Los Angles Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Comedy, Western
A short film about an aspiring actor who mistakenly lands in the peculiar desert town of Los Angles, Arizona, and seeks refuge among a rag-tag group of DMV employees.
Los Angles Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Comedy, Western
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,500 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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A short film about an aspiring actor who mistakenly lands in the peculiar desert town of Los Angles, Arizona, and seeks refuge among a rag-tag group of DMV employees.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Under the sweltering desert heat, Lou Foster, 25, drags his suitcase across the baron landscape. Dishevelled and dehydrated, he seeks refuge inside the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before passing out.
Lou wakes up ecstatic, believing he’s arrived on a western set on a Los Angeles movie lot with a day to spare before his first audition. The DMV employees break it to Lou that he’s mistakenly arrived in the city of Los Angles… Arizona.
With a few hours to spare before the next bus, Lou develops a strong bond with the misfit DMV employees – Gerry, Ethel, Sandra, and Tanya – as they prepare for the Los Angles Talent Show, where they’ve notoriously embarrassed themselves time and time again.
Lou inspires confidence in the DMV employees ahead of their performance before learning that the role he’ll be auditioning for was cut in a rewrite. Lou is faced with the decision to continue his trek to the City of Angels or prolong his pitstop in the odd little City of Angles.
Inspired by the beautiful Plateaus of Sedona and the expansive deserts of Death Valley, Los Angles is a small town nestled on the edge of the mountains. Featuring a small mainstreet with only one or two corridors, the town of Los Angles resembles a Wes Anderson (Asteroid City) take on Radiator Springs (Cars). While any other building might look like something out 1950’s America, the DMV takes a whole different style, tucked away on the edge of town. The result? A unique blend of American History and Architecture plopped deep into one of the most recognizable and beautiful landscapes in America.
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All bronze. No brain. Our protagonist has thrown his silver spoon in the trash and embarked on an overzealous trek across the country to pursue the only career that can suitably fan the flames of his ego: acting. After all, he did watch some of Natalie Portman’s online Masterclass, so he’s basically an expert. Beneath his spray-tanned exterior, however, Lou harbors a good heart and a deep-seated desire to be seen and accepted. Although landing in Los Angles initially seems like a catastrophe, our protagonist will soon learn there’s more to the small town than the best milkshakes west of the Mississippi.
Her wit is as dry as the Arizona desert. Tanya is the DMV’s sharp-tongued ID specialist, already more jaded than most of the town’s retirees. Her hobbies include cynicism and bickering with her vain sister Ashleigh. But the band of misfit co-workers has become her chosen family, and she’s fiercely protective of the flock of black sheep in DMV vests. To Tanya, newcomers are typically just disappointed travelers who mistook the city of angles for the city of angels. However, there's something about the enthusiastic oaf Lou that chips at her bitter facade and allows her to rediscover the charm of her overlooked home.
The chipper manager of the DMV, with a passion for the town’s local lore. He’s practically a Los Angles encyclopedia. Gerry exudes the energy of a dad trying to be hip, but the only thing more prominent than lack of knowledge around youth culture is his unwavering support for the people around him. Without Gerry, the DMV would be more mundane than lukewarm tap water. He’s proud to be their trusty leader and the one to welcome Lou to the city of Los Angles.
A no-nonsense security guard who keeps the peace among the DMV. Even though a missing coffee mug is the most dramatic thing to happen in the last 5 years, Sandra is always prepared for doomsday. No one remembers how she was hired. She just showed up one day, but the DMV crew can’t imagine life without her stoic, but warm demeanor.
An elderly customer service agent who stays employed to fuel her love affair with penny slots. But don’t worry – she doesn’t work herself too hard. Her nine to five includes several naps and turning off her hearing aids during customer complaints. No one can nail down Ethel’s mysterious past, filled with eccentric tales beyond belief. But what we do know is Ethel still has a zest for life and the crew wouldn’t be complete without her golden-years wisdom.
