{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":86777,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:86777","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio","generated_at":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T05:00:38Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:86777","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:escapingohio"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-20T05:00:38Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-20T05:00:38Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T00:29:55Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":86777,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:86777","slug":"escapingohio","name":"Escaping Ohio ","tagline":"Join the new female led film with Emily Bergl (Shameless) \u0026amp; Adam Pascal (Rent)","elevator_pitch":"We're creating the movie Escaping Ohio.","story":"Escaping Ohio began as a short film which was shot in 14 locations in only 4 days with a budget less than $15,000. Our team knows how to tell a compelling story with stand out characters while creating a beautiful, captivating film on a modest budget and schedule.\u0026nbsp;After wrapping the short film, we knew there was more to these characters and their journey, and that we had something really special \u0026amp; unique in our hands.\u0026nbsp;\"While it is a visually stunning piece of art, it is also filled with heart and inspiration. It is a message in chasing your dreams and following your passions when even your heart is conflicted. A message that we all need from time to time.\"--Gina Marie Rodriguez, Filmmaker, Westfield International\u0026nbsp;Film\u0026nbsp;Festival Founder\"Without question, the best part for me was definitely the chemistry between the leads, which articulates growth and depth from the very beginning. The acting transcends the quality of fiction for two lived-in characters who are illustrated with such personality.” -The Film Freak\"It moved me in so many ways.\"-Stephanie Bast, Broadway actress \u0026amp; singer“This short left me wanting more. From the nostalgia she captures in what Ohio really is, to the on-screen chemistry between her and the other lead; I felt like I was watching a blockbuster hit.\"--Ryan Weiss, Host of Made To Motivate Popculture Podcast\"Escaping Ohio is a rom-com that hearkens back to movies like Clueless and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, while attempting to break the formulaic mold of typical movies in this genre.\" -Akronist.com\"I kept wanting more!\"-Late Fee CinemaSynopsisIt’s the summer between high school graduation and the rest of their lives in a small town in Akron, Ohio, where best friends, Sam \u0026amp; JJ, were born and raised. While JJ is excited to start the life he has planned, Sam is excited to have the world at her fingertips, which starts by getting the hell out of Ohio. Sam has been offered a full ride scholarship to a local college, which everyone reminds her is a great opportunity, but she’s afraid that if she doesn’t escape now, she never will. Her heart has called her to apply to a writing internship in California, which she soon lands. But when JJ finds out his best friend is thinking of leaving, he dares her that he can prove why Ohio is worth sticking around for.Taken aback by Ohio’s charm- and JJ’s, Sam begins to realize there is beauty in the subtleties and ordinariness when it’s spent with someone special. Torn between a life of love with her best friend and pursuing her desire to live an adventurous life and realize her full potential, Sam struggles to make a decision as she tries to resist society’s notion that we must have it all figured out.The feature-length script\u0026nbsp;was workshopped in the\u0026nbsp;Sundance Institute, where\u0026nbsp;Jessica revised the script\u0026nbsp;one-on-one with a Sundance\u0026nbsp;filmmaker.The short film has been selected for the prestigious Montclair Film Festival, will be screening at the AMC in Time Square as part of the Big Apple Film Festival, and was a Semi-Finalist for the Oscar-qualifying Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival. DistributionWe will be seeking to premiere the film at a top-tier festival, with the plan\u0026nbsp;to finish the film in time to submit to Sundance Film Festival in 2022\u0026nbsp;for a January 2023 premiere. Other possible premiere venues include SXSW, Slamdance,\u0026nbsp;TIFF, Tribeca, Cannes, or Berlin. These are festivals that offer the best possibility for a distribution deal.We will be taking around the Escaping Ohio short film before then to build up an audience \u0026amp; excitement for the feature film while making more connections with sales agents and distribution companies. We have a huge advantage, for while many filmmakers take their short films to festivals to their feature developed, we will already have our feature film completed and will be in a better position to approach these connections at festivals.\u0026nbsp;The easiest distribution strategy and return on investment would come from an all-rights deal for the film. However, if an all-rights deal isn’t lucrative for all parties, we are prepared to distribute the film ourselves across platforms domestically while making deals with distributors in foreign territories for Theatrical, Digital, and Blu-Ray releases.Our AudienceFans of teen movies will love our aesthetic since we're\u0026nbsp;pulling inspiration\u0026nbsp;from the 90s/early 2000s\u0026nbsp;for our stylish production design, iconic wardrobe, and killer soundtrack. While lovers of Richard Linklater's films (Jessica's favorite filmmaker) will come\u0026nbsp;for the thought provoking, authentic story and our two lead characters\u0026nbsp;who resemble chemistry similar to Jesse and\u0026nbsp;Céline in the Before Trilogy.Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;will most resemble\u0026nbsp;coming-of-age\u0026nbsp;stories like Booksmart, Lady Bird, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before;\u0026nbsp;all\u0026nbsp;franchise-able films with a global audience.\u0026nbsp;Support Film\u0026nbsp;in OhioWe're so excited to be working with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission! Other films they've worked on include the Oscar-winning film Judas and the Black Messiah, the Netflix film All the Bright Places, Marvel films, and many more.\u0026nbsp;Ohio is another character in our film, bringing all its beauty \u0026amp; charm\u0026nbsp;to the screen. Jessica was born \u0026amp; raised in Akron, OH and is excited to show it off\u0026nbsp;and bring business to her home state.\u0026nbsp;The way Jessica portrays Ohio through her lens of love and nostalgia\u0026nbsp;is another element as to how our film will stand out against the rest.\u0026nbsp;Streaming platforms \u0026amp; networks are looking for new stories based outside of\u0026nbsp;the usual New York City \u0026amp; LA and though some films have been set in Ohio before, rarely do they make use of all it has to offer.\u0026nbsp;Plus, everyone knows someone from Ohio.\u0026nbsp;Testimonials\u0026nbsp;“Jessica is the embodiment of a very talented female filmmaker to look out for, lots of great work ahead.”\u0026nbsp;-Late Fee Cinema“Jessica and Collin Kelly-Sordelet are two of the most charming, dedicated, and talented people I've ever met. I cannot wait to see them on screen again. I have a feeling that we will be seeing a lot more of each of them in the future and I'll be happy to say I ‘knew them when.’” -Gina Marie Rodriguez, Filmmaker, Westfield IFF Founder\"The chemistry is undeniable.\" -Miss en Scene“I’d bet on Jessica any day.” -The Film Freak \"I’ve been following Jessica’s career for over a decade, and the growth in her work is remarkable. She’s just a kid from Akron, but she’s creating greatness far beyond Ohio.”\u0026nbsp;-Ryan Weiss, Host of Made To Motivate Popculture Podcast","location":"Akron, OH","website":"https://www.escapingohio.com","total_amount_raised":155236,"total_investors":94,"is_funded":false,"is_active":false,"quality_score":2,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/escapingohio","https://www.escapingohio.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/86777/xxl_cropped_cornmaze.jpg","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/86777/standard_cropped_cornmaze.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/86777/standard_cropped_cornmaze.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/luc4pgtjhw"},"links":{"company_url":"https://www.escapingohio.com","instagram_url":"https://instagram.com/escapingohiofilm/"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"A feature film starring actors from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, CW, HBO, CBS \u0026amp; more"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Director/writer/star shorts have played at numerous film festivals \u0026amp; won her a Best Actress award"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"Emily Bergl is a well known actress starring in numerous TV series, films \u0026amp; Broadway shows"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Producer/star played opposite Liv Tyler \u0026amp; Bel Powley in Wildling- premiered at SXSW \u0026amp; now on Netflix"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Adam Pascal is a Tony-nominated actor well known for his roles in Rent and School of Rock"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Producer/star played opposite Joey King in Radium Girls- premiered at Tribeca FF \u0026amp; now on Netflix"},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"The script has been workshopped in the Sundance Institute"},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"We have relationships with sales agents, distributors \u0026amp; agencies"}],"team":[{"id":1704332,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1704332","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:1436092","role":"founder","name":"Jessica Michael Davis","title":"Director/Writer/Sam","bio":"Award-winning actor \u0026amp; filmmaker from Akron, OH, based in NYC, whose shorts have played at film festivals in NYC, Hollywood \u0026amp; internationally, winning her a Best Actress award. 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She also portrayed Mary in the Tony-winning play, The Ferrymen.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1865352/square_cropped_Screen_Shot_2021-07-01_at_5.48.39_PM.jpg?1728508009","related_urls":[]},{"id":2404871,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2404871","role":"employee","name":"Adam Pascal","title":"Rick, Sam's dad","bio":"Adam is a well-known actor and composer, known for Rent and School of Rock, and is a Tony-award nominee.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2404871/square_cropped_110520-12.jpg?1728508009","related_urls":[]},{"id":1842498,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1842498","role":"employee","name":"Jeffrey Weber","title":"Lead Investor/Executive Producer","bio":"Jeff retired as the Vice Chairman of York Capital Management, a multi-strategy hedge fund, in 2018. 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Doors open at 6:30pm, screening begins at 7:30pm followed by a Q\u0026A with cast and crew, moderated by Dakota Lohan. Tickets on sale now here: Escaping Ohio NYC red-carpet premiere(If you're investment included the perk of premiere invites, please reach out and we will reserve you a seat!)We will also be playing tomorrow night, Friday, November 1st, at Akron's arthouse theater, The Nightlig...","published_at":"2024-10-31T23:03:31Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/177150","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/177150"},{"id":176604,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:176604","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Pre-order now on Apple TV! Official Trailer debut on MovieWeb \u0026amp; more","preview":"Escaping Ohio is now available for Pre-Order on Apple TV! Here's the link :) https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/escaping-ohio/umc.cmc.2va335mkkmxxyi4q9t1tmhizlMovieWeb exclusively debuted the Escaping Ohio Official Trailer 6 days ago here: Escaping Ohio Trailer Convinces You That Akron's Okay in New Rom-ComSince then, many other sites have gone on to promote it too: MovieMaker MagazineMoviefoneMovie InsiderSo cool to see Escaping Ohio's trailer promoted alongside so many big films \u0026 stars!More new...","published_at":"2024-10-09T21:30:32Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/176604","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/176604"},{"id":175714,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:175714","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio release date!","preview":"November 8th! The time has finally come, Escaping Ohio will be available to watch everywhere you buy \u0026 rent movies 11.8.24Check out the press announcements below! We're thrilled to be moving forward with this Cleveland-based, respected distributor who will get the film out wide and into the homes of millions. As I mentioned in the last investor-only post, we are working independently to bring the film to select theaters, as well. More updates to come soon. Until then, we celebrate! Thank you ...","published_at":"2024-09-06T00:23:13Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/175714","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/175714"},{"id":169915,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:169915","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"\"LeBron James Family Foundation brings Hollywood magic to Akron with Escaping Ohio\"","preview":"Press round up from our Akron premiere, check it out! Photos and details from the night to follow soon. LeBron James Family Foundation brings Hollywood magic to Akron with\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;premiere\u0026nbsp;(WKYC Channel 3 News)Jessica Introduces\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;(330 To Go LIVE)Akron's Jessica Michael Davis brings home her film\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;(Axios)Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;starring Akron’s Jessica Michael Davis, premieres Wednesday at House Three Thirty (The Plain Dealer)*Story...","published_at":"2024-01-10T21:07:52Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/169915","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/169915"},{"id":168017,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:168017","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Outstanding Directorial Debut Winner!","preview":"Escaping Ohio and I won the Outstanding Directorial Debut award last weekend at the Washington West Film Festival (ranked #2 this year on USA Today's Best 10 film festivals) The festival also had this beautiful speech: \"As we honor 'Escaping Ohio,' let this award serve as a beacon for Jessica Michael Davis’ promising future. 'Escaping Ohio, is a film that captures the essence of individuality, daring to tell a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to choose one's own destiny.\"W...","published_at":"2023-10-23T17:44:46Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/168017","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/168017"},{"id":167516,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:167516","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio makes its way east this October","preview":"Escaping Ohio will be heading to the East Coast and Midwest this month! Washington West Film FestivalEscaping Ohio is 1 of only 2 narrative features screening at this year's Washington West FF, ranked #2 on USA Today's Top 10 Film Festivals in the country! Screening in Tysons, VA on Saturday Oct. 14th at 3:30pm. More info \u0026 tickets can be found here: https://wwfilmfest.com/films/escaping-ohio/Twin Cities Film FestEscaping Ohio will be screening in-person at the 2023 Twin Cities Film Fest alon...","published_at":"2023-10-02T21:17:37Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/167516","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/167516"},{"id":164705,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164705","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Film Threat says Escaping Ohio is 9/10!","preview":"Our first review is in, and WOW! “Escaping Ohio is a gem of a film” “Davis commands tone in her feature debut like a seasoned master.” “Escaping Ohio is delightful from beginning to end.” “Davis is perfect as the lead” \"Kelly-Sordelet excels.\"\"The drama and comedy complement each other perfectly, creating a lighthearted movie with relevant stakes for the wonderfully drawn characters\"And so many other great words said. You can read the full review here. Will be posting an update soon about how...","published_at":"2023-07-07T18:53:54Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/164705","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164705"},{"id":164346,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164346","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio World Premiere","preview":"Great article by MovieMaker Magazine on Escaping Ohio's premiere at Dances With Films! \"Jessica Michael Davis’s heart-string-tugging indie romance\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;will have its world premiere at Dances With Films.\" https://www.moviemaker.com/escaping-ohio-world-premiere-dances-with-films/Tickets are now available to purchase here: http://danceswithfilms.com/escaping-ohio/","published_at":"2023-06-05T18:24:59Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/164346","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164346"},{"id":162174,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:162174","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio featured by Playbill and Broadway World!","preview":"Read more at the links below:https://www.playbill.com/article/adam-pascal-emily-bergl-collin-kelly-sordelet-more-to-star-in-new-film-escaping-ohiohttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Adam-Pascal-Emily-Bergl-More-Star-in-ESCAPING-OHIO-Film-20230310","published_at":"2023-03-16T16:41:19Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/162174","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/162174"},{"id":159063,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:159063","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio in MovieMaker Magazine","preview":"Did you catch\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio’s two-page spread in MovieMaker Magazine’s Winter 2023 issue?“A coming-of-age story that breaks a few rules.”Highlights:\u0026nbsp;The article was titled “Girlhood” in reference to Linklater’s\u0026nbsp;Boyhood, which the film is compared to along with\u0026nbsp;Dazed and Confused.