FILM Status / 500 HOURS OF FOOTAGE

This situation has haunted my family for almost 10 years now.

​The kidnapping. The arrest and the trial that followed. There were too many moments that played out just like a crime drama. Unfortunately, this was not a crime drama, but real life, where real people suffered. The pressure and danger of all this almost broke my family apart. We are still processing all this and things will always feel insecure from now on.

It wasn’t all gloom and doom. My dad and I journeyed by car through seven US states, and went as far as Mexico and Guatemala. It was the adventure of a lifetime, while we tried to get closure on events that almost took my father’s life. We documented this once in a lifetime experience and have mounted hundreds of hours of video footage, audio recordings, and phone calls.

The management of all this media has been very difficult for one person to do. I have mostly been a one-man band with help along the way. Making a movie about your family while also trying to process the effects of compounded PTSD was deadly. It has become clear that I won’t be able to finish this project without the help of a dedicated team of filmmakers. The crowdfunding campaign will give me the ability to produce and hire professionals to get us closer to the finish line.
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Until then, I am organizing the footage to the best of my ability. Any help or mentorship on this stage would be helpful! 
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PROJECT NEEDS / THE FINAL STAGE
The film industry is more competitive now than ever.  A few consultants have said we need $50,000, at a minimum, to complete the project. My goal is to raise half that amount, the same amount that we used to pay for my father’s release and medical expenses. This is a lot of money, and fundraising in this current economy will not be easy. 

The $25,000 will pay for a video and story editor to help complete the film. At the very least, we will have a near final draft of the project that we can then use to seek partnerships with film production companies or streaming platforms. Again, this is a huge ask. Crowdfunding is our last resort to tell this story, so if you believe in We Are Lions, please consider donating. 

We would appreciate any contributions, whether financial or in support of our efforts. We are in search of Executive Producers, Producers, Video Editors (preferably Spanish speaking), Story Editors, Press, etc. 

Please get in touch if you would like to be involved, and thank you for your time. 

Much love,
Elvis Leon 
Image from Ransom Road, a cover story piece written by 5280 magazine in Denver, CO about the kidnapping.
Elvis speaks about the project on the
​Live Courageously podcast
Your dad can't be seen here. You have to leave now.
dad, i don't want to see you spend the rest of your life in prison
I never said i wanted them dead, I want to see them in prison
Elvis showcases previous work and scenes from    Somos Leones at The Garden Cinema in London.

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