Panther By The Tail
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Film Short
Drama, History
Radical activist Dana Williams fights to free her imprisoned leader John Sinclair through bold protests and sabotage. But when a mission goes wrong, fracturing her group, Dana must revaluate what it means to create a revolution. Inspired by the true events of John Sinclair and the White Panthers.
Panther By The Tail
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Film Short
Drama, History
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,178 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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Radical activist Dana Williams fights to free her imprisoned leader John Sinclair through bold protests and sabotage. But when a mission goes wrong, fracturing her group, Dana must revaluate what it means to create a revolution. Inspired by the true events of John Sinclair and the White Panthers.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Why This Story? Why Now?
Panther By The Tail tells the story of one young woman's fight against an oppressive system to free her friend and leader who has been unjustly imprisoned in order to remove him from the public eye as he was deemed to subversive by the government. Sound familiar?
History is a cyclical event and the same things that plague our societies now were similarly prominent in the late 60s and 70s. It is up to us as a generation to look to our past to avoid repeating the same errors in our future. Through film, we can better convey a message of urgency, a call to action, and a need for support than can be achieved by simple word of mouth alone.
Panther By The Tail is based on true events and inspired by the real activists and visionaries who have dedicated their lives to making a difference and it is with their blessing and in their honor we hope to make this film to showcase but not only a forgotten moment in history, but remind everyone today how it only takes one spark to start a revolution.
The original White Panthers outside of their house, photo by of Leni Sinclair
Why Support This Film?
John Sinclair was immortalized in John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “John Sinclair,” performed at his eponymous 1971 Freedom Rally in Ann Arbor. Yet, despite his role in history and the White Panther Party’s radical activism, few know his story. Why? Because powerful forces worked to bury it. When Sinclair began planning a concert tour after his release with Lennon, Ono, and Abbie Hoffman, President Nixon intervened — threatening Lennon with deportation if he continued his activism. The tour was cancelled, the Freedom Rally recording was shelved, and a vital moment in American resistance faded from public memory.
Panther By The Tail seeks to change that. Our film preserves a piece of Sinclair’s legacy while reflecting struggles that persist today: wrongful imprisonment, political silencing, and young people rising up to demand justice. But at its heart, this is also a deeply human story about friendship, resilience, and the courage it takes to stand against a higher power.
In the 1970s, art was protest. Music, posters, and independent cinema became weapons of resistance, giving communities the strength to stand together. That spirit is what we carry forward with this project. Unlike studio films, independent cinema exists only through community support.
By backing Panther By The Tail, you are not just helping us make a film — you are keeping alive a tradition of resistance through art. You’re joining a movement. You are part of this story.
Abbie Hoffman, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jerry Rubin before the John Sinclair Freedom Rally
photo from Circus magazine, 1971
The Story
Dana Williams is a young college student at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1971. Her friend and leader, John Sinclair, activist and founder of the White Panther Party, has been placed in jail with an excessively harsh prison sentence -- ten years for possession of two joints. Behind bars for a decade, this is the government's easiest way to remove a subversive individual from the picture.
Thrust into a leadership position she never expected, Dana finds herself trying to balance the duties of leading the White Panthers and searching for a way to free John from prison. The group pulls political stunts ranging from sit ins on the University campus to blowing up a car outside the ROTC building. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Dana plans a mission that is sure to have the government releasing John from prison...a strike on an undercover CIA recruitment office.
With a few tabs of LSD in their system, the Panthers commence their sabotage plan without a hitch, until everything goes wrong and the group is fractured. Now alone and her only unlikely ally the Vietnam veteran Jamie, Dana reevaluates what it means to be a leader and that perhaps violence is not always the answer.
Yoko Ono, John Lennon and Jerry Rubin (on congas) at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally
photo by David Fenton
The Team
Most of our key creative team are graduates of the University of Michigan from the film or Penny Stamps School of Art programs. Together we have spent years telling stories about activism, youth culture, and history on multiple projects in undergrad and behind. And now we’re ready to bring this one to life.
KEY CREW:
Michael Chludzinski (UofM '21): Director
Claire James (UofM '21): Writer & Producer
Evan Wilkins: Director of Photography
Erin Wakeland (UofM '20): Production Designer
Josiah Rentschler (UofM '21): Costume Designer
Madeline Kim (UofM '23): Assistant Director
ADDITIONAL CREW:
Daniel Taveras: Associate Producer
Dani Parker: Stunt Coordinator
Zach Ramseur: Gaffer
Eli Sider (UofM '21): Best Boy
Hannah Bodnar (UofM '28): 1st AC
Brianna Anzures (UofM '27): Production Dept Assistant
Jasmin Rhymes (UofM '27): Production Dept Assistant
Becca Foley: Social Media
Key Creative Team of Panther By The Tail
Project Status
We will film Panther By The Tail the last week of October on location in Ann Arbor. We have already secured filming at several historical locations, including the White Panthers' old commune, and the former CIA office that once operated covertly in the city.
