THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM film

A lonely female progressive meets a guy she might want to date. The only problem is he voted for Trump for president. Twice. And it's December 2020.

That's the premise of THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM a romantic comedy written and directed by Erik Bork (HBO's BAND OF BROTHERS).

The film was shot in 2023 in Los Angeles and finished in September 2024, with the help of Wefunder investors and a variety of non-profit and individual donors ($120,000 donated to date).

It stars Alyssa Limperis, Dominic Burgess, Sandra Ellis Lafferty and Sean Kleier. (See IMDB page for more info.)

Fundraising continues for the launching and promotion of the film to audiences - with a multi-city theatrical "event" release planned for early 2025, followed by a full digital release.

This campaign closes on April 18, 2025. No further investments will be accepted after that.

Distribution deals are now in place for both domestic and international rights - with a healthy revenue share for the film and its investors on future proceeds.

INVESTMENT/DONATION LEVELS

(NOTE: Higher investment levels include all non-credit benefits of lower levels. These same rewards are also available for HALF the listed dollar amounts if contributed here as a tax-deductible donation instead of an investment.)

$100 Shout out on the film's social media.

$500 Receive a digital copy of several drafts of the script to see its evolution.

$1,000 Receive a digital download of Erik Bork's filmmaking video journal.

$2,500 A one-hour zoom session with Erik Bork which can be used to get feedback on your project(s).

$5,000 2 passes to the world premiere or other film festival chosen by investor. (Transportation/lodging not included.)

$10,000 ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit on IMDB.

$25,000 EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit on IMDB. You and a guest also have the option to meet Erik Bork for dinner in NYC. (Transportation/lodging not included.)

Watch the original pitch video and read more below (the film was original titled COMING TOGETHER)...

“Tribalism... is the curse of our times right now. Tribalism hinges on us not seeing each other as full, multi-dimensional, fully fleshed human beings. It hinges on us seeing everybody as either pro or con, ally or enemy, friend or foe. People are more complicated than that. Life is more complicated than that.” - Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist - on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher - 3/12/22

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is a light-hearted movie about a serious subject. What happens when a young single L.A. woman -- an avowed progressive -- discovers a new guy she meets in December 2020 happens to be a supporter of President Donald Trump? Is he someone she could actually date, regardless? And is she, for him?

Helping her explore this question, reluctantly, is her new housemate, a gay man who is the opposite of the romcom “gay best friend” trope. He’s not fabulous, extroverted or interested in talking about her love life. At all. But she so wants them to be friends. And she can help him with something he wants -- to get in better shape while they quarantine together.

So she sets about enthusiastically training him while getting his take on what’s going on with the new guy. She gets closer to both of them in the process. She realizes she can't change the guy’s politics. In fact, he decides to attend the January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington. Is all hope lost for them?

Smart Comedy with Heart

Take heart: this story does not unfold in scenes of strident political argument! While their different views are clear as the main stumbling point to a relationship, and she experiments with “dialoguing” about them, it’s really about three likable people trying to figure out their lives and relationships and move forward.

Tonally it has similarities to some of these films from the past:

Classic Hollywood romantic comedies

With a low-budget "indie" sensibility

And some of the flavors of recent streaming comedy series such as:

The characters have flaws they need to look at, but this is not the kind of arty niche film that appeals only to critics and film festivals. It’s not aimless or ambiguous, and it doesn’t have a “messy” main character who’s hard to fully bond with or care about. It’s more of a traditional narrative with sympathetic characters and a central story problem that builds and complicates in clear, entertaining ways, as the characters grapple with it.

Writer-Director Erik Bork

Erik Bork is best known for his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning work as one of the producers and writers of the epic HBO miniseries BAND OF BROTHERS and FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON, where he worked alongside executive producer Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg (on BAND OF BROTHERS).

Erik’s lengthy professional screenwriting career also includes stints writing for two primetime drama series on NBC and the former CW, selling numerous pitches for series and movies to the likes of NBC, the Fox network, HBO and TNT, and writing scripts on assignment for both feature film and television projects that didn’t make it to the screen (par for the course for most pro screenwriters), such as:

• A World War II bomber movie starring and produced by Tom Hanks, with Steven Spielberg attached to direct, for Universal Pictures
• An HBO film about the tragic story of acclaimed jockey Chris Antley
• A comedy series about a divorced couple who continues to work together and co-parent a variety of kids, for ABC Studios and producer Warren Littlefield
• An original miniseries about the rise of Apple Computer Company for HBO and Playtone
• A legal comedy-drama about an “old boy’s club” law firm taken over by a female managing partner who turns the tables on which gender gets the fast track, for NBC

His work as a writer/producer includes projects with companies such as:

Erik is also a well-known script consultant and blogger on screenwriting who has taught for UCLA Extension’s renowned Writers’ Program and National University’s MFA in Professional Screenwriting. His book THE IDEA: THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF A VIABLE STORY FOR SCREEN, STAGE OR FICTION was published in 2018 and is a multi-category Amazon best-seller.

Erik’s 22-minute short comedy 

Erik Bork wrote and directed I GOT THIS, which was released in 2018 and played at many film festivals, winning awards such as:

• Filmmakers’ Award: Outstanding Short Film - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Filmmakers’ Award: Outstanding Director - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Grand Jury Prize: Best Screenplay - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Best Featurette: Comedy - Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
• Best Screenplay: Featurette - Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

I GOT THIS is streaming on the renowned Omeleto short film channel on YouTube, where it’s been viewed almost 300,000 times with over 1,000 comments. See samples below:

View the film on Omeleto here:

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - Characters

(Actors pictured are for character reference only - not the cast in the film.)

Project Timeline

*Forward-looking projections can't be guaranteed.

Production - OCTOBER 4-27, 2023

• 18-day shoot over 4 weeks in Los Angeles area

Post-Production - NOVEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2024

• Editing
• Music Composition and Placement
• Sound Mixing
• Color Correction
• VFX & Title Design

Premiere/release planning - SEPTEMBER 2024 - FEBRUARY 2025

• Finalize North American and international distribution deals
• Plan World and North American Premieres
• Create PR/deliverable assets as needed (trailer, poster, DCP's, etc.)
• Fundraise and plan for marketing campaign and event theatrical screenings

Release - FEBRUARY 2025 AND BEYOND

• Theatrical followed by digital (TVOD, SVOD, AVOD) and ancillary (airline, DVD, etc.).
• Ongoing marketing spend to promote release 
• Revenue/recoupment begins

Questions? 

Use the "Ask a Question" option above and others will benefit from seeing your question and its answer. Or for private questions, email us at ComingTogetherMovie@gmail.com.