Set on a Paiute Native American reservation, a girl named Nina struggles to find her missing sister, forced to navigate jurisdictional issues, corruption, and even resistance within her own family. This is the story of a girl confronting the harsh realities of her community and place in the world.
Set on a Paiute Native American reservation, a girl named Nina struggles to find her missing sister, forced to navigate jurisdictional issues, corruption, and even resistance within her own family. This is the story of a girl confronting the harsh realities of her community and place in the world.
in partnership with
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Story
Mission Statement
Every day, Native American women living on reservations are targets for assault. Legislative issues allow crimes to be committed against these women with no repercussions. This project highlights the story of a Paiute girl who is forced to come face to face with this reality.About The Project
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THE STORY
Nina Tiller is an 18-year-old Native American girl living on the Bishop Paiute reservation in Southern California. One night, the world she knew is turned upside down when her younger sister, Winnie, suddenly goes missing. Winnie is not the first from their reservation to disappear. Quickly frustrated by the inaction of local and tribal police, Nina is forced to navigate a road of jurisdictional uncertainty -- ultimately taking the case into her own hands.
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PILOTS PROGRAM
The television pilots program at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is one of the biggest productions put on every year. Two scripts are chosen each spring semester, edited and developed over the course of the summer and then go into pre-production the following fall. Between the two chosen pilots Chapman University provides $30,000 to this program.
Not only do these pilots act as the senior thesis or capstone for the students within the Television Writing and Production major, but each crew member goes through an application and interview process to be chosen to work on these productions.
In the past, Chapman University students not only been nominated for, but also won at the Student Academy Awards for both Film and Television. Students have also won awards at hundreds of festivals from all over the United States. Just like many other productions, our pilot will also be screened at film festivals once it has been completed in May.
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COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
It is important to us that our story is told as authentically as possible. That's why we've made it a priority to not only consult those within the Native American and Indigenous communities, but we are also working to cast Native American actors in our leading roles.
While we have not yet committed to some final casting decisions, so far we have worked closely with those in the Native American theater community in Southern California, the Screen Actors Guild branch for American Indian Actors, as well as various professors who teach in both fields of acting and Indigineous studies.
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FROM THE WRITER
"I've always had a passion for humanistic storytelling -- and that's what I aim to achieve through Dirt. It's important that we shine a light on the threat of sexual assult that Indigenous women face in our society today. Issues of sexual assult have more recently become even more relevant within the media, and gives our story a platform to speak not just to issues within Hollywood, but on a larger scale."
- Hannah
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Incentives
$5
Thank You!
Thank you so much for your support, every little bit counts!
$10
Social Media Shout Out
We're so grateful for your donation, we want to give you a personal shout out on our social media page!
$25
Link to Stream
Watch the pilot early by recieving a private link to stream the episode after it's finished!
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
$50
End Credits Thank You
Ever wanted your name on the big screen? Now's your chance! As appreciation for your support, your name will be given a special thank you during the final credits of the film.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
$75
Virtual Q&A
Ever wanted to get inside the mind of a filmmaker? Join us for our Q&A livestream with the director, producer and writer of "Dirt". You will also recieve a recorded copy of our conversation when it's finished.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
$100
Behind the Scenes Footage and Script
Once the pilot is shot, we will send you a private link to behind the scenes footage, bloopers, and photos. We will also send you a PDF of the final shooting script.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
$150
Personal Video Message
You will get a personalized video message from our cast and crew thanking you for your contribution and support of our film.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
$250
Spend a Day on Set
Ever wanted to be on a film set? Now is your chance! For your contribution, we'll invite you onto set for a day during our shoot in January, you'll be able to meet in person with all of the actors and crew on our project (travel not included).
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
$500
Be in the Pilot
Wow! We are so incredibly grateful for all of your help, we would like to kick start your acting career by giving you the opportunity to be an extra in our pilot! (travel not included)
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
$1,000
Be in the Pilot + Wrap Party
Not only will you get to be in our film, but we want to invite you to the exclusive cast and crew wrap party after the film is finished! Hang out with all of us both on set and celebrate the completion of our pilot!
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Thank You!
Thank you so much for your support, every little bit counts!
$10
Social Media Shout Out
We're so grateful for your donation, we want to give you a personal shout out on our social media page!
$25
Link to Stream
Watch the pilot early by recieving a private link to stream the episode after it's finished!
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
$50
End Credits Thank You
Ever wanted your name on the big screen? Now's your chance! As appreciation for your support, your name will be given a special thank you during the final credits of the film.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
$75
Virtual Q&A
Ever wanted to get inside the mind of a filmmaker? Join us for our Q&A livestream with the director, producer and writer of "Dirt". You will also recieve a recorded copy of our conversation when it's finished.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
$100
Behind the Scenes Footage and Script
Once the pilot is shot, we will send you a private link to behind the scenes footage, bloopers, and photos. We will also send you a PDF of the final shooting script.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
$150
Personal Video Message
You will get a personalized video message from our cast and crew thanking you for your contribution and support of our film.
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
$250
Spend a Day on Set
Ever wanted to be on a film set? Now is your chance! For your contribution, we'll invite you onto set for a day during our shoot in January, you'll be able to meet in person with all of the actors and crew on our project (travel not included).
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
$500
Be in the Pilot
Wow! We are so incredibly grateful for all of your help, we would like to kick start your acting career by giving you the opportunity to be an extra in our pilot! (travel not included)
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
$1,000
Be in the Pilot + Wrap Party
Not only will you get to be in our film, but we want to invite you to the exclusive cast and crew wrap party after the film is finished! Hang out with all of us both on set and celebrate the completion of our pilot!
PLUS:
+ social media shoutout
+ link to stream
+ end credits thank you
+ virtual Q&A
+ BTS footage and script
+ personal video message
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
The Director
Nick Walker is a senior Film Production major at Chapman University and Orange, California local. Nick started acting at a young age, but by high school realized his true passion was working with actors and made the switch over to directing. Nick is an alumnus of FilmEd* Academy of the Arts, and has trained under some of the top directors, actors, and filmmakers in Hollywood, both privately and at Chapman.
The Writer
Hannah Warling is a senior Television Writing and Production major and English minor at Chapman University. Born and raised in Minnesota, she moved to Orange, California to attend college in 2015 where she discovered her passion for screenwriting. She is honored to have had her work selected as part of the pilots program and excited for the opportunity to represent Dodge College.
The Producer
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Daniel Dabach is from Calabasas, California and currently a Senior at Chapman University. He is pursuing a degree in Creative Producing with minors in both Television and Entrepreneurship. He has been involved with the pilot's program at Dodge College before, and is excited to work on this project alongside an amazing crew.
The Director of Photography
Michael Rosner-Hyman grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has always had an interest in photography. While at Chapman, he discovered the film production major and realized he could make his passion into a career. Michael has always loved movies, finding great meaning and endless possibilities that cinematography offers. He has crewed countless other Chapman student and professional films and has shot films such as When Wigs Fly and Out Of Character.
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