Nic Kuklinski's Documentary Senior Thesis!

Hi there! My name is Nic and I'm currently producing my Senior Thesis film in the documentary program at Chapman University. Please help me fund it so I can produce a professional-quality short film that will shed light on an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

 

Logline: After suffering both mental and physical trauma in combat, Gulf War veteran Lorilei Lebruska finds healing in her bond with her trained service dog, Orbit, learning the true power of companionship and the importance of connection and compassion.

 

Synopsis: When Lorilei returned home from her tour in Saudi Arabia, she knew she was not the same woman who had left for war so many years ago. All her life she had dreamt of serving her country, but she could never imagine what combat was truly like. PTSD, crippling anxiety and depression, all coupled with chronic pain from wounds sustained in combat, left Lorilei with very few options. That was until she met Orbit.

 

Trained by the Guide Dogs of America organization, Orbit’s training allows him to sense over 60 cues from Lorilei, all of which tell him what she needs at any given moment. But not everyone is so lucky—with almost 20% of returning servicemembers being diagnosed with some form of mental illness, we are still left with an average of 17 veterans dying by suicide every day. In a country where the topic of mental health is only just beginning to be addressed, how many people still have to suffer in isolation? What hope is there for people who are unable to find their Orbit? These are questions that this film seeks to explore.


-Lorilei and Orbit


Target Audience: This film is intended for veterans, dog lovers, people who struggle with mental health, and anyone who wants to become a more compassionate and supportive person for those around them. The goal of this film is not only to educate viewers on the plight of veterans’ mental health, but also to inspire viewers to foster a more caring and interconnected community and to feel unafraid to ask for help themselves.

Budget: Donations from this campaign will go directly towards making this film as professional as possible! Here is a rough breakdown of the costs:

~$1,400 - Production (gas, hotels, meals, supplies)
~$3,500 - Post-Production (sound-mixing, original music scoring, color correction)
~$500 - Distribution (festival submission fees)

Any additional funds will be put towards donations for Guide Dogs of America, the Wounded Warrior Project, and more treats and toys for Orbit. :)

Reward Tiers: Donors who meet certain donation amounts will receive various exclusive prizes to show my gratitude for your support! Here are the following set reward tiers:

 1 - Support Tier ($20+):
     - Have your name featured in the credits of the final film!

 2 - Digital Deluxe Tier ($50+): 
     - Receive a digital copy of the final film poster and original score soundtrack!
     - All rewards from previous tiers

 3 - Cameo Tier ($100+):
     - Have an actual photo or video of your dog featured in the final film!!!

(clips of donors with their pets will be featured in a final montage at the end of the film and photos will appear during the film's end credits)
     
     - All rewards from previous tiers

 4 - Personal Thanks Tier ($200+):
     - Receive a handwritten thank-you note from the filmmaker and subject!
     - A signed photo of Orbit will be included with the note :)
     - All rewards from previous tiers

 5 - Executive Tier ($1000+):
     - Earn the title of Executive Producer in the final credits of the film!
     - All rewards from previous tiers


-Trainees from GDA and their sister organization, Tender Loving Canines

 

About Me: Since discovering my love of film about 7 years ago, I have worked as a director, cinematographer, and editor, always looking for ways to learn and grow as a filmmaker. In my time at Chapman, I have been accepted into multiple prestigious documentary programs, including Social Non-fiction Methodologies 2020 and Community Voices 2021. Some of my previous works include The Rat King (2019) and Yama (2020) (both of which can be found here: vimeo.com/showcase/nickuklinski) as well as my most recent project, These Moments (2021), which is currently in its festival circuit (thesemomentsfilm.com; instagram.com/thesemomentsfilm).

 

I have always wanted to pursue subjects that focus on compassion and human connection, but perhaps the most important lesson that I have learned is that the primary job of a documentary filmmaker is to always be listening and always be learning. My most profound experiences while making films have always come when diving deep into a subject that I previously knew nothing about, and coming out with a completely new perspective on life that I could not have imagined. For my current project, while mental health is an extremely important subject to me (and dogs are definitely my favorite thing in the entire world), I have very little experience when it comes to the military or veterans of armed conflict. I saw this topic as a wonderful opportunity to pursue a subject that I am passionate about while also gaining new insight into a group of people that I know very little about.


-Me with my dog, Rio

I'm grateful for your support, and any small donation you are able to make would be greatly appreciated! Thank you,

--Nic Kuklinski