\u0026nbsp;Escaping Ohio\u0026nbsp;said to subvert the genre while still being infused with all the classic teen movie tropes.Having been chosen for MovieMaker’s “Flash Forward” feature; past actors have inc...","published_at":"2023-02-16T18:49:07Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/159063","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/159063"},{"id":158924,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:158924","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio's first press release!","preview":"https://www.moviemaker.com/rent-alum-adam-pascal-joins-emily-bergl-in-jessica-michael-davis-indie-romance-escaping-ohio/Made it to the front page of moviemaker.com! Check out the article at the link above.","published_at":"2022-10-21T18:17:29Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/158924","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/158924"},{"id":157062,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:157062","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Escaping Ohio poster","preview":"Check out the Escaping Ohio poster alongside Ozark, Grace \u0026 Frankie, John Wick, and many more at https://motcreative.com","published_at":"2022-07-27T19:30:55Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/157062","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/157062"},{"id":154331,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:154331","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Netflix Poster Design","preview":"The entertainment design agency, MOT Creative, who specializes in creating iconic Key Art campaigns, recently reached out to us because Escaping Ohio \"immediately caught their eye.\" They mainly work with major studios including Netflix, Lionsgate, and WarnerMedia, but also love to support independent films and passionate artists. We just had a wonderful meeting with them on Monday and are thrilled to be moving forward! You can check out all their iconic work here motcreative.com","published_at":"2022-04-06T17:13:45Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/154331","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/154331"},{"id":154244,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:154244","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"That's a picture wrap!","preview":"At the end of March, we wrapped up our remaining days of production, which included Sam's dad, Rick, played by Adam Pascal who brought so much talent, as we knew he would. We're so excited about this additional great footage we captured! As I mentioned in the previous update, the editor \u0026 I are making great strides and are right on schedule. We'll be posting another exciting update shortly :)","published_at":"2022-04-06T16:40:40Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/154244","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/154244"},{"id":152646,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:152646","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"March Update!","preview":"FUNDED! Our WeFunder campaign has come to a close and we are so grateful to have raised $155.2k! Thank you to the 103 investors!!HIRED AN EDITOR After weeks of interviews, we have brought on an incredible editor who is the perfect addition to our team, Luqi Zhao. Luqi studied Editing at AFI after graduating with a BFA in Film Studies. She is extremely talented, smart, and passionate and has experience working on feature films- she is currently working on an A24 film! We were lucky to find her...","published_at":"2022-03-08T23:53:25Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/152646","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/152646"},{"id":151769,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151769","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"3 days left!","preview":"We're so excited to have surpassed $155k this week!\u0026nbsp;Our WeFunder campaign is coming to a close, with just 3 days left to join the team!\u0026nbsp;And if you haven't checked it out already, we recently launched EscapingOhio.com!\u0026nbsp;","published_at":"2022-01-26T04:26:28Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/151769","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151769"},{"id":151399,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151399","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Only 30 days left to invest!","preview":"Thank you to everyone who has brought us over $150k!\u0026nbsp;Our WeFunder campaign is set to close on January 28th, 2022 and we are so close to our goal budget of $158k. We recently added more investor perks, check them out below!\u0026nbsp;We are so grateful to be able to bring this film to life with all of you. We can't wait for what 2022 has in store for us and this film! Happy New Year!\u0026nbsp;","published_at":"2021-12-30T16:32:44Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/151399","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151399"},{"id":151270,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151270","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Sneak peek!","preview":"As promised, here's a sneak peek still from the film! It was so hard to choose just one, for I'm so excited about the look and quality of what we've shot thus far. I can't wait to share the film with you all, but until then, here's a little preview so you can get excited with us! *Note, this isn't our final look, for we won't be bringing on a colorist until after we finish our WeFunder campaign and pick ups, but we had an editor on our team color this still, taking inspiration from the hit fi...","published_at":"2021-12-22T21:42:27Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/151270","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151270"},{"id":151215,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151215","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Adam Pascal (Rent, School of Rock) joins the cast as Sam's dad, \"Rick\"","preview":"We are beyond thrilled to add Adam to the cast and are so grateful that he is equally excited to be a part of it! He is not only an incredibly talented artist who's been busy in the industry for over 25 years, but an amazing human who is the perfect fit for this role and our film. Rick was already written to be musically inclined and even has a scene practicing guitar, so we're very excited to lean into this even more with Adam's tremendous background. He is currently in the Broadway tour of ...","published_at":"2021-12-21T19:24:54Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/151215","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151215"},{"id":151196,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:151196","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"End of year updates!","preview":"THANK YOU!