We All Have A Dream . . . Un Sueño

Carmen sits in the truck’s crowded bed and watches as the orchard fields whiz by  . . . 

El Sueño is a film about the criminally overlooked lives and working conditions undocumented US citizens endure in pursuit of the American Dream. Although our story follows a single woman, her experience is by no means unique and can very well be applied to numerous women who cross our border every day in hopes of a better tomorrow.

This story follows Carmen, a Mexican woman who resides in the States as an undocumented migrant farm laborer. When she is faced with the harsh realization that her meager pay is not enough to sustain her ailing mother in Mexico, her supervisor quickly takes advantage of the situation and sexually assaults Carmen in broad daylight. Despite the massive trauma Carmen now bears on her shoulders, she takes the risk of fighting back against the man who has taken advantage of her lack of power to abuse her. 

As a collective of burgeoning filmmakers, our goal is to deliver a story that effectively addresses the abuse of power countless immigrants (undocumented or not) face upon entering our country and the systematic lack of coverage even their gravest troubles receive. Our belief is that in order to make a change in this world, we must face these difficult truths head-on and educate ourselves on the uncomfortable realities the undocumented face in our country. 

How Your Donation will Benefit Us: 

Each and every donation we receive will go towards telling our story. The art of filmmaking is one that requires dozens of skilled hands, departments, and tools to be made effectively. These include, but are not limited to:

• Camera & Lighting Equipment: Rental Costs for a Camera Package, Lighting Gear, and Grip Equipment
• Casting: Hiring, Feeding, and Covid-19 Testing our Talent and Casting Directors
• Sound Equipment: Rental Costs and Original Score Composition
• Filming Locations: Aquiring Permits, Proper Documentation, and Insurance
• Art: Funding for Production Design, Set Dressing, Make-Up, Wardrobe, and Props
• Post Production: Film Processing Costs, Color Grading, and Transcoding
• Meals: A Well-Stocked Craft Services Table and Balanced Lunches for our Hardworking Crew 
• Covid-19 Compliance: Personal Protective Equipment for our Crew, Masks, Sanitizing Products, Gloves, Readily Available Covid-19 Testing Kits, and Additional Gear our Covid-19 Compliance Officer May Need. 

Thank you for supporting our project and the budding filmmakers behind it.

Contributions to El Sueño are 100% Tax Deductible. The California State University, Northridge Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) public benefit California corporation.

Stay Up to Date on Production and Help Spread our Message

Instagram: @elsuenofilm

Following our project’s social media pages is a great way to stay up to date on the latest news on El Sueño’s progress and show your support! Additionally, sharing our page on Instagram and Facebook is a great and free way to spread the word about our film. Links to our merchandise shop, additional fundraising campaigns, behind-the-scenes content, and much more will be actively posted to our social media page. Don’t miss out!

El Sueño’s Online Shop 

Purchasing from our merchandise shop is another fantastic way of showing your support for El Sueño. The profits for every item sold through our online store will go directly toward funding our production. Help us finance our film and in the process secure some limited edition clothing, accessories, and keepsakes!

Meet The El Sueño Crew

Sofia Ayerdi - Co-Director | Kevin Shum - Co-Director & Writer 

 Jesse Cecilio Lopez - Producer | Victor Romo - Producer | Edgar Zaragoza - Producer  Miranda Campellone - UPM & 1st Assistant Director | Thiago Nogueira - 2nd Assistant Director | Bing Cheng Pan - Director of Photography & Camera Operator 

Chir Yan Lim - 1st Assistant Camera | Jason Upshur - 2nd Assistant Camera 

 Sidney Campos - Script Supervisor | Xi Huang - Sound Mixer 

 Schorl Brest Van Kempen - Boom Operator | Trevor Perez - Sound Utility

Jiliang Sun - Post Production Sound | Julissa Sanchez - Post Production Sound

Pinshui Zhang - Editor | Abigail Marie Perez - Production Designer 

Jocelyn Ramos - Art Director | Davey Huang - Graphic Designer

Covid-19 Acknowledgement

Each and every step of El Sueño’s production will be handled with the necessary Covid-19 Health precautions in mind. Our team has and will continue to ensure that the health and safety of our crew, regardless of position, will take regular Covid-19 tests, abide by SAG-AFTRA’s Covid-19 safety guidelines, and work on set under the supervision of a certified Covid-19 Compliance Officer at all times. 

Thank You For Supporting El Sueño

Writing, shooting, and editing a film is a massive undertaking that requires dozens of creative minds to come together and work towards a common goal. Every dollar we receive helps feed the crew, rent equipment, secure filming locations, and bring our vision to life. This film would not be possible without your contributions, thank you.

Any potential questions or comments can be directed to El Sueño’s producers.

Victor Romo - victor.romo.961@my.csun.edu

Jesse Cecilio Lopez - jesse.lopez.160@my.csun.edu

Edgar Zaragoza - edgar.zaragoza.44@my.csun.edu