Project Status: Feature Film | Pre-Production

Genre: Gothic Horror and Values-Based / Supernatural Thriller

Anticipated Rating: PG-13

Synopsis

The Thing In The Hall reimagines a classic Gothic ghost story through the eyes of a psychology student investigating his friend's attempts to contact the dead. Told through testimony following a fatal incident, the film combines psychological horror with the structure of a legal thriller.

The World

Bridging gripping suspense with psychological horror, The Thing in the Hall cultivates a distinct, chilling atmosphere where everyday spaces warp into a haunting manifestation of guilt.

Comparables

Grounded in the tradition of elevated psychological thrillers like The Babadook, The Night House, and The Others, this project substitutes traditional creature feature tropes for visceral, real world suspense. By warping everyday environments into inescapable arenas of psychological tension, The Thing in the Hall taps into a highly profitable horror marketplace that prioritizes psychological depth and domestic dread.

Writer/Director/Producer: Logan Kishi

Logan Kishi is an award-winning filmmaker focused on elevated, character-driven genre storytelling. With over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry including 15+ years as a SAG-AFTRA actor, he developed a deep understanding of narrative through performance before transitioning into writing and producing. His work includes seven short films that have screened at festivals across the U.S., earning accolades such as Best Director, Best Horror, and 48 Hour Film Winner. The Thing in the Hall marks his debut feature film, with the script already recognized on the Gold List at the British Independent Film Festival 2026 and a Finalist in the Oxford Script Awards.

Note from Logan... "I grew up on horror. It's the genre that made me want to tell stories not to scare people, but to explore the things we usually avoid. The Thing In The Hall is about guilt, detachment, and complicity. It examines how we handle mental health, especially in the ones closest to us, and the danger of hesitation. When do you step in, and what happens if you wait too long?"

I have been in the entertainment industry since I was five years old, beginning as a child actor and gradually growing into writing, directing, and producing. The Thing in the Hall is my debut feature, and for me, it represents a chance to take everything I have learned from a lifetime around film and pour it into something meaningful.

We have already received encouraging feedback from people in the industry, including conversations with sales representatives and distributors at the American Film Market who saw real potential in the project. Since we are already beginning those conversations around sales and distribution, we are approaching The Thing in the Hall with the marketplace in mind from the start.

This project is also the first major step toward building Darkbox Entertainment, a company I started, focused on values-driven stories and a clear path beyond production. We are currently raising funds to move forward with a strong production that can attract the right partners, support the level of talent we are pursuing, and bring this film to the next stage. By joining us now, you are helping bring The Thing in the Hall to life while also helping lay the foundation for Darkbox Entertainment and the larger vision behind it.

Pitch Deck & Visual Blueprint

Our pitch deck is the visual roadmap for the film which bridges the gap between the written script and the final cinematic experience. It outlines the artistic vision and strategic plan for bringing The Thing In The Hall to the screen. Click above to explore our comprehensive deck for a deeper look at the visual style, core characters, and narrative structure, alongside the industry benchmarks guiding this psychological thriller to the screen. View our pitch deck

Why Horror & Thrillers Dominate Indie Film ROI

Independent film is fundamentally a game of minimizing risk and maximizing your potential returns. From a financial perspective, the psychological thriller and horror genres are the most lucrative in the entertainment industry.

1. Statistically Superior Profit Rates: Data from the American Film Market shows that the baseline industry average for movie profitability across general cinema is just 43%. Horror completely defies this trend, with more than 52% of all genre films turning a net profit across their distribution lifecycle.
2. Unmatched Box Office Multiples: According to historical entertainment box office tracking, successful low-budget genre films return an average of 8x their production budgets in ticket sales alone, doubling the average multiplier of any other film category. Recent indie breakouts have achieved even more staggering milestones, yielding up to a 4,500% return on investment.
3. Built-In Target Audience: Thriller and horror fans are the most active, loyal, and vocal community in cinema. They don't require multi-million dollar A-list actors or massive CGI budgets to buy a ticket; they show up entirely for the premise, the atmospheric tension, and the psychological hook. This dramatically drives down our marketing overhead while maximizing global streaming and VOD demand.
4. To dive deeper into the economics of independent genre filmmaking, we highly encourage you to read the full American Film Market analysis.

