Jesse O'Brien

A note from the director:

A few years ago, I had become frustrated with the state of genre cinema in Australia. With most of the films being made through the government funding agencies, where crew wages are set, it seems that only what little budget is left makes it onto the screen. So I had a big idea, one that was more ambitious than could be made through the traditional channels. My imagination got the better of me as I became captivated by this world that I had begun to create.

It is the world of "Arrowhead" - where war turns heroes into mercenaries, where creatures lurk beneath the surface of uncharted planets, and where a computer can teach a man how to find his humanity. 

So I wrote the screenplay. Thanks to some very generous contacts who passed it on to Hollywood, it garnered some attention and almost -almost - felt like it was going to be sold. But it wasn't meant to be made that way. Now that there is a possibility of making this movie myself, with my loyal filmmaking team and on a much lower budget, I feel like I can tell the story the way it was intended and with full creative freedom. 

Director Jesse O'Brien, Director of Photography Samuel Baulch, and Ryan Stevens on the set of Arrowhead: Signal

But to make the full movie, our team needs YOUR HELP.

In the studio system, this movie would be produced as a $50 million+ blockbuster. But the heart of the story can be told for a fraction of that cost. If we make it ourselves, with some creative thinking and with our focus on characters and using resourceful practical effects instead of unnecessary CGI, we think Arrowhead has a real chance of making a name for itself. In 2010, Gareth Edwards shot the sci-fi indie hit Monsters for around $15,000. It was a hit at film festivals and he's now directing the new Godzilla reboot for a movie studio. These stories do come true!

With equipment costs, travel and accommodation for our generous volunteer cast and crew, set construction, prop making, freelance digital artists and many more elements, we need $40,000 to get the movie made. Considering we shot Arrowhead: Signal for around $600, this should be enough to expand this universe and create a high quality, engaging feature film.

So how does Pozible work?

The reason that crowd-funding websites like Pozible work so well is that supporters pledge to donate small chunks of money towards a project, but nobody actually has to pay anything until the project reaches it's pledged goal (in this case $40,000), and if that goal isn't reached before the allocated time runs out, noone is charged and the project receives no funding at all. 

So it's really an "all or nothing" system, which ensures that people only end up giving away their money to projects that will actually happen. It's all up to you, the audience, to decide what you want!

Concept Art:

Reef, an educational computer, is Kye's only link to humanity.

Kye builds a makeshift bridge in an attempt to explore the barren planet.

General Hatch arrives to rescue Kye, bringing with him a violent clash of ideals.

Kye's camp is a small shelter from the planet's blistering weather conditions.

Of the planet's diverse wildlife, the Alpha Drone is the most feared and mysterious.

You will be rewarded!

Any person who donates to the Arrowhead cause will automatically join an exclusive email list, where you'll be able to vote on the concept designs for creatures, vehicles, costumes, and props that we'll make for the movie. If you like a monster, vote for it! If you don't like the way one of our battle tanks is designed, then choose another! You'll be able to directly influence the way this movie looks and feels.

There are several other great incentives for generous donors; please look to the list on the right to see how we'd like to say thank you for your donations.

What your funds will be used for:

Our crew is working for free, donating their valuable time and energy so that every dollar spent will go onto the screen. There is equipment that we need to buy, such as camera rigs, lighting and sound gear - when we can't beg and borrow of course. 

We'll need a new editing computer that will allow us to have more creative freedom during pre and postproduction. The short film depended on low-end and borrowed computers from its inception to completion. The feature will be no exception, and having our own powerful edit suite will help carry the load.

The materials and mechanics needed to bring the practical creature effects to life will be costly, as will the set construction for the various interior scenes.

Finally, we'll need to pay to get the crew to and from the remote desert locations.

If you believe in this project, please help make our dream possible!

In the past, many didn't have the means or networks to realise their creative ambitions. Crowdfunding has become that solution. It's a phenomenon that only arose within the last few years but it's the right time for Arrowhead and I believe it's fitting to a project of its nature. Natural, down-to-Earth science fiction that will be given to its audience not because we wanted to make it, but because the audience wanted to see it. We're hoping you can be a part of this, by donating or spreading the word! 

But most of all....we can't wait to show you our movie.