On February 12, Director Paula Rhodes launched a crowdfunding campaign for Burned – an intriguing new short film where “the witches burn back,” reclaiming the narrative around the Malleus Maleficarum, the Renaissance-era treatise on witchcraft.

On February 12, Director Paula Rhodes launched a crowdfunding campaign for Burned – an intriguing new short film where “the witches burn back,” reclaiming the narrative around the Malleus Maleficarum, the Renaissance-era treatise on witchcraft.

Rhodes describes Burned as “a little Princess Bride, a dash of Drunk History”, in which she is teaming up with actors Cissy Jones (The Owl House), Julian Richings (Supernatural) and Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3) . Three more voiceover cast members were announced today: Tara Platt (Fire Emblem), Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man himself) and Sarah-Nicole Robles (The Owl House).

From the film’s media release: “Burned will be a framed narrative short film that begins in the grey pre-opening hours of a library where two seasoned Librarians inform their newest colleague of the true story behind The Malleus Maleficarum. Their bewitchingly witty narration takes us into the tale-within-the-tale, back to Austria 1485, where a beautiful motion graphic novel expands before us. It will highlight our continued need for media literacy and retake the quill from one of the first trolls, Heinrich Kramer.”

The Malleus Maleficarum provided fuel for the flames – societal and literal – that consumed countless innocent women for centuries following its publication. Rhodes’ film, provoked by a vivid dream she had last year, aims to flip the script on one of history’s most infamous texts. The film’s motion graphic novel will be illustrated by Zack Finfrock (@finfrock on Instagram).

We reached out to Rhodes find out more about this tantalizing project and this is what she had to say:

This project started with a dream – tell us more about the genesis and how you got Burned to this point?

It’s wild. Last Fall I was listening to the BBC podcast Witch, where I first learned of ol’ Heinrich, and was struck by how someone so petty and pathetic could have influenced so many others after his death to do such horrible deeds. Yet some people see something in writing on a meme and take it seriously today without questioning the source’s motives, so clearly this issue with media literacy has plagued us for a long time.

I shared this new-to-me tidbit, and my dear friend and magical human Beverly Hynds Prior sent me a message that I was going to make a film about it. Flattered, but without a clear vision on how to do it, I went about my day. But soon after I had a dream. It was so vivid. It was in a library and librarians were the narrators, taking us into the past to humanize the events of 1485 that led to the writing of The Malleus Maleficarum.

The script just poured out of me after that. [My producer, America Young] suggested making the past animated to make it doable on a budget. But it wasn’t until I was at VisionCon a few weeks later and met Julian Richings that I was struck by how he looked so like the Heinrich I’d pictured in my dream. I told him about my script and was delighted to hear he was excited by the idea too. That emboldened me to reach out to Cissy Jones, who I’d known from mutual friend circles and who had also been a clear face in the original dream. She wrote me back within minutes and has been an invaluable partner in this since. After that, I felt pretty good about reaching out to Neil Newbon (whom I’d loved working on Resident Evil with) and others and was equally thrilled with each of their responses. It felt very “meant to be.” 

 How’d you assemble such a killer cast?

I’ve been very lucky to be a part of the voiceover and geeky/con-tastic communities for years now, so when assembling a team for a project the hardest part is often how there are just far too many amazing humans to pick from. I’m rather thankful that darn dream helped me zero in on some at least. I’m so excited to announce more soon!

 What sort of viewer do you think will resonate with Burned?

I think the primary audience will be women 25-plus as women instinctually feel the rage of injustice so many before us felt under The Witches’ Hammer. To be able to take that power back feels glorious… perhaps even magical.

It will also delight those 18-45 Comic-Con attendees as this is tailor-made for witty “nerds” who naturally offer empathy to the underdog, embrace graphic novel culture, and adore factoids others haven’t yet discovered. After that, it widens out to those who like comedy as it is the magical ingredient that, when added in the right portions, makes stories delicious to a much wider set of taste buds and can open hearts to open minds. 

 What do you think makes the crowd funded model special, for viewers and creators?

It’s a LOT of work, but the audience building you can create as you bring your viewers along on the ride can be so invaluable. Everyone likes to be a part of something, to make a difference, it’s an important part of the magic of storytelling.

I’m offering a chance to be a part of something that finally sets the narrative straight, that gets the last laugh, and that can give them a chance to be a part of a film with some of their favorite actors.

There’s real power in story, and in banding together around one. I can’t wait to see who joins us around this fire.

It’s time to burn back.

Rhodes’ feature directorial debut Delicate State won Audience Choice at Dances With Films and global distribution, and Burned has already advanced to the Quarterfinals of ScreenCraft’s Film Fund. The crowdfund campaign on Seed & Spark includes incentives like being drawn in as a cast member in the motion graphic, early access, videos from cast members, tickets to the premiere, and even the opportunity to voice a character in the film.

View the trailer, follow progress, and contribute to the Burned crowdfund campaign at seedandspark.com/fund/burned.