Filmmakers Launch Indiegogo Campaign in Response to Trump

Little Nalu Pictures (LNP) announced Nov. 28 that it is raising funds via a rewards crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for a feature film, “Executive Order 13800.”

LNP set out to raise $50,000 on Indiegogo to shoot and bring to market this film, which asks the question: What if America incarcerated Muslim and Arab Americans like it did Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor?

The film follows a Muslim American family after a few 9/11-type events. Following these national tragedies, President Trump issues Executive Order 13800, giving the family — and all Muslim and Arab Americans — two weeks to pack up their things and report to a government office. The film focuses on these two weeks as they begin to lose their civil rights and face an uncertain future.

Writer/director Mustafa Rony Zeno commented, “Koji [Steven Sakai] and I were working on this project a year ago, and we didn’t think this was a realistic scenario. But the day after Trump was elected, we both knew we had to do this project and do it now.”

Writer/producer Sakai, a descendant of a Japanese American wrongly incarcerated during World War II, said, “This is the most important project I’ve ever worked on. I just wish that when my elementary-aged father was put into a ‘camp,’ there was someone like me telling their story and putting a face to go with all the toxic rhetoric.”

Producer Phinny Kiyomura, also a descendant of a Japanese American incarceree, adds, “The rhetoric is toxic and it would be a tragedy if America took the wrong path once again.”

All three agree this project is a cautionary tale that will serve as a reminder of what happened almost 75 years ago to make sure it doesn’t happen again today to anyone.

Kiyomura argues, “Instead of worrying history will repeat itself, we decided to do what we felt we could about it. We believe this is an opportunity to remind the rest of the country of mistakes we as a country should not make under any administration.”

For more information about this project, go to https://igg.me/at/EO13800.

Negative Feedback

In a Facebook post on Dec. 12, Sakai shared some of the electronic hate mail he has received in connection with the project. A sampling:

“Remember 9/11? Go f— yourself! … Let me expand. 9/11, Fort Hood shooter, WTC bombe, Boston bombers, San Bernardino shooters, Pulse Night Club shooter, NY-NJ bomber, OSU attacker. We don’t want you here! Many many are leaving!” (Brad Kicak)

“Repatriation!” (Twauna Power)

“OK, if they eat a BACON sandwich they can stay but other than that lock them up to be vetted. They are not here to live alongside Americans, they want to take over. I wonder what nationality and religion you claim.” (Bruce Usrey)

“No camps, get them the hell out of the country.” (Walter Leach)

Sakai said of the response, “More reasons why we need to get this movie made.”