In collaboration with Chapman University’s ground-breaking Virtual Production and VFX programs, Los Angles intends to create the most robust and realistic setting possible at the student level. Featuring an LED Volume, the facilities support Motion Tracking, Color Syncing, and DMX Lighting to blend the virtual and the practical seamlessly. In partnership with Sony, we intend to shatter expectations with their Venice 2 Camera in tandem with our motion tracking system Mo-SIS. Through techniques such as virtual set design, stage builds, immersive lighting, visual effects compositing, and more, our team believes the final product will look as real as a practical location!
Los Angles was born out of the universal experience of feeling lost at 20-something. Hollywood is scary. Life is scary. Sometimes we reach for our goals and end up somewhere completely different. Our goal with Los Angles is to show that while we may not end up exactly where we dreamed, the world can bring us to exactly where we need to be. The people we meet along the way - the ones who have our backs and cheer us on - are what make the journey worth taking.
.jpg)
SEPTEMBER 2024 - JANUARY 2025 / PRE-PRODUCTION: Our crew will be diligently working to bring the city of Los Angles and the DMV to life. We are casting, storyboarding, camera testing, and building all throughout our fall semester.
JANUARY / PRODUCTION: The time has finally come! We will be filming over the course of two weeks both on our school's LED wall and at locations across Los Angeles.
FEBRUARY 2025 - APRIL 2025 / POST-PRODUCTION: Movie magic time - editing, composing, sound design, color grading, ADR, you name it!
APRIL 2025 - MAY 2025 / PICTURE LOCK + SCREENING: Los Angles is finally open! We will be screening at our film school’s thesis screenings, submitting to film festivals, and publicly releasing the film later in the year!
SUPPORT OUR PROJECT by pledging on this campaign and sharing with friends and family. To stay updated with all things Los Angles, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @losanglesfilm:) Spread the word about our little town in the desert and help us bring it to life!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Casting Director & Cast
Costs $4,000
The cast is what will bring the story to life, so having a great casting director on board to find them is a must!
Sound Designer & Sound Mixer
Costs $2,000
Our Sound Designer and Sound Mixer are so important to us and we want them to be fully compensated for their work.
Crew Housing In Desert
Costs $4,000
There are no deserts in Orange County, so traveling to the desert to film means putting our amazing crew in hotels in the area!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
IZZY BETZ
PRODUCER/WRITER
Izzy Betz is a Creative Producing student at Chapman University’s Dodge College in Orange, California. Originally from Florida, Izzy was a theatrical Stage Manager and Production Designer before finding her way to the City of Stars. She works at the Dodge College Career Center, advising students on internships and career opportunities. She is also a writer for The Panther, Chapman’s on-campus newspaper, as an editor for the Entertainment and Features section. Los Angles is a passion project that Izzy can’t wait to bring to life!
AIDAN ECK
DIRECTOR
Aidan Eck is a Directing student at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, based in Orange CA. A native Marylander, Aidan grew up in Baltimore with a dream of being an entertainer. After over a decade of stage plays, musicals, home videos, and advertising work, Aidan took the leap of faith to pursue a career in Hollywood. While still holding to his other passions, like singing as President of Chapman SoundCheck, Aidan has always gravitated to the glamour and glory that comes with what he believes is the most effective medium for storytelling. Aidan is so excited to be returning to the DMAC Volume Stage to Direct Los Angles, a wildly funny, light-hearted, uplifting story everyone should see!
KADE MCKENNA
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Kade McKenna is a Director of Photography based in Orange, California who has been shooting for over 12 years. Kade is a rising senior at Chapman University with an emphasis in Cinematography and a minor in Visual Journalism. Originally from Denver, Colorado, he found his love for the medium of film, exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains and finding the act of creation an incredible outlet. Kade is also a Concert Photographer and Photojournalist. While always finding interest in mixing many mediums throughout projects, it was only natural that he has recently found a niche in the world of Virtual Production, exploring all the new technology has to offer.
