Help Get This Silent Movie Into Film Festivals

I wrote and directed THE MASKED VILLAIN OF SELLWOOD to give voice to disenfranchised teens when I was working with Portland, OR based Rogue Pack, a nonprofit that serves at-risk youth. I mean, these kids (who shared their brave stories) have been pitched around the juvenile justice system, been incarcerated and abandoned, and have suffered from mental health instability — along with the trauma of domestic and substance abuse.

Another force pushing this film was to show kids what can be accomplished creatively with a phone — to get everyone thinking ahead of their habitual scrolling on TikTok, Instagram, and whatever.

So I shot the 40-minute movie with an iPhone — to demonstrate the magnitude of what can be achieved with such a small yet powerful device.

What’s it about? On the surface, it's a damsel in distress trope, a hero’s journey, dark vs. light, and so on — but with the stories given to me by teens in Oregon Youth Authority custody, it becomes something bigger. How can we choose to accept our past so we are not stuck within the pain of heartbreak? By confronting the storyteller inside us ... the foundation for change, and for how we can alter our own narrative emerges.

This was also an opportunity to bring community together just after the main thrusts of COVID, a time when we were — and still are — longing for connection.

I want viewers to be excited by a visual experience they’ve never had — and to shatter any expectations of what silent film should be.

It's ambitious. It's fast. It's fun.

I am driven to share THE MASKED VILLAIN OF SELLWOOD with audiences around the world because the local response has been incredibly supportive — and the heart of this film resonates deeply across many demographics. Honestly, it touched people in ways I didn't expect, which lit a fire in me.

I would love a chance to create a wider reach, and because submission costs add up fast, I am seeking some help to do that.

There are so many people and organizations who merit your kindness and support. For me, I've seen how independent art brings meaning to our lives. I think a lot of us feel that the independent arts ignite a certain freedom of expression — expression that fosters our relationship with the world through distinctly new experiences and ideas.

I'm incredibly grateful for whatever people can donate — 100% of funds raised will go toward film festival submissions, and any related festival costs.

Thank you,

Randy