Long-time readers of our site will note that we’ve been following the career of director Emily Hagins (Pathogen, My Sucky Teen Romance) for years. She’s a local kid, based right here in Austin, who has made news for being one of the youngest faces on the independent film scene. But there’s more to it than that. Being a kid who made a movie is one thing. Being a kid with some serious talent and nothing but promise is another. Fitting snuggly into the latter category is Ms. Hagins, whose next film is currently in need of your crowd-funding assistance. It’s called Grow Up, Tony Phillips, and it’s about something to which I’m sure we can all relate.
About the Film
“Grow Up, Tony Phillips may take place on Halloween, but it has nothing to do with horror movies and everything to do with that crystalline moment in time everyone has when they realize life marches forward and they’re the youngest they’ll ever be. It’s a coming-of-age story, but this isn’t an indie drama about a boy becoming a man. It’s a comedy about Tony Phillips, a guy who doesn’t think childhood passions should have an expiration date.
This won’t be teenage life as viewed from an adult’s nostalgia-tinted rear view mirror. This is in every sense a teen’s story told from the perspective of actual teenagers, both behind and in front of the camera. That means no hyper-meta dialogue, no larger-than-life scenarios, and no over-the-top style. This is all straight from Emily’s heart.”
See the Pitch
What’s in it for you?
The film’s Kickstarter page lists a number of rewards for contributors, including getting a shout-out on the film’s website, a Thank You in the credits, a prop from the film, etc. All the usual things are there. But wait, there’s more. Would you like the inside track on an upcoming Mondo poster release? How about a pair of custom-painted Converse all-stars? Maybe you’d like to have dinner with Hollywood superstar AJ Bowen? Heck, you could even earn a walk-on voice role on season 11 of Red vs. Blue. The possibilities are endless out there.
Where To Go to Donate
If you’re interested — and by now you’d better be, otherwise we’ve wasted a lot of time here — you can head to the Grow Up, Tony Phillips Kickstarter Page and give some money. Because lets face it, you don’t need money. All you need is love. And custom-painted shoes.
The campaign is in its final two days, so if you’re going to do it, you might want to make with the quickness and do it already.