Join us in bringing SCORCHER the Short Film to Life

Hi! I'm Emma Angen Rose, the writer and director of SCORCHER, a visceral and satirical short film about labor politics and the joys of worker solidarity. This story follows ELAINE, a 20-year-old trying to raise money for women’s reproductive rights on the hottest day of the year. As the sun blares down, Elaine is approached by a co-worker eager to unionize.

This project is a team effort with some of my favorite collaborators and will complete my MFA in Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College.

ORIGINS AND THEMES

SCORCHER arose out of my personal experience as a crowd canvasser in 2018. I began the job with a deep determination to participate in changing some of the injustices I saw in the world and I believed the non-profit sector would be a way to do so. However, the job was volatile and relied on making a donation quota. This stranded me and my co-workers outside even in extreme weather conditions. Massive turnover and employee dissatisfaction led to mounting worker solidarity and the rumblings of a union. It was at this job that I first experienced the viciousness of union busting and a shift in my mindset - What is social change without a solid labor movement? 

THE STORY

SCORCHER is a 10-12 minute film that follows Elaine, an eager 20-year-old, crowd canvassing for women's healthcare for a local non-profit on the hottest day of the summer. On the brink of being fired and facing symptoms of heat exhaustion, Elaine is approached by her co-worker, SASHA (20s) who wants to start a union. This slice-of-life film reflects on what "social change" really amounts to without good labor practices as we watch Elaine's day deteriorate. 

THE GOAL

We are looking to raise 12K to make SCORCHER happen! We will be shooting in Central Square with the help of Cambridge Community Television on August 29-September 2nd. CCTV and other community resources have cut our budget down and bolstered our confidence that films tackling themes of solidarity and workers-rights are wanted and needed. We continue to look to those around us to reach our fundraising goal. 

Production costs include: props, set decorations, costumes, craft services, transportation, hard drives, locations, festival submissions, and promotional materials. Crew fees include: composer, color corrector, graphic artist, foley artist, and sound mixer. 

Thank you! 

We appreciate your help in bringing SCORCHER to the screen! We feel so grateful for the support we’ve already received, including donations, exchanges, and kind favors. This film could not come to life without our wonderful community.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.