GENEVIEVE ZIX
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Genevieve Zix is a Los Angeles-based production designer. Growing up drawn to the visual arts, her creative approach comes from a place of nostalgia and whimsy. She interests herself in stories that leave room for its design to play an active role in it, with the intent of bringing purpose and weight to the worlds she creates. Never one to cast a small net, she has kept her love for filmmaking open for exploration, from attending the Cannes Film Festival to participating in an array of marketing and development internships (when she’s not on set).
ANJALI DRAPCHO
SOUND DESIGNER
Anjali Drapcho is a senior sound mixer and sound designer at Chapman University. They are working towards receiving their BFA in Film Production with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Since their time at Chapman, they have had the opportunity to take on a variety of sound projects ranging from animated films to horror films to historical dramas. Los Angles is their first ever comedy and they are extremely excited to be helping bring this story to life.
REESE MEYER
EDITOR
Reese Meyer is a video editor and digital creator born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She never thought she would be working on a film based in the very state she finally escaped, but life works in mysterious ways! Reese enjoys working across a wide range of digital media, including post-production and content creation for social media. During her time at Chapman, she has interned at Warner Music and NBCUniversal, focusing on digital video, and she plans to go into the field professionally post-graduation.
KIRA NAROG
VIRTUAL ART DIRECTOR
Kira Narog is a senior Animation and VFX major with a minor in Virtual Reality at Chapman University. She has recently been a Previs Production Intern at Parallax Studios and is currently working as a Prop House Assistant at Chapman University for the last two years. Kira is originally from Santa Cruz, California, where she enjoys skateboarding and feeding her severe caffeine addiction. She is excited to bring together the virtual world of Los Angles and collaborate with her hardworking, passionate, and talented crew to create something amazing!
NICKHIL NAGPAL
VFX SUPERVISOR
Nickhil Nagpal is a Visual Effects artist based in Orange, California. With over 13 years of filmmaking, Nickhil's passion for creating stunning visuals and pushing the boundaries of technology has led him to specialize in Visual Effects. His journey began with Cinematography, a skill he still demonstrates in his current work by closely collaborating with the Cine department to seamlessly integrate Visual Effects into the cinematography. Now majoring in Animation and Visual Effects at Chapman University, Nickhil has had the opportunity to learn the workflows of Virtual Production using Chapman’s LED Wall. With some experience with virtual production and LED Volumes, he is eager to push the limits even further with this next film, Los Angles.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Under the sweltering desert heat, Lou Foster, 25, drags his suitcase across the baron landscape. Dishevelled and dehydrated, he seeks refuge inside the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before passing out.
Lou wakes up ecstatic, believing he’s arrived on a western set on a Los Angeles movie lot with a day to spare before his first audition. The DMV employees break it to Lou that he’s mistakenly arrived in the city of Los Angles… Arizona.
With a few hours to spare before the next bus, Lou develops a strong bond with the misfit DMV employees – Gerry, Ethel, Sandra, and Tanya – as they prepare for the Los Angles Talent Show, where they’ve notoriously embarrassed themselves time and time again.
Lou inspires confidence in the DMV employees ahead of their performance before learning that the role he’ll be auditioning for was cut in a rewrite. Lou is faced with the decision to continue his trek to the City of Angels or prolong his pitstop in the odd little City of Angles.
Inspired by the beautiful Plateaus of Sedona and the expansive deserts of Death Valley, Los Angles is a small town nestled on the edge of the mountains. Featuring a small mainstreet with only one or two corridors, the town of Los Angles resembles a Wes Anderson (Asteroid City) take on Radiator Springs (Cars). While any other building might look like something out 1950’s America, the DMV takes a whole different style, tucked away on the edge of town. The result? A unique blend of American History and Architecture plopped deep into one of the most recognizable and beautiful landscapes in America.
All bronze. No brain. Our protagonist has thrown his silver spoon in the trash and embarked on an overzealous trek across the country to pursue the only career that can suitably fan the flames of his ego: acting. After all, he did watch some of Natalie Portman’s online Masterclass, so he’s basically an expert. Beneath his spray-tanned exterior, however, Lou harbors a good heart and a deep-seated desire to be seen and accepted. Although landing in Los Angles initially seems like a catastrophe, our protagonist will soon learn there’s more to the small town than the best milkshakes west of the Mississippi.
Her wit is as dry as the Arizona desert. Tanya is the DMV’s sharp-tongued ID specialist, already more jaded than most of the town’s retirees. Her hobbies include cynicism and bickering with her vain sister Ashleigh. But the band of misfit co-workers has become her chosen family, and she’s fiercely protective of the flock of black sheep in DMV vests. To Tanya, newcomers are typically just disappointed travelers who mistook the city of angles for the city of angels. However, there's something about the enthusiastic oaf Lou that chips at her bitter facade and allows her to rediscover the charm of her overlooked home.
The chipper manager of the DMV, with a passion for the town’s local lore. He’s practically a Los Angles encyclopedia. Gerry exudes the energy of a dad trying to be hip, but the only thing more prominent than lack of knowledge around youth culture is his unwavering support for the people around him. Without Gerry, the DMV would be more mundane than lukewarm tap water. He’s proud to be their trusty leader and the one to welcome Lou to the city of Los Angles.
A no-nonsense security guard who keeps the peace among the DMV. Even though a missing coffee mug is the most dramatic thing to happen in the last 5 years, Sandra is always prepared for doomsday. No one remembers how she was hired. She just showed up one day, but the DMV crew can’t imagine life without her stoic, but warm demeanor.
An elderly customer service agent who stays employed to fuel her love affair with penny slots. But don’t worry – she doesn’t work herself too hard. Her nine to five includes several naps and turning off her hearing aids during customer complaints. No one can nail down Ethel’s mysterious past, filled with eccentric tales beyond belief. But what we do know is Ethel still has a zest for life and the crew wouldn’t be complete without her golden-years wisdom.
In collaboration with Chapman University’s ground-breaking Virtual Production and VFX programs, Los Angles intends to create the most robust and realistic setting possible at the student level. Featuring an LED Volume, the facilities support Motion Tracking, Color Syncing, and DMX Lighting to blend the virtual and the practical seamlessly. In partnership with Sony, we intend to shatter expectations with their Venice 2 Camera in tandem with our motion tracking system Mo-SIS. Through techniques such as virtual set design, stage builds, immersive lighting, visual effects compositing, and more, our team believes the final product will look as real as a practical location!
Los Angles was born out of the universal experience of feeling lost at 20-something. Hollywood is scary. Life is scary. Sometimes we reach for our goals and end up somewhere completely different. Our goal with Los Angles is to show that while we may not end up exactly where we dreamed, the world can bring us to exactly where we need to be. The people we meet along the way - the ones who have our backs and cheer us on - are what make the journey worth taking.
SEPTEMBER 2024 - JANUARY 2025 / PRE-PRODUCTION: Our crew will be diligently working to bring the city of Los Angles and the DMV to life. We are casting, storyboarding, camera testing, and building all throughout our fall semester.
JANUARY / PRODUCTION: The time has finally come! We will be filming over the course of two weeks both on our school's LED wall and at locations across Los Angeles.
FEBRUARY 2025 - APRIL 2025 / POST-PRODUCTION: Movie magic time - editing, composing, sound design, color grading, ADR, you name it!
APRIL 2025 - MAY 2025 / PICTURE LOCK + SCREENING: Los Angles is finally open! We will be screening at our film school’s thesis screenings, submitting to film festivals, and publicly releasing the film later in the year!
SUPPORT OUR PROJECT by pledging on this campaign and sharing with friends and family. To stay updated with all things Los Angles, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @losanglesfilm:) Spread the word about our little town in the desert and help us bring it to life!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Casting Director & Cast
Costs $4,000
The cast is what will bring the story to life, so having a great casting director on board to find them is a must!
Sound Designer & Sound Mixer
Costs $2,000
Our Sound Designer and Sound Mixer are so important to us and we want them to be fully compensated for their work.
