Experiencing Interruptions?

Wasted

College freshman Alex Wilder tries to break away from his life-long identity as a theater kid, but after getting caught up with a corrupt fraternity crowd, his life begins to spiral.

  • Benjamin Klein
    Director
  • Blake Switzer
    Director
  • Charlie Koepp
    Writer
  • Zachary Orlowsky
    Writer
  • Jared Rosenthal
    Producer
  • Benjamin Klein
    Producer
  • David Kopriva
    Key Cast
    "Alex Wilder"
  • Noa Solomon
    Key Cast
    "Christina Palmer"
  • Jason Joo
    Key Cast
    "Kian Sun"
  • Natalie Matthai
    Key Cast
    "Grace Harper"
  • Trevor Hernandez
    Key Cast
    "Matt Blanco"
  • Chase Johnson
    Colorist
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Student, Thriller, Creepy, Experimenta;
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 17 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 24, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Benjamin Klein, Blake Switzer

Wasted is co-directed by Benjamin Klein and Blake Switzer. Klein is the New York-based director of The Wacko Worms Tragedy: NFT Update -- a short that sent shockwaves through the Web3 community due to its use of blockchain technology to perpetuate the realism of found footage & cinéma vérité in a way never before imagined. Switzer creates wildly successful social media videos highlighting Madison, WI on his Instagram and TikTok pages that have accumulated millions of views (@switzproductions).

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Director Statement

In crafting "Wasted," our goal was to authentically capture the subtleties of mental health issues as a part of our generation's college experience. We sought to illustrate the nuanced struggles that often go unnoticed, depicting moments where Alex Wilder confronts addiction, disassociation, and the quest for identity amidst the backdrop of the post-Covid United States.

By weaving 1920s hits throughout the film, we aimed to communicate the timeless nature of these themes: the eternal recurrence of human emotions and the persistence of cultural inertia in shaping our experiences. Our approach wasn't just about telling a story; it was about evoking a shared resonance with young audiences who may feel isolated in their struggles but recognize their universality through our movie.

We made “Wasted” for $1000, without owning a camera, lenses, or any sound equipment. We were able to complete it by using Facebook groups and online communities to borrow equipment. Nothing was stopping us from telling this story.