My feature film, OJAI, is nearly done.
We are seeking to raise additional funds to complete Post Production (Audio Mix, Color, Visual Effects, Music Licensing, etc).
In order to get there, we are seeking $27,000 ($7,000 of which is already secured). This budget will allow the film to undergo a professional Foley sound mix, receive a full Color Grade, acquire proper music licensing for the soundtrack, and hire additional help to complete the film’s visual effects shots.
The making of this film has been a long journey, with most of the editing being done by yours truly. Now it is time to pass the baton back to other professionals in my network in order to make OJAI the very best that it can be.
Follow the link in my bio, and consider donating or sharing with others in your network! #filmmakers #indiefilm #indiemovie
@ericrobertsactor@joaquim.pujol@noah_toth@annealexandersieder@aionboyd@vestatuckute@moses.massena
Today I’m releasing my first feature length movie - “OJAI”. An experimental sci-fi drama film. Filmed all the way back in 2020, and finally releasing today.
Watch it at
This movie was written, directed, produced and edited by yours truly, and filmed alongside an indie film crew comprised of some incredibly talented people almost 6 years ago.��The script was written over the course of 2 years from 2018 through early 2020. Production filmed over the course of 27 days in September of 2020 on location in Ojai, CA with a very indie and now fully exhausted budget, and then edited for nearly 6 years. Now, it’s releasing out into the world.��This 2 hour film wouldn’t exist without the support of friends, family, faithful crew members and colleagues who believed in the project even when the road ahead was unclear. It wouldn’t exist at all without the enormous reserves of patience, skill, love, and dedication poured into it by the cast and crew.
There have been so many lessons learned and so much experience gained by making this movie. That alone has made this film well worth it.
As the script was inspired by real events and circumstances in my own life, there is a very real emotional arc running through it no matter how surreal or “indie” the movie may get at times. Because of that, I will always look back on this project and the process creating it with absolute reverence.
Making this movie has been one of grandest adventures that I have ever undertaken, and I hope you find something redeeming in it too!
Already on to the next big project.
Enjoy!
Been a long time coming, but happy to say that OJAI will be releasing across Vimeo/YouTube/X tomorrow for all to watch in its entirety!
Stay tuned tomorrow 1PM EST
Happy to announce my feature film, OJAI, is completed and off to film festivals!
“OJAI” - Feature Film (2025)
Synopsis:
Ricky and his cancer-stricken mother move to the seemingly innocuous town of Ojai in pursuit of a vague yet promising experimental treatment. As Ricky tries to adjust to his new life, he becomes increasingly skeptical of the town’s innocence and concerned for his mother’s well-being.
Credits:
Written and Directed by David Austin Thompson
Produced by Jeyla Mendoza, David Austin Thompson and Joaquim Adrià Pujol
Director of Photography: Joaquim Adrià Pujol
Starring: Noah Toth, Vesta Tuckute, Aion Boyd, Anne Alexander-Sieder, Moses Massena, Ayoola Ayolola and Eric Roberts
Music by Tutara Peak, Eluvium, Elite Gymnastics and Default Genders
Art Direction by Zane Stein
Casting Director: Jenn Shadd
Associate Producers: Jennifer Shadd, Henry Johnston and Christopher Finefrock
Post Sound Mix and Sound Design by Harvey Carter and Kai Maynard
Post Production by DAT MEDIA LLC
Visual Effects by John Wolfe
Copyright David Austin Thompson and DAT MEDIA LLC 2025
@joaquim.pujol@noah_toth@vestatuckute@annealexandersieder@tutarapeak@aleph_sound@aionboyd@ericrobertsactor@momelizaroberts@iamgnarlycharlie@ojaifilm@zoopstoop@thia.schuess@jenn.is.online
OJAI is ready to be PICTURE LOCKED. We’re ready for Sound and Color!
But the real question is, why does the timeline look like ground zero of a nuclear disaster? Time to clean this thing up. #filmeditor #indiefilm #postproduction @ojaifilm@adobevideo
There’s always something waiting for you at the end of the road. If you’re not willing to see what it is, you probably shouldn’t be out there in the first place.
@ojaifilm #cinematography #featurefilm #indiefilm
