SUSPIRIUM

The stressed office clerk James is plagued in all aspects of life by the sadistic monster Sinister, whom he can only moderately keep in check with the help of his inhaler. A date with the composed production manager Ridley makes him reflect on his handling of Sinister and opens up new perspectives for him. Because Ridley also has a secret.

"SUSPIRIUM" draws attention to a topic and its treatment options that are often only superficially considered in society at large - severe asthma. The audience's interest is aroused and sustained through the personification of the disease as a monster in the style of an '80s creature feature, rather than by portraying statistical facts. With this metaphorical character reminiscent of the golden age of '80s cinema, this short film remains memorable and creates awareness for a widespread and often ineffectively treated condition.

The official film premiere on September 2, 2023, in the large auditorium of the renowned Delphi Cinema with 600 seats in Berlin marks the beginning of the distribution.

The main goal of SUSPIRIUM is to create awareness for the topic of "severe asthma." However, we have also set high audiovisual goals that will give life to the film.

Audiovisual Goals
Not only do our monsters, Sinister and Dexter, aim to evoke memories of '80s creature features with their design and the use of practical effects, but the entire look of SUSPIRIUM will do so as well. We will employ cameras that have already established themselves in the realm of cinema and enhance the organic-analog look with anamorphic lenses and mist filters. We will also draw inspiration from '80s films in terms of cinematography and utilize the camera, lighting, and a significant amount of haze accordingly.
To ensure coherence on the auditory level, we will have a Synthwave score composed. Part of it will include a Synthpop song with female vocals, for which we will create a music video independent of the film to further promote the distribution of SUSPIRIUM. We will forgo dialogue as our story aims to be told solely through the power of its visuals, appealing to a broader audience without relying on subtitles. Therefore, sound design will play an important role, incorporating partially distorted breathing and lung sounds typical of asthma to depict the monster as more threatening and realistic. Through the combination of all these stylistic elements, the creatures will not feel foreign but rather organically fit into the narrative of the short film.

Target Audience
SUSPIRIUM is not only a film for those who suffer from asthma; it is a film that tells the story of suffering in an exciting way, appealing to a wide audience. It is a film for lovers of short films and '80s horror cinema, a film for the LGBTQIA+ community, and a film for people of all ages.
Additionally, our partners at PVF, ÖLU, and AstraZeneca will showcase the film at conferences, training sessions, and other events, reaching a diverse audience.
After the planned festival season, we will upload the film to popular online platforms to enable distribution through social media and reach a large number of people with the subject matter.

Asthma
Breathing difficulties, coughing, chest tightness, and asthma attacks - these are the symptoms of asthma. These can severely impact the quality of life for those affected, especially in cases of severe asthma, and often lead to difficulties in the workplace, as they can significantly impair concentration and productivity. This condition can also have emotional effects, such as anxiety, frustration, and depression.
SUSPIRUM provides an entertaining look at the condition, raising awareness about the topic and shedding light on the suffering experienced by those affected.

Sustainability
To tell compelling stories, it should not be necessary to harm our environment. Instead, it should be our responsibility to preserve the world that allows us to tell such stories.
In order to meet the social and environmental sustainability requirements of the project, we are developing a sustainability concept in collaboration with the sustainability consultancy Greenigma, tailored to this film production. This includes not only implementing minimum ecological standards and minimizing carbon dioxide emissions but also offsetting them. Additionally, we aim to achieve certification with the "Green Motion" label through a sustainability report prepared by a green consultant.

A part of the film has fortunately already been financed. The concept behind the screenplay won a contest and is thus supported by AstraZeneca. The company provides the basic funding of €10,000 to kickstart the production of SUSPIRIUM, covering the costs of the film premiere and the documentary showcasing the making of the final film.

We want to be transparent at this point: the entire €10,000 will be allocated to the creature design of the monsters, which will be brought to life through the craftsmanship of our creature designer, Christoph Kunzmann.

In addition, there are significant costs involved for locations, catering, transportation, equipment, costumes, makeup, accommodations, and insurance.

The entire team is working on the project without payment, but we aim to meet the minimum standard for our future crew and produce the project with the highest technical quality possible. Therefore, we are now relying on your support!