CORY IN ORBIT
^^ WATCH THE TEASER ^^
— a mix of talking head interviews with Cory’s TGIF “family” and some of today’s best improv actors!
USE OF FUNDS:
Cast + Crew
Locations + production design
Equipment + cinematography
Puppet fabrication + specialty departments
Post-production (edit, sound, color, VFX)
Marketing, festival travel, and deliverables
Legal, insurance, payroll
Contingency for overages
*Investors see where every dollar goes.
INVESTOR TERMS:
100% recoupment priority (first dollars out)
70/30 profit split (in investors’ favor) until 2x ROI is reached.
50/50 profit split thereafter.
Producer credit on-screen + IMDb.
Invites to premiere, screenings, festivals.
Quarterly financial reporting.
Clear, transparent, industry-standard terms.
ROI SCENARIOS:
Conservative Case:
Festival run + digital platforms
Long-tail AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand) revenue
~1x recoupment
Moderate Case:
Limited theatrical
Single-territory SVOD (Subscription Video on Deman) deal
Merch + nostalgia engagement
1.5-2x ROI
Best Case:
Major festival discovery
Multi-territory streaming sale
3-4x ROI
A feature mockumentary comedy
Written & Directed by Aaron G. Hale
Budget: $250,000
Seeking: Equity Investment / Co-Financing Partners
MORE DETAILS…
ABOUT THE FILM
Cory Quaid was a teen idol in the ‘90s thanks to Cory in Orbit, a cheesy sci-fi sitcom that aired somewhere between TGIF and Nickelodeon. Now in his early 40s, washed up, and still clinging to his former fame, Cory sees a chance at a comeback when a TikTok mocking the show goes viral. He recruits the president of his old fan club to help relaunch his career - despite having zero idea how. As a documentary crew follows the chaos, Cory’s delusion, desperation, and deep need for connection begin to collide in a hilariously tragic quest for relevance.
Logline: A washed-up 90s sitcom teen heartthrob lets a doc crew film his attempt at a comeback - and it goes exactly how you’d expect.
Genre: Comedy / Mockumentary
Budget: $250,000
Financing Sought: $200k in private equity investment
Production Plan: 4-week main shoot + 1 - 2 week cameo/interview unit
Investor Return: 100% recoupment priority + 70/30 profit split until 2× ROI
Distribution Path: Festival premiere (SXSW / Tribeca) → limited theatrical → hybrid streaming / AVOD release
It’s Waiting for Guffman meets Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping with the sad-sack sweetness of American Movie.
Tagline: “Every star burns out. Some just don’t know when to quit.”
Tone: Cringe-funny, heartfelt, and deeply unserious - a mockumentary about fame, failure, and the world’s most awkward re-entry.
THE FILMMAKERS
Aaron G. Hale
WRITER / DIRECTOR
Aaron G. Hale is an Atlanta-based writer, director, and actor known for blending heartfelt nostalgia with sharp, character-driven comedy. Through his banner Low T Pictures, his award-winning short films (Reggie & Rainbow, Javelina Run & Clementine) have screened at festivals worldwide.
His feature debut, Cory in Orbit, continues that voice - a Christopher Guest–style mockumentary about fame, failure, and reinvention in the age of social media.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Market Size Snapshot:
Global comedy film revenue expected to exceed $50B by 2028 (Statista).
Mockumentary / alt-comedy titles show high streaming retention and rewatch rates.
Niche audience comedies regularly outperform cost-to-return ratios on AVOD platforms.
THE ASK
Investment Sought: $250,000
Total Budget: $200k (includes $50K for marketing/distribution)
Use of Funds:
Production & Crew – $150K
Post-Production – $37.5K
Marketing/Festivals – $37.5K
Legal/Insurance – $10K
Contingency – $15K
Investor Benefits:
100% recoupment priority (first dollars out).
70/30 profit split favoring investors until 2× ROI.
50/50 split thereafter.
Producer credit on film and IMDb.
Access to premiere, festivals, and promotional events.
COMPARABLE PROJECTS
(in tone & marketability)
What These Comps Mean for CORY IN ORBIT
Budget Tier:
$250,000 — directly aligned with Thunder Road, VHYes, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets, and Creep: all successful, character-driven micro-budget films powered by performance, improvisation, and strong festival positioning.
Audience Fit:
Alt-comedy + ’90s nostalgia + mock-doc hybrid.
A sweet spot shared by modern cult breakouts (VHYes, The Dirties) and performance-driven indies (Thunder Road).
Distribution Path:
Festival Premiere:
SXSW, Tribeca, or Fantasia, where micro-budget comedies and faux-doc hybrids frequently launch.Limited Theatrical / Event Screenings:
Highly viable for cult-comedy films with nostalgia appeal and a built-in viral hook (e.g., roadshow screenings like The Dirties and Creep cast events).SVOD / AVOD Deal:
Recent comps indicate licensing potential of $100K – $300K domestic, with additional upside for international and niche platforms (horror-comedy, alt-comedy, nostalgia channels).Long-Tail Revenue:
Strong potential for 5–7 years of catalog life through:AVOD rotation
physical media
soundtrack rights
merch (especially given Cory’s built-in “retro TV show” collectability)
Investor Takeaway
With a $250K budget, Cory in Orbit aligns with a proven wave of micro-budget festival breakouts that leverage strong character work, improvisation, and nostalgia to generate outsized cultural reach.
The film’s mockumentary format, faux-’90s TV aesthetic, and viral-ready concept position it for:
efficient production
recognizable cameo casting
strong festival visibility
attractive streaming licensing value
and long-term fandom revenue
This strategy mirrors the success patterns of recent cult hits (Creep, VHYes, Thunder Road), all of which earned significant returns relative to cost.
Cory in Orbit offers a realistic recoupment pathway and a high-upside “cult film” trajectory at a very achievable micro-budget scale.