OVERVIEW

"In the near future, a recent high school graduate and newly conscripted U.S. soldier turns to online therapy amidst a deadly bombing run"

'Conscripted' is a drama/comedy short film set on the frontlines of a contemporary world war and follows Gil Thompson, a young high school graduate and newly conscripted soldier, who faces the brutality of war equipped with nothing but talk therapy, a Xanax, and breathing exercises to keep him sane. Using warfare as a metaphor for the experience of growing up as a young person in today's world, the film examines the unprecedented lack of control and the desperation many people feel today when seeking a lifeline.

WE WANT YOU!

Your generous donations go directly to the filmmakers in helping them realize their ambitious vision. We plan to stretch every dollar as far as we can to create something truly impactful. From helping us book shooting locations, to feeding our talented crew, and creating immersive special effects, your donation is the final piece of the puzzle in bringing this story to life. Below is a rough breakdown of the budget:

Conscripted is fiscally sponsored by Creative Visions, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports creative activists, those that use the arts and media to ignite social change. This sponsorship allows financial donations to the project to be tax deductible.

If you choose to support Conscripted, not only will you help to bring a passion project to life, but you will receive a tax receipt for your contribution.

CAST

TBA ('Gil Thompson'): Gil is the typical American teen, anxious and chronically online, taking a gap year before college while he sorts himself out in a world changing far too quickly for anyone to keep up with. Like most kids his age, he is forced to grapple with the uncertainty of his personal future while barely believing there’s hope for any future at all. In the midst of this deepening uncertainty at the top of his adulthood, all of his fears are brought to fruition when he is drafted to war on the day of his high school commencement.

Jonas Gindin ('Eric'): Jonas is a first of his kind, 'Gen Z stand up comedian.' Known for his unique, post-ironic social media videos across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, he's built an audience upwards of 700,000 followers. His self-made online success has propelled him into other avenues, including a nationwide stand up comedy tour and roles in films like Alex Russell's critically acclaimed 2025 thriller, 'Lurker.' In our film, Jonas plays Eric, a burnt out 23 year old draftee addicted to online sports gambling and futures markets, literally betting on his own demise as a hedge against a crumbling world.

Nina Lane ('Eleanor'): Nina is an accomplished actor and comedian most well known for her viral online sketch videos posted across Instagram and TikTok to her combined audience of nearly 90,000 followers. In the film, Nina portrays Eleanor, an online therapist for “GetHelp Online Therapy”, a start-up service you’ve seen the likes of before, attempting to make therapy more accessible. Randomly selected through the GetHelp app, Eleanor instantly becomes Gil’s therapist, tasked with talking him through a panic attack in the middle of a warzone. Though her intentions are good, the empty platitudes and recycled exercises she offers pale in comparison to the reality they both face.

CREW

Jonathan Aboaf (Writer/Director): Jonathan is a writer and director originally from Long Island, NY, based in Los Angeles. In addition to his personal creative endeavors, he has also worked on a myriad of productions from FOX's Hell's Kitchen to season one of OutTV's Laid Bare, produced and edited for popular online comedians and podcasts, and most notably for this project, created and managed a successful Instagram meme page since 2023 that is acutely tuned into the sensibilities of Gen Z.

Nick Nestor (Writer/Director): Nick is a writer and director from the DMV. After graduating from Emerson College and moving to Hollywood, he has spent time developing personal projects, collaborating on independent work, and freelancing in a wide gamut of professional settings at all stages of production. He has worked as an editor and motion graphics supervisor for educational web content, a camera operator for high-profile music videos, and production assistant on various shoots for Quibi and Marvel Studios.

Joel Liss (Producer): Jack of all trades, Joel is a producer, director of photography, gaffer, and grip. As a DoP and Gaffer he's worked for clients like USA Today, American Express, Shopify, Razr, Unwell Media, Fox Nation and BET, and has credits on projects like Farmer Wants a Wife, Real Housewives of Beverley Hills, Hell's Kitchen, and Denise Richards and Her Wild Things. He's produced over a dozen short films and is currently developing two feature length films for his production company Schwartzman Valley, as well as two longform documentary projects with director/producer Matan Berman.