Let's send Puja to grad school

Puja Aparna Kolluru is organizing this fundraiser.

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Portfolio - www.pujakolluru.com

“AND ACTION!”
My name is Puja Kolluru, and I am an aspiring film director, who wants to give a voice to millions of young women across the world. I am well on my way with big dreams but unfortunately a small wallet. My storyline is simple, but I must tell you why I need to appeal to your sense of generosity and action. My video gave you a gist what I ask from you but, please read on to know more!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MY LIFE:
Recently, in May 2017, I graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL with a bachelor of fine arts degree with honors majoring in film. And, to my amazement, I have been accepted into two top film graduate programs in the US to further my studies, University of Southern California (USC), and Chapman University, CA, for Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing.

Sarasota has been my home for past four years and now, I seek to move to Los Angeles by the end of this Summer to begin my life at graduate school. MFA program at Chapman University allows me to have a sophisticated experience during their course work, through creative collaboration with international film scholars, directors, actors, producers, and writers-in-residence, centered around the iconic film epicenter of Hollywood. Despite my exciting plans, I am immobilized by a lack of funds and student loans available to international students studying here in the US.

My parents, both of humble origins, taught me the value of education, hard work and dreaming big at a very young age! Thus, with their inspiration and exemplary motivation as my guide, I have been working and funding my own education in India and in the US, with the assistance of scholarships and small jobs. Despite my hard-won accolades as an undergraduate student at Ringling College, I am now faced with the greatest obstacle of my 23-year-old life i.e. to be accepted in top graduate films school with only partial funds.

THIS IS WHY I NEED YOUR HELP:
Tuition alone for USC is about $75,000 per year for international students (…yes, that is correct…) and Chapman University’s annual tuition is $60,000. I have managed to acquire a fellowship of $20,000 per year for all three years if I attend Chapman University, which I hope to do, and is ultimately the best place for me. But I need to obtain the residual $40,000, for my first year’s attendance by July 2nd week, 2017 or I will lose my place for Fall 2017, along with the fellowship, my dreams of furthering my studies and staying in America.

HELP ME TELL SOME GREAT STORIES:
My ultimate goal is to fine-tune my directing skills and story-telling abilities and use my artistic creativity in telling compelling stories about women. With your benevolent interest, you will help me change my life, while I bring a voice to dozens of others like me, and stories of millions of young people, specifically women from all around the globe who’s narratives go unfulfilled.

Through your generous contributions, I strive to reach my goal as a MFA graduate, while I extend my artistic creativity as a film director and join my role models like Mira Nair, Kathryn Bigelow, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del toro, Ava DuVernay, Tim Burton, and many more, who maintain authenticity in filmmaking as they tell impactful stories. I hope to contribute to the integrity and diversity in American and global filmmaking and one day, be an example for millions of young girls that follow.

Please help me, and who knows, soon…. we can bring great stories to the big screen together!

PS: In an unfortunate case of me not being able to go to Chapman University, I will refund all the donations. Thank you for your help!

MY PORTFOLIO & RESUME - www.pujakolluru.com

FILM

Reflection - A story about a 12-year-old girl battling death, finally gives up and leaves a heart touching message to her family on the back of a mirror.

PHOTOGRAPHY