We wanted to make this project to prove that fantasy films are for everyone, and can be made by anybody brave enough to go out and tell their story. Women in fantasy is important to us, and our all female cast shows that women and women of color can lead fantasy films!

 

About the Film

Luminary follows a young woman named Rose, who through the guidance of her

guardian, Lillian, and the matriarch of her village, Promethea, tries to secure the future

of her village against the ever-creeping Darkness that encompasses them.

In their journey into the forests, Rose will discover what dangers lie beyond the security of

the Cornerstone-- a magical artifact charged by the Light, while uncovering long-hidden

secrets from her, and the rest of her village.

Director's Statement

I have spent most of my life living in worlds of fantasy created by wonderful artists, and trying to create my own. The hours that I have taken to build worlds that no one but I know about, are some of the most fulfilling hours I have dedicated. My thesis, Luminary, is no exception. Being able to tell or be told a story that brings the imagination to lengths unknown, while being able to tell a story worth hearing, is all that I care about. I want to bring people to where I have dreamed of, hoping to inspire those that hear my story to create their own worlds, or live in mine for just a little while.

Luminary, on the surface, is all about the world it takes place in: a dark foreboding forest with villagers who have found a loophole to live in it. The story of Rose delves into what I want this story to truly be about: A tale of a young girl who is given a quest far out of her realm of expertise or knowledge, but must deal with the situation, regardless, and overcomes. I have grown to admire people of my age and younger who are thrown into situations that seem impossible to me, and yet somehow are able to struggle through them. The ability to adapt and survive is so basically human, and yet so daunting while you are in them. Luminary showcases Rose’s ability to adapt and overcome using her cunning and intuition, while showing the importance of her empathy and vulnerability regardless of the hardships she faces.

Often times these fantastical stories are thought to be best told in the format of animation, but I want to take on the challenge of bringing this film to life in digital film format. While I love animation, I believe the result of capturing such a world in our reality will pay off, ten fold. I often see film at this level being limited to subjects specifically in the real world. I don’t believe that I, nor anyone else interested in fantasy stylings, should feel limited by the medium.

Something inspired from the animation that I wish to capture is the vivaciousness and beauty of the settings and aesthetics presented. 

 

Why is this film important?

I want to make art that is accessible. Being able to reach both kids and adults with my work is very important to me, because I believe even from the youngest ages, the human experience still exists. At our very core, we are all children still learning, still trying to understand whatever is brought to us, and still desiring to explore. Setting very human emotions within fantasy pieces brings forth thought provoking scenarios that can be just as effective for adults as for kids, and can be just as transformative. It was transformative for me, bringing forth aesthetically appealing art with controversial and important subject matters, allowing me to think freely on a piece regardless of my full lack of understanding of some situations. Even still, some of my favorite stories come from children’s shows, because a story doesn’t have to have brutality to make it effective.

 

Influences, Style, and Aesthetic

Luminary is a short fantasy piece taking place in a magical-post-apocalyptic style world, caught in a battle between a magic known as The Light and The Darkness. The aesthetic is similar to fantasy, while also touching into post-apocalyptic. The Darkness is a maddening corruption that swept over the Earth; with long exposure, victims suffer from loss of rational thought, increase in animalistic tendencies, and extreme physical changes.

The aesthetics for these fantastical elements have been inspired by many films, including Guillermo Del Toro’s works (Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, Hellboy), Lord of the Rings, animated pieces like Over the Garden Wall, as well as video games like the Dark Souls series and Limbo.

 

Support Fantasy Filmmaking!

Thank you so much for looking at our project! If you can find time to donate or share our campaign, it would allow us to share this story with more people, and spread the message of Luminary.  Make sure to look out for updates as we bring this fantasy to life!