Breaking Ground
A vulnerable teen discovers found family in a group of runaways, but what started out as a loving community’s plight for survival quickly spirals into life on the run under the control of a charismatic narcissist.
Defined by its perspective and collaborative efforts, “Breaking Ground” offers the perspective of someone swept up in a cult without ever mentioning the word.
Breaking Ground is a short film adaptation of a novel that director Laney Rivenbark started writing around 2012. The inspiration had come from a dream. The original story begs the question of weather or not 16 year old Liza, the protagonist of the story, really would have gone through with her plans to run away if the fatal home invasion hadn’t forced her to flee. In the months that follow she starts to remember her mother fondly, putting aside the tension they’d had before her death and introspecting on their relationship and her previous life before the dystopia that became of her “new family.” Where the short film ends is where the full-length story just begins; as in the novel the group falls into increasingly drastic measures to preserve their lifestyle.
In the short film however, due to budget and time constraints, we move from her complex relationship with her mother straight into the meat of the story: how exactly does one get swept up into a cult?
Justified by the righteous and affable young Jack, Liza and her peer’s happy carefree lives quickly unravel along with Jack’s moral standings. He’s willing to do anything it takes to survive – and he has them believing that they must be willing, too.
We need to talk about this still very real issue that goes on just under the radar.
The purpose of this story is to show people how such a group may form, even unbeknown to themselves. The narrative exemplifies the strategies often exemplified by cults which motivates it’s members to commit Wholey to them. Strategies such as building a common enemy, peer pressure, and using god as justification. It was important to make this film without ever using the word cult, since most groups who practice these things do not see themselves as such. “Breaking Ground” exists to help you recognize this on your own.
FEATURING
Talent
- Trinity Giles
- Patrick Rico
- Kerry Lynch
- Joshua Brooks
- Brian Redding
- Ms. Redding
- Ken Ludwig
- Samantha Almeida
Camera
- Dontano Rinaldi
Music
- Hexsystems
The prop seen in act one being buried by Trinity Gilles was left over from a previous practice-project called “Innocent”. The actress for Kendra, played by Kerry Lynch, showed up last minute filling in for the original actress (who had been Patrick Rico’s sister) and bringing camera man Rinaldi along with her. Even the Maynard police department stepped in to help, overseeing the climactic ending in act three and even offering a spotlight from the cruiser to light the scene.
Authenticity is a trademark of BOZstudium’s films.
Director Laney Rivenbark cameoed as the corpse in act 1, stating that none shall do other than a real human body being dragged down those icy steps.
Did You Know?
The stolen Ford which the characters call home obtained the bumper damage seen in the film from a single car accident just a few months before being stolen in real life. The SUV belongs to the director’s uncle, who was letting her borrow it to commute to her day job at a gas station where a customer forced his way into the back room, grabbed the keys, and took it on a joyride until it was found abandoned nearly a month later.
Behind The Scenes
Get to know the cast, the process, and how it all came together in the director’s commentary. Here we talk a little more about the original book and complications that were faced and overcome during principal photography.