After filming concludes, we will send the footage off to our editor who will have a cut for us by December. The film will be ready for early screenings by late winter and will have an official premiere in the spring before going on a festival run.
John Sinclair before his sentencing
photo by The Associated Press
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Wardrobe Purchases and Rentals
Costs $1,500
This is a period piece film and you can't make a film about one of the most iconic eras in history without the right costumes!
Props Purchases and Rentals
Costs $1,000
No 70s film is complete without a rotary phone, some retro-colored furniture, and of course a good record player. Help us source our props!
Airfare for Crew
Costs $1,500
Help our NYC locals (and cameras) make it to Ann Arbor!
Meals & Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Help us feed our fantastic crew and actors on set!
Color Correction
Costs $2,000
After editing, we will bring in a colorist to correct all the raw footage and give the film a polished look.
Sound Design
Costs $1,000
A sound designer will mix dialogue and music for a finished sound and add in sound effects.
Editing
Costs $1,000
We will hire a skilled editor to put together our film after filming wraps!
Locations and AirBNBs
Costs $3,000
We will use a combination of rented location spaces and an AirBNB to double as crew housing and filming area!
Picture Vehicles
Costs $1,000
We already have our picture vehicles locked in, and would love to provide their drivers with a gratuity for their time and kindness!
Transportation
Costs $500
Help us cover car costs so we can move our actors, crew, and equipment with ease!
Camera Rentals
Costs $500
Help us cover the costs of additional camera gear such as lens, filters, mounts, etc.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About Our Team!
The Creative Team
CLAIRE JAMES (writer & producer) was born and raised in the Midwest and pursued her bachelor’s degree in Film, Television, & Media at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2022, Claire relocated to NYC to attend Columbia University for her MFA in creative film producing.
Claire focuses on “stories with heart” that are character driven and make viewers want to rewatch their journey a dozen times over. She has a special love for the counterculture era and historical pieces.
This will be Claire’s ninth project as producer, and her repertoire includes two hour-long period piece tv pilots and two 30+ minute shorts in addition to other short form projects. Besides producing, Claire is an avid screenwriter and her short film, Panther By The Tail, will serve as a proof of concept for her original feature length screenplay of the same name.
MICHAEL CHLUDZINSKI (director), a native Michigander, attended the University of Michigan obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 2021, before moving to Los Angeles to further his film career working for Mattel.
Michael’s preferred shooting style is small and intimate shots, to establish the mood of a scene through careful camera detail.
In addition to directing, Michael is an avid screenwriter in his free time, and has been a finalist at Austin, Atlanta, and WeScreenplay. His original tv pilot Odysseus has been on Coverfly’s Red List for a year and a half.
Panther By The Tail is Michael and Claire’s eighth project together.
EVAN WILKINS (director of photography) is a Brooklyn-based Cinematographer from St. Louis, Missouri.
His approach to cinematography is emotional and simple. Whatever serves the story is of the upmost importance. Evan has been a freelance cinematographer for many commercials and documentaries, but his main passion is narrative storytelling.
This will be Evan and Claire’s second project together.
MADELINE KIM (assistant director) is a filmmaker based in NYC. Having grown up in many different places (including Seoul, Atlanta, Vancouver, the Bay Area, Boston, Ann Arbor, London, and now NYC), Madeline brings a unique perspective to storytelling. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a Master of Business Management degree and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Film, Television, and Media and English Literature.
During her time in Ann Arbor, Madeline created many short and feature-length films by taking on various roles including director, producer, and editor.
Her most recent work Oeuvre, Unfinished—which she wrote, directed, produced, production designed, costume designed, and edited—is currently going through the film festival circuit and has received numerous accolades from domestic and international film festivals. It is expected to be released in 2025.
Panther By The Tail will be Madeline's third project with Claire and Michael.
DANI PARKER (stunt coordinator) grew up competing in gymnastics and began training parkour in college. Her ability to balance the line between technique and realism has helped her gain success in the stunt industry. Her gritty, loose but calculated style provides something unique to every production. Her background in gymnastics gives her the discipline and exactness needed for some scenes, while her experience in parkour allows her to flow and create unique movements in others.
Not only is Parker a stunt performer, she is also an actress in her own right, earning lead roles in films such as Unemployees, GunForce, and Deep Breath.
