Private Project

Martyr of a Forgotten Dream

In a small town somewhere in the Rust-Belt, Leon is forced surrender his Family home to foreclosure. On eviction day he must decide, leave or go down fighting.

  • Benjamin Rummans
    Director
    Heavy: The Tale of Two Junkies
  • Benjamin Rummans
    Writer
    Heavy: The Tale of Two Junkies
  • Seika Paradeis
    Producer
    Sunflower Girl
  • Waleed Sokkar
    Cinematographer
    Through The Stars
  • Austin Rourke
    Editor
    A Strange Calm
  • Jaxson Varni
    Production Design
    Sell/Buy/Date
  • Ryan Marth
    Composer
    Through The Stars
  • Charlie McElveen
    Key Cast
    "Leon"
    The Morning Breeze
  • Duke Lafoon
    Key Cast
    "Sheriff"
    Mindhunter
  • Daniel O'Brien
    Key Cast
    "Michael Killic"
    The Trade
  • Jake Fallon
    Key Cast
    "Mr.Jacobs"
    Plunder Quest
  • Sophie Smith
    Key Cast
    "Abby"
  • Marc Lombardo
    Key Cast
    "Earl"
    Call Center
  • Michael Tyler
    Key Cast
    "Garret"
    Pickings
  • Joseph Adams
    Key Cast
    "Leon's Father"
  • John Mucci
    Key Cast
    "Radio Host"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Neo-Western, Western, Action
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Dragon 6k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York Film Academy
Director Biography - Benjamin Rummans

Ben Rummans is a New York based Writer and Director and is originally from Cape Coral, Florida where he directed commercials for local businesses and co-founded a video restoration business in Florida. In 2018, Ben moved to Brooklyn, New York to attend New York Film Academy's Two-Year Filmmaking Program and has since focused on narrative filmmaking, writing & directing multiple short films and music videos. He isn’t afraid of controversial subject matters and creates highly stylized films with snappy dialogue and colorful worlds.

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Director Statement

When I was a young boy, my father taught me how to shake hands. He showed me how to greet someone with respect and the importance of first impressions. He also taught me what a hard day's work was. He used to say “You work hard, stay out of trouble and show your worth. You strive to be the best at what you do and the rest will come.” My whole life I watched my Father work himself to the bone for his family, for his friends, and for our community and it paid off. I had a good and privileged life.

But in 2008 I watched that same man, who worked his whole life for a dream that he believed in, lose it all. And that same community that he supported and the country that allowed him to build his dream, left him out to dry. My Father worked everyday of his life, just to be forgotten by the system he believed in.

The way our system works is flawed. It’s designed to work against people like my Father. Hardworking individuals who are working their way out of poverty are sold a lie in this country that if you work hard enough, sacrifice enough, believe hard enough then good things will happen to you and you will be successful.

The truth is, the cards are stacked against you. Everything can be taken away at any moment and that’s what happened to these people we are representing in this film. The so-called American Dream has left them behind and the promises made to them have not been kept. Everyday the Rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer. Things need to change before it’s too late. What I see is a country at its boiling point and if we don’t turn down the heat we’re going to boil over.