Directors Statement:
​Under the Midnight Sun is a female-rage, cannibalistic horror film. It focuses on a troubled, angry, sociopathic woman, but the broader picture brings in the societal rage we are all feeling right now. Emily has 3 jobs and 4 roommates and she still can't afford groceries. But Emily hears voices, like the demonic voice of her rubber chicken purse (voiced by Kevin Corrigan) who convinces her that her terrible life will be transformed if she stalks , murders and consumes her favorite country singer, Mandy Fandango (Gabrielle Sterbenz from WHEATUS). Driven by her rage and her ambitions, Emily (played by twins Sasha and Ruby Rechler) begins lashing out at co-workers, friends and classmates, and finds the salvation she seeks by eating the heart of her idol, and appearing on stage in Mandy's scalp, dress and grinding on her guitar, whilst screaming her version of Mandy's song (an original written by Sterbenz). The hipster audience embraces her noisy atrocity as edgy performance art, and she is awarded with applause and fame. In the end I want to blur the line between "Is she an asshole or is she fed up, like the rest of us?" whilst exploring the drive for fame that excuses bad behavior.

CAST:

With Mike LaRose (Diabolical Tales), Andrea DelBene (Black Mike),   Eden Gauteron  (Uncle Dracula's Monster Movie Mashup: Prodigal Sons),   Matt Ellin (Amityville: Vanishing Point ),   Ian Fford  (Mister Sister),    and members of "Skip Skip Comedy":   Willa Barnett, Kaela Rosenbaum and Justin Kuhn, and revered perfomace artists Chartruice and   Octavia Leona Kohner (Late Stage Live! with Ella Yurman).

Summary:

Under the Midnight Sun    is a surreal and darkly comedic story that follows Emily, a young woman trapped in a cycle of grief, frustration, and alienation. She works a monotonous job in a warehouse (one of three jobs), where her only confidant is an inanimate, rubber chicken-shaped purse called Chickenbag. In the opening, Chickenbag, who “speaks” to Emily through inner monologues only she can hear, warns her of the emptiness and mediocrity of those around her. His taunts against her coworkers reflect Emily's own disdain for the mundane "idiots" around her, using the fictitious recent loss of her mother, (who she describes as her "Enemy") as an excuse to avoid working. As her detachment grows, Emily faces conflict with her obnoxious coworkers Dan and Chris, who are irritated by her lack of responsibility. Her increasing sense of rage looms over her actions, which remains tightly woven with sadness, cynicism, and disillusionment. Emily attempts to reach out to an ex-boyfriend, Marcus, for financial support, but a misdirected, voice-to-text message escalates his disgust for her.  While working in Times Square as a costumed character, she runs into a bevy of successful former classmates.  Feeling even more desperate, she decides to follow the mysterious, taunting voice of Chickenbag, who urges her to "shed societal expectations and pursue her freedom". Chickenbag’s influence continues as Emily retreats to a diner, seeking solace in a country song called “Midnight Sun.” The song’s woeful lyrics seem to resonate with her feelings of entrapment and despair. Chickenbag interprets the song as a call for Emily to liberate herself, pushing her further toward rebellion. In this feverish state, she decides to attend a local burlesque show, where she becomes captivated by her idol, country singer, Mandy Fandangle. As the crowd cheers, Emily realizes what she must do. Chickenbag’s persuasive words embolden her, leading her to believe that Mandy's song is a call-to-action. Emily's frustration turns to cannibalism, and she kidnaps Mandy and consumes Mandy's heart. In the final scene, Emily appears at the same club wearing Mandy's scalp, dress, boots and playing her guitar. But Emily's cacophonous, tone-deaf noise performance assaults the ears of the hipsters in the club, who eventually warm to her "performance art" and shower her with applause and fame.

UPDATES:

Be a Part of our Horror Film:

We have a  fiscal sponsor - Filmmakers Collaborative, they are  a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation will be tax deductible! 
Click here:
Filmmakers Collaborative, Inc. - Under the Midnight Sun

Prizes!

Filmmakers Collaborative don’t have a space to list rewards so I will do it here.
They have these tiers listed: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 and “other”.
The open box “other” is for any amount under $50   or  $2500/$5000.

$10 – Digital Thanks!

This tier gets you a digital thank you of either a Triana Orpheus or Lisa Hammer signed/scanned digital photo.
You will be thanked in the film credits too!
*Give us your email address after you donate so we can send it.
Use "TheLisaHammer" FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected]. 

$25 – Physical thanks!

This tier gets you a physical signed Triana or Lisa Hammer photo and a small flyer from the film. 
You will be thanked in the film credits too! (*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to
message it to "TheLisaHammer" FB/Insta messenger, or email [email protected]. )

$50 – Thanks and Music!

This tier gets you the signed Triana Orpheus or Lisa Hammer  photo, the small film flyer, and either a Radiana album digital download   or a Dakini album digital download. You will be thanked in the film credits too! (*Requires both an email and a physical mailing   address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$100 – Mandy’s Hit Song!

