To the same community that has supported me throughout my journey as a filmmaker, I am asking for your support to help me produce my NYU Senior Thesis Film, Heaven All Around Us. We will begin shooting in February.
STORY
Heaven All Around Us is centered around Andres, a dedicated young man who is ordained by God to deliver a holy gift across a snowy forest. In the intense cold, he falls unconscious, but is saved by a young woman, Alejandra, who shelters him in her cave. She shows him fire for the first time, and together they discover that the divine gift he was tasked to protect isn’t for God, but for each other.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Heaven All Around Us challenges the conventional notion of heaven as a place of tranquility, peace, and perfection to illuminate the possibility that true divinity lies in the flawed beauty of human passion, connection, and liberation. How could we, as imperfect humans, eventually belong to a perfect heaven? Through times of anguish, despair, and injustice, faith in a peaceful afterlife brings solace and reassurance to our tumultuous reality - but nothing can truly exist without its opposite. To belong to heaven is to belong to perfection: to belong to perfection is to cease to be human.
BUDGET
*Insert Pie Chart*
The majority of the budget is dedicated to ensuring a safe and professional production environment, enabling our cast and crew to effectively manage the logistical demands of filming on location within a real cave and forest. Each donation helps give us the spark that will carry over to ignite the on-set fire, ultimately bringing this production to life.
THE CREW
The will and spirit of every single collaborator, no matter their role, shows up in the final film. Beyond skill alone, connection and community are integral to the assembly of our crew. Our lead producer, Andrew, has worked with Cristian since his directorial debut in 2023. Our Cinematographer, Emilio, co-founded Latinidad, a Latine film club at NYU Tisch, where Cristian found a much-needed community among artists he felt he belonged with. Whether through years of friendship or a shared cultural background, there is a level of mutual trust and understanding that ties our entire crew together to tell this story.
THANK YOU
While we are seeking financial backing, you can also help us grow our audience by following our journey on Instagram at @heavenallaroundusfilm, where we’ll be sharing updates and behind-the-scenes progress along the way.
Learn More: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-cristians-nyu-senior-thesis-heaven-all-around-us