Our Story

The Impact

OPAL is more than just a short film - it is a vehicle for not only the larger goal of making OPAL into a feature film - but for the budding young girls out there that want to look for more in their lives... a chance to make their dreams a reality and to do it on their terms. Not only are we looking forward to working with young Native actors in front of the camera, but we also plan to make OPAL part of a training platform for Native students of film so that they can have on set training and a chance to see how the film comes to fruition.

What We Need & What You Get

The funds raised here will help us to pay for the actual production of OPAL in the small communities around Albuquerque, New Mexico. It will be shot in three days at the end of the summer - using a partial student crew and local cast and crew from around Albuquerque.  It will go directly to costs for our cast and crew, equipment rentals, travel costs, and food/craft services for the cast and crew.

 The script went through the 2010 Sundance Native Filmmakers Lab in May of 2010 and the script was worked again and again until early this year when a clean and tight story was finally realized. I have also been working to eventually create a feature length script about OPAL - the smart, creative and worldly little Navajo girl who juggles life with her artist mother in the city and her quiet life with her Grandmother on the reservation with attitute, bravery and a whole lot of imagination.  This short will be a part of Opal's inventive and amazing imagination.

 We have begun pre-production with our own funds and are now beginning the process of building our crew and casting for our five main roles in the film. We will also be working -before our production gets started - on creating and implementing acting preparation classes for our young cast (made up of Native kids between the ages of 8-12 years old). This will ensure that the cast is ready when the shoot day begins. We are also in the process of finalizing our shooting locations and getting ready for the three day summer shoot.

 By being a part of this film production, you are also supporting the education of young, aspiring Native filmmakers as they will be made a huge part of this production - being able to experience the hands-on training of the process like filmmaking. They will be made an essential part of getting this film done and will be allowed to shadow whoever is doing the job they are most interested in!  

Other Ways You Can Help

Please help us spread the word about this project and join the fanclub on Facebook! Here's a link!http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/OPAL/198089303552055

For more information on this project and the filmmakers, please follow these links:

http://www.reelindianpictures.com

http://www.sundance.org/stories/slideshows/bringing-up-opal-a-character-in-motion/