Viewers who have been following this channel for some time may recall a name which routinely
appeared in the credits of my earliest videos, namely that of my good friend, Dan Chomistek.
Back when I was a starving artist just starting out on my writing career, Dan helped me out
both financially and in an advisory capacity, and I always told myself that when I finally
found my feet, I would pay him back for his generosity.
Dan, among other things, is an amateur screenwriter who has yet to catch his first lucky break.
In addition to some feature-length films, he’s written a number of very clever shorts
in the paranormal, science fiction, and dark comedy genres, most of which have very funny
twist endings.
Many of these shorts have ended up in the finals of film competitions, but only one
of them was ever actually produced, and on Dan’s own dime.
Like all screenwriters, Dan has always dreamed about getting his shorts properly produced,
and I’ve always thought that helping him achieve that goal would be the perfect way
to say ‘thank you’ for all the help he’s given me.
A few years ago, Dan was diagnosed with colon cancer.
He underwent a successful surgery and suffered months of chemotherapy during a very cold
Canadian winter, but, by the grace of God, he made a full recovery.
Dan’s illness prompted me to start looking for ways to get one of his short films produced.
After many disappointing false starts, I had the good fortune to come across the brilliant
Toby Roberts, a film director from the United Kingdom and the founding director of Colne
Brothers Films Ltd.
Toby agreed to help us give life to Dan’s short film, First Born, a drama which begins
in a town in 17th Century England, where a witch has been terrorizing local villagers
with black magic.
With financing from Dan and I, Toby assembled a fantastic team of actors and technicians,
scouted out a suitable set, ordered period costumes, and singlehandedly oversaw the creation
of the first scene of First Born, the final cut of which will play shortly.
In order to finish making the rest of the film, we will need to raise a minimum of 5,000
British Pounds, or roughly 6,600 American dollars.
I frankly can’t afford that kind of money, and so I thought I’d ask if you, my viewers,
would like to help us reach our goal on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.
If each of my YouTube subscribers chipped in 10 American cents, we would be able to
finish making First Born, and I have no doubt that it would be fantastic.
If you would like to help us out, please click the link to our Indiegogo campaign in the
video description, where you can find all sorts of cool perks that we’re selling in
an effort to finance this project.
We would truly appreciate any help you could give us.
Without further ado, here is the opening scene of Dan Chomistek and Toby Roberts’ short
film First Born.
Enjoy!
Get your hands off me!
Yeah, she bit me, too!
Let go of me!
Stop your struggling.
[Pejoratives and expletives] Selina Godworth, have ye a final word before
judgement is passed?
Only to curse ye, judge!
You and your vile family.
Never, generation upon generation, shall the firstborn son witness their father’s
grave.
Thank you very much for watching.
If you would like to help us finish the rest of this film, please check out the link to
our Indiegogo campaign, which you can find below in the video description.