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Rebellium Films  ·  Carousel Films

Created by Zachary J. Stracener  ·  Private Investor Deck · 2026

ECHO

A father's attempt to hold on to his son becomes a quiet descent into chaos when their weekend trip turns into a statewide manhunt.

A Psychological Thriller  /  Independent Feature  /  Tennessee  /  2026

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The World of Echo — Tennessee
The World of Echo — Heart of Tennessee
01 — The Story

Some truths
refuse to
stay buried.

Genre
Psychological Thriller
Setting
Heart of Tennessee
Production
18–21 Day Shoot · Oct 2026

Joe Guillory — a quiet army veteran facing a bitter divorce — clings to the one tradition that still connects him to his son: a weekend getaway up in the mountains.

When he picks the boy up from school, what was meant to be an escape spirals into a statewide manhunt. As the walls close in, Joe must navigate a world that no longer understands him, all while trying to hold on to the only thing he has left.

The love for his son.

What Makes This Unique
Non-Linear Storytelling

A non-linear approach transforms the traditional kidnapping thriller into a profound character study — encouraging viewers to engage deeply with every emotional journey.

What Makes This Unique
Psychological Tension

The narrative delves into the intricate psyche of veterans, showcasing their struggles with PTSD — adding emotional resonance that elevates this far beyond genre.

Tennessee Echo Echo
02 — The Characters

The People
of Echo

Lead CharacterJoe Guillory
Joe Guillory

A veteran struggling with PTSD and mental illness that causes manic episodes of illusion. A divorced husband who desperately wants to be a good dad — not a headline, not a manhunt. Just present. A tour-de-force role for high-caliber talent.

JoeEcho
Cooper Knight
Cooper Knight

Middle Tennessee's sharpest detective. Relentless, principled, and willing to blur the lines to uncover the truth. He sees a manhunt. He doesn't yet see the man.

Attached Actor & Co-ProducerJoel Courtney  as Deputy John Weller
Joel Courtney

Known for Super 8, Jesus Revolution, and the Kissing Booth trilogy — the most-watched Netflix film in history as of 2019. Joel co-produces ECHO alongside Zac Stracener and brings both mainstream reach and a deeply personal connection to veteran stories.

Supporting LeadMelissa "Mel" Guillory
Melissa Guillory

A devoted mother doing everything she can for her son while, from afar, she tends to the slow unraveling of her ex-husband. She loves him. She can't save him.

The Heart of the FilmJax Guillory
Jax Guillory

Joe and Melissa's son. Wide-eyed and loyal, clinging to a version of family that no longer exists. The reason Joe keeps going. The reason everything falls apart.

Supporting RoleClint Bussy
Clint Bussy

Owner of the Rolling World Rink and Joe's boss. A slick, small-town hustler whose charm barely covers his grime. The kind of man a broken system produces.

Echo Echo Echo
03 — Casting Wishlist
"Joe" — The Lead

A tour-de-force character for high-caliber talent. A veteran struggling with PTSD — a divorced husband who desperately wants to be a good dad.

Taylor Kitsch
Age 44
Friday Night Lights, The Terminal List
Ben Foster
Age 45
Hell or High Water, Warcraft
Tom Pelphrey
Age 43
Task, Ozark
Shane West
Age 47
A Walk to Remember, Nikita
Luke Grimes
Age 42
Yellowstone, American Sniper, The Magnificent 7
"Cooper" — The Detective

A recognizable face to add significant poster value. Middle Tennessee's sharpest detective — relentless, principled, willing to blur the lines.

Danny Ramirez
Age 33
Top Gun: Maverick, Captain America: Brave New World
J.D. Pardo
Age 45
Mayans M.C., The Terminal List
Emile Hirsch
Age 40
Into the Wild, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Jake Lacy
The Office, The White Lotus, All Her Fault, Rampage
Jensen Ackles
The Boys, Supernatural, My Bloody Valentine
"Melissa" — The Ex-Wife

A devoted mother doing everything she can for her son. She loves Joe. She can't save him. A role requiring emotional depth and quiet devastation.

Julia Schlaepfer
Julia Schlaepfer
Age 30
1923, American Horror Story
Sarah Pidgeon
Sarah Pidgeon
Age 29
Love Story, Tiny Beautiful Things, The Wilds, Stereophonic
Kelsey Asbille
Kelsey Asbille
Age 34
Yellowstone, Wind River
Perry Mattfeld
Perry Mattfeld
Age 31
In the Dark, Chad Powers
Willa Fitzgerald
Willa Fitzgerald
Age 34
Reacher, Strange Darling
— Production Company

Rebellium Films — Recent News

rebelliumfilms.com  →
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Echo Echo
04 — The Filmmakers
Zac Stracener
Director / Co-Writer
Zac Stracener

Filmmaker from the bayous of Louisiana, living in Nashville, TN. Known for capturing raw, visceral human emotion and translating it into heart-wrenching visuals. Online creator with 1.3 million followers.

