The Loyal Betrayal
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Crime, Drama
Loyal Betrayal is a gripping film noir set in the Manzanar Relocation Center, exploring deception, survival, and the lasting effects of racism. This forgotten history needs to be told, and with your support, we can craft a visually stunning, emotionally resonant film that challenges perspective
The Loyal Betrayal
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Crime, Drama
1 Campaigns |
15 supporters | followers
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$1,360
Goal: $10,500 for development
Loyal Betrayal is a gripping film noir set in the Manzanar Relocation Center, exploring deception, survival, and the lasting effects of racism. This forgotten history needs to be told, and with your support, we can craft a visually stunning, emotionally resonant film that challenges perspective
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About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Loyal Betrayal is a gripping film noir that delves into the devastating effects of racism, set against the haunting backdrop of the Manzanar Relocation Center. Through the lens of deception, survival, and truth, the film unveils a forgotten chapter in history, where loyalty is tested and betrayal lurks in the shadows. With stunning cinematography and a richly layered narrative, Loyal Betrayal will explore the moral complexities of those forced into impossible choices, capturing the raw tension and resilience of individuals trapped in a system designed to erase them. More than just a film, this is an urgent story that demands to be told—a project that ensures history is not forgotten and sparks conversation about power, identity, and justice. Your support brings this vision to life, helping us craft a story that will leave a lasting impact.
STORY
Eric Koyanagi, a hard-nosed newspaper reporter in his late 30s, arrives at Manzanar, one of the Japanese internment camps set up in the heart of California’s unforgiving desert during World War II. As one of the last Japanese Americans to be forcibly relocated, he’s immediately struck by the grim conditions: barracks packed with families, thin straw-stuffed cots, communal bathrooms with no privacy, and walls that barely hold out the elements. Anger simmers beneath his sharp wit, resentment brewing over being imprisoned by the very country he once believed in.
That bitterness is tempered when he meets Eleanor Hanada, an enigmatic and sharp-tongued woman in her early 40s, whose allure is matched only by her moral ambiguity. Their connection is immediate, a fire sparked in the midst of adversity. But Eleanor is married—to Frank Hanada, a weary man in his 60s, slowly losing his sight to glaucoma, numbing his despair with crude homemade liquor. Her daughter, Annie, 18, is a popular young woman deeply entwined in the vibrant baseball scene that has become a rare source of joy in camp, thanks in part to her boyfriend, Robbie, an all-American athlete and one of the camp’s best players.
As Eric and Eleanor grow closer, their connection deepens into an affair, stolen moments in a makeshift nightclub—a transformed mess hall—where the celebrated “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Kageyama, serenades the restless crowd with the lounge tunes of the era. But the fleeting escape shatters when Robbie’s body is discovered, brutally beaten, in a camp Victory Garden. Tension mounts as speculation swirls, but the military police seem more interested in covering up the crime than solving it. Suspicion falls on Sam, a camp guard notorious for his cruelty, yet proving his guilt is another matter.
Eleanor urges Eric to take justice into his own hands, but Eric is determined to uncover the truth before giving in to the impulse for revenge. His investigation leads him down a harrowing path—one that unearths hidden corruption, unveils the quiet devastation of internment, and forces him to confront the loss of hope that has tainted the lives of thousands. As Eric wrestles with injustice and the weight of answering the infamous Loyalty Questionnaire, he finds himself standing at the edge of despair, contemplating actions he never imagined himself capable of.
WHY US?
Because stories like Loyal Betrayal matter now more than ever. As artists, Tom and Koji are driven to uncover hidden histories and challenge narratives that have been overlooked. The Manzanar Relocation Center is a stark reminder of how racism shaped lives in ways many still don’t fully grasp, and through the lens of film noir, we want to expose the raw truth—where loyalty, betrayal, and survival collide in a world designed to erase identities. This story is urgent, relevant, and deeply personal, reminding us that history repeats if left unchecked.
WHY NOW?
Because history has a way of being forgotten—or worse, rewritten. Loyal Betrayal is more than just a film; it's an urgent reminder of the consequences of racism and systemic oppression. As conversations about identity, injustice, and power continue to evolve, now is the time to tell this story—to challenge perspectives, honor those affected, and ensure that the truths of the past are not erased. This moment demands reflection and action, and this film is a way to keep history alive while making it deeply resonant for today’s audience.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Right now, Loyal Betrayal has a completed script and a short film, laying the groundwork for a full-scale production. We’re seeking development funding to refine the project, secure key creatives like an Art Director, get a schedule/budget made, etc, and take the next steps toward bringing this vision to life.
