Why this story:
When I was dreaming up what I wanted my senior thesis film to be, these are the goals that came to mind: I wanted to tell a story that encompasses the things I’ve learned in and outside of the classroom, I wanted to tell a story that was unique, and I wanted to tell a story that was joyful.
Swingout is all of those things. The story is centered around two characters who occasionally brush shoulders at a swing dance venue, essentially strangers. They are both trying to find joy in the midst of grief and loss, but they have to take different paths to get there.
I want to tell this story because I believe there is a need for it. The successes of films such as Alive & Kicking and La La Land are evidence of a market for films that feature jazz and dance. There’s a need for spaces where people can come as they are, receive the support of a community, and experience something purely joyful - and the swing community is excellent at creating those spaces. I also believe that in an age where much of our lives and interactions are digital, the act of dancing, especially with another person, provides a unique and much needed form of interaction.
Who we are
Julie Linstra:
A Kansas City native, Julie grew up with frequent field trips to the American Jazz Museum, and band directors who invested heavily in their school’s jazz bands. She started swing dancing around the same time she started making films, and her passion for both has grown ever since. In May of 2018, she will graduate from Biola University and the Torrey Honors Institute, with a major in Cinema & Media Arts, and a Minor in Anthropology.
Elijah Chandler:
Meet our director, Elijah Chandler! He graduated from Biola University’s Cinema and Media Arts program with an emphasis in Production May 2017. A native to California, Elijah’s passion for storytelling began when he started making short films with friends in middle school and high school. When he was 17, he independently published a fantasy, science fiction novel titled The Guardian: Spirit of Omega through Amazon.com’s CreateSpace. In his senior year of high school, he completed the faith-based thriller feature film titled Vision and it was recognized in various film festivals including Rock Harbor’s Film Festival in 2014, the following year. In college, he was a cinematographer, writer, and director for various shorts. He now freelances in both the Orange County and Los Angeles areas and develops short films in his free time.
Together, the two of us have completed several short films, including one that was show to the entire undergraduate population of Biola University. Individually, we’ve worked on projects with budgets that range from $500 to $8,000. While this project has new challenges for both of us, our learning in and outside of the classroom has prepared us to successfully face them.
What We Need
Our Budget:
Production: All the overhead expenses. Gas reimbursement, actor’s pay, music rights, etc.
Camera/Lighting: While we do intend to make use of Biola’s film equipment room for most of our gear, this part of the budget covers renting specialty equipment, and expendables used by the crew.
Production Design: Costumes, Props, Hair & Makeup, set pieces and decoration - this part of the budget helps us create the onscreen world of the film.
Locations: This covers the any fees charged by cities and private property owners in order to shoot in locations that best serve our story.
Craft Services: Cast and Crew members are able to perform best when they are well fed! This portion of the budget is essential for keeping everyone happy and healthy on set.
Post-Production: These funds allow our film to be shown! Post-Production expenses include hard drives, festival fees, and premier expenses.
How You Can Help:
- Donate to our campaign! No amount is too small
- Follow us on social media! This film is inspired by a community, and we’d love to contribute to it along the way
- Share what we’re doing! We’re passionate about this project, and we want to connect with as many people as possible