SO CALLED FREEDOM

So Called Freedom: The Erosion of Civil Liberties in Modern America

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Fundraising site -https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/so-called-freedom/x/5189225#/

 

In my new feature-length documentary “So Called Freedom,” I will explore the question: do we truly live in a free society today or are we slipping towards a quasi-police state governed more by money, power and corruption than ideals enshrined in the Constitution?

 

Traveling to 20 states over 5 months spanning the partisan political conventions and climaxing on election day 2024, I will conduct interviews with Americans from all walks of life — diverse in ethnicity, gender, age, ideology — to get unfiltered perspectives on the threats they see to freedoms of speech, privacy, fair governance and more. From the migrant trails of the southern border to the halls of Congress...coastal cities to heartland towns, I will let people from all corners of the country sound off.

Supported by renowned civil rights advocates, tech experts and historians as on-screen commentators, “So Called Freedom” will stitch together a unique grassroots portrait of modern America through the lens of its founding principles. More than just sounding the alarm, it will inspire everyday citizens to safeguard liberties essential for democracy...before it’s too late. The very identity and soul of our nation hangs in the balance.

This defining film can make a difference — but I need your backing to make it happen. Will you join me?

Investment vs. Impact
Dream Costs / Shared Vision

 

With over a decade of experience directing and producing penetrating documentary films on a shoestring, I have honed resourceful and efficient filmmaking skills out of necessity. I have completed 10 independent documentaries covering important social issues - all through bootstrapping budgets and finding creative workarounds.

However, in order to do the ambition and scale of "So Called Freedom" justice with the integrity and production value it deserves, I need to supplement my resources to fund key expenses. Namely - travel costs to physically access the 20+ states and 100+ interview subjects, videography/editing equipment vital for capturing broadcast-quality footage, as well as digital distribution once completed to maximize impact.

 

That is why I come to you - we want collaborators, not just donors. This film will showcase the faces and voices of everyday citizens nationwide. So for those individuals and organizations that contribute funding at the Associate Producer level or above, we offer the opportunity to literally be featured in the documentary itself. We will travel to your hometown and interview you on camera for the final cut of the film regarding your perspectives on civil liberties in America. You will join police chiefs, activists, lawmakers, students, immigrants and more in shaping the narrative.

 

All Associate Producers and above will also receive exclusive early edits of sequences as I compile footage over the 5 month production. I genuinely welcome your feedback to help guide editing decisions as we piece together the complex mosaic of faces and views. This collaborative spirit will make the film richer and more representative.

Finally, funders will be credited on screen at the end of the film proportionate to donation level. Once distribution is completed across streaming platforms, film festivals, conferences and educational settings - having your name tied to a high-profile documentary on the erosion of civil liberties can make an impact while boosting your resume or organization’s profile.

Together, we do not just have the chance to make a film - but spark a movement defending freedoms many take for granted. I cannot do it without you. Let’s get to work!




This film aims to sound the alarm and make people confront hard truths about the erosion of civil liberties.

The topic of freedom is something that we often take for granted in America. Yet apathy and complacency have become prevalent in recent years. My aim with "So Called Freedom" is to capture a wide spectrum of perspectives that truly represents the rich diversity of this country - across age, ethnicity, gender, ideology and geographic region.

 

I want to dig deep into communities that feel their liberties are under assault, from migrant families fearful of authoritarian policies at the border to inner city activists campaigning against heavy-handed policing tactics that single out minorities. tech startups fighting for digital privacy rights to rural gun owners who see their traditions under threat. politically-engaged students concerned about the influence of money in governance as well as marginalized groups struggling for equal treatment.

And beyond those invested in politics and policy, I also want to chat with ordinary working people - farmers, office workers, small business owners - to take the temperature of what freedom means on Main Street. Ask veteran families how they feel seeing democratic institutions attacked after their sacrifices abroad. Check the pulse of new immigrants who came here seeking freedoms lacking back home.

 

My goal is to ultimately capture a mosaic of 100+ voices from across the socioeconomic and ideological spectrum - left, right and center. Rural and urban dwellers. Coastal elites and heartland salt-of-the-earth types. Thought leaders as well as street activists. All united by a common stake in this national conversation about liberty and justice for all.

With "So Called Freedom", my mission is to synthesize these disparate threads into a coherent tapestry illuminating who we still are and who we want to be as a people. Out of many, one.




Documenting diverse voices nationwide is ambitious.

As with any ambitious documentary project, there are inherent risks and roadblocks that can arise during filming - from unpredictable weather, scheduling mishaps and logistical nightmares to barriers in accessing subjects, bureaucracy from local permits to sudden changes in the story itself. My past films have run into all of these issues and more.

As an experienced filmmaker, I have learned to embrace unpredictability and adapt on the fly when needed. Whether that meant rescheduling shoots due to storms, finding alternative public lands access when permits fell through, adjusting production plans when interview subjects backed out last minute or pivoting the narrative when a major news event changed the shape of the story.

For “So Called Freedom,” I am prepared for all these contingencies and unknowns that inevitably come with covering a diverse, politically-charged story playing out over 5 months across 20 diverse states. We will carry redundancy cameras, mics, batteries at all times. Build large buffers into our travel schedules. Line up more subject leads than needed in each locale. Maintain an open, adaptable vision for the final film as events unfold rather than rigidly over planning shot lists.