\u0026nbsp;Thank you to all of you for getting us this far and your continued support! We are so excited to share some of these updates with you over the next few days. Today’s update includes information on our WeFunder campaign, a rough cut, our final pick up days, and a distribution meeting. Tomorrow we will be announcing an added cast member and Wednesday we will be posting a sneak peek still from the film!\u0026nbsp;MAKING STRIDES TO OUR GOAL\u0026nbsp;Thank you to our 98 investors who’ve bro...","published_at":"2021-12-20T18:35:35Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/151196","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/151196"},{"id":150179,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:150179","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Added Investor Perks!","preview":"$250+\u0026nbsp;You will receive a \"Special Thanks\" in the end credits of the film!$500+\u0026nbsp;You will receive a personalized thank you video from Sam \u0026 JJ, plus all the perks above.\u0026nbsp;$1,000+\u0026nbsp;You will receive a signed Escaping Ohio poster, plus all the perks above. *Shipping address must be provided, otherwise, we will send a digital copy.\u0026nbsp;$2,500+\u0026nbsp;You will receive a 20min. Zoom call with Jessica and/or Collin. Ask us about Escaping Ohio, creating your own work, indie filmmaking,...","published_at":"2021-11-06T17:53:27Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/150179","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/150179"},{"id":148688,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:148688","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"That's a wrap on Ohio!","preview":"The biggest chunk of production has come to an end as our team escapes Ohio. What a great three weeks it has been for which we've captured incredible footage- we will be giving you a sneak peek soon!What's next? We have a few pick up days in New Jersey, which is included in our current production budget, and we're currently handling the beginning stages of post-production ourselves as we continue to work towards our budget.Thank you for getting us this far and your continued support!\u0026nbsp;","published_at":"2021-09-16T00:21:43Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/148688","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/148688"},{"id":148518,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:148518","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We’ve hit our first goal!","preview":"We’re so thrilled to have surpassed our initial goal of $91k! Thank you to the 73 investors who got us past our minimum.\u0026nbsp; Where do we go from here?\u0026nbsp;We’re eager to keep working towards our budget of $158k, which will allow us to complete post-production and give our film the best chance at success as we approach distribution.\u0026nbsp;Thank you for your continued support, we’re so grateful to have you on our team!\u0026nbsp;","published_at":"2021-09-11T03:46:35Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/148518","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/148518"},{"id":148215,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:148215","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Welcome to Ohio, Emily Bergl!","preview":"Had a great time on set this week with Emily Bergl, our Producer and Renee (Sam's mom). One of our favorite moments from the week was shooting at the Burke Lakefront Airport, an incredible location we obtained for free with the help of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.","published_at":"2021-09-02T15:58:47Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/148215","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/148215"},{"id":147399,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:147399","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Day 1","preview":"Throwback to our first day of production! We can't believe it's already Day 10, we're so excited about the footage we're capturing.\u0026nbsp;Thank you all for your continued support!","published_at":"2021-08-26T15:17:03Z","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","url":"/feed/147399","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/147399"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":306895,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:306895","question":"Time for investor update.","author_name":"BENJAMIN STARK","votes":2,"created_at":"2025-04-25T23:55:02Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-306895","answers":[{"id":306899,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:306899","answer":"Will do! I’ve been working on getting a more detailed update from our distributor, but will get posted one in the next couple of days. Thanks, Benjamin!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-04-26T01:34:56Z"}]},{"id":178534,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:178534","question":"Thanks for updating the perks. I have invested =)","author_name":"Adrian Low","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-11-10T02:29:54Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-178534","answers":[{"id":178723,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:178723","answer":"Thank you, Adrian! Excited to have you on the team!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-11-10T22:26:49Z"}]},{"id":176951,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:176951","question":"Hi Jessica, I have had a few chats with other speculative traders and investors and an interesting point has come up a few times. This investment opportunity seems less interesting to \"smaller\" investors just entering into the world of crowdfunded investments and often coming from marketplaces such as Patreon, Kickstarter, or Indigogo. The main reason (in my view and with feedback from others) being a lack of PHYSICAL awareness, merchandising, or rewards. The investment here is a somewhat mysterious profit-sharing entity, which while not a negative thing, still may leave smaller investors feeling like it's not worth the trouble. Might I suggest reworking the investor perks some to have a much lower barrier of entry? Look at something like Pencilish Animation studios for example who starts off at the $250 or even $500 level with tangible potential goods. With Escaping Ohio the initial perk is a large $10,000 ($5,000 early bird). Might I suggest utilizing some lower-cost investor perks... perhaps rewarding signed movie posters or cards, or