'That's the Gift' is fiscally sponsored by the nonprofit, From the Heart Productions
All Donations are Tax Deductible
Story and Structure
In 'That’s the Gift' we follow our protagonist, Jill Seward, as she navigates the grief of a loved one who is nearing the end of their life. Jill is the sole caretaker of her sickly grandmother. She almost never leaves her Nana's side, until tonight where she has plans to go to a party.
As Jill reluctantly steps away from her role as caretaker, she also escapes the real world into a surreal fantasy masquerade. Party hosts, guests, and patrons approach Jill and guide her to process this grief and accept what is to come.
Some charming, some rude, and some just confusing her until she finally looks ahead and sees a slightly older and wiser version of herself, Jill ⍺.
Jill looks to her future self and wants to know everything about her future. When will Nana pass? How much it will hurt? What can she do after?
Jill is met with a calm and confident resistance. Her senior self won't answer these questions for Jill ⍺ knows that giving all the answers would ultimately be robbing her of herself.
Instead, she encourages Jill to look at the beauty of the present moment that is right in front of her. With this understanding, Jill leaves the party, returning to the real world ready to accept the passing of her grandmother and whatever else may come her way.
Why This Story
The concept of this piece came to me because I was imagining having a conversation with a version of myself just 2 or 3 years prior. When the world stopped with Covid, everything as I knew it was ripped out from under me. It felt like so many days were passing and passing without any real life happening. I was lost and kept wishing that someone with all the answers could come tell me what to do and how to make sense of the whole mess.
Don't worry, this is NOT a short about Covid… I just couldn't shake the idea of a conversation with an older me. What would they say to me? What could they not say for fear of tearing away all of the nuance.
That is when it hit me. The nuance is the point. The gift is not knowing. That idea is what evolved into this script, written by the unbelievably talented Jacob Hebert, and has shaken me to my core.
Needing to accept the unknown is universal. We all live every day in the unknown. I needed this story. I needed to share this story. Simply put, I needed to create "That's The Gift".
Characters and References
Jill, our protagonist is devoted and unbelievably strong. She is the type of person who takes care of others, but not herself. She is both restless and paralyzed in her life. She is very resistant to thinking about her grandmother's passing and thinks she does an excellent job concealing her anxiety. Once Jill steps into the masquerade, she is perplexed, largely fulfilling the role of our audience as the story comes together.
Jill
Jill ⍺, the senior version of our protagonist, 2-3 years older than Jill. She has lived through the grief of losing her Nana and knows the pain it caused but ultimately accepts that she has grown after living through it.
Jill ⍺
The Concierge is abundantly enthusiastic and excitedly welcomes her into the party.
Concierge
The Pianist has a Nihilistic view of the world and very directly opens the conversation to Nana's inevitable death.
Pianist
The Bartender is confident and carries himself with ease. He has a presence that calms that she is in the right place.
Bartender
The Concierge, Pianist, and Bartender are all portrayed by the same actor.
Nana, Jill's grandmother is instantly loved by our audience. She is precariously feeble and gives the sense that she must be protected at all costs. She loves and appreciates Jill beyond words.
Nana has been sick for a long time and has a laundry list of prescription drugs to take daily. She knows that taking care of her has been taxing on Jill. Nana would like for her granddaughter to let go so that when she passes, Jill can live her own life where she doesn't have to be a caretaker for others.
Nana
Jill Ω brings an elegant confidence that can be immediately felt. She is 15-20 years older than Jill. She is quick to laughter, and understands her place in the world. The older she gets, the wiser she is and her worldview becomes that much less complicated.
She is inexplicably linked to our Nana character. To bring our story to a full circle, she emits the loving presence that our youngest Jill feels coming from her grandmother.
Jill Ω
The Host brings the element of mystery to the forefront as they walk into frame. Imposing but not threatening, they pose a riddle to Jill. When Jill answers, the Riddler says her passage is granted, but then blocks the first direction she chooses and directs her in another.
When the Riddler stands in Jill's way, we understand that they will not be moved under any circumstances, but also that Jill is in no danger.
The Host
The Masquerade
Excitement and mystery, the lively allure of a dream. Energetic conversation is had by people all around her, their faces obscured with extravagant masks and lavish clothing. Specialty cocktails passed around, glasses clink as partygoers open their hearts to the moment. There is a light haze, the glow of rich golds, oranges, and yellows casting halos around silhouetted strangers. All underscored by simple jazz piano, the masquerade is a timeless dreamlike escape from the real world.
As Jill steps into the party, she feels welcomed, yet intimidated. There is a buzz in the air, filled with the laughter and chatter of exclusive conversation. There's a lingering sense that someone is watching her, but wherever she turns, everyone is unabashedly celebrating amongst themselves. Jill knows she's been invited, but can't shake the idea that she doesn't belong here. It's intimately isolating.
The Team
Meet the creative team who are building 'That's the Gift' from the ground up. Between us, we have decades of experience, acting, writing, directing, behind the camera and in front.
