Wow! Sounds thrilling. I'll say.

The film is a funny yet morbid window into what it feels like to be in an industry that combines art and commerce, friend and competition, truth and lies. Themes aside, my character is going to (SPOILER) literally die and end up inside of a can of soda. And I need money to build this big ass can of soda on a sound stage. Sound cool? Yeah! It should be... if we get the cash. You see where I'm going with this?

You might say, wow, jeez Matt, this is a lot of money to build a big ass can! (...And what have you done for me lately). You're right, I'm sorry, I've been kinda sad lately. Let's get coffee soon and remedy that. And yes, it is a lot of money! It's a big ass can. 

The image of the giant can represents so much of how I feel about this world. Trapped in a liminal space. Addicted to products that make me feel bad. Desperate to escape consumerism. The can won't simply function as a home for the dialogue of the film to take place in, but also as a living, breathing part of the film. And for immersion, we're going to fully stock the bar (barstools, darts, drunk guys, bartender et al). Then we will drop the can in an above ground swimming pool with water dyed to mimic soda. Neat, huh?

We are going to pay people a decent wage! Union jobs! We have two dog actors in the movie! (We don't have to pay them squat. No dog union...) Your money is going to go to a piece of art you can engage with whenever you'd like! Your name will be included in the credits! When we premiere at festivals you will be notified and your attendance would be cherished! And in our world full of AI slop, it is expensive but necessary to still pay real people to make real things, as human creativity is the basis of great storytelling. 

I sure can. Your money will be well spent, as our cast and crew are industry professionals with experience spanning decades. You likely have seen their work on television, stage, or in theaters. Actor Sam Dunning recently starred in a movie at Cannes ('26), and now I'm putting him in a can. He can also be seen on the latest season of For All Mankind (Apple TV), among his many other television credits. Cinematographer Gus Aronson's work spans across film and print as his work is featured in the New York Times regularly. He works often with our Production Designer Theo Webb, whose ability to connect thematic messages with visual storytelling has been showcased at festivals such as Raindance, IFF Boston, and Tribeca. Theo is hard at work designing and building our can. Katharina Windemuth, our Costume Designer, is becoming one of the most sought after in the independent film world, most recently designing for the incredible horror film Recluse (Tribeca '26). This film would not be possible without our talented producer Calvin Ryerse & Second Sun Pictures. Their support has been monumental. We have so many other artists involved with our project and I cannot wait to showcase their talents with this film.

I wrote this film with someone in mind for every single position in the crew and actor in the cast. I wrote it for these individuals to showcase their talents, and selfishly, to get the chance to make art with them. As an actor, to be able to work with people I admire (and better yet, my friends) on something that brings us all joy is the most important thing in the world. I hope that the final result is a funny and engaging piece of art that everyone can be proud of. We all genuinely appreciate any support that can help bring this labor of love to life.

THANK YOU!!!

Matt Reilly & the team behind My Drink With Rick