How are we spending money?
TOTAL BUDGET ($899):
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Location fees: $100
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Craft services: $200
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Lighting & camera package (Blackmagic Ursa Mini 4.6K): $180
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Production design: $300
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Sound equipment: $30
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Safety fund: $89
SELF-FUNDING ($400):
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Director contributions: $250 (towards production design)
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Crew contributions: $150 (towards craft services)
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Who are we?
WRITER, DIRECTOR, EDITOR:
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Jhad Francis is a filmmaker and musician based out of Denton, Texas. A former UNT Short Film Club Writing Committee and current Production Committee member, he is also an avid writer, as well as music producer under the moniker “mombasan chemist”. Jhad’s keen interest in depicting how people are influenced by both their environments and their experiences inspire Sankofa, his narrative directing debut. A reel of his work is here.
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Two Wait Alone (2017), Sunburrow (2017), Trailblazing (2016)
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
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Dylan Vargas is a filmmaker and designer based out of Denton, Texas. He made his Director of Photography debut with the UNTSFC Official Film Fourth Wall. Dylan additionally works in graphic design and photography, extending his astute eye for composition and colour beyond film.
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Fourth Wall (2017), Mommy, Do I Have To? (2017)
PRODUCER:
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Gage Tijerina is a writer, producer, and actor based out of Denton, Texas. An active filmmaker and podcast producer since high school, Gage is ready for any logistical challenges outside the creative process. When not writing or making films, Gage is busy doing numerous stand-up comedy shows around the DFW area.
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Let It Out (2018), Fourth Wall (2017)
PRODUCTION DESIGNER:
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Julia Cruz is a filmmaker based in Denton, Texas. A member of the non-profit Women in Film, she is passionate about bringing unique and diverse perspectives to the screen. She has been on both professional and student projects over the past 4 years, and is excited to lead the art department in designing locations for Sankofa.
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Between the Buns (2018), 1985 (2018), Cried Wolf (2017)
SOUND MIXER & DESIGNER:
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Sam Decker is a musician and filmmaker based out of Denton, Texas. When not directing films or music videos, Sam can be found at house shows, fronting his two bands: Nakamara and DOMA KID. With an ear attentive to detail, Sam will build a soundscape for Sankofa that enhances the visuals.
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Fourth Wall (2017), Crazy Beans (2016), How To Solve A Problem (2016)
MARKETING & ART DEPARTMENT:
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Jon Rafael Birondo is a filmmaker based out of Denton, Texas. He is a former UNTSFC Records Officer, current Writing Committee member, and editor-in-chief at Dallas music publication Pretty Neat Grooves. He has also recently screened his writer-director debut, Linger.
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Let It Out (2018), Linger (2017), Two Wait Alone (2017)
OTHER CREW:
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- Assistant Director - Thomas Farmer,Two Wait Alone (2017)
- 1st AC & Colourist - Ciara Boniface, Dirty Money (2017)
- 2nd AC - Spencer Campbell, Dirty Money (2017)
- Assistant Audio - Dimitrios Aerts, Jackalope (2017)
- Gaffer - Zach Taylor, Let It Out (2018)
- Grip - Justin Vent, Fourth Wall (2017)
- Art Department - Zach Hopgood, This Is My Home (2018)
- Assistant Editor - Zachary Bayne Dyck, Inked (2017)
- Script Supervisor - Rigo Rayo, Two Wait Alone (2017)
- Production Assistant - Jared Cortez
- BTS - Kaitlyn Kilpatrick, Inked (2017)
- Producer - Sunny Perera, Two Wait Alone (2017)
What's in it for me?
Donation perks!
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$2 - Twitter Shout-Out
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$5 - Special Thanks in Credits
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$10 - Private Link to Film (by May 2018)
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$30 - Signed Poster by Cast & Crew (by June 2018)
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$50 - Signed Script by Cast & Crew (by June 2018)
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$100 - DVD Copy and Associate Producer (by June 2018)
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$250 - Executive Producer
What are you risking?
Student budgets:
- Being student filmmakers, it’s hard to find the time and money to make films in between school and jobs. As we work and live off our meager budgets, the donations through our campaign will help alleviate monetary constraints that come with independent films.
Feeding cast and crew on unpaid working hours:
- Working our self-imposed production hours requires self-discipline, especially when we are entirely unpaid. With your help, a portion of the funds from our campaign will go towards feeding actors and crew, ensuring we have the necessary health and energy to craft this film.
Extensive production design, conveying time passage:
- No great film can happen without great production design. While other films have different degrees of set dressing, Sankofa will be depicting multiple eras that pass to tell its story coherently.
Equipment rentals:
- Filmmaking is an expensive art, especially when using cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, and rigging/flagging. Our campaign will allocate a portion of the funds towards renting these tools from our collaborators and DFW production houses.
How else can I help?
- Be sure to follow us on Twitter and use the hashtag #SankofaShort to spread the word and promote our upcoming film! A simple retweet or hashtag goes a LONG way.
- Email sankofafilmproduction@gmail.com for any non-monetary aid you have that may help us (locations, equipment, production design items, etc.)!