Thomas Hollow
Producer, Actor
Thomas Hollow is an actor and singer in the Los Angeles Area. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from UCLA in 2017. His emphatic personality has been seen on full display on stage as Brock in the Netflix Production of ‘The Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience,’ Warner in ‘Legally Blonde,’ and Bobby in ‘Company.’ On Camera he has been seen in several pilots and pilot presentations, including a principal role in ‘Lindy Thompson Wants to be a Star.’ He is a passionate storyteller with a goal of creating art that reflects the human experience, mental health, and journeys of growth.
Christina Holleran
Director
Christina Holleran had her first directing debut when she was sixteen in her high school production of The Hound of the Baskervilles. She then pursued a BA in theatre at High Point University in North Carolina with a concentration in directing. There, she won a directing nomination from ACTF for her work on Frank McGuinness’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. In LA, she’s written, directed, and produced several short films. Recently, she has been 1st AD and Associate Producer on the mystery thriller Proof Sheet (starring Juan Javier Cardenas of The Walking Dead), 1st AD on the romantic dramedy Clown & Out (starring Alejandro Edda of Narcos), and 1st AD & UPM on the Korean short film "Yakson" (directed by Woosik Choi, lead actor of Parasite).
Kent Burns
Producer, Actor
Kent Burns is a non-binary producer, actor, model, and more whose passion for entertainment and creation knows no bounds! With their Bachelor's Degree in Drama with Honors in Musical Theatre, Kent is classically trained in voice and dance, Kent Burns' with their career stemming from career live theatre. From originating roles in musicals both regionally and off broadway to performing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Kent captivates audiences every time. After receiving their Certificate of Business and Management of Entertainment from the renowned UCLA Extension program, they have worked with independent television and film companies like Alliance Cinema, Green Glow Films, and Public School Pictures. Most recently, Kent has worked alongside Derek Warburton in media, helping create initiatives like #30Voices30Days that spotlighted unique voices from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, including Patricia Arquette, Lisa Ann Walter, Laverne Cox, amongst many others. Kent’s ambition is only matched by their drive to be in the entertainment industry as a lifelong career. As a producer, they have found true strength resides in the turn of phrase, "clear is kind". In an industry where trust is the most prized currency and connection is the highest reward, Kent has a proven track record of building collaborative and well balanced teams that create impactful works -- always with a dash of magic!
Jacob Hebert
Writer
Jacob Hebert is a writer from St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, where he was active in local arts and theater. A graduate of Columbia University, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies (CC '14). He is now located in Los Angeles and has shifted his focus to screenwriting.
Katherine Dudley
Director of Photography
Katherine Dudley is an award-winning Cinematographer and Creative Producer with a decade of experience. She started her career in Chicago and Seattle, before moving to Los Angeles in 2019. Katherine has worked on a wide range of genres and styles of film, and has experience with documentary and foreign language content. Most recently, her work on Tamil-language short ‘Kanavili’ earned her an award for ‘Best Cinematography.’ Her style as a cinematographer seeks to create striking visuals, elevate the reality, while remaining grounded in it. Katherine’s main passion is working on projects that can really bring people together, and that both entertain and make you think at the same time. Long term, her dream is to work on films that promote more international collaboration between filmmakers from different countries.
The Budget
This script, this story needs to be elevated off the page. We have a budget of $20,000, raised via crowd funding to make it all possible. Here's where it's going:
Crew: 50% ($10,000)
Lighting, Sound, Costume, Makeup, Hair
Location: 20% ($4,000)
The 3 "L's" as it was. We need a visually compelling location to work within
Equipment: 10% ($2,000)
Cameras, lighting, sound, instrument rentals
Cast: 5% ($1,000)
This story is about the human experience. We need skilled actors who can authentically live in this space and connect with our audience
Other Expenses: 15% ($3,000)
Editing, Post production, Meals, etc.
Donate
This is a crowd-funded film, and we need your help to make it possible!
The fact that you are still looking at this screen is already a huge compliment. We are so passionate about telling this story and hopefully inspiring people to reflect on their own lives when they see it. Any and all donations are so greatly appreciated.
We do have perks if you choose do make more sizable donations:
$50: digital copy of film
$200: special thanks in credits, digital copy of film
$500: invitation to private screening of our pre-release premier, live Q&A with the team, special thanks in credits, digital copy of film
$1000: Associate Producer IMDB credit, invitation to private screening of our pre-release premier, live Q&A with the team, special thanks in credits, digital copy of film
$2000: Executive Producer IMDB credit, Invitation to come to set and see how the magic is made first hand, invitation to private screening of our pre-release premier, live Q&A with the team, special thanks in credits, digital copy of film
Need a Reason to Donate?
If any element of this story is exciting to you, please consider donating
If you want to be a part of moviemaking magic, please consider donating
If you want to brag to your friends that you are a producer on a film going to festivals in 2025, please consider donating
If you are moved by my passion or the passion of anyone on this team, please consider donating
And if you can’t donate, please consider sharing this video with your friends and family
All we want to do is tell this story. Please dream big with us and help us bring this script to life. Anything you can contribute to make it possible is so greatly appreciated.