Funding Strategy & Financial Milestones

To bring The Thing in the Hall to the screen, we have established clear financial benchmarks. Our master campaign target is $1,200,000, which accounts for standard platform fees, compliance overhead, and campaign administration.

We have structured our financial milestones to secure a clear, protective net production budget cap of one million dollars ($1,000,000) dedicated entirely to making the film. Maintaining this firm ceiling keeps our expenditures tightly controlled, avoids unnecessary project complexity, and guarantees your capital goes directly into creating a high-caliber movie.

Our Financial Milestones

Phase 1 - $100,000

1. Escrow & Early Prep ($50,000 min raise to $100,000) Reaching our regulatory minimum allows us to clear escrow, finalize immediate location deposits, and engage key creative leadership, including our Line Producer and Production Designer, to lock down our filming schedules.

Phase 2 - $500,000

1. Fully Green Lit. Reaching this milestone marks our primary capital threshold. This funding allows us to fully secure principal cast commitments, initiate intensive pre-production prep, lock technical gear packages, and establish our core crew infrastructure.

Phase 3 - $800,000+

1. Production, Post & Value Add Capital This phase represents the absolute baseline required to take the film completely through principal photography and rough assembly editing. As funds climb toward our core production budget cap of $1,000,000, we secure the high production values for the project. Any additional gross funds raised above this core cap up to our master campaign target maximum are treated as strategic value-add reserves. This upper tier safely absorbs platform fees and compliance overhead, while dedicating all remaining net capital to theatrical color grading, sound mastering, an expanded production safety net, and the activation of initial commercial distribution and marketing.

Budget Allocation (Based on Our $1M Production Cap)

Five Year Revenue Structure and Investor Buyout Framework

1. As we reach these production milestones and execute our commercial distribution strategy, we remain committed to a transparent and structured investor exit process. We have explicitly designed our equity terms with a defined five year investor liquidity timeline featuring a prioritized return waterfall. Details, unit values, and operational provisions are completely available for your review in the formal Offering Terms section of this page.

Four Ways to Support The Thing In The Hall

1. Direct Support: These contributions are not tax-deductible but provide instant impact. [Learn More]
2. Charitable Giving: 100% Tax-Deductible through this 501(c)(3) website & non-profit partner. [Make Tax-Deductible Donations Here]
3. Equity Investment: Become a Stakeholder. Join us as a core partner in The Thing in the Hall. Click the 'Reserve' or 'Invest' button to claim your equity units, secure your priority position in our 120% preferred return structure, and align your interests directly with the film's financial success.
4. In-Kind Contributions: Support the production and donate goods or services to help offset our budget. [Learn More]

Own a Piece of the Thriller: Invest in The Thing in the Hall

Production Impact & Recognition Tiers

Investing in The Thing in the Hall is a direct partnership in the tools and talent needed to bring this story to the screen. Below, we have outlined examples how your investment capital could translate into tangible resources on set, alongside the exclusive investor recognition, perks, and access tiers we offer in return for your financial backing.

Special Thanks

Minimum Investment: $100

Investment Impact Examples:

1. On-Set Data Storage: High-speed SSD drives for secure, daily backups of raw digital footage as it is captured.
2. Professional Communication: Two full days of professional radio rentals for the entire crew to ensure seamless on-set coordination.
3. Script Production: High-quality printing and binding of shooting scripts for the lead cast and department heads.
4. Character Props: The acquisition or specialty rental of key objects that populate the film’s unique world.

Special Thanks - Recognition & Access:

1. Digital Credit: Your name will be featured on our official production website’s supporter wall.
2. Rolling Credits: A "Special Thanks" credit in the film's official end crawl.
3. Production Updates: A subscription to our private, monthly "behind-the-scenes" production updates.
4. Waitlist Priority: Priority placement on the waitlist for unclaimed seats at regional private screenings.

Creative Circle

Minimum Investment: $500

Investment Impact Examples:

1. Crew Craft Services: Providing essential nutrition and coffee to fuel a 15-person crew during a 12-hour shooting day.
2. Wardrobe Acquisition: The rental or purchase of high-end vintage garments or specialty character costumes.
3. Secure Film Storage: Professional-grade storage systems designed to keep all captured footage backed up and safe.
4. Specialty Equipment: Daily rentals for professional monitoring systems and technical kits.