Additional Crew
Assistant Producer: Daniel Taveras
Gaffer: Zach Ramseur
Costume Designer: Josiah Rentschler
Production Designer: Erin Wakeland
Social Media Director: Maia McGovern
1st Assistant Camera: Eli Sider
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Why This Story? Why Now?
Panther By The Tail tells the story of one young woman's fight against an oppressive system to free her friend and leader who has been unjustly imprisoned in order to remove him from the public eye as he was deemed to subversive by the government. Sound familiar?
History is a cyclical event and the same things that plague our societies now were similarly prominent in the late 60s and 70s. It is up to us as a generation to look to our past to avoid repeating the same errors in our future. Through film, we can better convey a message of urgency, a call to action, and a need for support than can be achieved by simple word of mouth alone.
Panther By The Tail is based on true events and inspired by the real activists and visionaries who have dedicated their lives to making a difference and it is with their blessing and in their honor we hope to make this film to showcase but not only a forgotten moment in history, but remind everyone today how it only takes one spark to start a revolution.
The original White Panthers outside of their house, photo by of Leni Sinclair
Why Support This Film?
John Sinclair was immortalized in John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “John Sinclair,” performed at his eponymous 1971 Freedom Rally in Ann Arbor. Yet, despite his role in history and the White Panther Party’s radical activism, few know his story. Why? Because powerful forces worked to bury it. When Sinclair began planning a concert tour after his release with Lennon, Ono, and Abbie Hoffman, President Nixon intervened — threatening Lennon with deportation if he continued his activism. The tour was cancelled, the Freedom Rally recording was shelved, and a vital moment in American resistance faded from public memory.
Panther By The Tail seeks to change that. Our film preserves a piece of Sinclair’s legacy while reflecting struggles that persist today: wrongful imprisonment, political silencing, and young people rising up to demand justice. But at its heart, this is also a deeply human story about friendship, resilience, and the courage it takes to stand against a higher power.
In the 1970s, art was protest. Music, posters, and independent cinema became weapons of resistance, giving communities the strength to stand together. That spirit is what we carry forward with this project. Unlike studio films, independent cinema exists only through community support.
By backing Panther By The Tail, you are not just helping us make a film — you are keeping alive a tradition of resistance through art. You’re joining a movement. You are part of this story.
Abbie Hoffman, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jerry Rubin before the John Sinclair Freedom Rally
photo from Circus magazine, 1971
The Story
Dana Williams is a young college student at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1971. Her friend and leader, John Sinclair, activist and founder of the White Panther Party, has been placed in jail with an excessively harsh prison sentence -- ten years for possession of two joints. Behind bars for a decade, this is the government's easiest way to remove a subversive individual from the picture.
Thrust into a leadership position she never expected, Dana finds herself trying to balance the duties of leading the White Panthers and searching for a way to free John from prison. The group pulls political stunts ranging from sit ins on the University campus to blowing up a car outside the ROTC building. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Dana plans a mission that is sure to have the government releasing John from prison...a strike on an undercover CIA recruitment office.
With a few tabs of LSD in their system, the Panthers commence their sabotage plan without a hitch, until everything goes wrong and the group is fractured. Now alone and her only unlikely ally the Vietnam veteran Jamie, Dana reevaluates what it means to be a leader and that perhaps violence is not always the answer.
Yoko Ono, John Lennon and Jerry Rubin (on congas) at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally
photo by David Fenton
The Team
Most of our key creative team are graduates of the University of Michigan from the film or Penny Stamps School of Art programs. Together we have spent years telling stories about activism, youth culture, and history on multiple projects in undergrad and behind. And now we’re ready to bring this one to life.
KEY CREW:
Michael Chludzinski (UofM '21): Director
Claire James (UofM '21): Writer & Producer
Evan Wilkins: Director of Photography
Erin Wakeland (UofM '20): Production Designer
Josiah Rentschler (UofM '21): Costume Designer
Madeline Kim (UofM '23): Assistant Director
ADDITIONAL CREW:
Daniel Taveras: Associate Producer
Dani Parker: Stunt Coordinator
Zach Ramseur: Gaffer
Eli Sider (UofM '21): Best Boy
Hannah Bodnar (UofM '28): 1st AC
Brianna Anzures (UofM '27): Production Dept Assistant
Jasmin Rhymes (UofM '27): Production Dept Assistant
Becca Foley: Social Media
Key Creative Team of Panther By The Tail
Project Status
We will film Panther By The Tail the last week of October on location in Ann Arbor. We have already secured filming at several historical locations, including the White Panthers' old commune, and the former CIA office that once operated covertly in the city.
