S.N.A.F.U.

We are thrilled to invite you to be a part of S.N.A.F.U., a senior thesis film produced by passionate students at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). This project is the culmination of our academic journey in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts and represents countless hours of hard work, creativity, and dedication. Your support will help us bring our vision to life!

S.N.A.F.U. is the story of Lily Garcia, a former US Army medic and Iraq War Veteran suffering from terrible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her torment stems from the horrors of combat and lost comrades, resulting in horrific alcoholism and homelessness on the streets of Los Angeles. Lily’s status quo is upended after bumping into her comrade’s widow, sending her on a quest to choose death or redemption from the ghosts that haunt her. All too often, veterans must cope with the traumatic stress of war for the rest of their lives, Lily is no exception to this. Writer and Director, Robert Kutruff, created S.N.A.F.U. by drawing upon his own trauma from serving in the Iraq War and how it has led to a lifetime filled with struggles.

What is a S.N.A.F.U.? It is a term that describes a situation that is a confused or chaotic state; a real mess. One might describe a life gone wrong, or the worst time in one’s life as a S.N.A.F.U. or it could be used to delineate any botched plan. Regardless, a S.N.A.F.U. is something no person wants to be in. It literally stands for Situation Normal, All Fouled Up. Although Fouled is often swapped out for another colorful F word. The origins of S.N.A.F.U. as an acronym are debated. Some say it comes from the days of the telegraph as shorthand to describe telegraph wires that were cut or broken. Some others point to the 1940s in WWII, specifically in the United States military as the first regular use of S.N.A.F.U. Even if the military did not invent it, the military certainly played a pivotal role in bringing the term into wide use in the English language. It was commonly used by the military’s lower enlisted personnel to describe missions gone wrong or as a way to convey chaos as the status quo of the military’s policies and operations.

S.N.A.F.U. finds its inspiration in the life and experiences of writer and director Robert Kutruff. He served as a US Army combat videographer in the beginning of the Iraq War. The horrors of war left Robert a broken man. He was unable to function in society in the years following his deployment. PTSD made consistent employment an uphill challenge. Furthermore, his war injuries caused a traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, and cancer. Robert had all but given up on life after his cancer battle, but after a life-altering event he decided to take another stab at success. He moved to Los Angeles to attend film school and saw the rows after rows of homeless encampments in the city. Seeing their plight inspired Robert to write about their struggle. He created S.N.A.F.U. to inspire hope to veterans that fight a never-ending struggle in their years after service. 

Creating an exceptionally high-quality film requires resources beyond what a student budget typically allows. Your generous donations will go directly toward key aspects of production, such as:

• Equipment Rentals: Donations will go toward renting professional cameras, lighting, sound equipment, and other essential gear to ensure the film looks and sounds high quality.

• Locations: Contributions will help secure unique and fitting locations, ensuring the setting of the film adds authenticity and visual appeal.

• Cast Compensation: Funding will allow us to fairly compensate the talented SAG-AFTRA actors working hard to bring the project to life.

• Costumes and Props: Donations will cover the costs of wardrobe, props, and set design to ensure the visual elements align perfectly with the film’s theme and time period.

• Post-Production: Support will help with the editing process, including video editing, sound design, color grading, and any necessary visual effects to polish the final product.

• Music Licensing and Original Score: Contributions will go toward securing music rights or creating an original score that enhances the emotional tone of the film.

• Marketing and Distribution: Donations will be used to promote the film through trailers, social media campaigns, and film festival submissions to ensure it reaches a wide audience.

• Catering for Cast and Crew: Part of the funding will go toward providing meals and refreshments for the cast and crew during long shooting days to keep everyone energized, motivated, and hydrated.

• Contingency Fund: A small percentage will be set aside for unexpected expenses or emergencies that may arise during production, ensuring the film stays on schedule and budget.

• Film Festival Submissions: Contributions will help cover entry for film festivals, where the short film can gain recognition and potentially lead to future opportunities.

Each donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to bringing our vision to life and sharing this story with the world!

**ALL DONATIONS TO S.N.A.F.U. ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE. THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE FOUNDATION IS A CHARITABLE, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION 501(C)(3) PUBLIC BENEFIT CALIFORNIA CORPORATION.**

The production team recognizes and understands that financial contributions are not always possible. On account of this, if you would like to contribute in other ways, the entire crew of very hard-working students would greatly appreciate it if you helped us by sharing this website link with your friends, family, coworkers, potential investors, and any other individual, entity, or business that you believe can help us transform our ambitions into reality. 

Other contribution opportunities include:

To keep up to date and track this production, the cast and crew welcomes you to our social media platforms to further enjoy behind-the-scenes content, glimpses into the history of this story, progress updates, and much more. Feel free to follow our campaign on:

Facebook:  @SNAFU.ShortFilm

Instagram: @SNAFU.ShortFilm

Youtube: @SNAFU.ShortFilm

TikTok: @SNAFU.ShortFilm

If you have any questions, comments, or would like more information about our project, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our company email: 

snafufilms.csun@gmail.com

Thank you for considering a donation to support S.N.A.F.U. and helping us achieve our dream of creating a memorable and impactful film!