fundraising campaign: descendants of the past, ancestors of the future

I received this press release from filmmaker Albert M. Chan, announcing the launch of the fundraising campaign for his independent film Descendants of the Past, Ancestors of the Future, based on the true story of his own family's immigration history. Here are some excerpts from the press release:

Chinese-American director and actor Albert M. Chan launched pre-production this week for his upcoming dramatic film DESCENDANTS OF THE PAST, ANCESTORS OF THE FUTURE with a new website and fundraising campaign. Visitors to the website, located at http://descendantsofthepast.com, can read more about the film, watch behind-the-scenes videos, and make contributions to the project.

"The story is one that's very close to my heart," Chan reveals. "Based on the immigration experiences of my mother and my grandfather to North America from Asia about a half century ago, the story is told in the present day from the point of view of an expectant father who desperately needs to find out how his mother and her own father could have lived apart for most of their lives. DESCENDANTS OF THE PAST, ANCESTORS OF THE FUTURE is a universal story about the sacrifices families make, and the powerful bond that ties all generations of a family together - living, deceased, and yet to come."

...

As part of an underrepresented ethnic minority in film and TV, Chan wanted to tell a meaningful story from his own unique cultural perspective as a Chinese American. Chan hopes to connect the finished film with audiences at international film festivals, immigrant advocacy groups, educational institutions, Asian community groups, Asian youth groups, broadcast television, socially conscious artistic groups, and Asian historical organizations.

"I really hope the film resonates strongly with immigrants like my mother and grandfather who had the bravery and foresight to forge a better future for successive generations, as well as with the children of immigrants like myself, who often struggle with issues of cultural identity and their sense of belonging," Chan says. "Hopefully, they'll understand the incredible strength of kinship, which can span generations and continents."

The goal is to raise $25,000, which will cover the costs of shooting on 35mm film. For more information about the project, including a video of Albert Chan explaining the story behind the screenplay, go to the Chanal Productions website here.