PURPLE AND GREEN: A UCLA Film by Charlotte Oxley

Purple and Green is a UCLA Undergraduate Thesis Short Film supported by the UCLA Keck Humanistic Inquiry Undergraduate Research Awards. Purple and Green is written and directed by Charlotte Oxley, a current fourth-year undergraduate student at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television.

The funds collected by this GoFundMe will help us finish post-production on Purple and Green and submit to film festivals to reach an audience who will be able to recognize themselves in this genuine film about divorce.

Logline: Two young sisters learn to rely on each other to mitigate stress and anxiety developed from going back and forth between the homes of their divorced parents.

✅ Pre-production

✅ Shooting

➡️ Post-production

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Director's Statement:

Transitioning between two separate homes of parents with joint physical custody can be emotionally traumatic and physically draining for children of divorce. Even though about 50% of kids will experience the separation of their primary caregivers, the child’s perspective of divorce is minimally addressed in media. Through my thesis film, Purple and Green, I represent divorce from a child’s perspective and bring a genuine story, made from a compilation of lived experiences, to the screen.

My parents separated when I was 6 years old. Many of my peers are also children of divorce. This stressful experience affects children in a multitude of ways. Purple and Green draws on inspiration from previous films about divorce, my experience of my parents’ divorce, and insights I gained through interviewing children of divorce and divorcees. Purple and Green also incorporates representations of older sibling anxiety and pressure, a feeling that people struggle with apart from a divorce experience. Groundwork in pre-production, taking care to make a realistic story in production, and bringing it all together in post, will create a story that hopefully resonates with people of all ages and family dynamics while highlighting children as the main characters.

This true-to-life story would not be possible without the support of the UCLA Keck Humanistic Inquiry Undergraduate Research Awards. Purple and Green was one of two films selected to receive this prestigious award and generous research grant. However, we are hoping to raise money to cover the costs of post-production. Our goal with Purple and Green is to offer a new perspective by showcasing a story of divorce from a child’s point of view, and that couldn’t be possible without generous donations to cover a score for the film, color grade, festival submissions, and other items that are detailed in the graph below. Thank you for your consideration in donating to Purple and Green! Any donated amount would be greatly appreciated!

Post-Production Budget Numbers:

Character Breakdowns:

Emerson (Mackenzie Gilligan): 12 years old. Stoic yet anxious due to her parents' divorce and feeling responsible for the care of her younger sister. An "all her eggs in different baskets" kind of leader. Protects her younger sister despite also needing someone to lean on. She has a loving relationship with her sister and she learns to rely on her as well.

Alyssa (Arabella Claire Grant): 9 years old, Emerson’s younger sister. Enthusiastic yet sometimes shy. She always carries a stuffed animal from her mom's house and one from her dad's house to provide comfort when she goes back and forth. Able to be strong and comfort her sister if given the chance.

Mom (Carrie Certa): Considerate mother to Emerson and Alyssa. Understands they’re in a difficult situation and tries to ease their anxiety. Wants to be someone her daughter can talk to, but doesn’t always know the right thing to say.

Dad (Colin A. Borden): Firm, rule-oriented father to Emerson and Alyssa who tries to understand his daughters and make them feel heard. Works to hide his own struggles with the divorce.

Synopsis:

Emerson, 12, anxiously waits outside the elementary school for her sister Alyssa, 9, to get out of class and is relieved when she sees her. Their Mom, Kristen, arrives to pick them up from school. Alyssa offers to carry the tote bag they bring back and forth, but Emerson says she's got it. At Mom’s house, Emerson helps Alyssa with her homework and then falls asleep while reading her book. Later, Mom wakes up Emerson and they talk about how Emerson has been feeling overwhelmed. We see the custody schedule marked on a calendar in purple and green marker, and the next morning Emerson and Alyssa get ready to go to their Dad’s. At Dad’s apartment, they settle in and talk over lunch. Emerson takes a big drink of water to help alleviate the anxious feeling she has in her chest, and Dad suggests taking Emerson to the doctor. Later, the three are playing a board game when Alyssa realizes her favorite stuffed animal elephant from Mom’s house is missing. Emerson tries to calm Alyssa down but then she starts to panic since she was the one in charge of taking the stuffed animals. The girls search their room, but the elephant isn’t there. Alyssa calls Mom and asks if she can check her room at Mom’s house. Later, Mom calls back with the good news that she found the elephant, and Alyssa asks Mom to bring the elephant to Dad’s. Emerson tries to comfort Alyssa, but Alyssa needs to have the elephant because it’s from Mom’s. Dad tells Mom that he doesn’t want her coming to his place to drop it off. At night, Emerson’s breathing is uneven, but Alyssa comforts and grounds her. The next day they go to the park. They are peaceful in each other’s company and support.

Purple and Green Timeline:

Thank you so much to the incredible crew of Purple and Green who made this film possible!

How to support: