A group of friends is forced to confront their own fears and anxieties after they encounter a mysterious mountain-man and a folkloric forest creature on a ‘relaxing’ vacation in the woods.

Mission Statement

We are a group of talented young filmmakers and storytellers who want to share our experiences with anxiety and depression in a hip way that we can identify with. Our goal is to help be a part of normalizing the topic of mental health.

About The Project

JORDAN JUST NEEDS TO RELAX is a story about friendship and the equity within that relationship. I come from a family with histories of mental illness on both sides and I am also a childhood cancer survivor which has an increased risk of developing late-in-life depression. To top it off there is a growing rate of apathy and anxiety in my twenty and thirty-somethings as it feels to us as if the world is ending as opportunities are closed off and quality of life becomes more difficult to maintain. It is becoming more and more common for people to have situational or clinical anxieties and depression. We are excited to share our own personal and friends' experience with dealing and living with mental health in this surreal and horror adjacent film. We are looking forward to commiserating with you all.


Synopsis

JORDAN JUST NEEDS TO RELAX is the story of two friends trying to help their third friend Jordan through an episode of anxiety and depression. While on their vacation in the woods, they start to see and experience otherworldly phenomena such as piles of intestines and whispers guiding them through the forest. The trio meet a mysterious mountain man who tells them about an evil Tree Spirit that is the source of their anxieties as well as the mysterious happenings in the woods. Will the trios’ fears and anxieties be quelled once they meet this folkloric Tree Spirit? Will their friendship survive?


Background

Writer/Director - Neil Davis

Neil Davis is a writer, director, and editor working in Los Angeles, California. Since he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in cinema from San Francisco State University in 2015, Neil has accrued valuable experience in the industry working as an editor for social media agencies, small businesses, and brands in addition to directing micro-budget music videos and advertisements for socials. Neil has won numerous placements for his screenplays through festivals and foundations such as the Beverly Hills Film Festival and Screencraft. Neil currently works in advertising as a video editor. Neil would describe his creative style as whimsically depressed. Jordan Just Needs to Relax is Neil’s first feature length script.

Director of Photography - Alex Ajayi

Alex Ajayi got his start working in the grip and electric department on numerous projects ranging from commercials to feature films. From there he has been learning the craftsmanship that goes into shaping light and applying those skills into his cinematography.

Composer - Ryan Riesgo

Ryan Riesgo is a multi-instrumentalist out of Los Angeles CA. Self taught in guitar, piano, drums and voice, they have written and composed music for over 15 years beginning with a deep-dive into DIY film composing and scoring at a young age. Ryan also writes, tracks and produces bedroom pop shoegaze under the moniker Todavia (still/yet). Deriving influence from composers such as Phillip Glass, Max Richter, Yann Tiersenn and Devonte Hynes to name a few - Ryan explores the submerging of both acoustic and synthetic sounds via ambient guitar and vocal loops coupled with acoustic piano and strings.