inexpensive movie merchandise? Not only might this provide some interest for smaller investors but they would feel more connected and rewarded. Then again perhaps it will not. Just an idea albeit a bit late in the process as it has met the initial goal. Wishing you and the team the best of luck!","author_name":"James Ward","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-10-31T21:20:26Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-176951","answers":[{"id":177197,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:177197","answer":"Hi James! Thank you so much for your suggestion and care! We love hearing advice and feedback from our investors and fellow artists. When we first launched our WeFunder campaign, we did consider whether or not to include smaller perks, for we had experience doing so when we raised funds on Seed \u0026amp; Spark for the short film. While we decided at the time not to move forward with them, after feedback from others and your lovely suggestion, we agree that this is the best route moving forward. We are going to begin creating these incentives and will work on listing them soon. These incentives will be given to investors who've already made such contributions. Thank you again for your support!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-11-02T00:30:16Z"}]},{"id":177648,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:177648","question":"Please keep us posted =)","author_name":"Adrian Low","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-11-05T01:48:26Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-177648","answers":[{"id":178010,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:178010","answer":"Hi Adrian! Thanks for your patience while we decided upon our new investor perks. They are now listed on our Updates page! Per your last question, an investment of $250+ will receive a \"Special Thanks\" credit in the film.","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-11-06T17:57:29Z"}]},{"id":171357,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:171357","question":"I've invested heavily in 3 Wefunder films in the past year. Two are female led/driven/written/directed/produced. (Scrap and My Divorce Party.) I wish I'd known about Escaping Ohio earlier, as I would have invested at the AP level at the outset. I'm open to discussion about a possible Creative Consultant role? I'd be open to reviewing rough-cuts and add my $0.02, while investing, without requiring any creative control. I am a former advertising agency Executive Creative Director, having produced hundreds of commercials and brand films (short format) and now teach at Savannah College of Art and Design as a professor of Brand Films and Social Content. I want to contribute as much as I can, and learn as much as I can, before I produce a female-driven, western-based script in 2022. Let me know if there is any interest.","author_name":"Mark Bazil","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-09-27T01:36:34Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-171357","answers":[{"id":171604,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:171604","answer":"Hi Mark, thanks for your interest and reaching out! It's great to hear you've supported other female led films! I'd be interested in discussing this further, please send me an email at JessicaMichaelDavis@gmail.com","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-09-29T02:17:21Z"}]},{"id":170040,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:170040","question":"Thanks for update regarding completion of Ohio schedule. So what's the timeline of the upcoming events.","author_name":"Rakesh B S","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-09-18T19:34:42Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-170040","answers":[{"id":170157,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:170157","answer":"Hi Rakesh! Thank you for your question. We have a few more pick up days to film in NJ, for we are a NYC based team, within the next few weeks. We are currently scheduling exact dates with a named actor whom we are working out a deal with, which will be announced as soon as we can legally do so. Until then, we've already began the post-production process on our own so we can get a head start on a rough cut of the film while we finish raising the financing that will cover the post-production costs. Our biggest goal for the next few months is to put together a trailer to begin to shop around to the sales agents and distributors we have connections to, and have already started some of these conversations. Our current timeline is to have a deliverable trailer by the end of November. Now, depending on who we partner with will determine our next steps from there. Our plan has been to have a rough cut of the film by the end of the year. which will then be followed by many test screenings and continued editing. But this step could change, depending on who we work with, for a larger company may have a preferred method of screenings or will bring on their own team to finish post-production. While we are adaptable and open to what is best for the film, we are always putting the investors at the forefront and will continue to work towards a route that is lucrative for everyone.","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-09-19T17:56:38Z"}]},{"id":167732,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:167732","question":"Hi Jessica. Happy to support a fellow artist (albeit a different kind). Can we get some updates on how the funding has affected things so far? Is the original goal of a minimum of 91k (preferably 150k+) still a necessity to potentially complete the filming? Have there been any adjustments to the Form C after hitting the 50k initial early bird target previously discussed? Should an early-bird investor wish to contribute more at this stage, how would their additional investment be treated? Have there been additional sources of funding recently from non-Wefunder sources that have helped with the process? Any additional information on progress from a \"financial\" side of things rather than the flavor updates on filming seen on places like Instagram, here, and social media (which while welcome and fun to see do not give a clear picture from the investment side of things)? Happy to see you actively filming, having fun, and I wish you and the team nothing but success.","author_name":"James