Update on The Road to Independence

First, thank you. Truly.

Two years ago, I asked for $20,000 to fund a second shoot in Vietnam — and because of you, we reached that goal. Not only did we complete that trip, we were able to stretch those funds into two production trips. Your generosity quite literally doubled our impact.

This summer will be our fourth and final trip to Vietnam — the end of principal photography. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come.

We are currently raising $12,000 to complete this final shoot, hence the update from $20,000 to $32,000 goal.

My friends and family network has been the backbone of this film from day one. You made this possible. And now I’m asking for one more kind of support:

If you’ve already donated, would you consider asking one or two friends to contribute?

At this stage, the only way we reach this goal is by expanding beyond my immediate circle. A personal ask from you — someone who believes in the project — carries so much more weight than anything I can post myself.

Finishing principal photography on a small, independent budget is no small feat. Once this final shoot is complete, we can transcribe the footage, craft a strong work sample, and apply for the larger post-production grants that will carry the film across the finish line. But first, we need to get back to Vietnam one last time to capture the core footage that will shape the story.

Thank you for believing in this film. Thank you for standing with me. And thank you for helping us take this final step toward bringing The Road to Independence to life.

With gratitude,

Samantha

Budget for 30 Day Shoot Summer 2026:

* Director of Photography Salary: 2400

* Airfare for Director: $2800

* Airfare for Director of Photography: $2400

* Accommodations: 2400

* Food for two people: 1000

* Travel within Vietnam (airfare and taxis, buses..etc): 1500

Total: 12,000

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Hi, my name is Samantha and I am an independent filmmaker and Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii, West Oahu.

My last feature film, Hunting in Wartime, about Tlingit Vietnam veterans, aired on national PBS and won several awards. Many of you donated generously to that film in its infant stages. Thank you again!

I am now in the early stages of making a counterpoint documentary that seeks to give a nuanced and humanized view of the Vietnam-American War and its complex reverberations. This documentary explores the perspective of Vietnamese youth and Communist veterans as they discuss the past and their dreams for Vietnam's future.

I used my personal savings to fund our inaugural trip to Vietnam this past December. We were able to secure six interviews and a solid amount of footage from the North of Vietnam. In June, we plan to go back for interviews from other locations. We need to return soon to capture valuable primary source historical accounts from aging veterans and to complete shooting for a short version of the film scheduled to be released in 2025 for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's independence.

Below is a snapshot of what the funds will be used for.

Any amount helps. Please pass on to friends and family you think might be interested in supporting our project.

Thank you so much. We all appreciate you!

Budget:

Total: 20000

Team:

Film Stills: