Cries from the Ground
Two brave and loyal brothers go off to fight in the American Civil War, but one wears blue and the other gray.
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Jordan HuntDirector
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Project Type:Short, Student
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Genres:Historical, Action, Drama
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Runtime:17 minutes 7 seconds
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Completion Date:June 1, 2019
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Production Budget:8,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED
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Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes
Stories have always been a huge part of Jordan Hunt's life. His own story started in Pennsylvania where he was born. The son of a pastor and a school teacher, he was raised on small town charm with big city ideas, making music, videos, plays, books, designs - anything he could think of with whatever he could get my hands on.
After serving as 1st Assistant Director on "For Flesh and Blood," directed by Jonathan Brown, Jordan filled the same role on numerous other short films, including "Mutual Love," "Keepsake," "Basic Necessities," and "Seams of War." Most recently, he just finished production on "Cries from the Ground," which he wrote, produced, and directed.
His transition to feature film began In the Spring of 2018 when he was brought onto the feature film "Commander" as Key Set Production Assistant and Assistant Production Coordinator. He is currently 1st Assistant Director and Line Producer for a historical family feature film scheduled for production in the Summer of 2019, "Elijah and George."
Jordan is marked by an unparalleled inner drive for success and excellence. His ability to solve problems and manage multiple projects under stress has served him well in the film industry, and he has a track record of completing projects on time and under budget.
One of my goals as a filmmaker is to produce truly awe-inspiring and thought-provoking content. "Cries from the Ground" started out as a singular idea – I wanted to make a film that explored both sides of a war, treating both equally and showing the emotions and humanity of soldiers on both sides. As the idea progressed, it became obvious that the American Civil War was the right backdrop to this story. It tore our very country in two, separating states, neighbors, and even families.
At this time in history, the Civil War is an increasingly contentious topic, one that still divides our country. The seeds that were sown in the years leading up to the war and the sparks that ultimately ignited the conflict are sadly still seen today. It was very important to me in the process of crafting the story to tell an even, balanced story that shows the hopes, fears, and motivations of both sides. Thousands of men gave their lives on both sides for causes they believed in, and we wanted to honor them, while still showing in a powerful, visceral way the great sadness and loss that occurred in those few years.
I believe that it is my job as a filmmaker not to give all the answers, but to spark a discussion. After watching "Cries from the Ground," I hope that viewers will see that there was no clear right side or wrong side to the conflict, and be encouraged to explore the history more fully and challenge their preconceptions. It’s an emotional story of family, war, and tragedy that ultimately ends with one prevailing thought: we must never again allow our country to be divided from the inside out.