Written by army veteran Brandon Demchak, FIRECRACKER dramatizes the struggle many face after returning from war. The two lead characters each represent a time in his own journey, with one in the darkest days of PTSD and the resulting alcoholism, and the other on the other side, ready to help him up.
Written by army veteran Brandon Demchak, FIRECRACKER dramatizes the struggle many face after returning from war. The two lead characters each represent a time in his own journey, with one in the darkest days of PTSD and the resulting alcoholism, and the other on the other side, ready to help him up.
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Story
Mission Statement
The crew of FIRECRACKER is a blend of professional filmmakers and students from Santa Monica College, most of whom are international. While the setting, writer, and characters are American, the US has no monopoly on trauma or addiction, and the whole crew feels deeply connected to the subject.About The Project
I am a writer, director, and veteran. In 2010, I was deployed in Operation Unified Response, where I supported the humanitarian and security services after the earthquake that devastated Haiti. The following year, I was deployed to Iraq as an infantryman for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Like innumerable other service men and women across the nation, my return from war was complicated by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I eventually turned to alcohol to quiet what can only be described as "the noise inside my head." After many failed attempts to right the course of my life and become a happy, useful member of society, I finally reached a point of desperation. Not knowing where else to turn, I made the choice to seek treatment—a decision that saved my life.
I am now enrolled in the screenwriting program at Loyola Marymount University and dedicate the rest of my time to helping veterans still in the depths of what I experienced. This film is an attempt to marry those two pursuits. It dramatizes the inflection point in my own journey to recovery by splitting me into two characters: one at rock bottom, barely surviving, and the other in sturdy recovery, ready to help. The story doesn't shy away from the darkness inherent in the subject matter, but the ultimate message is one of hope.
With veteran suicides at a crisis level of approximately twenty every day, I believe hope is imperative. I have known the feeling that there was nothing on the other side of my suffering all too well and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share my success with many veterans one-on-one, but I am determined to reach as many as I can. Awareness of and respect for the gravity of PTSD is growing in mainstream media, but it's time to amplify the voices of those who have experienced it first hand, and especially those who can offer a vision of a happy, healthy life on the other side.
We've set our goal at $15k because that means we get funding at $12,400, which is our absolute minimum goal to produce the film we'd like to, even with all the volunteerism among our crew and with all of our donated resources. Our first stretch goal is $18k, at which we could add a lot of production value by renting additional gear, working in some premium locations, and increasing our set-decoration and costume budget. Our pie-in-the-sky budget, at which we could really do this thing right, is $28k. That would allow us to pay our cast and crew, in addition to delivering the best film we possibly can.
Incentives
$5
Gratitude Postcard
You are part of the team now. We'll keep you up to date with digital gratitude about major developments, and we'll send you a beautiful postcard with a still from the film and a hand-written message to let you know when the film is available to watch. We hope that no matter how generous you're feeling, you at least accept this minimum token of gratitude!
$15
Social Shout-Out
You're still getting thanked via postcard, but we're also going to have one of our core team members let the world know about your generosity in a personalized shout-out.
$25
Digital Screener
We're hoping to send the film to festivals when it's finished, which means it may be years before it's available online. With this reward, you get to view the film before anyone other than the cast and crew! And of course we'll give you that social shout-out and send you a postcard.
$35
"I Made FIRECRACKER Happen" Tote Bag
These tote bags will only be offered once, as gifts to donors and crew members. We have a wonderful artist working on a design that includes the words "I made Firecracker happen." For $35 and above, you get one of these as thanks, plus the postcard, the social shout-out, and the digital screener!
$60
VIP Treatment
Join us for the cast and crew screening! Be there when the team first sees FIRECRACKER and party with us afterward! The event will be in LA, so be prepared for that. (And you still get a postcard, a shout-out, a screener, and a tote bag!)
Claimed: 5 of 200
$100
Where Credit Is Due
Your name in the credits of the film, forever. That, plus an invitation to join us for the cast and crew screening where you get to see your name in lights the first time the rest of us do! And you get a postcard/shout-out/digital screener/tote bag!
Claimed: 17 of 24
$250
Professional Headshots
If you live in the Los Angeles area, you know how crucial having professional headshots is and you know how expensive they can be. This is a chance to get yours taken by our Director of Photography, Rafael Saud at a time and place on the west side of LA to mutually agreed upon, plus the postcard, shout-out, digital screener, and tote.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$1,000
Co-Producer
You will be listed as an executive producer on the film, with IMDb credit and all. You will also get an invite to our cast and crew screening, (appropriately, since you'll be an official crew member,) and the post-card, shout-out, digital screener, and tote bag.
