plemons in the film.

This film will build on this new standard and highlight how diversity can bring us more engaging stories as we explore a common experience within the developmentally disabled community: transferring of guardianship. Thrillers and horror films tend to shine the most when you have real life stressors at their core and using this family's situation as our heart of the film creates an engaging relationship to follow within the murder and mayhem that will surround them. It will help build awareness of struggles without needing to preach to our audience and provide additional opportunities to the developmental disability community within the acting world.

This film also explores how the Affordable Housing epidemic impacts those struggling to find stability. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the U.S. has a shortage of 7.2 million affordable housing options for those that sit at or below the federal poverty level. In a breakdown by state, the majority of states only had enough low income housing to service 26 to 46 percent of those in poverty levels. Mads and William's story represents one of these 7.2 million families looking for a solution when not enough exist and taking an option they don't realize will expose them to other dangers.

Director and Producer Statements

Eamonn - Director / Co-Writer

After seeing Jurassic Park 26 times in the theater at the age of five, Eamonn Cogan knew he had to make movies. He graduated from Drake University’s School of Journalism & Mass Communication. He applied his love for film to his senior thesis project, BEYOND THE BLUE LINE, a short Documentary on which he was a Producer and Lead Videographer. It went on to win 2 Silver Communicators, a Bronze Telly, and the Upper Midwest Regional Student Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. After Drake, he began writing and directing. His second short film, THE RULES OF LUCK, was invited to screen as part of the HollyShorts Screening Series at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Eamonn’s screenplays have done well in competition, including a Finalist, two semifinalists at the Austin Film Festival, a finalist, and three semifinalists in the Page Awards.

Carissa - Producer / Co-Writer

Carissa Goble was destined to become a filmmaker from her first job working concessions at a local theater just so she could see unlimited films. Her love of horror and appreciation for the craft lead her to get an Associates degree in makeup effects from the Tom Savini Makeup Effects Program. Her love of writing further pushed her to get her Bachelors in English literature from Grand Canyon University. As a life longer learner, she's continues to take courses that benefit her writing and producing ambitions from acting and practical media courses to scheduling and budgeting, she never stops pushing herself to learn more so she can work with all departments seamlessly. Carissa also owns her own business that consults with local group homes to ensure that they are meeting state regulations to support the developmentally disabled members that live there and she ensures the members aren't abused or neglected in their homes. The work has brought meaning to her life and continues to impact her writing and mission through film as she celebrates being a part of the Arizona Film Community.

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Thank You Incentives

Perks of Fiscal Sponsorship

We are honored to name The Funding Studio as our a 501 (c) (3) fiscal sponsor!

Contributions are made to The Funding Studio in support of the charitable production of Prescott Confidential. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The deductible amount may be reduced by the fair market value of any goods or services received.

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Prescott Confidential

A home invasion thriller feature with western flair

Team Members