Creative CIrcle - Recognition & Access:

1. Includes all benefits from the Special Thanks level.
2. Private "First Look": An invitation to a private virtual town hall with the Director and Cinematographer to discuss the film’s progress.
3. Regional Screening: An invitation for you and a guest to attend a private regional screening of the film (travel & accommodations not included).

Film Patron

Minimum Investment: $1000

Investment Impact Examples:

1. Atmospheric Detail: Funding for background actors to populate the film’s world, adding depth and realism to key scenes.
2. Stunt & Safety Oversight: Ensuring professional stunt coordination and safety equipment for sequences involving physical movement or practical rigging.

Film Patron - Recognition & Access:

1. Includes all benefits from the Creative Circle level.
2. IMDb Recognition: A "Special Thanks" credit on the film’s official IMDb page.
3. The Wrap Party: An invitation for you and a guest to the official Wrap Party to celebrate with the cast and crew (travel & accommodations not included).

Provide a Foundational Role in the Production

Premier & Legacy Circles (Investments of $5,000+)

For investors contributing a principal stake of $5,000 or more, we invite you to join our Premier & Legacy Circles. As a cornerstone investor, your allocation provides the vital financial infrastructure required for our most intensive production phases by directly securing elite talent, locking key locations, and ensuring the premium production values necessary to maximize the film's commercial potential. We view the investors in these tiers as the essential anchors of this entire capitalization roadmap. This tier of capital deployment grants the financial runway and professional resources necessary to execute the creative vision to its absolute highest cinematic potential.

In addition to your equity positioning under our unified preferred return waterfall, we are thrilled to offer specialized observation experiences. Depending on your specific tier, these experiential perks grant unique behind-the-scenes access opportunities such as scheduled set visits or structured virtual tours. These coordinated invitations offer a professional, spectator view of the physical execution of this feature film.

Executive Supporter

Minimum Investment: $5000

Investment Impact Examples:

1. Full-Crew Catering: Providing professional on-set catering for the entire production team during five days of principal photography, ensuring the energy and focus required for intensive shooting schedules.
2. Essential Insurance & Clearances: Supporting the comprehensive production insurance and legal clearances required to secure our primary historical locations and period-accurate assets.

Executive Supporter - Recognition & Access:

1. Includes all Recognition & Access benefits from Film Patron level.
2. The Set Visit: An invitation for you and a guest to attend a private, in-person set visit during filming (if local and subject to schedule) OR a private virtual set tour.
3. Cast & Crew Screening: An invitation for you and a guest to attend the private, pre-release Cast and Crew screening (travel and accommodations not included).

Legacy

Minimum Investment: $10,000

Investment Impact Examples:

1. Premier Camera & Optics Package: Funding the rental of our primary high-definition camera system and specialized lens kit, essential for capturing the film's visual feel.
2. Lead Talent Acquisition: Supporting the professional rates and travel for our primary lead actors, allowing us to secure the elite talent the script demands.

Legacy - Recognition & Access:

1. Includes all Recognition & Access benefits from Executive Supporter level.
2. On-Screen Cameo: One (1) honorary background appearance on set for you or a designated guest (subject to production schedule and safety guidelines; strictly a non-speaking, honorary experience; travel and accommodations not included).
3. VIP Premiere: Two VIP passes to the official World Premiere of the film (travel and accommodations not included).

The Benefactor

Minimum Investment: $25,000

Investment Impact Example:

1. Foundational Support: These funds cover the most significant logistical costs of the project, such as the final post-production master and ensuring the film is finished to the highest industry standards.

The Benefactor - Recognition & Access:

1. Includes all Recognition & Access benefits from Legacy level.
2. Day of Record Sponsorship: This contribution covers one full day of principal photography. On your designated day, the official call sheet and the director's slate (the board used before every "Action") will state your name or company as the Day Sponsor.
3. Physical Legacy: You will receive the signed, physical Production Slate used during your sponsored day of filming as a permanent souvenir of the production.
4. Benefactor Credit: A full-screen shared credit in the closing credits: "This film was made possible by the generous support of [Your Name]."