Ward","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-09-03T23:41:37Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-167732","answers":[{"id":168872,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:168872","answer":"Hi James! Thank you for your support! And thank you for your patience as I get to your questions as we just finished wrapping up production in Ohio. The funding thus far has allowed us to get what we need to shoot in Ohio and some exteriors in Jersey, since most of the script is dependent on summer weather and cast \u0026amp; crew's schedules. As stated in our panel video, we were able to receive an interest-free loan from someone on our team to get us through the past month, that way we could focus on filming while we reach our first goal. All of our funding has comes through WeFunder and any potential investors we encounter, we direct to this site. No changes have been made to our Form C. If an \"Early-Bird\" investor wishes to contribute more at this stage, we will continue to treat their additional investment with the same \"Early-Bird\" perks! We've recently posted a financial update about the partnerships we've made with multiple brands and businesses who have saved us a great amount of money in merchandise, food, location fees, and will be providing us with free marketing! We are currently in discussions with potential sales agents and distribution, however, we are not able to discuss the details until it's confirmed. As of last night, we have surpassed our first goal of $91k, which we will be posting an update later today. Hope this answers all of your questions! We're so grateful to have you on our team!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-09-10T20:05:33Z"}]},{"id":164270,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:164270","question":"Hello Jessica, happy to have invested and support your project. How can I get access to your short film? I would really like to watch it, to get a better sense of the feature film potential. Thanks!","author_name":"Leandro Zechlinski Maya","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-08-18T13:55:49Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-164270","answers":[{"id":164382,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:164382","answer":"Hi Leandro! Thank you so much for your investment and support! I just saw your message on LinkedIn and will send you a private link.","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-08-19T06:16:09Z"}]},{"id":157857,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157857","question":"Which type of contract are you offering to investors?","author_name":"Bryan Christian","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-07-13T18:18:49Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-157857","answers":[{"id":157862,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157862","answer":"Hi Bryan! Thanks for your question. We are offering a Revenue Participation Agreement. It has been reviewed by our lawyer and sent in to WeFunder, but it doesn't look like they will be uploading it to our site until our Form C is filed, which is done once we reach $50,000. Those who invest in this 'testing the waters' stage will be asked to confirm their investment once the Form C is filed. Until then, investments made indicate interest and involve no commitment. The terms and perks that are listed in our agreement are currently listed on the site. Investors will also be provided with K-1's.","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-07-13T19:02:08Z"}]},{"id":157290,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157290","question":"Being from NE Ohio originally, I love the premise of Escaping Ohio and I connected with the trailer immediately. Just a minute of visuals showing the small-town atmosphere was really nostalgic. I appreciate what you and your crew managed to do for the short film with such a small budget. I do have a couple questions for you though... 1) What is the approximate running time you are shooting for? 2) Do you plan to reuse/adapt any footage from your short into the feature length film? (just curious) 3) Let's say you reach the $158,800 goal; do you close the the fundraise immediately? Do you allow it to continue if there is still momentum, perhaps to expand on the project in any ways you feel are appropriate? Expand the contingency funds a bit? I'm curious on this because I can appreciate your confidence in your budget and your team, but I also know that a crappy week of Ohio thunderstorms in August/September could make a mess of things. Thank you!","author_name":"Pete Rosskamm","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-07-10T19:20:13Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-157290","answers":[{"id":157494,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157494","answer":"Hi Pete! I'm so happy to hear this story resonates with you, especially being from NE Ohio (And excited to have another Ohioan on the team!) Thanks for the great questions! 1) The approx. running time is 90mins. 2) We do not plan to reuse footage from the short for the feature length film, for we will be upgrading our camera and lighting equipment; we shot on the Blackmagic Ursa \u0026amp; Pocket Cam, and while great cameras, we are looking to rent a better quality camera and lense kit to give the film the best chance at a successful distribution. For lighting, my DP has a lot of his own equipment, which we used in the short and helps cut down cost for the feature, but we will be adding to this to bring a higher production value to the screen. 3) Since we go into production soon, we may close the fundraise immediately once the goal is hit, however, if we have time to keep it open, we will. The extra funds would increase the production value; allowing us to rent the best equipment and bring on more crew members to allow for larger set ups. Any extra funds beyond this would go into post-production, specifically adding to the color and sound design budgets, as well as obtaining music rights. In terms of weather, we realize how lucky we got for the short film to have beautiful weather the whole shoot; although we did get about 15 minutes of random rain, good ole' Ohio.. We do have backup plans for any curveballs Ohio throws us, however! Because a lot of the movie is focused on JJ \u0026amp; Sam, we are able to have a lot of flexibility with our schedule and move around any scenes that need sunny weather. Then, we have other scenes that can still shoot on a rainy day; whether they're already scheduled to be indoors, can be relocated to an indoor location (we have access to a lot of locations since some of the crew members and I have family and friends there, as well as working with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission) or, we would film in the rain if it can make sense for scene, which will just give more of an authentic Ohio experience! Thanks for your patience in reading this and hope it answers all your questions! O - H!