Cannes Lions Young Director AwardVariety PublishedMicrosoft · NASCAR · NorthfaceChevrolet · Jockey · Jeld-WenColorado Film FestNashville Film Festival
Eric Ulbrich
Cinematographer
Eric Ulbrich

Clio Award Winning cinematographer specializing in cinematic realism. Has shot Dwayne Johnson, Emma Stone, and Zoë Bell. Music videos for Incubus and Diplo.

Clio Award WinnerToyota · Gatorade · NikeUnder Armor · Uber · Ford · CadillacIncubus · Diplo
Briana Frapart
Producer / Casting
Briana Frapart

Award-winning entertainment professional based in Los Angeles. Member of the Casting Society (CSA) and Television Academy (Emmy's). Credits include Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon, Hulu.

Netflix · HBO Max · AmazonHulu · Canon · CJ E&MCasting Society (CSA)Television Academy
Jake Shull
Co-Writer
Jake Shull

Southeast-based screenwriter known for grounded, character-driven stories. Work distributed on Tubi and Amazon Prime.

Christmas at Xander PointThe Gregg Russell StoryTubi · Amazon Prime
05 — Director's Filmography
Forever Sleep
Forever Sleep
Cannes Lions Young Director Award · Colorado Film Fest · Film Shortage · 400K Views
▶   Watch Film
 Prodótis
Prodótis
Nashville Film Festival · Flickers Rhode Island · Film Shortage · Short of the Week
▶   Watch Film
Echo
Echo — 2026
06 — Equivalent Titles
Take Shelter (2011)
Budget~$1,000,000
Worldwide Box Office$4,900,000
ResultSold to Sony Pictures Classics

The closest tonal comp to ECHO. Quiet dread, deep character, psychological tension, massive critical acclaim.

Blue Ruin (2013)
Budget~$420,000
Worldwide Box Office$993,000
Theatrical ROI236%

Lean indie thriller with significant VOD tail. Proves the elevated genre model works at micro-budget with the right execution.

Fruitvale Station (2013)
Budget~$900,000
Worldwide Box Office$17,300,000
ResultSold to Weinstein Company

Earned nearly 20× its production budget. Sundance buzz converted to mainstream visibility and a major distribution deal.

Cop Car (2015)
Budget~$800,000
Opening Weekend$143,658 (Limited)
ResultSold to Focus World / NBCUniversal

Chase thriller with a child at center — similar structural DNA to ECHO. Demonstrates the market appetite for contained indie thrillers.

The Elevated Genre Model

ECHO fits the "Elevated Genre" thriller model — the most sought-after format by today's streamers. Target acquirers include Netflix, Amazon, A24, Neon, and Row K. This is exactly the category the market is paying for.

Echo Echo Echo
07 — Budget
Total Estimated Budget$1,186,000

An efficient 18–21 day shoot in Tennessee. Maximum production value with disciplined line-item control. Full breakdown available under NDA.

Budget Overview
Above-the-Line — Lead Filmmakers & Supporting Cast$400K
Top-Billed Cast — "Joe" (Sched F + P&H, Fringes)$111K
Top-Billed Cast — "Cooper" (Flat Fee + P&H, Fringes)$41K
Cast Fringes P&H$80K
Production Crew / Below the Line Filmmakers$400K
Post-Production$60K
10% Contingency$94K
Tennessee F&E Tax Rebate
15–20%
State rebate on qualified expenses — protecting initial investor capital. First payout ~$200,000 upon production wrap.
Above-the-Line$400K · 34%
Top-Billed Cast$232K · 20%
Production (BTL)$400K · 34%
Post-Production$60K · 5%
10% Contingency$94K · 8%
08 — Financial Structure & Waterfall
Step 1
TN Tax Rebate

State of Tennessee F&E rebate deposited first. ~$200,000 returned immediately upon production wrap.

Step 2
Investor Principal Recoup

All investors recoup 100% of principal — Pro-Rata & Pari-Passu. Equal footing, paid simultaneously. No dilution once percentage is assigned.

Step 3
20% Investor Premium

Investors receive an additional 20% premium before the production company or producers participate in any net profits.

Step 4
Net Profits 50/50

After 120% recoupment, remaining net profits split 50% Investor Pool / 50% Producer Pool.

Example: $250K Investment (25%) · $1M Net Profit Budget
Principal × 120% Recoupment$300,000
Remaining Net Profits (50/50 split)$850,000 each pool
25% of Investor Pool ($850K)+$212,500
Total Payout
$512,500
205% return on a $250K investment
09 — Investor Return Calculator

ECHO has a total budget of $1,186,000 and a target raise of $1,400,000. We project a sale price of $5M–$10M based on comparable titles. Enter your potential investment below.

