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Someone I'm Not How far will you go for love?

Someone I'm Not poster illustrated by Lily Martin

Postcard Layout:

Backside of the Postcard

SOMEONE I'M NOT

Runtime: 27:04

Location: Bethesda, Maryland

An insecure teen attempts a robbery as an effort to gain the love and respect from her criminal boyfriend, but when the scheme spirals out of control, everyone must pick sides.

SYNOPSIS: DANIELLE, an insecure teen longing for the respect of her criminal boyfriend, CAIN, waits with him in the woods to sell cocaine to two former friends of Danielle’s, BRANSON and CHRISTOPHER. However, Cain has convinced Danielle to rob them with one of Cain’s empty revolvers in order to prove her love for him.

Danielle and Cain wait in the woods for Branson and Christopher.

With her friends running late, Danielle has to pick up her younger stepsister, LILY, from school — much to Cain’s protest. While picking up Lily, Branson notifies Danielle that they’re at the meeting spot, and Cain pressures her to carry out the scheme despite Lily now in the backseat of the car. Danielle returns to the spot and nervously pulls the gun on her friends, demanding all their money. Branson and Christopher ignore her threats, so Cain fires his own gun into the air, forcing them to their knees and taking control of the situation.

Danielle works up the courage to pull her gun on Branson and Christopher.

When Branson disobeys orders, Cain knocks him unconscious, shocking everyone – including Danielle who realizes that Cain, who had promised no one would get hurt, lied to her. Out of control and angry at the small amount of money already confiscated, Cain forces Christopher at gunpoint to drive to his house for more money. Before leaving, he gives Danielle a single bullet in case she needs to use it and orders her to follow behind with Lily and an unconscious Branson. Coming to her senses, Danielle must reevaluate her decisions and de-escalate the situation before anyone else gets hurt.

Cain gives Danielle a bullet to use on anyone who causes more problems.

SOPHIE ISBELL

SOPHIE ISBELL is an actor from Cabin John, Maryland. She is currently a junior at Pace University with a double major in BFA Acting and Women’s and Gender Studies. Throughout the pandemic, Sophie has participated in multiple Zoom play readings and is currently collaborating on multiple screenplays. Her most recent short film was Someone I’m Not, where she played the lead role “Danielle.”

"Danielle"

CONNOR LAWRENCE JOHNSON

CONNOR LAWRENCE JOHNSON is an actor, musician, and creator from Bethesda, Maryland. He is currently a junior enrolled in Syracuse University’s VPA acting program alongside a concentration in communications. Connor has worked in numerous theatre productions during his time at Syracuse and recently formed his own organization, Snow School Productions. In 2016, he co-founded Bulls-i Productions, and for its most recent release, Someone I’m Not, Connor served as co-creator, co-producer, story editor, music composer, and acting director as well as playing a lead role as “Cain.”

"Cain," Co-Producer, Story Editor, Music Composer, Acting Director

JON JAKOBOWSKI

JON JAKOBOWSKI is a sophomore screenwriting major in Chapman University’s Dodge College from Bethesda, Maryland. Along with screenwriting, he enjoys directing, cinematography, editing, and acting. In 2016, he co-founded Bulls-i Productions, a micro-budget production company, where he has co-produced five films, two of which are an hour long. He began writing Someone I’m Not in his first Dodge screenwriting class, and once Connor made his story edits, both of them began their scramble to gather actors, locations, equipment, and resources in the three weeks before their shoot began. Jon enjoys acting as well and seeks minor roles in his films, playing “Branson” while simultaneously working behind the camera as director. In the six months following production, Jon edited the film while Connor composed music, and on August 15, 2020, Someone I’m Not was complete.

"Branson," Writer, Director, Editor, Co-Producer, Cinematographer

Cast & Crew List:

Sophie Isbell…………………………………………….........……………….Danielle

Connor Lawrence Johnson…………………………………………....……..….Cain

Lily Gilan……………………………………………………………….....…..…Lily

Jeremy Wenick……………………………………………………….…..Christopher

Jon Jakobowski……………………………………………………...……….Branson

Mike Jakobowski………………………………………………………Mr. Weismann

Suzanne Jakobowski…………………………………………………..9-1-1 Operator

Kevin Johnson……………………………………………………….….Police Officer

Cain holding Danielle hostage.

Jon Jakobowski…...Director/Writer/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Editor

Connor Lawrence Johnson..Producer/Story Editor/Music Composer/Acting Director

Alfie Moore……………….....……………………………………....Camera Operator

Joe Cloud……………………………………….……………………..Boom Operator

Alfie Moore Behind the Scenes with Jeremy Wenick, "Christopher."

Director/Writer's Comments:

I often find myself intrigued by the question, “How far will you go for love?” Either we’ve experienced it ourselves or we know someone who has been caught in a toxic relationship, becoming someone they’re not for the sake of their partner. I wanted to chase this concept of wanting something so bad — such as someone’s love and respect — and discovering how far someone will go to get it and when it becomes too much. We watch Danielle, an insecure teen naively wanting her boyfriend’s attention, create a situation that dangerously escalates beyond her expectations. Once Cain knocks Branson unconscious and mentions murder to Danielle, she has to reevaluate her priorities and make some key decisions to rid herself from this plague of a relationship. Although the stakes are dramatized, the concept still exists and continues to fascinate me even after the film’s completion.

Production Notes:

When I first pitched Someone I’m Not to Connor, the protagonist, Danielle, was actually Danny — an eighteen year old boy seeking the respect and attention of a local drug dealer. However, we decided to make the protagonist a girl caught in a terrible relationship but still desperate for the attention of her partner, sparking our interests in telling a story about toxic relationships.

While writing Someone I’m Not, the pick-up spot in the woods was set to be in the back lot of an empty estate that my aunt and uncle owned. The house on the estate was meant to be Christopher’s house, which would have been empty due to Christopher’s family in the middle of moving out (but really because the house was unfurnished), throwing a big wrench into Cain’s plans. However, two weeks before production, my aunt and uncle sold the estate. This forced us to search for new locations for 75% of the script. Luckily, the new owner of the estate permitted us to film for two days on his back lot, acting as the pick-up spot. Also, my aunt and uncle thankfully let us use their current house for Christopher’s house.

The location used for Washington Prep — the school that Branson, Christopher, and Danielle’s step-sister, Lily, attend — is where I went to high school, Georgetown Prep.

Originally, I had planned to remain entirely behind the camera so I could focus all my attention into directing — the first time ever for any of my films. However, the actor for “Branson” canceled two days before shooting. Unable to find a replacement, I had to embody the role.

Filmed in the dead of winter, Someone I’m Not was a week-long shoot riddled with hand warmers, portable heaters, extra layers hidden under costumes, and hot drinks. Unfortunately, in the middle of our schedule, a snow storm hit Maryland, covering all of our exterior sets in snow. We had to drive south into Virginia to find snowless backgrounds (used for the scene where Danielle, Branson, and Lily drive to Christopher’s). Luckily, most of the snow melted within two days but is still slightly noticeable in the background of some scenes.

While using a drone to film aerial shots, I crashed the wing into a tree branch, causing the drone to fall twenty feet, breaking the gimbal the camera rotates on. Although the drone was broken for the rest of the shoot, this shot is used in the final cut at 06:20.

Behind the Scenes

Jon and Alfie prepare for their third day of shooting.
Alfie operates the camera for scene 4.

Contact Me & Check Out My Other Work:

Jon Jakobowski

jony.jakobowski00@gmail.com

301-385-0107

https://jonjakobowski.com/

https://bullsiproductions.com/