Private Project

Breaking Ground

Post global annihilation, a recording device is sent back in time to uncover what happened. Upon arrival, the device is discovered by three estranged friends trying to reconnect on a camping trip. As the world falls apart around them, Caleb, Manny, and Lilah must come to terms with themselves and each other before the end.

  • Jake Villadolid
    Director
    Where We Grew, Thơ
  • Colin McDonald
    Writer
  • Heather Muriel Nguyen
    Producer
  • Ezekiel Ajeigbe
    Key Cast
    "Manny"
    Dynasty, Seal Team, Willie's Letter, BIGGER
  • Shariffe Rahming
    Key Cast
    "Caleb"
  • Heather Muriel Nguyen
    Key Cast
    "Lilah"
    Lovergirl, Thơ
  • DW McCann
    Key Cast
    "The Professor"
    BeyBlade Burst, Life is Strange 2
  • Morgan Berry
    Key Cast
    "Mala"
    Pokémon, Dragon Ball Super
  • Michael O'Connor
    Post Sound
  • Sadah Espii Proctor
    Additional Sound Design
  • Skye Wingo
    Assistant Director and Covid Safety
  • Technicolor
    VFX
  • Leighton Greer
    VFX Executive Producer
  • Paul Ghezzo
    VFX Creative Director
  • Tim Christensen
    VFX Supervisor/Compositor
  • Mallory Lovings
    VFX Producer
  • Project Type:
    Virtual Reality, 360 Video
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Drama, Virtual Reality, Found Footage
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jake Villadolid

Jake Villadolid is a Filipino-American filmmaker who loves to tell stories off the beaten path. He has directed various short films and award-winning music videos, appearing in festivals across the country.

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Director Statement

At its heart, Breaking Ground is a story about understanding and embracing what matters to you before your time runs out. We chose to create this project in the midst of a global pandemic and cultural crossroads, using VR to give our BIPOC cast a rare authority over their story.

As Vietnamese-American and Black people, their communities have grappled with apocalyptic events on both a historical and daily basis, but are excluded from most apocalyptic scifi. VR places our audience directly in their hands and minds, at a time when understanding each other, ourselves, and what truly matters has never been more important.

We chose virtual reality as a storytelling device, not as a gimmick. The film is about three young adults at a pivotal life-stage, and with VR we enhance the moment to be as authentic as possible. In reimagining the genre of “found footage,” we sought to create a space where virtual reality is not just the natural choice, but the only choice by which to tell the story.

We are a small, multicultural team with an entirely BIPOC cast and a universal message. It is our sincere hope that this message will resonate and inspire you to join us in sharing it with the world.