COUPLES SKATE

PRODUCTION PLAN + DONATIONS

PRODUCTION PLAN

We plan to film Couples Skate in on November 6-7 of 2024, pending talent availability. We’ll film entirely at Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, CA.


Our budget is approximately $70,000. All donations to the project are tax deductible, via our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas.


Post-production will begin in December and festival submissions will occur throughout 2025. We will submit the project to both major and regional ​film festivals, including (but not limited to): Sundance Film Festival, Slamdance Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, South By Southwest, the Dance on ​Camera Festival at Lincoln Center, HBO's Urbanworld Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, Bronze Lens Film Festival, and LA Femme Film ​Festival. I have screened previous work at both Tribeca and Urbanworld. After our festival run, we will place the film online.



BUDGET


Our cost summary is approximately $70,000. Please see below for our top-sheet. Our full, detailed line-item budget is available here. All ​donations to the project will be tax deductible, via our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas.


We are planning for a two-day shoot, with a minimal, barebones cast and crew. All crew will be paid at the “passion project” level - what’s called ​a “Most Favored Nation” rate of $250/day. This means that our team-members will be working at a small percentage of their typical rate, for the ​love of the project. We will be seeking similarly discounted deals on all rentals and purchases. We’re approaching up-and-coming indie artists for ​music, and requesting rights on a gratis or low-budget basis.


Our most significant costs will be our location fee, filming permit, equipment rentals, equipment transport, and feeding our cast and crew. Please ​reach out if you have any questions regarding the budget, or about the meaning of specific line-item categories.


PRODUCERS

I’m partnering with the production company Panoptica Films to bring Couples Skate to life. Their team has produced a wide array of ​commercials, music videos, and award-winning narrative films. Panoptica will be handling all of our production insurance, logistical, and payroll ​needs, and their team will be serving as producers on the film.


MAGEN ASHLEY YOUNG | Producer

Magen Ashley Young is a Los Angeles based Film/TV and Commercial Producer. Magen has worked for a variety of networks including ​Viacom/Paramount, Nickelodeon, HBO, Netflix, YouTube Studios, to name a few. She has worked on narrative shorts for BAFTA and NALIP. ​Her most recent Feature Nobody Leaves premiered in 2024 at Dances With Films Festival. Magen graduated from Marymount Manhattan ​College with a degree in Theatre Performance/Musical Theatre. She performed in theatre professionally starting at the age of 4. After her move ​to Los Angeles in 2016, she redirected her interest to TV/Film Production, starting as an Assistant Director for feature, episodic, and short form, ​before transitioning to producing full time.


ROAN BIBBY | Executive Producer

Roan Bibby is a producer and founder of Panoptica, whose experience spans from feature films to commercials. His credits include The ​Browsing Effect, a romantic comedy, and Jeremy Hersh’s The Surrogate (SXSW 2020) now streaming on Starz. Roan is now in development for ​his next feature, Bill Horace’s Stop Snitchin,’ and is a 2022 NYU Development Studio Fellow. His commercial work has led him around the globe ​with the likes of 72andSunny, ArtClass, and Vox Media, creating work for brands such as ESPN, Google, Expedia, Marriott, Chase, Samsung, ​Peloton, CNN, MSG, Hulu, Lee Jeans, Macy’s, Conde Nast and Pandora. He has also produced shoots with high profile talent such as Anderson ​Cooper, Allison Williams, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Wintour, and Emily Ratajkowski.


HUGHES WILLIAM THOMPSON | Executive Producer

Hughes William Thompson is director, producer, and founder of Panoptica. He has taken prizes at the Cannes Lions - Young Director Awards, ​and at Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Palm Springs International ShortFest. In 2011, he launched PANOPTICA as a creative production ​outfit. The company has evolved into a true talent brokerage and production powerhouse, leveraging the unique perspectives of storytellers in ​the PANOPTICA community across feature films, series, documentaries, and brand projects.






CASTING DIRECTOR




Candice Alustiza-Lee is an Emmy-nominated casting director based in New York. She served as casting director on Amazon’s Mr. and Mrs. ​Smith, starring Donald Glover, the A24 feature All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, selection of 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and for Showtime’s Let ​The Right One In TV series. She has also served as a casting associate on Warner Bros’ The Joker, Marriage Story, Transformers: Rise of the ​Beasts, and Succession.


CHOREOGRAPHER

Morgan Weske has been a professional dancer, roller skater and choreographer for 15 years. Her credits include the FX TV series You’re the ​Worst, Paramount’s Heathers TV series, commercials for Subway, Zelle, and Cricket Wireless, and music videos for artists Miguel, Phases, DJ ​Premiere. She is the founder of DanceSkate, an internationally touring workshop for dance-skate instruction, and a member of the LA Roller ​Girls. She spends her days choreographing new routines with her skate crew at Venice Beach, and is dedicated to spreading dance-skate ​across the world.



LOCATION

Moonlight Rollerway is a classic filming location in Glendale, CA, founded in 1956. It has been featured in Euphoria, Glee, and Modern Family, as well as in a range of music videos. The location is very production-friendly, and the perfect visual fit – which will help us save on production design expenses.


EQUIPMENT

In order to capture our skating shots, we’ll be using a combination of a Steadicam rig and a “cinetrike” rickshaw. This will allow for long, smooth tracking shots, in a flexible system that can work within the roller rink.

DONATE

Couples Skate is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Couples Skate must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.


All contributors will be continually updated on the status of the film, and on its acceptance into festivals. Upon completion, they will receive invitations to both private and public screenings, and a private streaming link to the film. All contributors will receive credits in the film, relative to their donation level.


  • $1-$4,999 | Special Thanks
  • $5,000 - $14,999 | Associate Producer
  • $15,000 + | Executive Producer



THANK YOU.