Local Talent Fundraises For First Feature Film, 'Westhampton'

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Although he's an award-winning videojournalist whose career has put him on the international canvas, when it came time to think about creating his first feature film, a project of the heart, Christian Nilsson found himself called by the siren song of his hometown.

"I'm incredibly excited to announce my first feature film 'Westhampton' is in pre-production!" he said on social media. "I've never worked harder on anything in my life and I can't wait to share this story with you. But I need your help."

Nilsson, a 2006 graduate of Westhampton Beach High School, has kicked off a crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo.com to raise the funds necessary to begin shooting the film.

A description of the film on the site reads: "Haunted by an accident he caused 10 years earlier, a damaged filmmaker is forced to go back home and confront the friends whose lives he ruined and a town that disdains him. Jumping back and forth between the present and the independent film he made about the tragedy, we learn the true events played out far differently than he depicted in his movie."

And, the synopsis adds: “'Westhampton' is an incredibly personal, coming-of-age drama that explores the phrase 'you can’t go home again' while simultaneously answering a deeper question: 'How can you forgive yourself for something when the person you wronged is no longer here?'"

Nilsson, who will wear a number of hats during the film's creation, including that of executive produce/director and writer, has an impressive resume, including work as a producer at BuzzFeed Motion Pictures and his accolades as an award-winning filmmaker. His short film “Excelsior” won the 2017 Moët Moment Film Festival People's Choice Award — and his short documentary “Fight To Be The Oldest Bar In NYC” received an Emmy Award in 2017 for Best Historical Segment. His work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Esquire, The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and other publications, he said.

The film's team also includes producer Saraleah Cogan, producer Rob Hinderliter, and producer/legal counsel Alex Robbins.

The goal, Nilsson said, is to raise an initial $10,000 of a total $250,000 budget. That $10,000 is slated to help with legal expenses, paying a line producer to create a schedule and budget for the production, purchasing film revenue cost estimate reports for a business plan, and other general expenses

"If we can get these elements in line, we’re optimistic we’ll be shooting 'Westhampton' come this fall," he said. "However, we can't do any of this without your help. You will help make this feature. You will make this film a reality. So thank you in advance!"

Supporters can receive a variety of perks, depending on the amount donated.

In an interview with Patch, Nilsson explained why he turned to crowdfunding to help finance his dream.

"When I decided this was the story I wanted to tell as my first feature film, I started reaching out to the limited number of people I knew in the entertainment industry for advice on getting the money to make it. I kept hearing, 'Ask your family for the $250,000.' That was never a possibility for me, but I refuse to let money get in the way of this."

Nilsson, who was a familiar and popular stage talent during his time at Westhampton Beach High School, said he spent the summer and fall reading every film financing book he could get his hands on and speaking to anyone in the independent film world that would give him an hour of their time. He also, he said, spent four months learning how to put together a business plan.

"What I ended up with was a solid business plan which detailed exactly how I could make this film and what investors stood to gain by getting involved," Nilsson said.

But there were things Nilsson said he needed to take care of before he could start reaching out to private equity investors, such as finding an entertainment lawyer, the need to file an LLC, and other expenses.

"It started to add up," he said.

At first, the challenges seemed daunting, he admitted.

"I started getting down. Perhaps money was going to get in between me and making this film. But then I thought back to the story. 'Westhampton' is in large part about the community. I figured if I'm to make this movie, I'm going to need their help. I ran it by my team and we decided Indiegogo was our best shot at getting the startup costs. So here we are."

Discussing his project, Nilsson said: "'Westhampton' is an incredibly personal story. That's the first thing I hear whenever people read the script. The second comment is always, 'Is it true?' It's not."

But, while it's far from a true story, Nilsson said: "It's definitely rooted in some truths."

The project is deeply personal for Nilsson.

"This film means everything to me. I've never felt as passionate for anything inanimate. Even just speaking (typing) this sentence, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement about finally sharing this story. And I count myself incredibly lucky to have the support of my family and friends, and my community," he said.

"I grew up in the Hamptons," Nilsson added. "When I say that, people always seem to have some picture in their head about what that looks like. In reality, it doesn’t look anything like you might expect. I wanted to make a film that takes place in my hometown, but at the same time, plays on that theme of reality versus expectation. I wanted to tell a story where you slowly start questioning the trustworthiness of the storyteller."

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Lead photo by Dan Fox.

Christian Nilsson's portrait by Joel Slocum.