Patient Zero
Patient Zero Official Film Poster — Rio Van Zant kneeling in the Sonoran Desert beneath a falling meteor
Based on a True Story • Tucson, Arizona

Patient Zero

Written and Directed by Gabriel Michael
Executive Producer Bill Booz
Starring Rio Van Zant & Bill Booz

“A film from childhood to adulthood and how we survive it.”

She was leaving tomorrow. A meteor showed her what she was running from.

Logline

On her last ride with her best friend, a woman touches a fallen meteor and gets lost in the one place she’s never been able escape — her own mind.

Seed & Spark Campaign for funding this film is going live in January!
Explore Perks ($5 – $500+)
Based on a True Story

Surviving the Lens We Inherited

A story of surviving abuse, C-PTSD, depression, undiagnosed ADHD, and how life looks through the lens that was indoctrinated until it was the core identity — a mistake, something that should never have been allowed to exist, yet it’s here: Patient Zero.

Zoe believes she isn’t good enough, so she is leaving the one person who has always shown up. On one last ride with her best friend Thomas, a fallen meteor pulls her inward through four shifting worlds of her own subconscious, forcing her to confront the belief she inherited as a child.

Help us tell this story from a perspective rarely seen on screen. My hope is this film will show the complexity of one person’s existence and how our compassion for one another is our anchor to something greater than ourselves.

The Lie

The beliefs we inherit as children become the walls of the room we live in.

The Loop

Lost, searching, and unheard, she keeps repeating the same search in new places.

The Voice

Someone who calls her name is the one thing that can bring her back.

Visual Architecture • Practical Effects First

Inside Zoe’s Mind: The Four Worlds

I. The Desert

Alone and lost in the Sonoran night. Zoe searches for Thomas as the landscape shifts around her without her reacting — the disorienting first step inside a mind trying to outrun itself.

Cinematography & Approach

Real night exteriors in Tucson. Grounded desert terrain, minimal dialogue, and atmospheric silence carried by practical lighting.

Tucson, Arizona Production

Cast & Crew

Writer • Director • Producer • Editor
Gabriel Michael
Gabriel Michael Productions
Executive Producer • “Thomas”
Bill Booz
Total Return Life Films
Lead Cast • “Zoe”
Rio Van Zant
Lead Role
Director of Photography
Michael Redd
Cinematography & Color
B-Camera & Behind The Scenes
Charmaine
Camera & Documentation
Production Assistant
Victor
On-Set Operations
Crowdfunding & Production Roadmap

Seed & Spark Campaign & Supporter Tiers

Seed & Spark Campaign for funding this film is going live in January!

Every bit helps — all funds go directly toward cast and crew. The more we raise, the better our cast and crew get paid.

A Film That Scales With Every Dollar

We have a $1,500 base loan in place so Patient Zero gets made no matter what — covering food, props, essentials, and minimum rates.

We have set up our Seed & Spark campaign with a minimum goal to deliver the film and stretch goals up to our $4,000 full plan ($2,500 raised on top of the base) to increase pay for cast and crew, provide a higher crafty budget, and fund festival submissions, marketing, and a local Tucson screening.

$1,500 Base Secured $4,000 Full Cast/Crew & Festival Plan

Shoot & Distribution Path

Shooting in and around Tucson in early Spring 2027 across real desert, lake, and corridor locations, followed by post-production, a festival circuit run, and a local Tucson screening before its final destination in streaming distribution.

Seed & Spark releases campaign funds once 80% of the goal is reached. Every backer tier below includes rewards designed to bring you directly into the making of this film.

Backer Rewards

Choose a Tier to Preview Rewards

✦ Signed Digital Poster included with all tiers $25 and above
$5 The Spark
  • Personal digital thank-you update from the production
$25 Supporter
Includes Signed Digital Poster
  • Signed Digital Poster of Patient Zero
  • Supporter credit in the film
$50 Screening Pass
Includes Signed Digital Poster
  • Signed Digital Poster of Patient Zero
  • Supporter credit in the film
  • 1 ticket to the local Tucson screening
$100 Special Thanks
Includes Signed Digital Poster
  • Signed Digital Poster of Patient Zero
  • Special Thanks credit in the film
  • 2 tickets to the local Tucson screening
$250 Associate Producer
Includes Signed Digital Poster
  • Signed Digital Poster of Patient Zero
  • On-Screen & IMDb Associate Producer credit ($250–$499)
  • Signed physical production still
  • 4 tickets to the local Tucson screening
$500+ Co-Producer
Includes Signed Digital Poster
  • Signed Digital Poster of Patient Zero
  • On-Screen & IMDb Co-Producer credit
  • Signed physical production still
  • 4 tickets to the local Tucson screening
  • Invitation for up to 4 people to the cast & crew dinner
Nov – Dec 2026

Pre-Launch

Teaser release, outreach, and final pre-production prep in Tucson.

January 2027

Seed & Spark Live

30-day crowdfunding campaign opens to raise cast/crew rates.

Early Spring 2027

Tucson Shoot

Principal photography across desert, lake, and corridor locations.

Spring 2027

Post-Production

Editing, sound design, score, and color grading.

2027 Release

Festivals & Streaming

Festival run, local Tucson screening, and streaming distribution.

10% Of Net Proceeds
After Distribution
Giving Back • Locked in Producer Agreement

Supporting Survivors Through Childhelp.org

10% of net proceeds from Patient Zero once it enters distribution will be donated directly to Childhelp.org, which has served survivors of child abuse and neglect since 1959.

This commitment is separate from Seed & Spark campaign funds and is established in the signed producer agreement. Zoe’s story is for anyone who was told, directly or indirectly, that they weren’t enough.