You’ve been in a sort of cage your whole life in Mexico--a cage of poverty with little chance of making a better life--but it’s not until you get to the U.S. that you realize you’re trapped in a new cage, just one with shinier railing.
You’ve been in a sort of cage your whole life in Mexico--a cage of poverty with little chance of making a better life--but it’s not until you get to the U.S. that you realize you’re trapped in a new cage, just one with shinier railing.
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Story
Mission Statement
With our film, we hope to tell the story of the sacrifices made by those who move to this country--sacrifices that often mean only seeing their mother through the bars of a wall that traps people on opposite sides of a barrier between countries.About The Project
Growing up in a family with someone who’s undocumented, I never thought too hard about his decision to come here from Mexico. I noticed small things, like how he was hesitant to interact with strangers or drive at night.
But it was only when I got older that I realized what he had to leave behind. You’re not just leaving your hometown; you’re leaving your parents behind to start a new family in a new country. Though in a way, you’re not setting out to make a better life for yourself, but rather, you’re trying to provide the opportunity of something better for the next generation. You must put yourself and your family aside indefinitely, maybe forever.
I never lived this struggle, but I saw someone first-hand put their whole life on hold just to ensure my family was better off. This film doesn’t show us that day to day existence, but rather shows one of the few moments where they can hit the un-pause button on their own life. Santiago’s journey down to see his mother is a rare moment where we see a glimpse into who he was in Mexico, and where he came from.
- Francisco Lopez, Director ~ June 2020
Why Now
There are many ways to make a political statement fighting back against the injustices of a system that puts a wall between two countries, separating thousands of people from their loved ones and families. But for us, the best way to communicate the true effect of these larger societal circumstances is to boil them down to something far simpler, more relatable, and interpersonal: the relationship between one mother and son.
When we think about the border, many of us automatically think of the stories of those trying to get to the United States from Mexico. We seldom think about how this country is a cage for the people already inside, barring them from ever leaving to see their families. This film will show another side of the stories surrounding immigration and the border, illustrating what thousands of families go through just to spend an afternoon looking at their loved one through the bars of a wall on opposite sides of a beach.
COVID - 19
Putting a short film together is never an easy feat under ideal conditions. This year's global pandemic has presented filmmakers with challenges they never imagined. We have all had to adapt with masks, social distancing, production bubbles, and a myriad of other precautionary measures part of 2020 film life in all stages of production, along with their associated costs. But as challenging as they are, we believe our story matters now more than ever and deserves to be told. Not being able to hug one's family has been the reality for millions of undocumented people living in the USA for decades.
Thank You
We appreciate all your support for our film, it really means the world to us. Immigration and the stories within the subject of migration are as timely and important as ever. We sincerely hope your support will help our film reach a wide and diverse audience and shine a light on a consequence of immigration often ignored by the mainstream media. We hope to take our film on an extensive festival run and hope this film will spark conversations about immigration, its consequences, and its human toll, and will hopefully lead to developing and producing more stories on this subject by our team.
Thank you,
The Golden Cage Team
Incentives
$10
The Mile Marker Pledge
Exclusive Newsletter UpdatesIn the hope of bringing this story to life, up until this point our project has been entirely self-funded. Much like the individual mile marker along the road, even $10 contributions are crucial to helping us fund this project.
For joining our cause with a contribution of $10 or more, you will be included in our regular email newsletter with updates on the project, stories from behind the scenes, and more.
$25
The Half Tank Pledge
Digital Film Poster & Social Media ShoutoutFor joining our cause with a contribution of $25 or more, you will receive a digital copy of the film's poster, a shareable shoutout for social media, and a shoutout from us on our official film Instagram - goldencagefilm and Facebook - The Golden Cage
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
$50
The On Ramp pledge
Your Name in the CreditsFor joining our cause with a contribution of $50 your name will receive a Special Thanks credit at the end of our film.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of the film.
$100
The Full Tank Pledge
Private Link to Film
For joining our cause with a contribution of $100 or more, you will receive a private link to the final film before it's released publicly.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
$250
The Roundtrip Bus Ticket Pledge
Signed Script & Personal Thank You
For a pledge of $250 or more, you will receive a copy of the script signed by the writers and a personalized thank you video from the producers.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized special thank you video.
Claimed: 3 of 200
$500
Elena's Gift Box
A curated box of props from set.
For a pledge of $500 or more, you will receive a beautifully curated box of items that Elena takes with her on her trip, including a hand-crafted rosary from her shack and a photo of her and young Santiago amongst them.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
Claimed: 1 of 25
$1,000
The Combined Journey Pledge
Invite to Film PremiereFor joining our cause with a contribution of $1000 or more, you will receive an invite for two to the exclusive premiere of The Golden Cage.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
- Two tickets to the film's exclusive premiere.
*All premiere details are TBD and subject to change due to Covid-19. We appreciate your understanding.
