For my entire life, I have loved the musical genre. I grew up watching Disney movies with my mom and sisters in our basement before school at 6 AM, and Classical Hollywood musicals like My Fair Lady and The Wizard of Oz with my Nana. Musicals became a second language to me, and I spent many years of my life performing on stage as an actress, singer, and dancer. It wasn’t until later in life that I discovered my greatest passion of all - writing, directing, and producing musical films! Now, I take on my biggest feat yet: combining my favorite music genre, country, with all the traditional aspects of musicals to create a compelling, never-before-seen take on the genre.

Buck and Burrow is a story about the pursuit of dreams and the fragile, beautiful love that can blossom - and break - along the way. I am drawn to telling dramatic, emotionally rich stories that explore the depths of human ambition and connection, framed within the vibrant, musical worlds that give them life. At its core, this film is both a character study and a bold reimagining of the musical genre, asking a timeless question: what are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your greatest aspirations?

This story is personal to me because it is about chasing your dreams and the price of success, especially in the context of love. While pursuing my dream to become a writer, director, and producer, I took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles to earn an MFA from the top film school in the world at the University of Southern California. Here, I feel so grateful to pursue my dream and passions each and every day, helping me blossom into the creative I always wanted to become. Yet, there is also a large piece of me that I leave behind - the side that my friends and family who I’ve known and loved for years bring out of me. It is the reconciliation and justification of these two aspects of chasing your wildest dreams that fascinates me. What aspect do you prioritize? What are you willing to gain and lose when continuing down your chosen path? How do you come to terms with the sacrifices you make along the way? In the case of Marion and Chandler, what happens when the things that you painfully sacrifice are the things that bring you to the summit?

The visual style of this film will take the colorful, whimsical world of Classical Hollywood musicals and pair it with the rustic, smokey, vibrance of 1970s Nashville. It will use principles of mise-en-scene and cinematography rooted deeply in critical film studies to inform color, lighting, tone, production design, and more. Although Nashville is an inherently wooden, warm-toned, neon-lit world, Buck and Burrow will employ bursts of bright primary and secondary colors, much akin to musical qualities of Singin’ in the Rain or La La Land. This will allow the world to feel heightened and extraordinary, motivated by the raw emotions exuding from Marion and Chandler throughout the film. Visual storytelling will be at the forefront of this story, communicating themes and ideas found in the script through a completely perceptible fashion.

We are in the thrilling stage of pre-production, where every choice begins to breathe life into Buck and Burrow. From assembling a passionate and skilled crew, to casting the voices and faces who will embody this story, to securing the perfect locations that will transform Los Angeles into 1970s Nashville, every step is a leap closer to making this dream real. In November, the cameras will finally roll, and we will capture the heart of this film over 7 production days. By May 2026, through careful editing, sound mixing, and color grading, Buck and Burrow will be ready for its premiere, before embarking on a festival journey that will bring this story to audiences everywhere. None of this can happen without you. Your generosity is what will allow us to feed our crew, rent our equipment, and create a world that feels alive, authentic, and unforgettable. And if we are lucky enough to surpass our funding goal, your support will unlock even more possibilities: the camera gear we dream of, the polish in post-production that ensures the film shines, and an original score that brings the music of Buck and Burrow to life. This film is more than just a project, it’s a love letter to ambition, music, and storytelling. With your help, it will sing louder than we ever imagined.

We are aiming to raise $20,000 to cover the essential costs of our 7-day shoot. While USC’s support as a thesis project provides us with invaluable resources, there is still so much beyond what they supply that is critical to bringing Buck and Burrow to life. A large portion of our budget goes to locations and permits, with four unique Los Angeles sites transforming into neon-lit 1970s Nashville—the story cannot exist without them. Food and crafty are just as vital, ensuring our hardworking cast, crew, and extras are energized through long days on set. To capture the world visually, we need camera rentals for cinematic lenses and gear, as well as truck rentals to move heavy equipment safely between locations. The film’s heart lies in its aesthetic: props and wardrobe will create a whimsical yet gritty Nashville world of sequins, neon, and authenticity, while music equipment like guitars, amps, and fiddles ground the story in the period sound of country music. Beyond production, the funds will also cover insurance to protect our team and gear, and post-production costs for editing, sound mixing, and color grading to elevate the film to a professional, festival-ready standard. Every dollar raised will be felt on screen, helping us not only make Buck and Burrow but make it unforgettable.