SELF CARE - SHORT FILM

Aim

Raising funds for SELF-CARE, a short film exploring how online subcultures shape identity, masculinity and self-perception in young people.

Details are best visualised on the SELF-CARE website but are also summarised below:

VISION

SELF-CARE is a psychological body horror that explores how self-improvement culture, when pushed to its limits, can become something dangerous. The film does not satirise or mock social media, it takes its ideology to its logical conclusion.

With the rise of 'looksmaxxing' and other online 'manosphere' subcultures, it is important to investigate the true effects of living by the philosophies that the prominent figures in these communities preach. This is a film with a clear position - critical of the systems that are shaping how young men see themselves.

We expect to start submitting the finished project to film festivals in September as we deem the quick turnaround necessary for such a current topic.

STORY OUTLINE

Ant Snell begins each day at 5am in his childhood bedroom, following a strict system of training, skincare and self-optimisation. His life is controlled, efficient and meticulously documented. 

When illness disrupts this routine, the structure fractures. Confined to his room and unable to maintain his standards, Ant becomes increasingly fixated on the idea that rest is failure. As days pass without progress, his environment remains unchanged, but he no longer fits within it.

Determined to regain control, Ant rebuilds his system with greater intensity. His routines become stricter, faster and more extreme, shifting from maintenance into correction.

As the line between optimisation and harm disappears, Ant turns inward - treating his body not as something to care for, but something to fix.

CONTEXT

'Looksmaxxing' is a growing online movement built around the idea that appearance determines value. It draws from the language of the beauty industry but reframes it through masculinity, hierarchy and control. It's used to reduce identity to measurable traits. Faces are analysed, scored and ranked. 

Within these spaces, influencers such as Clavicular promote 'hardmaxxing' - the extreme, high-risk edge of self-optimisation This includes DIY surgical procedures, peptide injections and "bonesmashing".

These ideas overlap with wider 'red-pill'/'manosphere' movements on social media and are often amplified by high-profile 'alpha-male' figures like Andrew Tate. Where once they were fringe ideas, they are now widely accessible but algorithmically promoted to susceptible young men.

BUDGET/LOGISTICS

We have an agreement in place with Nu Boyana Studios in Bulgaria to use camera, lighting and pre-built sets free of charge. Hence, donations will mainly be spent on crew costs, post production and distribution.

Please see a rough budget breakdown below for one week of shooting at Nu Boyana Studios in Sofia: 

• Cast/Crew - £20,000
• Art Dept materials - £2,000
• Post Production - £5,000
• Insurance - £1,500
• Travel/Accomm - £5,000
• PR/Festival submissions - £2,500
• Contingency - £4,000

ATTACHED TEAM

• Writer/Director - Sam Turner-O'Toole
• Producer - Theo Harhalakis
• 1st AD/Co-Producer - Billy French
• Exec Producer - Matt O'Toole
• Exec Producer - Yariv Lerner
• DOP - Lorenzo Senatore

For more details, please visit our website!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 26th July 2026 at 12:00pm