Andrew Franks and I have been making movies together for the last 15 years. From planning our first film in the hallways of McMurray to shooting car chases at the gravel pit in high school, what began as a hobby became a passion that drove us both to study filmmaking in college. Now, seven years after graduating from Vashon High School, we have joined forces in Portland, Ore., and have set out to create our most ambitious and promising short film to date, “Men Who Don’t Work.”

Adapted from Raymond Carver’s short story, “What Do You Do in San Francisco?,” it is the story of a postman who develops a strange concern for a family that moves into a house on his route. Both challenging and cinematic, this film’s major strength, much like Carver’s writing, will be its authentic and minimalist look at the intricacies of day-to-day life.

The altruistic nature of Portland and its citizens will allow us to produce a high-quality, festival-worthy short film for a fraction of what it might cost to make elsewhere. Set to be shot the last week of May, we have already assembled the majority of a talented and entirely volunteer cast and crew. To achieve our necessary budget, we have turned to Kickstarter.com, the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. The power of this type of fundraiser comes from the small contributions of many, but we need your help to spread the word further. Vashon Island has always supported our efforts in the past, and we are so grateful for your continued support today.

— Alexander Atkins