Safe Society
Written and Directed by Chris Shimojima
Co-Produced by William “Gubi” Chiriboga
Client
Chris Shimojima | One Ocean Productions
Sector
Film | Audio
Years
2023 - Present
My Role
Producing, budget design, scheduling, production bible, casting operations, studio bookings, deck build, website art direction, press and platform rollout.
Wins
Signal Awards finalist for Best Scripted Fiction Limited Series 2024. Filmhaus nominee for Best Episodic Series or Podcast. Multiple nominations at Baltimore Next Media Web Fest including Best of the Best, Best Horror or Thriller Audio, Best Writing, Best Director, Best Narrator, and more.
The Concept
An influential entrepreneur spirals into obsessive behavior and becomes the perfect target for a fear machine. He must cut the strings before a nation turns on its children.
Ideas need architecture.
From Page to Plan
Chris and I had worked together many times before. When he sent me Safe Society, he wanted what I do best, turn vision into structure. I broke the script apart and built a full production bible. Scene by scene. Line by line. I defined a $2.5m plan that could carry real weight. With the plan airtight, we started looking for financial backing.
A Window Opened
A new production company came in with caps at $1.5m. So I rebuilt everything. Recut the schedule. Reworked departments. Shifted creative spend toward digital and AI. The story held strong. The plan just got sharper. When we met the executive producers again, they then wanted proof the idea could survive the market. Coming out of lockdown, the world was flooded with stories of illness and fear. They needed to know if this one still mattered. Their ask was simple, test the concept in a new form before greenlighting the film.
We Adapted Again
Chris and I explored every path. Novel. Graphic novel. Interactive concept. Each had potential, but sound carried the truth of it. Once we chose audio, he rewrote the story for voice while I built the production around it. New casting models. New studio systems. A fresh $10k plan built to move fast and stay lean.
This was a study of pure adaptability.
Two crafts working in sync.
A Production in Motion
Once the scripts were locked, we opened global casting calls. Submissions poured in from across the world. I reviewed every tape, filtered selections and passed finalists to Chris for direction. Together we built a cast that could carry both scale and subtlety.
Most talent recorded from their home setups, but for lead and supporting roles I sourced professional studios in each actor’s city and scheduled sessions directly. Chris directed them remotely in real time. The workflow ran like a film set spread across continents. Files came in daily, labeled and logged into a live database for edit.
Chris handled post entirely himself. He edited, mixed and designed soundscapes that blurred realism with abstraction. AI tools filled small gaps in background texture and dialogue cleanup, extending what a small team could do.
The Drop
When the project was complete, we launched Safe Society across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apollo Plus and YouTube Music. The rollout included a full press kit, trailer and companion site designed to immerse listeners inside the story.
The series earned multiple nominations, festival recognition and a growing audience. All from a $10k build executed remotely. Proof that adaptability outperforms scale every time.
“Working with Gubi on Safe Society was like working with a creative partner who could see the full picture from every angle. He doesn’t just produce. He interprets. He finds the balance between vision and structure and builds workflows that let ideas flourish.
When the budget shifted, he rebuilt the entire plan. When the film became an audio drama, he adapted instantly. No resistance, only solutions. Every change became an opportunity to make the work stronger.
He designed the production bible, restructured the workflow and kept everything moving as the format evolved. Every decision balanced creativity and logic. Every move protected the story.
What stood out most was his composure under pressure. He stays focused, grounded and always two steps ahead. Safe Society became possible because Gubi knew how to turn constraint into momentum.
If you want someone who can adapt without losing direction, who treats every pivot as part of the process, get Gubi on the phone.”
- Chris Shimojima, Write & Director
The Process Overview
Foundation
Script breakdowns, scheduling, and budget modeling. Built a $2.5m plan with full crew tiers and logistics ready for scale.
Reinvention
Rebuilt the system at $1.5m to fit new funding caps. Shifted creative spend toward digital and AI. Translated the feature into a new form of IP and rebuilt the framework for audio production.
Execution
Global casting, remote studio sourcing and lean production management. Directed and recorded across time zones with daily file delivery and live supervision.
Delivery
Edited, mixed and released Safe Society across major platforms with full press kit, trailer and companion site. Recognition across multiple festivals and award circuits validated the process.
Highlights
Turned a $2.5m feature plan into a $10k audio build without losing intent
Converted shifting budgets into working systems at every tier
Used AI and lean teams to expand scale and speed
Ran global casting and studio bookings with live remote direction
Delivered a full launch package that felt cinematic without a camera
Results
Released on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apollo Plus, YouTube Music
Signal Awards finalist. Filmhaus nominee. Baltimore Next Media Web Fest nominations across craft categories
Audience growth and press from a fully remote $10k build
Active path to feature expansion based on market response
Assets Delivered
Production bible, multi-tier budget files, casting database, studio sourcing, production schedule, post workflow plan, press kit, visual trailer, companion website and platform rollout package.
What I Learned
Adaptability is the most valuable skill in production
A clear system turns creative pivots into deliberate moves
Scale means nothing without structure
Technology only works when guided by intention
Every constraint can become a design choice
The story always finds its form when the framework holds
Collaboration works best when trust replaces ego
Reinvention is not compromise, it’s craft
Credits
Director & Writer: Chris Shimojima
Co-Producer: William “Gubi” Chiriboga
Narrator: Marlain Angelides
Cast includes: Zack Segel, Langston Fishburne, Jasmine Ashanti and more
Edit & Sound Design: Chris Shimojima