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Land Of The Free

Kelly’s a mother, outspoken news reporter and campaigner against lax gun laws. Despite being a gun owner herself, she’s been on the beat covering mass shootings and she’s had enough. Even cursing on live TV – but it was worth it to her, in order to raise the profile of her online petition for common sense gun laws.

Yet, living under the same roof is her isolated teen son Terrence. He’s a troubled kid, struggling with school bullies who mock his deaf/hard of hearing. Finding Kelly’s gun, Terrence wonders if it might be the answer to his problems.

While Kelly is caught up in ardent protests at city hall, ratcheting up
more signatures for her cause; Terrence is attacked by bully Steve and his gang on the way to school. The incident is degrading and humiliating, leaving Terrence feeling angrier and more alone than ever.

As Kelly reports from the rally, she calls for everyone to stand up and fight, take action and demand justice to prevent the next massacre. Unbeknownst to her, a lost and broken Terrence heads into the schoolyard to confront Steve and the bullies, leading to a shocking conclusion that no family is immune to the destructive epidemic of gun violence.

  • Timothy Bathurst
    Director
  • Timothy Bathurst
    Writer
  • Emily O'Meara
    Producer
  • Robin Tunney
    Key Cast
    "Kelly Fletcher"
    The Craft, End of Days, The Mentalist, Open Window
  • Domenico Toledo
    Key Cast
    "Terrence Fletcher"
    Sound of Metal
  • Josh McKie
    Cinematography
  • Astrid Anderson
    Production Design
  • Joe Mullins
    Composer
  • John Francis
    Visual Effects
  • Tawni Tamietti
    Casting Directors
  • Kim Wong
    Casting Directors
  • Micah Johnson
    First Assistant Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 2, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Timothy Bathurst

Tim started his professional career as an account executive in advertising. He quickly realized this wasn't the right fit, so he dramatically resigned (actually, it was quite civil) and enrolled in film school. Years later, he hasn't looked back and now enjoys directing commercials by day and hunting down authentic stories by night (and hopefully, some spare change to make them)

His recent short film, 'Land of the Free' also serves as a proof of concept for a feature script he's written. Based on true events, it explores the complicated issue of gun control in America.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I immigrated to the United States ten years ago and I was alarmed at the number of shootings being reported on the news. Even more so, I was alarmed to see that "thoughts and prayers" were being used as the government response to the victim's families...instead of real action.

The gun issue in America was a topic I’d never seen represented in film. Gun control is something I feel passionate about, coming from a country where tighter regulation worked, so I thought I could offer a unique perspective on the issue.

I wanted to tell a story that explores how the deeply ingrained gun culture affects today's society. It’s not as clean cut as being for, or against, your 2nd amendment rights. We hear about the person who loves guns and uses them responsibly, just as much as the person who is anti-gun and believes that all firearms should be banned. What fascinates me the most, is the area in the middle. The Americans on mass, who regardless of their viewpoint, still own a firearm for self-defense. This perspective is the one I’d like to show - a common reality amidst an intrinsically complicated issue.

The impact of gun violence is felt most throughout families and our community. So, I’ve drawn inspiration from real life tragedies to use as the foundation of this story.