**We are not able to provide for travel costs.
Claimed: 2 of 10
$2,500
The Golden Cage Pledge
Two Night Stay for PremiereFor joining our cause with a contribution of $2500 or more, you will receive an invite for two as well as a two-night stay for the premiere of The Golden Cage.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
- Two tickets to the film's exclusive premiere.
- Two nights' accommodation at a 4 star or greater establishment for the premiere of our film.
*All premiere details are TBD and are subject to change due to Covid-19. We appreciate your understanding.
**We are not able to provide for travel costs.
Claimed: 0 of 2
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
The Mile Marker Pledge
Exclusive Newsletter UpdatesIn the hope of bringing this story to life, up until this point our project has been entirely self-funded. Much like the individual mile marker along the road, even $10 contributions are crucial to helping us fund this project.
For joining our cause with a contribution of $10 or more, you will be included in our regular email newsletter with updates on the project, stories from behind the scenes, and more.
$25
The Half Tank Pledge
Digital Film Poster & Social Media ShoutoutFor joining our cause with a contribution of $25 or more, you will receive a digital copy of the film's poster, a shareable shoutout for social media, and a shoutout from us on our official film Instagram - goldencagefilm and Facebook - The Golden Cage
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
$50
The On Ramp pledge
Your Name in the CreditsFor joining our cause with a contribution of $50 your name will receive a Special Thanks credit at the end of our film.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of the film.
$100
The Full Tank Pledge
Private Link to Film
For joining our cause with a contribution of $100 or more, you will receive a private link to the final film before it's released publicly.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive all of the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
$250
The Roundtrip Bus Ticket Pledge
Signed Script & Personal Thank You
For a pledge of $250 or more, you will receive a copy of the script signed by the writers and a personalized thank you video from the producers.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized special thank you video.
Claimed: 3 of 200
$500
Elena's Gift Box
A curated box of props from set.
For a pledge of $500 or more, you will receive a beautifully curated box of items that Elena takes with her on her trip, including a hand-crafted rosary from her shack and a photo of her and young Santiago amongst them.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
Claimed: 1 of 25
$1,000
The Combined Journey Pledge
Invite to Film PremiereFor joining our cause with a contribution of $1000 or more, you will receive an invite for two to the exclusive premiere of The Golden Cage.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
- Two tickets to the film's exclusive premiere.
*All premiere details are TBD and subject to change due to Covid-19. We appreciate your understanding.
**We are not able to provide for travel costs.
Claimed: 2 of 10
$2,500
The Golden Cage Pledge
Two Night Stay for PremiereFor joining our cause with a contribution of $2500 or more, you will receive an invite for two as well as a two-night stay for the premiere of The Golden Cage.
For this level of contribution, you will also receive the following perks:
- Addition to our to regularly updated email newsletter.
- A customized, shareable shoutout from us on your preferred social media platform.
- A special thanks in the credits of our film.
- A private link to the film before its public release.
- A signed script and personalized thank you video.
- Elena's gift box containing props from set.
- Two tickets to the film's exclusive premiere.
- Two nights' accommodation at a 4 star or greater establishment for the premiere of our film.
*All premiere details are TBD and are subject to change due to Covid-19. We appreciate your understanding.
**We are not able to provide for travel costs.
Claimed: 0 of 2
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Francisco Lopez - Director/Writer Francisco is a recent UC Santa Barbara film graduate. In his time at university, he served as an editor for numerous projects, several of which played at festivals. He also works as a freelance editor, and has done promotional videos for several startups.
Mitchka Saberi - Producer/Writer
Mitchka is a recent UC Santa Barbara film graduate who spent her time at university producing and assistant directing several projects including Mother of Chernobyl, which was selected for several festivals around the country and worldwide.
Gareth Kelly - Producer
Gareth Kelly, himself a former undocumented immigrant, is a film industry professional from the UK who currently operates in California. A freelance journalist since 2013 Kelly covered the historically chaotic coverage of the 2016 Presidential election in Florida working for a variety of regional, national, and international news organizations. He would return to California and take a position with Chicago Pacific Entertainment, the production company of director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive). Kelly was an Associate Producer on CPE's critically acclaimed documentary, Mentors - Tony & Santi. Kelly has focused on forging professional relationships with industry colleagues as well as writing and developing projects of his own.
Joey Szalkiewicz - Co-Producer
Joey is a recent UC Santa Barbara graduate with a degree in Economics and Film/Media Studies. A strong passion for both film and the outdoors has led him to work on teams in some of the world’s most remote locations including the summit of Denali in Alaska as well as within a submerged cage at Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexico.
Alex Gorman - CinematographerAlex is a cinematographer and camera operator who recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara. During his time at school, he was the cinematographer for numerous projects, one of which won him Best Cinematographer at the 28th Reel Loud Film Festival.
Adam Cox - Sound Mixer
Adam is a UCSB Alumni and audio magician who has done sound design and mixing for several documentaries and narrative projects. Adam's post-grad works includes projects for Magnolia Pictures and Apple, with eyes on future productions.
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