Experiencing Interruptions?

A Trip Elsewhere

During the Covid-19 pandemic, four anxious strangers take a record-breaking dose of LSD, catapulting them into a shared psychedelic dream where they must find solace and redemption before they can return to the real world.

  • J.R. Sawyers
    Director
    Before I'm Dead
  • J.R. Sawyers
    Writer
    Before I'm Dead
  • Jay Gutierrez
    Writer
  • J.R. Sawyers
    Producer
  • Andrea Geones
    Key Cast
    "Sorina Hart"
  • Hayes Dunlap
    Key Cast
    "Lenny Dugan"
  • Maura Mannle
    Key Cast
    "Amy Whitlock"
  • J.R. Sawyers
    Key Cast
    "Dale Madden"
  • Madeline Blue
    Key Cast
    "Kim"
  • Lorenzo Gonzalez
    Cinematographer
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Sci-fi, drama, comedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    150,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red, Digital, Sony A73
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Love & Hope International Film Festival
    Barcelona
    Spain
    September 17, 2024
    Best Feature Film Nomination, Best Actress Nomination, Best Cinematography Nomination
  • Athens International Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Best Feature Film - Honorable Mention
  • Creation International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Won Best Actress, Comedic Actress, Ensemble, Judge's Choice, Best Comedy Feature Film
Director Biography - J.R. Sawyers

J.R. Sawyers is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker with a taste for crafting character studies in unusual, sometimes fantastic settings. Originally from New York City, J.R. was inspired by introspective films like Taxi Driver and Rocky; and movies filled with character-driven spectacle like Interstellar and Jaws. J.R. has directed and produced a diverse collection of feature films and shorts. More recently, he just completed the feature film "A Trip Elsewhere."

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Years ago, after reading an article about a bipolar woman's transformative experience with psychedelics, my fascination with their potential for healing grew. This inspired the idea for a film exploring similar themes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, I suddenly saw the perfect setting. It was a period of unprecedented isolation and uncertainty. Lives were upended, and our collective sense of reality was shaken.

Not to mention, I was hearing about ayahuasca trips every week!

Made with a tiny budget but big hearts, our film “A Trip Elsewhere” was inspired by the notion of shared dreams – the idea that in moments of profound crisis, our subconscious minds might bridge the gaps that separate us. My interest lied in exploring the psychological and emotional possibilities this concept presented.

What might it mean to find redemption and connection through a dreamlike journey shared with others? Can shared experiences, even those bordering on the surreal, offer pathways to healing and transformation?

My aim was to create an enjoyable film that was dreamlike, funny and sometimes unsettling. I want viewers to question the boundaries between the real and the imagined, the individual and the collective. We often speak of shared trauma, but what about shared transcendence? Ultimately, this is a film about the surprising ways in which we can find light, even in the most unlikely of places.