Always on
This project successfully funded on 17th September 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Under Influence - Feature Film
West Sussex, United Kingdom
Aim
Raise post-production funds for an upcoming feature exploring sexual assault and its victims. BIG REWARDS FOR DONATING!
THE FILM
Lola and Jake are two teenagers living teenager’s lives, Jake with prospects of being a Premiere League footballer, Lola worried her grandmother may not be around for another Christmas, both equally deserving of a night to just forget, a night to just live in the moment and for things to just feel typical… but that night, THE night, the only night everyone wants to talk about, everything changes, and nothing will ever feel close to “typical” again…
*Child star Harry Still in the play adaptation of Under Influence.
An originally innocent night of partying becomes an international news story, a poster child for the issue of consent, for reporters, for news channels, for friends, and ultimately nothing more than content for the masses who want to claim their involvement.
In a world where rumours and gossip are spread instantly, ‘UNDER INFLUENCE’ takes you inside a living, evolving media storm, where the truth has very little value, and being a victim is nothing more than a point to win an argument.
Our goal for the film is to:
- Initiate a wide discussion over the topic of consent.
- Promote Under Influence to younger and relevant audiences.
- Raise awareness for victims and highlight potential charities.
- Increase its potential impact by releasing on major VOD platforms - Netflix, Apple TV, Mubi etc…
It’s ambitious, but we’re aiming to emulate the impact of recent Netflix series ‘Adolescence’ and how it pushed a need for change within the UK government.
*Gary Grant on the set of I'm Not You.
THE TEAM
Shooting at the end of this month, UNDER INFLUENCE is written and will be directed by Gary Grant, an accomplished actor, writer, director, who’s credits include starring in ITV’s ‘Joan’, ‘The Bill’, ‘Enemy Lines’, writing Ed Westwick’s ‘Dark Game’ and is coming off the back of directing his debut feature ‘I’m Not You’, which premiered this summer at the Prince Charles cinema in Leicester Square.
‘I’m Not You’ is another coming-of-age story, a modern identity crisis about a teenager lost in the middle of their own story, being told who they are by those who assume know them best. I, Micah Ologbenla, was one of the producers of the film and have long been involved in ‘UNDER INFLUENCE’. I was part of the original cast when it was it no more than an original college play back in 2018 (a college where Gary lectured), and that one-off performance was so successful it was put on for various different colleges and students 9 more times.
*Outlander star Harry Jarvis in I'm Not You.
UNDER INFLUENCE's other producer Luke Osborne was first AD on ‘I’m Not You’, he approached Gary and myself about the play, suggesting it could be the right time to convert it to film.
We decided to trial it as an ‘Off West End’ theatre production and it had a strong 3 week run, selling out to audiences of young adults, confirming to all of us that a film could fill a gap in the market people need.
HOW WE WILL USE FUNDS
The funds raised through this campaign will go towards supporting our post-production spend, specifically on sound mixing, our original score and licensing music from major labels and publishers. We will be licensing popular music as it not only adds to the film’s value for our market and audience, but to the younger audiences we’re aiming for it’s also a massive connector - recognisable music to 15-25 year-olds’s is very helpful in making a movie culturally relevant for them.
*Gary Grant at the premiere with cast member Tiff Stevenson and celebrity guests Cristian Solimeno and Stephen Bailey.
WHAT YOUR DONATION CAN BUY YOU
We understand the value in donating, it’s a big part of our journey to make the film SPECIAL and we wouldn’t be able to do that without donations, so we want to give value back. Beyond the typical ‘Special Thanks’ credit and online shout out, we want to offer real value back, therefore we will be offering rewards such as: the chance to visit the set, the chance to be a featured extra in the film, lectures on writing and directing from Gary Grant, a 4 week course on how to make high level feature films on a very low budget from myself and a variety of guest hosts, ticket to a major festival if the film is successful in qualifying (ie Cannes, Venice, BIFA etc…), two tickets to a VIP cast and crew screening and even shares of the NET profits!
Any donator will have the option to be added to a group chat, where we will provide weekly updates on our progress.
UNDER INFLUENCE is a project on a painfully universal subject, we would truly appreciate your support.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made