Hello everyone near and far, new and old! Andrea here. Two and a half years ago, I started a film directing MFA at CalArts that blossomed my filmmaking practice into historical and experimental places I couldn't have imagined.

Now, it's finally time for me to shoot my thesis film, Nightjar, an experimental narrative short film that explores themes of matriarchal lineages, ghosts of history and displacement revolving around my family's country of origin, Nicaragua.

Nightjars are a subtropical bird species that is fully nocturnal and active during dawn and dusk. During the day they camouflage themselves amongst vegetation. They are a very adaptive species that tolerates human disturbances well, and are currently not endangered.

This film is the story of a girl and her aunt who accidentally summon the ghost of a revolutionary woman fighter during a power outage.

Photos I took of my godmother's house in Nicaragua that inspired my writing process.

I've been developing this script for two years over several trips to Nicaragua. Through magical-realist cinematic gestures, I seek to connect the past and present through the image as both a spirit and a portal. I seek not only to uncover history and reveal contradictions and truths but also to better understand the ever-shifting dynamics of identity, memory and post-colonial feminism.

Still images from test shooting I've done in Nicaragua.

We are raising funds to cover our expenses on this journey - including traveling, paying our actors, locations, and room and board. Indie filmmaking, even in its most stripped down iteration, requires a lot of people and resources!

I am so lucky to have my team members, Em Butler (producer), and Ryan Bradford (director of photography) along with me on this journey and sharing in this vision. I'm so in awe everyday at my amazing community of artists and mentors at CalArts. I'm so grateful to my larger community that includes you all! I truly hope to make you proud. Thank you so much for anything you can donate, anything at all helps. Most of all, thank you for your love and support always. It means the world.

with so much love, solidarity and gratitude,

Andrea Cecilia

Em Butler

Ryan Bradford