The Final Campaign

Xander: JACKSON RUNCIMAN, Oliver: JORDAN GOODMAN,

Elijah: TYLER LAWRENCE-SMITH 

Siren: KARLA TORRES

To reinforce that idea visually, each character was associated with a specific color that remained consistent in both the real world and the fantasy world. Oliver is green, Elijah is purple, and Xander is brown. This helped emphasize that their in-game characters and their real identities are not separate, but connected.

The choice of the real-world setting was just as intentional. I decided to shoot in an attic because I wanted the characters to exist in a space that felt personal, lived in, and separate from the outside world. It is a place where they are most comfortable: a hangout space that reflects their friendship and history. I wanted it to feel warm and cozy, somewhere they could let their guard down. Originally, the script was written with a basement in mind, based on my own experience, but when a friend offered his empty attic, the opportunity was too great to ignore and ultimately better served the tone of the film.

From the very beginning, I wanted to portray the Dungeons & Dragons world and the real world separately, while also making it clear that the characters they were playing were essentially just extensions of themselves. In Dungeons & Dragons, it is common to take on entirely new identities, but for this story, I kept that connection visible. In the script, the distinction is as simple as names like Xander and Xander-Barbarian. 

I wanted the fantasy world to feel vibrant and cinematic, not drab or grounded. Ultimately, I chose virtual production because it allowed for consistency in lighting, environment, and tone. Though I considered alternatives like animation, macro lenses on the game board, or even using the real world, RIT’s virtual production wall allowed for consistency between the D&D and attic sequences while accounting for my strict filming schedule. While the real world could have provided a beautiful setting, especially for the lake and forest, it was not something I could reliably control in Rochester given the constraints of coordinating cast and crew schedules around classes and work, as well as unpredictable weather. 

The Final Campaign comes from a very personal place. It reflects the emotional experience of trying to express something that feels impossible to say out loud. I have always been interested in how people communicate things indirectly, and this film explores that through storytelling. The Dungeons & Dragons campaign becomes a space where Oliver can express something real before he is ready to confront it directly in his own life.

This story is rooted in my own perspective and experiences  and the kinds of stories I am drawn to. I love fantasy and sci-fi, anything that has magic or elements that aren’t grounded in reality. Oliver’s journey is about fear, vulnerability, and self acceptance, and I wanted to approach that with sincerity.

Escapism is often seen in a negative light, and I wanted to twist it into something positive. For many people, especially queer youth, it can be a tool. It allows you to explore identity, vulnerability, and emotions that might otherwise stay hidden. In this film, the game is not separate from reality, it is an extension of it. As the story progresses, that line begins to blur, and what starts as performance becomes honest. I wanted for Oliver to use D&D to gain confidence in the real world. In the story, being gay essentially became a superpower. 

At its core, The Final Campaign is a love story. It is about what it means to truly see someone and to be seen in return. It explores friendship, jealousy, and the tension that comes with growing and changing within a group, along with the awkwardness of trying to express your emotions to someone you care about.

Jordan is a Junior Musical Theatre Major at Nazareth University. He is originally from Olney, Maryland but plans on moving to New York City post-grad. In his free time he enjoys hanging out with his friends, especially when it comes to a good movie night, as well as painting pottery when he can. Over the summers he has also loved working as a camp counselor supporting kids with disabilities. Though he loves this work, theatre is really where his heart is. Some of his favorite shows have been The Prom(Sheldon), Romeo and Juliet(Paris), and Little Shop of Horrors(Seymour). Although he has had more experience on stage, he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of this short film. Being on a set for the first time was really cool as well as informative

Tyler is an illustration major/photography minor student at RIT, he is a artist, singer, voice actor, and model who's known about dungeons and dragons since his sophomore year of high school. Tyler's goals after college is to become a full on voice actor, continue his contact creation on YouTube and be a character designer and overall digital artist in the TV show and movie industries. Tyler's always been such a huge fan of film and the overall behind the scenes when it comes to everything. This is his first time ever doing with theatre, acting and being in a film overall. He was mainly interested because of the idea of a dungeons and dragons film and starting his debut as an actor in this capstone film.

Jackson is 19 years old and lives in Rochester, New York. Acting is his main passion but he also works as a teacher aide! 

"My experience on A Final Campaign was one of the most fun, unique, and passionate projects I’ve ever been apart of. So thank you so much Justin for the experience!"

Leah is a theatre arts student from the Rochester area, soon graduating with an associate of arts degree. She fell in love with acting and performing in middle school, and has pursued that passion throughout her education. She has been in several musicals and plays, with notable roles such as "Auntie Em" in The Wizard of Oz, "Malvolio" in Twelfth Night, and "Terpsichore" in Xanadu! 

Leah plans to continue pursuing acting by gaining more screen acting experience and getting involved with more local theatres. Outside of school and performing, she has part-time jobs at Wegmans and the CMAC concert venue, where she learns more about camera work.

Karla is an actor from Rochester, New York, currently enrolled at New York University for art therapy. She comes from a theater background and has performed in a few stage productions. She’s excited to keep growing while taking on new opportunities. She would like to thank Justin specifically for allowing her the opportunity to be in this awesome film and everyone else who has supported her.