Accredited Investors & Private Consultations

To accommodate our dedicated partner network at this scale, The Thing in the Hall routes all capital partners from our everyday community backers to accredited investors and institutional partners into a single, unified Regulation Crowdfunding (REG CF) offering.

Note to Accredited Investors^{1Changes to Regulation Crowdfunding (REG CF): Under historical amendments to Section 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act, individual investment caps were removed for accredited investors participating in Regulation Crowdfunding offerings, and the rolling 12 month limit an issuer can raise through a funding portal was increased to $5,000,000 ($5M). Non accredited individuals remain limited by tiered financial calculation parameters monitored directly by the platform backend. To learn more about current exempt offering frameworks, tiered non accredited limits, and verification requirements, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's official small business compliance guidance portal at: https://www.sec.gov/resources-small-businesses/small-business-compliance-guides/regulation-crowdfunding-guidance-issuers} Because of changes in SEC rules in 2021, accredited investors are now exempt from individual investment limits, allowing for larger, seamless capital investments. This unified path ensures that both our community supporters and our accredited partners stand on equal footing, sharing directly in the financial and creative journey of the film.

We deeply value high-level institutional alignment and project partnership. If you are an accredited investor looking to coordinate a significant capital position, review custom credit tiers, or request our comprehensive distribution and monetization roadmap, please use the scheduling link below to book a private briefing with our executive producers.

Offering Terms & Investment Structure^{2Offering Terms & Investment Structure- These structural parameters represent our current offering targets. All final unit allocations, exact pricing metrics, and definitive legal terms are subject to final adjustment and will be officially certified upon the completion and return of our formal Regulation Crowdfunding compliance documentation from our securities counsel prior to filing our Form C. }

The Company is structured as a single purpose production entity focused on the monetization and distribution of The Thing in the Hall motion picture. To provide our backers with a robust financial upside, a clearly defined exit strategy, and absolute structural transparency, we have organized our investment framework using the following core parameters:

1. Initial Unit Valuation: Each Non-Voting Preferred Unit is priced at a baseline placement rate of exactly one dollar ($1.00) per unit.
2. Proposed Target Allocation: The Company is proposing the allocation of up to 1,200,000 Non-Voting Preferred Units to reach our master campaign maximum.
3. Prioritized Return Profile: Investors purchasing these units receive a prioritized return profile structured to pay out one hundred and twenty percent (120%) of their initial principal investment from defined project revenues.
4. Backend Profit Split: Upon the successful payout of this 120% prioritized return, Preferred Unit holders transition into a fifty-fifty (50/50) pro-rata split of all subsequent backend profits alongside the Company’s management group.

Investor Buyout Framework

To ensure the long-term operational health of the company and provide a clean conclusion to the investment cycle once the film's core monetization phase scales down, the Company maintains the explicit, discretionary right (but not the obligation) to execute a corporate unit buyback^{3Corporate Unit Buyback -Upon activation of the corporate unit buyback option, Management may repurchase all outstanding Non-Voting Preferred Units for a nominal amount of one dollar ($1.00) in the aggregate per investor account, regardless of the total number of Non-Voting Preferred Units held by that investor, as determined by the Manager of the Company.}. This buyback option may be activated by Management at any time following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Initial Commercial Release^{4The  "Initial Commercial Release" is explicitly defined as the first date of commercial availability to the general public via any theatrical exhibition, Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD), Advertising-based Video on Demand (AVOD), or Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) platform. Any such public, commercial availability, whether domestic or international, shall trigger the commencement of the twenty-four (24) months of the Active Distribution period. } date, OR at any time prior if the project's aggregate Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) gross revenue drops below five thousand dollars ($5,000) following the first twenty-four (24) months of Active Distribution^{5For the purposes of this Agreement, 'Active Distribution' shall be deemed to commence on the date of the 'Initial Commercial Release'. }

This structure ensures our early backers share directly in the film’s most profitable release windows while protecting the long-term equity and operational clarity of the project.

Have Questions? Let’s Connect

We deeply value the insight, alignment, and partnership of our investment community. If you are looking to secure an equity stake in The Thing in the Hall or have specific questions regarding our production roadmap, securities offering, Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) parameters, or our financial structure, we would love to connect. Please use the link below to schedule a private video consultation via Calendly. We look forward to discussing how you can best participate in this round with us. Schedule a call