Sold Out!
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Gratitude Postcard
You are part of the team now. We'll keep you up to date with digital gratitude about major developments, and we'll send you a beautiful postcard with a still from the film and a hand-written message to let you know when the film is available to watch. We hope that no matter how generous you're feeling, you at least accept this minimum token of gratitude!
$15
Social Shout-Out
You're still getting thanked via postcard, but we're also going to have one of our core team members let the world know about your generosity in a personalized shout-out.
$25
Digital Screener
We're hoping to send the film to festivals when it's finished, which means it may be years before it's available online. With this reward, you get to view the film before anyone other than the cast and crew! And of course we'll give you that social shout-out and send you a postcard.
$35
"I Made FIRECRACKER Happen" Tote Bag
These tote bags will only be offered once, as gifts to donors and crew members. We have a wonderful artist working on a design that includes the words "I made Firecracker happen." For $35 and above, you get one of these as thanks, plus the postcard, the social shout-out, and the digital screener!
$60
VIP Treatment
Join us for the cast and crew screening! Be there when the team first sees FIRECRACKER and party with us afterward! The event will be in LA, so be prepared for that. (And you still get a postcard, a shout-out, a screener, and a tote bag!)
Claimed: 5 of 200
$100
Where Credit Is Due
Your name in the credits of the film, forever. That, plus an invitation to join us for the cast and crew screening where you get to see your name in lights the first time the rest of us do! And you get a postcard/shout-out/digital screener/tote bag!
Claimed: 17 of 24
$250
Professional Headshots
If you live in the Los Angeles area, you know how crucial having professional headshots is and you know how expensive they can be. This is a chance to get yours taken by our Director of Photography, Rafael Saud at a time and place on the west side of LA to mutually agreed upon, plus the postcard, shout-out, digital screener, and tote.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$1,000
Co-Producer
You will be listed as an executive producer on the film, with IMDb credit and all. You will also get an invite to our cast and crew screening, (appropriately, since you'll be an official crew member,) and the post-card, shout-out, digital screener, and tote bag.
Sold Out!
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
BRANDON DEMCHAK - writer/director
Born and raised on the central California coast, Brandon was first deployed to Haiti to support humanitarian and security services in the wake of the 2010 earthquake there, and then as a paratrooper and infantryman for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. After being honorably discharged in 2015, he faced a serious battle with PTSD and alcoholism. At a point of desperation, he made the life-saving decision to seek treatment. He is now dedicated to helping other veterans in the same position. He is also a student in the Loyola Marymount screenwriting program, working on starting a new career as a filmmaker.
RAPHAEL SAUD - producer/cinematographer
Rafael is an independent director and director of photography with over five years of international experience, in New York, São Paulo (Brazil) and Los Angeles. Having studied in the two-year acting conservatory at the WILLIAM ESPER STUDIO in NYC, Advanced On-camera course At the WOLF MAYA Institute in São Paulo, and attending to the Film Production Program at SANTA MONICA COLLEGE, Rafael is unique in his ability to care and communicate with both actors and crew, regardless of the project size.
BRE'NAE POWELL - Art Director
Bre'nae began her design career with lights and costumes in the world of live dance performance. She now focuses on film production design at Loyola Marymount.
KRISTIN NOMURA - Line Producer
SABRINA OVALLES - Producer
JACLYN WU - Producer
SULTAN UULU - UPM
Originally from the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan, Sultankazy moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to pursue a career in film. Focusing on directing, script writing, and producing, he enjoys all aspects of the film industry and since 2015 has been an integral part of the Asian World Film Festival team. During 2017 Sultankazy worked at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival as a Production Coordinator. In addition, he has spent the past 6 years as a volunteer for various non-profit organizations in Kyrgyzstan and the United States.
ETHAN NOH - Camera Operator / Producer
CARO VILIAN - Assistant Camera
Though her background is primarily in editing and visual effects, Caro has used her interests in skateboarding and sustainability to broaden her filmmaking skills and more into production at the SMC film program.
ALEXIS GARCIA - 1st AD
Alexis began a professional film career as a junior in high school. Since then, he has interned at the Bresee Foundation and Sugar Sky Productions. He is currently completing his film degree and teaching film at University Prep Value High School.
CHARLEY POPE - Script Supervisor
MARCUS SOTO - Gaffer
MAHIRO SATO - DIT
ASHLEY GOLDON, DARIO RAMOS, ERNESTO RAMOS - Set Designers
JOE FIORILLO, MARGOT PADILLA - Sound Engineers
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