Pay the crew
Support the local filmmakers giving their time and craft to the production.
A feature film from Mobile, Alabama
Some stories
can save a life.
Help filmmaker Jesse Starling complete Unsteady—a feature film confronting mental health, addiction, and drug overdose with honesty and hope.
Campaign progress69%
Current campaign total shown on Givebutter.
01 / The film
Why this film, why now
A deeply human story about finding steady ground.
Unsteady is Jesse’s most ambitious project yet: a feature created to raise awareness around mental health and fatal drug overdoses.
Every contribution helps pay and feed a local cast and crew through production, then gives the finished film a path to festivals and audiences where its message can matter most.
Support the productionA message from Jesse
Why do I need your help?
Hear directly from Jesse about the film, the crew, and what your support makes possible.
Feed the set
Keep cast and crew cared for throughout an intensive summer shoot.
Share the message
Help send the finished film to festivals and awareness-focused audiences.
02 / Selected work
Films made with heart, hustle, and a hometown crew.
Award-winning shorts, a documentary, and stories that show what Jesse can do before his first feature ever rolls camera.
01
Seriously Single
1st Place — 2026 Mobile Film Office Holiday Film Scramble
An award-winning Christmas short film.
02
Reach Out
National 48 Hour Film Scramble
A personal favorite, written and produced against the clock.
03
Frog Paralysis
1st Place — 2025 Fairhope 48 Hour Film Scramble
A fast-moving short created by a local Alabama crew.
04
The Butterfly Effect
Original Short Film
An idea Jesse carried for two years before bringing it to screen.
05
The Story of Our Veterans
1st Place Documentary — 2025 MCPSS Film Festival
A documentary that also earned the Red Ribbon Award and grant funding.
06
Coffee Break
Best Short Film & Best Overall Film — 2025 MCPSS
Jesse’s senior festival submission and one of his favorite projects.
03 / About Jesse
Mobile, AlabamaDirector · Writer · Filmmaker
Learning the craft, then sharing what he learns.
Jesse is a film student at the University of South Alabama and a filmmaker rooted in the Mobile-area creative community.
Alongside narrative and documentary work, he runs a filmmaking YouTube channel with more than 2,000 subscribers, sharing practical lessons for emerging filmmakers.
2K+YouTube subscribers
6featured films
4major awards
04 / Filmmaking videos
Learning in public.
Field-tested advice and behind-the-scenes lessons from Jesse’s channel.
Be part of the story
Help bring Unsteady to the screen.
Give what you can, share the campaign, or reach out if you want to help make the film this summer.