Watch the trailer of the short:
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Budget & Schedule
Costs $2,500
A development budget covers writing, research, and hiring key personnel, ensuring a solid foundation before production begins.
Hire a casting director
Costs $4,000
A casting director brings top talent that enhances authenticity, elevates visibility, and helps secure funding to bring the film to life.
Create a Pitch Deck
Costs $2,500
A pitch deck conveys vision, attracts investors, and secures funding by showcasing a project's potential, strategy, and market appeal.
Hire an Art Director
Costs $1,000
To bring Loyal Betrayal to life, we need an Art Director—the key to creating a visually stunning, immersive world that enhances the story's
Location Scouting
Costs $500
Location scouting shapes the world of Loyal Betrayal, ensuring every scene enhances the story. Help us secure the perfect settings!
Share this update!
About This Team
Visionaries Tom Huang and Koji Steven Sakai are bringing The Loyal Betrayal to life—a film noir set within the Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. As storytellers dedicated to crafting compelling narratives that explore Asian American identity, social injustice, and rich historical settings, Huang and Sakai have blended crime, drama, and historical depth to create a gripping and emotionally charged film.
Tom Huang, a director, writer, and producer, has built a career on sharp, character-driven storytelling. Known for films such as Find Me and Why Am I Doing This?, Huang’s ability to weave humor and heart into complex narratives allows The Loyal Betrayal to balance its intense historical backdrop with deeply human moments. His directing style captures the nuances of internal conflict—portraying characters at a crossroads between morality, survival, and personal redemption.
Koji Steven Sakai, a writer and producer with a keen eye for exploring Asian American stories, has consistently championed narratives that shine a light on cultural identity and untold histories. In addition to his work in film, Sakai has played a significant role at the Japanese American National Museum, where he served as Vice President of Programs. His tenure at JANM allowed him to oversee exhibitions and public programs that highlighted the Japanese American experience, ensuring that stories of resilience, injustice, and cultural heritage were preserved and shared with wider audiences. His work at the museum reflects his deep commitment to historical storytelling, making The Loyal Betrayal a natural extension of his passion for bringing overlooked narratives to light.
Together, Huang and Sakai are crafting a film that not only embraces the tense atmosphere of classic noir but also highlights a painful chapter in American history—one that still resonates today. With their combined creative forces, The Loyal Betrayal promises to be a striking exploration of love, corruption, and justice, all set within the confines of a camp where freedom was stripped away, but defiance still burned bright.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Loyal Betrayal is a gripping film noir that delves into the devastating effects of racism, set against the haunting backdrop of the Manzanar Relocation Center. Through the lens of deception, survival, and truth, the film unveils a forgotten chapter in history, where loyalty is tested and betrayal lurks in the shadows. With stunning cinematography and a richly layered narrative, Loyal Betrayal will explore the moral complexities of those forced into impossible choices, capturing the raw tension and resilience of individuals trapped in a system designed to erase them. More than just a film, this is an urgent story that demands to be told—a project that ensures history is not forgotten and sparks conversation about power, identity, and justice. Your support brings this vision to life, helping us craft a story that will leave a lasting impact.
STORY
Eric Koyanagi, a hard-nosed newspaper reporter in his late 30s, arrives at Manzanar, one of the Japanese internment camps set up in the heart of California’s unforgiving desert during World War II. As one of the last Japanese Americans to be forcibly relocated, he’s immediately struck by the grim conditions: barracks packed with families, thin straw-stuffed cots, communal bathrooms with no privacy, and walls that barely hold out the elements. Anger simmers beneath his sharp wit, resentment brewing over being imprisoned by the very country he once believed in.
That bitterness is tempered when he meets Eleanor Hanada, an enigmatic and sharp-tongued woman in her early 40s, whose allure is matched only by her moral ambiguity. Their connection is immediate, a fire sparked in the midst of adversity. But Eleanor is married—to Frank Hanada, a weary man in his 60s, slowly losing his sight to glaucoma, numbing his despair with crude homemade liquor. Her daughter, Annie, 18, is a popular young woman deeply entwined in the vibrant baseball scene that has become a rare source of joy in camp, thanks in part to her boyfriend, Robbie, an all-American athlete and one of the camp’s best players.
