What would space aliens think of a President Trump?
It is time to stand up to the xenophobic rhetoric that dominates our media. Instead of fearing everything different, we have to learn to celebrate and embrace our diversity!
Our film was built on the premise that aliens have been watching our media, and if they watched our films or Donald Trump they might get the wrong idea about what humans were all about.
We have to face that the Hollywood fantasy film ideal that premised "It's alien, it is evil, lets kill it!" is now the reality of our world view on immigration, foreigners, religion, you name it we fear it, and often for no good reason. While Tonya (Almost) Saves the Earth is a comedy spoof, it is really a story about some of the biggest subjects of our time: immigration, racism, intolerance, and the fear of "others."
With Brexit behind us and Donald Trump the new leader of America, anti-religious and anti-immigrant speech is everywhere. We need to take a good long look at the role of the media.
Our film is about how Hollywood films portray humans as conquering, killing, and defeating aliens. We all love these movies, but when you look at them as a group you have to see them all as being a bit absurd. Our little movie may just be a small blip in the social fabric of awareness but it is at least a start, and we all have to do a little something, however small, to say "we can do better" than this. We hope you will join us in making this a reality.
About the film
Tonya is an unremarkable 14-year-old high school student. She is not a valedictorian or a star athlete. She is, however, the one person chosen at random and plucked off earth to defend humankind against imminent destruction by aliens, who are convinced that humans are the most violent, aggressive beings they have ever encountered!
Humans, the aliens believe, are a menace to universal peace. For evidence, the aliens present intercepted Hollywood movies, and worse yet...they have been watching Donald Trump. Ask yourself what would aliens think of Donald Trump?
About us
We are a group of filmmakers and animators. All of us are donating out time and pulling money out of our own pockets to make this project happen. Everyone involved is important to the project. From the animators, to the amazing sound design of Matt Stephenson, to Julian's great background art, the voice over artists, and we would like to give special thanks to Natasha Henstridge who lent her voice to the animated parody of Sil from Species, and our great musical crew.
Director: Jonathan Kitzen has made numerous IMAX and documentary films over the last eight years. Every film has been an award winner and the 2013 film Lady in Number 6 won an Academy Award® for a documentary short.
Producer: Hernan Zajec has completed over 1500 hours of animation over the last 20 years, more than 1000 TV shows, features, including the Ugly Betty animated series (based on the original Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, La Fea -- known in North America as Ugly Betty). Hernan and the team are based out of Colombia making this a multi-national production that spans North and South America and includes people in Europe and Asia, too.
Rewards
Risks and challenges
We are the last big hand drawn studio in the Western Hemisphere. We are a throw back to old school Disney style with a bit of an update (we do use CGI backgrounds like ones found in Beauty and the Beast). Even after making 1,500 hours of on air programming it is still difficult to make smaller films about social subjects. People do like seeing these films but the media outlets do not like buying them; therefore, we need your help.
We are making the film because we think the underlying message is important. We know it can be seen at festivals around the world, and in its own way make a difference, because we all have to start somewhere.
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Funding period
- (30 days)