This tier gets you the signed Triana Orpheus or Lisa Hammer photo mailed to you, a signed 8x10 copy of the movie poster, the digital Radiana   and Dakini downloads emailed to you, and a free advance digital copy of the featured song by Wheatus's Gabrielle Sterbenz, (who plays the ill-fated siren Mandy Fandangle)   “Under the Midnight Sun” which is a HIT!!!
You will be thanked in the film credits too! (*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address
to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$250 – Funny Chickenbag Message!

Chickenbag is a nasty, bitter rubber chicken purse who gives really sinister advice.
This tier gives you a picture of Chickenbag with a nasty message written on it, to use at your discretion.
You also get both the signed Triana Orpheus and Lisa Hammer photos mailed to you, the signed 8x10 copy of the movie poster,   the digital Radiana and Dakini downloads emailed to you, and a free advance digital copy of the featured song by Gabrielle Sterbenz,    “Under the Midnight Sun”. You will be thanked in the film credits too!
(*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$500 – Associate Producer!

This tier gets you both the signed Triana Orpheus and Lisa Hammer  photos  and   the signed 8x10 copy of the movie poster mailed to you, the digital Radiana and Dakini downloads emailed to you,   and a free advance digital copy of the featured song by Gabrielle Sterbenz, “Under the Midnight Sun”.
You will be given an Associate producer credit in the film and on IMDb!
You will have VIP entrance to the film premiere and access to behind-the-scenes footage and photos.
You will also be invited to a virtual wrap party on Zoom - it'll be like a big group hug!
(*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$1000 – Co-Producer!

This tier gets you both the signed Triana Orpheus and Lisa Hammer  photos  and a signed 9x12 copy of the movie poster
mailed to you, the digital Radiana and Dakini downloads emailed to you, and a free advance digital copy of the featured song by Gabrielle Sterbenz, “Under the Midnight Sun”.
You will be given a   Co-producer credit in the film and on IMDb!
You will have VIP entrance to the film premiere and access to any behind-the-scenes footage and photos.
You will also be invited to a virtual wrap party on Zoom - it'll be like a big group hug!
You also get physical copy of either Lisa Hammer’s Dakini CD or her Radiana CD!
​You get a digital copy of the script and lookbook!
(*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$2,500 – Producer!

This tier gets you both the signed Triana Orpheus and Lisa Hammer  photos  and a signed 9x12 copy of the movie poster
mailed to you, the digital Radiana and Dakini downloads emailed to you, and a free advance digital copy of the featured song   by Gabrielle Sterbenz, “Under the Midnight Sun”.
You will be given a Producer credit in the film and on IMDb!
You will also be invited to a virtual wrap party on Zoom - it'll be like a big group hug!
You will have VIP entrance to the film premiere and access to any behind-the-scenes footage and photos.
You also get physical copy of either Lisa Hammer’s Dakini CD or her Radiana CD!
You get a digital copy of the script and lookbook!
​Free Cameo message from Lisa Hammer to anyone of your choice!
You will also get a link to all of Lisa Hammer’s soundtrack music to use FREE on your next project!
(*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

$5,000 – Executive Producer!

This tier gets you both the signed Triana Orpheus and Lisa Hammer  photos  and a signed 9x12 copy   of the movie poster mailed to you, the digital Radiana and Dakini downloads emailed to you, and a free advance digital copy of the
featured song by Gabrielle Sterbenz, “Under the Midnight Sun”.
You will be given an Executive Producer credit in the film and on IMDb!
Free Cameo message from Lisa Hammer to anyone of your choice!
You will have VIP entrance to the film premiere and access to any   behind-the-scenes footage and photos!
You also get a digital copy of the script and lookbook!
You get a physical copy of either Lisa Hammer’s   Dakini CD or her Radiana CD!
You will also get a link to all of Lisa Hammer’s soundtrack music to use FREE on your next project!
You will also be invited to a virtual wrap party on Zoom - it'll be like a big group hug!
As an executive Producer you get a walk-on role for yourself or a loved one who can get to the NYC location!
​You get to   name a character in one of our future projects!
When the film is done you get to choose one of the props to keep! (except for chickenbag, lol)
(*Requires both an email and a physical mailing address to be sent to us via email or FB/Insta messenger, or [email protected])

Donation link:
Filmmakers Collaborative, Inc. - Under the Midnight Sun

Get Involved!

If you live in the NYC area, you can contribute in other ways too!
We need the following help:

*Sound people
*Makeup and hair people
*Sponsors who can donate food or beverages for the shoots
*Low cost or free lens rentals
*Color correction/post
*Sound mix/post
*Free or low cost publicity
*insider connections at film festivals

email
[email protected]
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Insta
TheLisaHammer​

Facebook
TheLisaHammer

About Filmmakers Collaborative:
Your support lets filmmakers share the stories of our times.
Filmmakers Collaborative (FC) has provided an array of resources and fiscal sponsorship for the independent filmmaking community for over 35 years. We are proud that we have served as the fiscal sponsor for hundreds of films, including numerous award-winners, at a cost that remains among the lowest in the country. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, approximately 55% of our operating budget has always come directly from the 5% administrative fee that we retain from fiscal sponsorship for these projects.