After filming concludes, we will send the footage off to our editor who will have a cut for us by December. The film will be ready for early screenings by late winter and will have an official premiere in the spring before going on a festival run.
John Sinclair before his sentencing
photo by The Associated Press
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Wardrobe Purchases and Rentals
Costs $1,500
This is a period piece film and you can't make a film about one of the most iconic eras in history without the right costumes!
Props Purchases and Rentals
Costs $1,000
No 70s film is complete without a rotary phone, some retro-colored furniture, and of course a good record player. Help us source our props!
Airfare for Crew
Costs $1,500
Help our NYC locals (and cameras) make it to Ann Arbor!
Meals & Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Help us feed our fantastic crew and actors on set!
Color Correction
Costs $2,000
After editing, we will bring in a colorist to correct all the raw footage and give the film a polished look.
Sound Design
Costs $1,000
A sound designer will mix dialogue and music for a finished sound and add in sound effects.
Editing
Costs $1,000
We will hire a skilled editor to put together our film after filming wraps!
Locations and AirBNBs
Costs $3,000
We will use a combination of rented location spaces and an AirBNB to double as crew housing and filming area!
Picture Vehicles
Costs $1,000
We already have our picture vehicles locked in, and would love to provide their drivers with a gratuity for their time and kindness!
Transportation
Costs $500
Help us cover car costs so we can move our actors, crew, and equipment with ease!
Camera Rentals
Costs $500
Help us cover the costs of additional camera gear such as lens, filters, mounts, etc.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About Our Team!
The Creative Team
CLAIRE JAMES (writer & producer) was born and raised in the Midwest and pursued her bachelor’s degree in Film, Television, & Media at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2022, Claire relocated to NYC to attend Columbia University for her MFA in creative film producing.
Claire focuses on “stories with heart” that are character driven and make viewers want to rewatch their journey a dozen times over. She has a special love for the counterculture era and historical pieces.
This will be Claire’s ninth project as producer, and her repertoire includes two hour-long period piece tv pilots and two 30+ minute shorts in addition to other short form projects. Besides producing, Claire is an avid screenwriter and her short film, Panther By The Tail, will serve as a proof of concept for her original feature length screenplay of the same name.
MICHAEL CHLUDZINSKI (director), a native Michigander, attended the University of Michigan obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 2021, before moving to Los Angeles to further his film career working for Mattel.
Michael’s preferred shooting style is small and intimate shots, to establish the mood of a scene through careful camera detail.
In addition to directing, Michael is an avid screenwriter in his free time, and has been a finalist at Austin, Atlanta, and WeScreenplay. His original tv pilot Odysseus has been on Coverfly’s Red List for a year and a half.
Panther By The Tail is Michael and Claire’s eighth project together.
EVAN WILKINS (director of photography) is a Brooklyn-based Cinematographer from St. Louis, Missouri.
His approach to cinematography is emotional and simple. Whatever serves the story is of the upmost importance. Evan has been a freelance cinematographer for many commercials and documentaries, but his main passion is narrative storytelling.
This will be Evan and Claire’s second project together.
MADELINE KIM (assistant director) is a filmmaker based in NYC. Having grown up in many different places (including Seoul, Atlanta, Vancouver, the Bay Area, Boston, Ann Arbor, London, and now NYC), Madeline brings a unique perspective to storytelling. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a Master of Business Management degree and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Film, Television, and Media and English Literature.
During her time in Ann Arbor, Madeline created many short and feature-length films by taking on various roles including director, producer, and editor.
Her most recent work Oeuvre, Unfinished—which she wrote, directed, produced, production designed, costume designed, and edited—is currently going through the film festival circuit and has received numerous accolades from domestic and international film festivals. It is expected to be released in 2025.
Panther By The Tail will be Madeline's third project with Claire and Michael.
DANI PARKER (stunt coordinator) grew up competing in gymnastics and began training parkour in college. Her ability to balance the line between technique and realism has helped her gain success in the stunt industry. Her gritty, loose but calculated style provides something unique to every production. Her background in gymnastics gives her the discipline and exactness needed for some scenes, while her experience in parkour allows her to flow and create unique movements in others.
Not only is Parker a stunt performer, she is also an actress in her own right, earning lead roles in films such as Unemployees, GunForce, and Deep Breath.
Additional Crew
Assistant Producer: Daniel Taveras
Gaffer: Zach Ramseur
Costume Designer: Josiah Rentschler
Production Designer: Erin Wakeland
Social Media Director: Maia McGovern
1st Assistant Camera: Eli Sider