THE FINAL EXIT OF THE DISCIPles of ascensia (2019)  

A 45 minute film about a UFO cult, the leader of said cult, and her disciples. The final film in my “Wasteland” series.

Stream the film on Gumroad for $5.

Jenna Caravello and Haein Michelle Heo helped me write the film, and provided inspiration for the main characters. They helped me flesh out the themes of the film, as well as backstories and world details. Haein voices Celisse, and Jenna voices Mira. Jenna wrote and performed Mira's songs for the film. Haein guest animated Ascensia's dream sequence.

I had amazing animation assistants, who colored my frames physically with gouache/watercolor and cut them out:

Frankie Tamaru, Jeanette Fantone, Misuzu Shibano, Serena Hughes, Worsey, Chris Clancy.

Benni Quintero was my shooting assistant, and also did a lot of practical special effects. They also directed the scene in Lil P's hole, as well as drew all of Lil P's drawings, and voiced Lil P.

I had amazing guest animators who animated the flashbacks, sermons, POV shifts, and dream sequences.

Victoria Vincent animated Narnia's flashback, Mel Roach animated Lil P's flashback, Kelly Ficarra animated Mira's flashback, Haein Michelle Heo animated Ascensia's dream sequence, Sarah Schmidt animated the Derek POV shifts, Jeanette Fantone animated sermon #1, Chris Clancy animated sermon #2, and Benni Quintero animated sermon #3.

Sam Gurry did the "Scrimble Screaming" vocalizations throughout the film & voiced the Scrimbles,

Jan Jurchak and Wolf Woodcock both worked on the score. Jan did sound design and mixing. Wolf did additional instruments and mixing for Mira's final song.

Jake Ryan helped me with editing.

Dylan Kanner wrote and performed "Wasteland Ballad", the song that plays during the montage of Celisse's life.

Charlotte Pryce voiced Ascensia, Gary Mairs voiced Derek, Isabel Higgins voiced Janis, Victoria Vincent voiced Delilah, Chris Kim voiced Narnia.

Very special thanks to Lula Ochoa, Carla Lopez, Natalie Baber, Emily Malone, Dave Merson Hess, Chris Kim, Emily Martinez, Ian Ballantyne, Alvin Fai.

Even more special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. David Berry and the Jules Engle Endowed Scholarship Fund, Eric Homan and Kelsey Calaitges at Frederator Studios, Leighton Peirce and the CalArts School of Film and Video, Ryan Betschart, Tyler Betschart, Rachel Nakawatase and the San Diego Underground Film Festival. As well as everyone who bought frames from Goodbye Forever Party, and my patrons on Patreon.

Concept art

Pencil tests: