'Crime and Punishment' is an emotional exploration of one man's descent into obsession and the moral obscurity of his actions.

Feverish thoughts of murder consume Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov as he endeavors to kill an innocent pawnbroker to escape from the clutches of extreme poverty. Paranoia and guilt begin to slither their way into his mind as he sees only one way to get rid of them: enacting his plan. 

Our rendition of 'Crime and Punishment' will explore similar themes as Dostoyevsky's novel including alienation, morality, free will, nihilism, and mania. 

This film will be shot on decades-old Kodak 35 mm film stock that provides us with enough time to only do 1-2 take(s) per shot. Why shoot on film when you could do however many takes you want on digital? 

With a finite amount of film to work with, blocking and shot composition will be rehearsed thoroughly before we step foot on set. This allows us to refine our vision and be intentional in every creative decision made prior to filming. While this is more work off set, extensive rehearsing allows us to be more efficient on shoot days and get the entire crew on the same page. 

Visually, it will provide us with the rough, resolute image necessary to capture this movie the way it ought to be seen. 

Much of the film will be shot on location at Casa de la Guerra, a 19th-century residence of Josè de la Guerra, the fifth commandant of the Presidio de Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation explains:

"In addition to his military post, de la Guerra acquired four large ranchos, ran an active commercial trade enterprise and served as the patriarch for the local community. Casa de la Guerra home was the social, political, and cultural center of Santa Barbara during the Mexican period (1821-1848). José’s children and grandchildren occupied the building until 1943, when the Casa was fully incorporated into the El Paseo complex."

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation beautifully reconstructed the site using "materials and building methods similar to those originally used..." In addition, some of the original furnishings have been reinstated in their rooms. With your generous donation, we will be able to rent out space at Casa de la Guerra and integrate early Santa Barbara history into the aesthetics of the film. 

All funds raised through this campaign will be going towards these facets of the film's production. The allocation of funds towards production design, makeup, costumes, and locations is due to the special emphasis the director strives to place on the film's tone and aesthetic, and the remainder of the funds allocated will mostly be going towards equipment rentals, insurance, film processing, and crafty to keep the film cast and crew well-fed and healthy throughout the shoot.