Not Life

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Documentary

Max Stafford

1 Campaigns | California, United States

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This campaign raised $8,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

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Narrated by federal inmate Pete Moreno using a series of phone call interviews, the raw emotion of pain to warmth will convey his greatest tribulations and methodical reflections on serving life for cannabis and being absent from his family. The words will carry themselves with weight and gravity.

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Mission Statement

Pete's tribulations, riddled with good and evil, paint a haunting reality, but he does not stop his endless self-work and pursuit of redemption. "Not Life" is a thought-provoking juxtaposition between a faithful man and his complicated legacy.

The Story

In 1996, on a fateful morning at his ranch in Roma, Texas, Pete Moreno awoke to a knock on his door. Over half a decade after leaving the cannabis business for good, the feds came after Pete and his life changed forever. 

Pete pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distrubute cannabis charge as a first-time, non-violent offender, thinking he would get a sentence reduction.

He got life instead.

It wasn't just Pete's life that changed when he was arrested. In fact, his wife and four brothers were roped into the conspiracy and served time. Pete's wife, Melba, passed away just years after she was released from prison. His brothers were all granted clemency by President Obama at the end of his term, leaving Pete as the lone family member still in prison.

After spending 26 years of his life behind bars, the 61-year-old navigates a hopeful path to freedom. Currently serving time in Atwater, CA at a Federal Prison, Pete has a clemency petition filed with the Office of the Pardon Attorney that is calling out for attention from President Biden to honor his campaign promise. He is also awaiting a decision on his compassionate release.In Alex's own words, she feels as if she "basically grew up an orphan." Just eight years old when both of her parents went to prison, Alex has gone through a life of her own without her parents being significantly present in her life. She now has a family of her own in Zapata, TX, where she lives with her two toddlers and husband. Alex's deeply emotional perspective illustrates the damage done to Pete's family. 

Since we cannot film Pete in prison (The Bureau of Prisons denied us any visitation), beautiful moments of Alex, her husband, and her two toddlers will serve as the visual backdrop of Pete's narration.

Though Pete has been in prison for 26 years, he talks with Alex daily and they share a forever-lasting daughter-father bond that they hope can be in person once again."Not Life" is a short documentary narrated by Pete, using a series of phone call interviews stitched together, the raw emotion of pain to warmth will describe his greatest tribulations and methodical reflections. Paired with an elegant orchestral score, the words will carry themselves with weight and gravity.

On a visual level, the film will poetically express the life Pete is missing. A life he has earned to cherish once again, a life that is awaiting him. The Texas landscapes and ranches will be captured in a sunbaked warm world awaiting his presence. Meanwhile, his Daughter Alex will be seen in a cooler blue home that feels empty and lonely.

Through this approach, the film will speak with humility and honesty and share the highly intimate, never told Pete Moreno story. It will be a reality check for the audience filled with immense injustice and an inspirational story to listen to a man who has learned a lifetime of lessons.1. Create a cohesive narration for the film, pieced
together from Pete's phone call interviews.

2. Four days of production in Zapata, TX. Shooting doc style with Pete's daughter, Alex, and her family.

3. Two months of post production.1. Partner with major and cannabis specific publications to break Pete's story before the film is released.

2. Release the film online.

3. Recruit celebrities to promote the film.

4. Submit to film festivals that allow online releases

5. Host a screening in Los Angeles, where supporters of the film, activists, and filmmakers can come together and spread the word about "Not Life."Cameron Thuman is a 24-year-old Park-city-raised, Los Angeles- based director. Influenced by his time as a competitive freestyle skier, his work today echoes vibrant styling fueled by drama and character-driven emotion. His latest film, “Iron Head,” received a Cannes Lion Young Director Award nomination and co-stars Ally Ioannides (Into the Badlands). Within the commercial space, Cameron’s work with industry-leading brands has reached millions online and been broadcast throughout Times Square, Hollywood Blvd, and beyond. Max Stafford is the Head of Production at Three Mask Media, as well as a student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he is studying to get his B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies and minor in the Entertainment Industry. He has produced profile docs for athletes and musicians, music videos, and commercials on scales from large to small. "Not Life" has been Max's passion project for nearly two years. His main creative priority is to complete Not Life in 2023, and to have Pete’s story seen on a larger scale, as soon as possible.

"Not Life" has been in pre-production since early 2021, as producer Max Stafford gathered over two hours worth of recorded phone call interviews with Pete. The creative team has sorted through all the interview material and has selected certain excerpts to use in the film, and we are now ready to enter production! 

We will be shooting the film over four days in Zapata, TX, where Pete's daughter Alex lives. Since we will be traveling from LA with most of our crew, there are travel costs along with labor and equipment rentals costs that we need to cover in order to enter physical production. Our crowdfund is an important source of finances for the film. That being said, we appreciate any and all contributions.

**All contributions to the film are 100% tax deductible through our fiscal sponsorship with From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There is no minimum contribution to receive the tax deduction.**

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Equipment Rentals

Costs $4,000

The Arri Alexa Mini and anamorphic lenses equipment can help us capture breathtaking images.

Travel

Costs $4,000

Shooting in TX requires flights for most of our crew, checked bags, a rental car, gas, and lodging.

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