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-07-12T05:30:56Z"}]},{"id":157003,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157003","question":"Once film gets distribution will the payouts be transparent.","author_name":" Sunil Kulkarni","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-07-09T02:18:05Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-157003","answers":[{"id":157066,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:157066","answer":"Hi Sunil, thanks for your question! Our revenue will be reported and transparent! Once the film makes a profit, we will send WeFunder the net profit lump-sum funds, which then WeFunder will distribute pro-rata to investors, based on the amount the person invested. Hope that answers your question!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-07-09T14:00:44Z"}]},{"id":194159,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:194159","question":"investor perks . I am sure you are very busy. Not trying to rush you . Just wanted to have a ball park idea, of when people might get the ( Thank you video ) . Not trying to rush you. If it's going to be a few more weeks, or a few more months that's fine. Just wanted to have a general idea.","author_name":"BENJAMIN STARK","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-02-26T18:30:49Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-194159","answers":[{"id":195076,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:195076","answer":"Hi Benjamin! Thanks for reaching out, apologies for the delay in response, for I was out in LA taking meetings. We plan to complete and deliver the thank you videos in April since we have our final pick up days of shooting in just a couple weeks. So glad you're looking forward to them and thank you for your investment!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-03-04T00:20:11Z"}]},{"id":176595,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:176595","question":"Any special thanks credit for less than the stated perks?","author_name":"Adrian Low","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-10-29T22:00:48Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-176595","answers":[{"id":177199,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:177199","answer":"Hi Adrian! We have recently decided to add incentives with smaller investments after receiving feedback from other investors and will be listing them soon. We will include a \"Special Thanks\" credit as one of these perks and I will be sure to let you know once we've listed them!","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-11-02T00:33:10Z"}]},{"id":167453,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:167453","question":"Just wondering whether right now is still consider as “early investor” and whether 5k for associate producer still holds?","author_name":"Adrian Low","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-09-02T18:49:45Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/escapingohio#question-167453","answers":[{"id":167909,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:167909","answer":"Hi Adrian! Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, the “Early Bird” perks ended when we hit $50k. Currently, an investment of $10k is given an Associate Producer credit.","author_name":"Jessica Michael Davis","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-09-05T01:43:32Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"Once film gets distribution will the payouts be transparent.","answer":"Hi Sunil, thanks for your question! Our revenue will be reported and transparent! Once the film makes a profit, we will send WeFunder the net profit lump-sum funds, which then WeFunder will distribute pro-rata to investors, based on the amount the person invested. Hope that answers your question!"},{"question":"Being from NE Ohio originally, I love the premise of Escaping Ohio and I connected with the trailer immediately. Just a minute of visuals showing the small-town atmosphere was really nostalgic. I appreciate what you and your crew managed to do for the short film with such a sm...","answer":"Hi Pete! I'm so happy to hear this story resonates with you, especially being from NE Ohio (And excited to have another Ohioan on the team!) Thanks for the great questions! 1) The approx. running time is 90mins. 2) We do not plan to reuse footage from the short for the feature length film, for we will be upgrading our camera and lighting equipment; we shot on the Blackmagic Ursa \u0026amp; Pocket Cam, and while great cameras, we are looking to rent a better quality camera and lense kit to give the..."},{"question":"Which type of contract are you offering to investors?","answer":"Hi Bryan! Thanks for your question. We are offering a Revenue Participation Agreement. It has been reviewed by our lawyer and sent in to WeFunder, but it doesn't look like they will be uploading it to our site until our Form C is filed, which is done once we reach $50,000. Those who invest in this 'testing the waters' stage will be asked to confirm their investment once the Form C is filed. Until then, investments made indicate interest and involve no commitment. The terms and perks that are ..."},{"question":"Hello Jessica, happy to have invested and support your project. How can I get access to your short film? I would really like to watch it, to get a better sense of the feature film potential. Thanks!","answer":"Hi Leandro! Thank you so much for your investment and support! I just saw your message on LinkedIn and will send you a private link."},{"question":"Just wondering whether right now is still consider as “early investor” and whether 5k for associate producer still holds?","answer":"Hi Adrian! Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, the “Early Bird” perks ended when we hit $50k. Currently, an investment of $10k is given an Associate Producer credit."}]}}}