CECILIA – Student Thesis Film

*PRODUCTION UPDATE* We successfully wrapped principal photography in January! Huge congratulations and gratitude to our incredible cast and crew. We are now well into the post-production process. The movie officially screens on April 19 at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

We still need your help to finish our film. With your generous donations, we will be able to fund:

Here’s how you can help:

1. Donate! Any amount is greatly appreciated and will help us bring this film to life.

2. Share this crowdfunding page with your community! Spread awareness about this impactful project.

3. Follow our Instagram @/cecilia.film for production updates and more information about our crowdfunding. Be a part of our community to drive action on the issues covered in our film!

Your support will directly aid in fulfilling our mission and accurately portray California’s history to advocate for its people and environment today. Thank you for your continued support of this movie!

Much gratitude,

Nuria and Ariana

MISSION STATEMENT

Through extensive research and mentorship, we aim to share a history of California colonization and Native resilience. Our film sheds light on often neglected issues of stolen land and settler violence, among other themes. Our mission is to raise awareness, spark dialogue, and advocate for justice in both historical and contemporary contexts, all while upholding historical and cultural accuracy.

THE STORY: ABOUT CECILIA

CECILIA is a historical drama set in 1856 in the greater Los Angeles basin. It follows the story of a Gabrieleno (Tongva) woman working as a servant at a Mexican rancho alongside her daughter and other community. Outside the property, an Anglo squatter fences his claim and poses a threat against the rancheros and workers. Cecilia finds herself alone after the ranchero’s wife leaves in pursuit of a lawyer to defend their land grant. The squatter sees this as an opportunity to corner her; he threatens to hurt her daughter and tries to assault Cecilia. Determined to be free and protect her child, Cecilia defends herself.

WHY THIS STORY MATTERS:

Our film brings awareness to a painful period in Native and Mexican-American history that is heavily underrepresented in the media. CECILIA emphasizes the resilience of women and Indigenous peoples throughout history, and delves into diverse attitudes on stolen land and rights. Through a feminist lens, our film challenges stereotypes and myths perpetuated by the white male gaze in the Western genre, providing a unique perspective. This allows us the platform to address the ongoing, distressing prevalence of violence against Native women, which remains an urgent issue today. We aim to engage our audience in the critical Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement and the Tongva Land Back movement, both in the narrative and credit sequence, to drive awareness and action on these issues.

CECILIA KEY CREW:

This film is led by students of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Director/Co-Writer – Nuria Schettino González (she/her)

Co-Writer — Issac Michael Ybarra

Producer – Ariana de Leon (she/her)

Director of Photography – Alaina Stehlin (she/her)

Production Designer – Helen Neppl (she/her)

Unit Production Manager – Keely Johnson (she/her)

Editor – Audrey Lane (she/her)

Sound Designer – Anjali Drapcho (they/them)