Public Housing Z: Women-Led Short Film
Ana, a young girl, must fight to survive deplorable housing conditions by Xplore the World & Latino Film Market.
Project Description
The Story
As a resident of public housing, I am making this film to show the deteriorating state of public housing and its effects on the health of residents. I have seen how the lack of funding negatively impacts the living conditions. Everyday residents are fighting to preserve long term affordable, sustainable public housing and with this project we will be joining their fight.
The story is about Ana, a young girl living in a dilapidated apartment. Her mother (Carmen) has been unwell and Ana does not know why. She meets a resident (Lee) who explains neighbors have been turning into zombies, due to bad housing conditions. Ana must go with Lee in order to save herself and her mom.
Why this film?
Public Housing Z or PHZ has come about as a call-to-action to public housing buildings. This continues to be a serious issue where residents are becoming sick from horrible conditions. Studies have found a direct link between childhood asthma and household mold.
Writer/Director Christy is a resident of public housing, who has also been a complainant of mold. “At annual public housing conferences and community meetings, I listened to residents share their illness due to the inadequate housing conditions. Mold is one of the many issues in public housing. I learned that mold was the leading cause of asthma in many children living in public housing. Children are the most vulnerable to mold, this is why I chose to focus the film on a child.”
Our ask of you
Funding any film is not easy, but with passion, determination and support, it is possible! You may be a resident of public housing or know someone who is. We hope that you find the project interesting enough in which you talk to others about it and also support those who live in public housing.
We want to do justice to this film, and with your help, we will be able to cover the cost of:
Cast & Crew
Costumes & Props
Equipment & Transportation for Equipment
Location, Permits, & Insurance
Editing & more
Yes, any contribution will help, but we also know even giving $1 is not possible. Please share the page, retweet/repost/like what you see on social media. Money is not the only way to make this film get made!
Thank you, we are grateful for your support!
Images from the production shoot.
Updates
We’ve wrapped production and are now fundraising to cover the costs of production and post-production. We reached our first milestone of $1,000 on our campaign! We are so grateful for your generosity. This is just the beginning. We still have a long way to go before we reach our final goal, but we are confident that with your help, we can make it happen. Please continue to share our campaign with your friends and family. Every dollar counts. Thank you for your support.
What about us?
We are six people from different backgrounds who have come together to make this project:
Charysse (Producer) is a London-based, award-winning filmmaker and CEO of Xplore the World, a documentary production company. Arilyn (Producer) is the Founder and Director of Latino Film Market, she is an entrepreneur, educator, and filmmaker from Puerto Rico. Shirley (Producer & Casting Director) is the co-host of Geekettes Chat, a film, tv, and book review podcast. Eugenia (Director of Photography) is an artist that lives and works in New York. Mendy (Editor) is a New York-based artist and filmmaker. Joliz Maria is a makeup artist and beauty influencer from Queens, NY. Kisori (Sound Mixer), originally hails from Hong Kong, she is a New York-based video editor, sound designer, and horror aficionado. Christy (Writer & Director) is the co-host of Geekettes Chat, a film, tv, and book review podcast.
The happenings
We have the script. We have done the script breakdown. The storyboard is complete (image below)
We held an audition in April 2023 (image below, L-R: Eugenia (DP), Shirley (Casting Director), Christy (Director/Screenwriter) - and was able to find our cast! Our editor, Mendy, is waiting to do his job, as well as our art director, Christian, who will be designing the poster.
What to expect during the journey?
Now with casting behind us, we are moving forward to shooting the film this September 2023. Between the casting and the production, we have assembled our below-the-line crew and are rehearsing with the actors.
The Campaign FAQs
For any questions or comments, please email [email protected]
Thank you for the support any $$$ counts!
At the end of each week, we will give a social media shout out to everyone who has supported within those seven days! Be sure to tell us your social media handle.
Thank you for the donation!
Instead of changing into something nice to watch the film, you will have the opportunity to watch it from the comfort of your own home! With this incentive, you will be able to view the project at any point after its film festival run.
You will also receive all the above incentives. Thank you for your donation!
As we move closer to completing the film, we’ll be inputting the names/organizations of all those who have supported us along the way in the film credits! If you pick this incentive, your name will be here, too!
You will also receive all the incentives. Thank you for your donation!
What’s better than watching a film from the comfort of your own home? Watching the film WITH THE CREW and then having a conversation with us! You know it - with a $500 donation, we’ll make you feel like the star that you are with a private screening and conversation with us in which we’ll even bring the popcorn, snack and drinks!
You will also receive all the incentives. Thank you for your donation!
One definition of Associate Producer is “one who assists another producer in putting a film or television episode together.” With your AP title, you will definitely be assisting in fulfilling that meaning!
You will also receive all the above incentives. Thank you for you donation!
As you are the one who would have brought in nearly 50% of the funds for this project (remember, we’re only asking for $6,500!), you sit at the top of the food chain! For our project, this means we will ask for your feedback after the first cut of the film. Are you ready for the responsibility? And, of course, you’ll get the EP title in the film credits.
You will also receive all the above incentives (except for the AP title as that will be confusing to the audience.) Thank you for your donation!
Rewards
Thank you for the support any $$$ counts!
At the end of each week, we will give a social media shout out to everyone who has supported within those seven days! Be sure to tell us your social media handle.
Thank you for the donation!
Instead of changing into something nice to watch the film, you will have the opportunity to watch it from the comfort of your own home! With this incentive, you will be able to view the project at any point after its film festival run.
You will also receive all the above incentives. Thank you for your donation!
As we move closer to completing the film, we’ll be inputting the names/organizations of all those who have supported us along the way in the film credits! If you pick this incentive, your name will be here, too!
You will also receive all the incentives. Thank you for your donation!
What’s better than watching a film from the comfort of your own home? Watching the film WITH THE CREW and then having a conversation with us! You know it - with a $500 donation, we’ll make you feel like the star that you are with a private screening and conversation with us in which we’ll even bring the popcorn, snack and drinks!
You will also receive all the incentives. Thank you for your donation!
One definition of Associate Producer is “one who assists another producer in putting a film or television episode together.” With your AP title, you will definitely be assisting in fulfilling that meaning!
You will also receive all the above incentives. Thank you for you donation!
As you are the one who would have brought in nearly 50% of the funds for this project (remember, we’re only asking for $6,500!), you sit at the top of the food chain! For our project, this means we will ask for your feedback after the first cut of the film. Are you ready for the responsibility? And, of course, you’ll get the EP title in the film credits.
You will also receive all the above incentives (except for the AP title as that will be confusing to the audience.) Thank you for your donation!