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Support NO MAN'S LAND: A Chapman Thesis Film
0% complete
$875 raised of $1.5K
9 donations
Welcome to the fundraiser for No Man's Land: A Chapman University thesis film!
LOGLINE
A young Mexican soldier has enlisted into the cold and brutal trench of World War I to ensure his family citizenship in America.
SYNOPSIS
Set in the trenches of Argonne, France in 1918, the story follows Alfredo Barrera, a freshly 18-year-old Mexican who volunteered to enlist with the belief that surviving the war will earn him U.S. citizenship and a better future for his sick mother. Alfredo faces language barriers and racism from soldiers, forcing him to rely on a comrade. Diego Arjona, a fellow Mexican immigrant, is scheduled to return home. Diego gives advice that survival alone isn’t enough to gain him citizenship—if Alfredo wants citizenship, he has to prove his loyalty to the U.S.
After Diego is rotated out, Alfredo meets Wilson Miller, a farm boy from Florida. Their friendship gives Alfredo his real chance to prove that he is committed to earning that citizenship by learning English and volunteering for the leopard’s crawl. Soon after, Wilson dies from trench foot, leaving Alfredo alone as he prepares to face No Man’s Land alone.
Diego reappears in the trench. He was sent back and forced to take on the leopard’s crawl again. Betrayed, he’s convinced that America’s promises are empty. Alfredo clings onto the belief that proving himself is the last chance he has. That night, they crawl into No Man’s Land. German soldiers attack and shoot Alfredo down; in his last moments he witnesses not only Diego’s death but his own.
WHERE WILL FUNDS GO?
Funds that are donated will be allocated and distributed across various departments.
- Production: Funds will go to crafty and catering to provide sufficient meals across a series of six twelve hour working days for our cast and crew.
- Camera: Funds will also be used for camera, grip, and electric rentals to be able to properly capture the detailed visuals of the film.
- Production Design: In order to execute the historical accuracy of the film, our team is going to recreate and build World War I trenches set in Argonne, France. This build will require purchases of wood, paints, dirt, mud, prop weapons, and period accurate costumes that will need to be rented or custom made. We have a team full of experienced individuals dedicating hard work and time to properly execute this build to its fullest extent and donations will help make this project come to life and keep the crew building fueled with snacks and meals for long physically demanding days.
- Post Production: Our funds will also be used for post production to get a beautifully composed score, detailed sound design, and opportunities to enter into film festivals to bring exposure to the talents that make up our team.
WHY DONATE?
Our film No Man’s Land is a representation of hard working individuals who immigrated to the United States for a better life. Inspired by true events, No Man’s Land highlights and captures the harsh reality many people, including immigrants, faced while serving in the war. This film is one of passion and the idea if something is worth dying for. Not only will your donations help visually capture the film, but it will help us bring awareness to a greater issue at hand – and that’s immigrants and minorities being exploited for their hard work and dedication to serve and protect a country that has not done the same for them. Your donation will contribute to a larger picture of bringing latino representation in front and behind the camera and capturing a message that will connect to a bigger audience than imagined.
OUR CREW!
Producer - Vanessa Lopez
Director - Kristian Grimaldo
Writer - Liam Buckley
Director of Photography - Reed Keenan
Production Designers - Elisa Hegedus & William Altermann
Editor - Caydence Johnson
Sound Designer - Chloe Lim
Organizer