Crew Housing In Desert
Costs $4,000
There are no deserts in Orange County, so traveling to the desert to film means putting our amazing crew in hotels in the area!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
IZZY BETZ
PRODUCER/WRITER
Izzy Betz is a Creative Producing student at Chapman University’s Dodge College in Orange, California. Originally from Florida, Izzy was a theatrical Stage Manager and Production Designer before finding her way to the City of Stars. She works at the Dodge College Career Center, advising students on internships and career opportunities. She is also a writer for The Panther, Chapman’s on-campus newspaper, as an editor for the Entertainment and Features section. Los Angles is a passion project that Izzy can’t wait to bring to life!
AIDAN ECK
DIRECTOR
Aidan Eck is a Directing student at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, based in Orange CA. A native Marylander, Aidan grew up in Baltimore with a dream of being an entertainer. After over a decade of stage plays, musicals, home videos, and advertising work, Aidan took the leap of faith to pursue a career in Hollywood. While still holding to his other passions, like singing as President of Chapman SoundCheck, Aidan has always gravitated to the glamour and glory that comes with what he believes is the most effective medium for storytelling. Aidan is so excited to be returning to the DMAC Volume Stage to Direct Los Angles, a wildly funny, light-hearted, uplifting story everyone should see!
KADE MCKENNA
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Kade McKenna is a Director of Photography based in Orange, California who has been shooting for over 12 years. Kade is a rising senior at Chapman University with an emphasis in Cinematography and a minor in Visual Journalism. Originally from Denver, Colorado, he found his love for the medium of film, exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains and finding the act of creation an incredible outlet. Kade is also a Concert Photographer and Photojournalist. While always finding interest in mixing many mediums throughout projects, it was only natural that he has recently found a niche in the world of Virtual Production, exploring all the new technology has to offer.
GENEVIEVE ZIX
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Genevieve Zix is a Los Angeles-based production designer. Growing up drawn to the visual arts, her creative approach comes from a place of nostalgia and whimsy. She interests herself in stories that leave room for its design to play an active role in it, with the intent of bringing purpose and weight to the worlds she creates. Never one to cast a small net, she has kept her love for filmmaking open for exploration, from attending the Cannes Film Festival to participating in an array of marketing and development internships (when she’s not on set).
ANJALI DRAPCHO
SOUND DESIGNER
Anjali Drapcho is a senior sound mixer and sound designer at Chapman University. They are working towards receiving their BFA in Film Production with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Since their time at Chapman, they have had the opportunity to take on a variety of sound projects ranging from animated films to horror films to historical dramas. Los Angles is their first ever comedy and they are extremely excited to be helping bring this story to life.
REESE MEYER
EDITOR
Reese Meyer is a video editor and digital creator born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She never thought she would be working on a film based in the very state she finally escaped, but life works in mysterious ways! Reese enjoys working across a wide range of digital media, including post-production and content creation for social media. During her time at Chapman, she has interned at Warner Music and NBCUniversal, focusing on digital video, and she plans to go into the field professionally post-graduation.
KIRA NAROG
VIRTUAL ART DIRECTOR
Kira Narog is a senior Animation and VFX major with a minor in Virtual Reality at Chapman University. She has recently been a Previs Production Intern at Parallax Studios and is currently working as a Prop House Assistant at Chapman University for the last two years. Kira is originally from Santa Cruz, California, where she enjoys skateboarding and feeding her severe caffeine addiction. She is excited to bring together the virtual world of Los Angles and collaborate with her hardworking, passionate, and talented crew to create something amazing!
NICKHIL NAGPAL
VFX SUPERVISOR
Nickhil Nagpal is a Visual Effects artist based in Orange, California. With over 13 years of filmmaking, Nickhil's passion for creating stunning visuals and pushing the boundaries of technology has led him to specialize in Visual Effects. His journey began with Cinematography, a skill he still demonstrates in his current work by closely collaborating with the Cine department to seamlessly integrate Visual Effects into the cinematography. Now majoring in Animation and Visual Effects at Chapman University, Nickhil has had the opportunity to learn the workflows of Virtual Production using Chapman’s LED Wall. With some experience with virtual production and LED Volumes, he is eager to push the limits even further with this next film, Los Angles.