PRESS RELEASE—Actor and filmmaker Nick Mauldin (“You’re Not There”) is bringing a new half-hour dramedy pilot to life with “High Functioning.”
Written and created by Mauldin, and directed by Millicent Cho (“Ma”), the pilot follows Austin (Mauldin), an actor in New York whose drinking gradually spirals out of control, putting his friendships, career, and future at risk. As Austin scrambles to find money for rent and bombs audition after audition, the mask of composure he has so carefully curated, starts coming apart at the seams.
In anticipation of a series order, the team has a full season and series bible, deck and the first few episodes scripted. The series examines addiction within the gray area between normalcy and abuse, while tackling gender roles and the modern landscape millennials and Gen Z navigate every day.
Kelsey Lea Jones (“Misty Green”), CJ Stewart (“Line of Fire”), and Eric Waters (“Titanic,” “Arizona Broadway Theatre”) are attached as leads. Drew Moerlein of Moerlein Entertainment (“Bloodline Killer”) is producing the pilot, along with Mauldin. Kenneth Martell (“The Hand That Feeds”) joins as cinematographer
The production team is currently crowdfunding for the pilot with plans to shoot in October in New York and New Jersey. Supporters can contribute to the production on Seed&Spark.
Follow The Movie Buff for more updates as they become available. You can watch the “High Functioning” pitch video in the window below or by following Nick Maudlin on YouTube.
