People Will Not Believe

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Horror, Drama

Cemile Seren Turam

1 Campaigns | California, United States

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This campaign raised $4,200 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

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Through striking visuals and the raw, honest performance of its female lead, 'People Will Not Believe' reimagines a classic horror monster in an exploration of trauma and the aftereffects -- both physical and psychological -- of assault. Produced as a proof of concept for the feature-length script.

About The Project

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Mission Statement

According to a recent survey, 81% of women have experienced sexual harassment or assault. 'People Will Not Believe' is a stylized allegory for this abysmal reality, with female representation both behind and in front of the camera aiding in the honest portrayal of a young woman's experiences.

The Story

"The strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him."

          - Van Helsing, Dracula (1931)

 

Few images are more prolific than the fanged teeth of the vampire. What began as a folklore devil common across the globe has become, since the 19th century, an almost cliched component of our popular culture.

 

This is due in no small part to the sensual nature of the beast, codified by Bela Lugosi and only strengthened over time. Today, the vampire is lovelorn and longing, their victims powerless, at best -- or complicit, at worst. They are predominantly men, and young women their common prey. 

 

In short, the predator has been romanticized.

 

People Will Not Believe aims to rectify this by redefining the monster for our modern, everyday world by way of two simple adjustments: placing it in the victim's point of view; and focusing on what happens afterward. Opening in the moments directly following an attack, it tracks a young woman as she struggles to make sense of what's happened, her changing body, and the threatening memory of her attacker. 

 

Through setting, character, performance, and visceral, expressive imagery, this film explores the lasting effects of trauma and the ways in which it changes us.

Wishlist

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Truck Rental

Costs $400

We need to rent a truck to transport our equipment.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Craft Services

Costs $200

Cast & Crew working all day and a bit of night on set need to be fed so they don't drop like flies!

Catering

Costs $160

Cast & Crew also need warm food to keep going through their 12 hour day!

Camera Rental

Costs $1,000

We need to rent a camera, lenses, and any additional equipment needed.

Data Storage

Costs $200

We need a secure place to store our footage!

Insurance

Costs $500

We need to make sure everything is insured on our set for safety.

Equipment Rental

Costs $1,140

We need special lights to help us set the mood.

Production Design

Costs $400

We need set dressing and props to make this world believable.

Crew

Costs $1,000

We would like to compensate our crew for their hard work!

About This Team

Myles Clifford Hawthorne (Director) is an LA-based filmmaker and recent MFA graduate of the AFI Conservatory's screenwriting program. His work looks to construct smart, elevated horror through the combination of a unique, developed aesthetic, character-driven narrative, and a strong social consciousness. 

 

Cemile Seren Turam (Producer) attributes her affinity for challenging, stylized subjects that inspire community to her work under Herzog before completing her MFA in Producing from the American Film Institute. Despite this focus, nothing stops her from choosing a project based on the collaborators involved. Her feature film, ICE CREAM IN THE CUPBOARD, starring Jaimie King, Tobin Bell, Dana Ashbrook and Claudia Ferri is currently in post production. Her next feature film project BOMBEROS is currently in production.

 

Lidia Nikonova (Cinematographer) is an LA-based director of photography who’s worked on narrative and documentary projects in the US, UK, Russia, Australia, and France. Her clients include Spotify, VICE, VICELAND, and SSENSE, among many others. Her visual style comes from years of documentary and news photography, and her work has been published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Daily Telegraph, and The Australian. Earlier in her career, she received mentorship from Magnum photographers Stuart Franklin, Max Power, and VII Agency photographer Stefano De Luigi. She has studied at NYU Tisch (USA), Central Saint Martins (UK), the University of Sydney (AUS) and got her MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory (USA), where she was the recipient of a prestigious American Film Institute scholarship.

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