As Eric and Eleanor grow closer, their connection deepens into an affair, stolen moments in a makeshift nightclub—a transformed mess hall—where the celebrated “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Kageyama, serenades the restless crowd with the lounge tunes of the era. But the fleeting escape shatters when Robbie’s body is discovered, brutally beaten, in a camp Victory Garden. Tension mounts as speculation swirls, but the military police seem more interested in covering up the crime than solving it. Suspicion falls on Sam, a camp guard notorious for his cruelty, yet proving his guilt is another matter.
Eleanor urges Eric to take justice into his own hands, but Eric is determined to uncover the truth before giving in to the impulse for revenge. His investigation leads him down a harrowing path—one that unearths hidden corruption, unveils the quiet devastation of internment, and forces him to confront the loss of hope that has tainted the lives of thousands. As Eric wrestles with injustice and the weight of answering the infamous Loyalty Questionnaire, he finds himself standing at the edge of despair, contemplating actions he never imagined himself capable of.
WHY US?
Because stories like Loyal Betrayal matter now more than ever. As artists, Tom and Koji are driven to uncover hidden histories and challenge narratives that have been overlooked. The Manzanar Relocation Center is a stark reminder of how racism shaped lives in ways many still don’t fully grasp, and through the lens of film noir, we want to expose the raw truth—where loyalty, betrayal, and survival collide in a world designed to erase identities. This story is urgent, relevant, and deeply personal, reminding us that history repeats if left unchecked.
WHY NOW?
Because history has a way of being forgotten—or worse, rewritten. Loyal Betrayal is more than just a film; it's an urgent reminder of the consequences of racism and systemic oppression. As conversations about identity, injustice, and power continue to evolve, now is the time to tell this story—to challenge perspectives, honor those affected, and ensure that the truths of the past are not erased. This moment demands reflection and action, and this film is a way to keep history alive while making it deeply resonant for today’s audience.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Right now, Loyal Betrayal has a completed script and a short film, laying the groundwork for a full-scale production. We’re seeking development funding to refine the project, secure key creatives like an Art Director, get a schedule/budget made, etc, and take the next steps toward bringing this vision to life.
Watch the trailer of the short:
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Budget & Schedule
Costs $2,500
A development budget covers writing, research, and hiring key personnel, ensuring a solid foundation before production begins.
Hire a casting director
Costs $4,000
A casting director brings top talent that enhances authenticity, elevates visibility, and helps secure funding to bring the film to life.
Create a Pitch Deck
Costs $2,500
A pitch deck conveys vision, attracts investors, and secures funding by showcasing a project's potential, strategy, and market appeal.
Hire an Art Director
Costs $1,000
To bring Loyal Betrayal to life, we need an Art Director—the key to creating a visually stunning, immersive world that enhances the story's
Location Scouting
Costs $500
Location scouting shapes the world of Loyal Betrayal, ensuring every scene enhances the story. Help us secure the perfect settings!
Share this update!
About This Team
Visionaries Tom Huang and Koji Steven Sakai are bringing The Loyal Betrayal to life—a film noir set within the Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. As storytellers dedicated to crafting compelling narratives that explore Asian American identity, social injustice, and rich historical settings, Huang and Sakai have blended crime, drama, and historical depth to create a gripping and emotionally charged film.
Tom Huang, a director, writer, and producer, has built a career on sharp, character-driven storytelling. Known for films such as Find Me and Why Am I Doing This?, Huang’s ability to weave humor and heart into complex narratives allows The Loyal Betrayal to balance its intense historical backdrop with deeply human moments. His directing style captures the nuances of internal conflict—portraying characters at a crossroads between morality, survival, and personal redemption.
Koji Steven Sakai, a writer and producer with a keen eye for exploring Asian American stories, has consistently championed narratives that shine a light on cultural identity and untold histories. In addition to his work in film, Sakai has played a significant role at the Japanese American National Museum, where he served as Vice President of Programs. His tenure at JANM allowed him to oversee exhibitions and public programs that highlighted the Japanese American experience, ensuring that stories of resilience, injustice, and cultural heritage were preserved and shared with wider audiences. His work at the museum reflects his deep commitment to historical storytelling, making The Loyal Betrayal a natural extension of his passion for bringing overlooked narratives to light.
Together, Huang and Sakai are crafting a film that not only embraces the tense atmosphere of classic noir but also highlights a painful chapter in American history—one that still resonates today. With their combined creative forces, The Loyal Betrayal promises to be a striking exploration of love, corruption, and justice, all set within the confines of a camp where freedom was stripped away, but defiance still burned bright.