Your Investment Amount
$
Conservative
$5M Sale
—
—
Principal—
20% Premium—
TN Rebate Share—
Net Profit Share—
Base Scenario
$7.5M Sale
—
—
Principal—
20% Premium—
TN Rebate Share—
Net Profit Share—
Upside
$10M Sale
—
—
Principal—
20% Premium—
TN Rebate Share—
Net Profit Share—

Projections are illustrative estimates based on the ECHO waterfall structure. TN tax rebate assumed at 20% of $1,186,000 budget. Net profits represent your proportional 50% investor pool share after 120% recoupment. Pre-tax estimates only. Not a guarantee of returns. Not a solicitation of securities.

10 — Production Timeline
2026 — Production Year
Apr–May
Development
LLC formation · Apply for TN F&E Rebate · Script lock · Final legal setup · Commitments secured
May–Jun
Pre-Production & Casting
Final prep · Casting · Location scouts · Key crew heads confirmed
Sep
Principal Photography
4-week shoot · Heart of Tennessee · Visual teaser: quick turnaround
Oct–Dec
Post-Production Begins
Assembly & rough cut · Fine cut & picture lock · VFX, sound, score begins
2027 — Post & Festival Year
Q1
Post-Production
VFX, sound, foley, score · Color, final mix & QC · Deliverables · Test screening, TN · TN F&E Rebate deposited
Festivals: Sundance · Berlinale · SXSW
Q2
Festival Circuit
CannesTribecaGI Film Fest SD
Q3
Festival Circuit cont.
Fantasia Int'lTIFFNashville FFSitgesFantastic FestAustin FF
Q4
Awards Season
VeniceAFIVeterans FF
Echo Echo
11 — Marketing Strategy
Podcast Outreach
Jocko Podcast

Family member is a previous guest and friend of the show. Direct line to the veterans' community ECHO is built to serve.

Podcast Outreach
Theo Von

Fellow Nashville local. Huge supporter of veterans, mental illness awareness, and Nashville culture. Millions of aligned listeners.

Co-Hosts' Own Podcast
The Long Cut

Joel Courtney and Zac Stracener co-host their own podcast — a built-in marketing machine and authentic community around the film.

Community Event
Biscuit Boy

A Nashville pop-up diner activation for fans, local influencers, and fellow Middle Tennesseans — grassroots word-of-mouth in the film's home market.

Brand Partnership
Black Rifle Coffee

Custom limited-edition coffee release with ECHO film branding. Massive veteran-aligned audience and authentic co-marketing opportunity.

1.3M
Director's Social Reach
Online Audience

Zac Stracener is an established online creator with 1.3 million followers — a built-in distribution channel for trailers and behind-the-scenes.

12 — Interested Parties & Partnerships
Stage 6
Sony Company
Origin
Leupold
Jocko Fuel
Jockey
Black Rifle
Coffee Co.
13 — Why Invest
15–20%
Tennessee Tax Rebate

State rebate on qualified production expenses — directly protecting initial investor capital before any distribution revenue arrives.

20%
Investor Premium

All investors receive a 20% premium before the production company or producers take part in any net profits.

50%
Net Profits Pool

After 120% recoupment, net profits split 50/50 between investor pool and producer pool. Your percentage is locked — no dilution once assigned.

205%
Projected ROI Example

A $250K investment (25% stake) returns $512,500 after 120% recoupment and a proportional share of net profits. Use the calculator above to model your amount.

14 — From the Filmmakers
Zac Stracener
Writer / Director · Rebellium Films & Carousel Films
"My heart is to craft stories about individuals who despite their brokenness and flaws, find redemption amongst the chaos. Severe mental illness has attacked my family for generations. The story of Joe Guillory is my exploration on a father's perverted reality of fatherhood. I hope that through this story, people do not see a deadbeat father but rather a man who has been plagued by an illness out of his control and was thrown into a broken system after serving his nation. The ink on this script is blood from my heart."
Joel Courtney
Deputy John Weller · Co-Producer
"My father is a retired Lieutenant Commander and Naval Submariner who served our country for 20 years, and I also have uncles and cousins who've served in other branches. Because of that, telling military stories — whether true or fictional — is deeply personal to me. With ECHO, my hope is to shine a light on the experiences of our veterans, help them feel seen, and advocate for the support they deserve when they return home."
Echo

Let's make this film together.

Rebellium Films & Carousel Films are selectively sharing ECHO with a small group of investors. Full prospectus, budget breakdown, and screener available upon request.

zac@thecarouselfilms.com Request Full Prospectus
Strictly Confidential & Private · Not a Securities Offering