USC Junior Thesis Film
Donation protected
Dear Friends and Family,
As some of you may know, I recently transferred to the USC School of Cinematic Arts as a film production major. In the upcoming spring semester, I will be directing my own Junior Thesis film and working with my very talented filmmaking peers, Edwin Ortiz and Nina Kramer.
But this film will be costly to produce. We are allowed to spend a maximum of $1000 on our project, which comes out of our own expenses. I have been doing freelance on the side while attending school, but this has been mostly going towards my living costs. As a college student, I am very grateful for any help I can get for this film. I have always supported Asian American representation on screen and I believe this film is a small step towards this goal. Since I am the writer and director of my own film, I wanted to highlight the Asian American immigration journey to America. That’s when I started researching and came across something called ‘Picture Brides’. I spent last semester rewriting this script and it is close to coming alive on screen, which makes me so excited! My film is set in Angel Island’s Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay. The 1907 Gentlemen’s Agreement denied visas to Japanese and Korean workers, but there was a loophole: a clause made it acceptable for wives to join their husbands in the U.S. And so 1,000 Korean women became picture brides of men they didn’t know.
My protagonist is a Korean girl who tries to immigrate to America as a Picture Bride, which is basically a Mail-Order Bride. Asian bachelors who immigrated to America before as workers would mail their photographs to match makers in Asian countries to get set up with a wife. The wife would then get sent to America as a Picture Bride and would have to pass through the tough immigration center of Angel Island.
One simple mistake can send her back to Korea.
Personally I have never heard of these women or learned about them in my history books so I would love to share their untold stories.
Now since this is a period piece, it will be expensive to get props and wardrobe for this film. The amount fundraised will be going towards: FOOD: We have a cast of 5, and with crew members we will need food for about 12-15 people throughout 4 shooting days. PRODUCTION DESIGN: This film is set in 1910 and so we will be renting/buying props that match this time period. COSTUME, HAIR, & MAKEUP: We will have to rent out 2 hanboks that match the 1900s wardrobe and rent/buy clothing for the men in this period piece. Hair and makeup will definitely be important as well for the look of this film. LOCATION: There are 3 different locations and since it is a period piece, we will probably have to rent a space and use our production design skills in order to bring this story to life.
Since I am a film major, I will be raffling off movie tickets for anyone that donates any amount of money! I know it isn't much, but I would love to spread my passion for film with you :) This film is not for profit by any means. And if you can not contribute financially, please help me gain support by sharing this link! Thank you for helping me pursue my dreams. Kind regards,
Eleanor Cho
But this film will be costly to produce. We are allowed to spend a maximum of $1000 on our project, which comes out of our own expenses. I have been doing freelance on the side while attending school, but this has been mostly going towards my living costs. As a college student, I am very grateful for any help I can get for this film. I have always supported Asian American representation on screen and I believe this film is a small step towards this goal. Since I am the writer and director of my own film, I wanted to highlight the Asian American immigration journey to America. That’s when I started researching and came across something called ‘Picture Brides’. I spent last semester rewriting this script and it is close to coming alive on screen, which makes me so excited! My film is set in Angel Island’s Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay. The 1907 Gentlemen’s Agreement denied visas to Japanese and Korean workers, but there was a loophole: a clause made it acceptable for wives to join their husbands in the U.S. And so 1,000 Korean women became picture brides of men they didn’t know.
My protagonist is a Korean girl who tries to immigrate to America as a Picture Bride, which is basically a Mail-Order Bride. Asian bachelors who immigrated to America before as workers would mail their photographs to match makers in Asian countries to get set up with a wife. The wife would then get sent to America as a Picture Bride and would have to pass through the tough immigration center of Angel Island.
One simple mistake can send her back to Korea.
Personally I have never heard of these women or learned about them in my history books so I would love to share their untold stories.
Now since this is a period piece, it will be expensive to get props and wardrobe for this film. The amount fundraised will be going towards: FOOD: We have a cast of 5, and with crew members we will need food for about 12-15 people throughout 4 shooting days. PRODUCTION DESIGN: This film is set in 1910 and so we will be renting/buying props that match this time period. COSTUME, HAIR, & MAKEUP: We will have to rent out 2 hanboks that match the 1900s wardrobe and rent/buy clothing for the men in this period piece. Hair and makeup will definitely be important as well for the look of this film. LOCATION: There are 3 different locations and since it is a period piece, we will probably have to rent a space and use our production design skills in order to bring this story to life.
Since I am a film major, I will be raffling off movie tickets for anyone that donates any amount of money! I know it isn't much, but I would love to spread my passion for film with you :) This film is not for profit by any means. And if you can not contribute financially, please help me gain support by sharing this link! Thank you for helping me pursue my dreams. Kind regards,
Eleanor Cho
Organizer
Eleanor Cho
Organizer
Artesia, CA
