Over the last few months, we’ve covered the occasional video created by Adam Murray. He typically produces a comedy short every month, but as of late he’s taking on a bigger project. From viral comedy, Murray is launching into the endeavor of creating a short film based on an original idea. In tone, he explains the project to be in the same vein as the ’80s films on which he was weaned, such as The Goonies, E.T., and Gremlins. Those movies were born of an era where children’s movies did not shy away from the grim and shocking, and dared not aspire to being described as “saccharine.”
Murray also describes this forthcoming project — Jo and the Pirates — as being initially inspired by Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, but decided to tack left and aim more for a grittier style. And while Murray planned to cede directorial control to an outsider, he has since decided that the characters he has spent so long developing are best left to his own hands.
Joining Adam behind the camera will be his creative partner Isaac Ruth, make-up artist Lawrence Mercado, and SFX/set designer Russel Stepan. Stepan was responsible for the recent “Black Widow” music video by Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea, so he’ll be bringing a distinct style to the project.
If you decide to support the film, you can expect rewards at every donation tier, with tangible rewards beginning at the $5 level. At the $20 level, you’ll receive a digital copy of the short film once it is finished. As Jo and the Pirates is intended to travel the festival circuit for some time, it won’t be otherwise accessible online.
The story centers on 14 year old Jo (Fiona Perry) and her uneven life; her foster family, including mother Nancy (Kimmy Gatewood), loafer uncle Kyle (our own Jonah Ray!), and awful sisters Amber (Alexis Quasarano) and Gina (Mary Neely) make life a rollercoaster of emotions. Life at school for Jo is consistent — consistently awful, that is. Her one true friend is the kind Corey (Shane Cambria) who is the ultimate supporting character to protagonist Jo. After a tough Halloween night, and while on the run from a bully, her world is literally changed and she is transported off the planet and onto a space pirate ship.
If you’re as ready for a PG kids movie — one erring on the higher end of “PG” — as I am, then this is a project that you should definitely keep an eye on. If you’re unable to support the film with your dollars, a retweet and a share can go a long way in getting the word out to others! Hit the comments below if you like what you see!
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