Artichoke

About the offering

Artichoke Pictures is raising funds to produce a 15-minute short film that serves as a proof-of-concept for a feature-length psychological thriller about a CIA hypnotist recruited during the 1960s into Operation Artichoke. The film's distinctive hook is that it aims to use real hypnotic and subliminal techniques on the audience during the viewing experience—potentially causing measurable subconscious responses like standing up with hands raised when the credits roll. Written and directed by Robert Matthews (Chapman University alumni, award-winning short filmmaker, feature screenplays optioned by Hollywood production companies, finalist at Academy Nicholl Fellowships and Final Draft Big Break), the project has assembled notable crew including a composer who worked with John Williams on Star Wars, Avatar, Avengers, and Indiana Jones films, and a cinematographer whose credits include Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish music videos. The Wefunder campaign has raised $50,300 toward a $60,000 goal. Investors participate through a capped revenue share agreement offering up to 200% return (2x) from exploitation of the short film and/or the eventual feature.The ProblemThis is a creative entertainment project, not a business solving a market problem. The underlying commercial thesis is that audiences and studios are hungry for genuinely novel cinematic experiences—similar to how The Blair Witch Project created the found-footage genre and Avatar created the modern 3D experience. Films about CIA mind control programs (The Manchurian Candidate, Jason Bourne franchise) have been told from the subject's perspective; Artichoke would be the first told from the hypnotist's perspective and, more ambitiously, the first to attempt applying real subconscious techniques to the audience within a narrative film framework.The SolutionThe short film is a self-contained 15-minute psychological thriller set decades after the main story, centering on the same protagonist as an 80-year-old man haunted by his past CIA work. It demonstrates the tone, visual language, psychological tension, and the innovative audience hypnosis experience. The feature film, set during the Vietnam War, follows a young hypnotist recruited into Operation Artichoke who becomes increasingly troubled by morally questionable assignments until one order crosses the line. A professional hypnosis consultant (Lucas Handwerker, TEDx speaker, 12 years of hypnotherapy practice) is working on the mind control elements. A disclaimer will be presented at the beginning to allow viewers to opt out. The short film serves as an industry showcase for packaging and selling the feature-length project, which would require a budget in the millions.Business ModelRevenue would come from exploitation of the short film (festival screenings, distribution, licensing) and, more significantly, from the option, sale, licensing, or production of the feature-length screenplay. Gross receipts first cover legitimate third-party production, distribution, and administrative expenses, with remaining funds distributed to investors until they receive up to 200% of their investment (2x cap). After investors are repaid, all remaining proceeds belong to the company. Investor repayment may occur over time and in stages. The primary revenue path is the feature film being picked up by a studio or production company, triggered by the short film's impact as a proof-of-concept. Producer David McInerney (20+ years, formerly Sony Pictures and William Morris Agency) represents the writer/director and would lead industry packaging efforts.TractionThe campaign has raised $50,300 toward a $60,000 goal (84% funded) with 15 investor reviews. The writer/director has won several "best film" awards at prestigious film festivals, had feature screenplays optioned by major Hollywood production companies, and been a finalist at Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and Final Draft's Big Break Contest. He recently produced a 2025 feature film (Dear Luke, Love Me) available on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango. The crew includes a composer with credits on Star Wars (sequel trilogy), Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers (Infinity War, Endgame), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and The Fabelmans; a cinematographer with Super Bowl commercials and music videos for Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, John Legend, and Imagine Dragons; and a producer with Sony Pictures and William Morris Agency background. No cast has been attached. The short film has not yet been produced—this raise funds its creation.Market OpportunityThe film industry generates tens of billions annually, and successful independent films can achieve outsized returns relative to their budgets. However, the vast majority of short films and independent projects never recoup their investment. The specific market opportunity here is contingent on whether the proof-of-concept short successfully demonstrates the hypnosis gimmick and attracts studio/producer interest for the feature. The "experiential cinema" trend (immersive theater, interactive films) provides some market context, but the hypnosis-in-a-narrative-film concept is genuinely novel and therefore has no comparable market data to reference.TeamWriter/Director/Producer Robert Matthews has 16 years of industry experience, is a Chapman University Dodge College alumni, has had feature screenplays optioned by major production companies, is a finalist at Academy Nicholl Fellowships and Final Draft Big Break, and has won multiple "best film" festival awards. Producer David McInerney has 20+ years in entertainment, formerly at Sony Pictures and William Morris Agency, and recently produced the horror feature Disappointment Girls. Hypnosis Consultant Lucas Handwerker is a TEDx speaker and expert hypnotherapist with 12 years of practice and multiple published books. DP Matthew Wise is an award-winning cinematographer featured in American Cinematographer Magazine. Composer Jonathan Bartz has worked alongside John Williams on major franchise films.

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