8th Street tunnel, Boise · Location reference Mural by Addie Boswell.
We start on the pavement. Teenagers take us across town to the places they feel trusted—and to the doors they want to open.
The short follows one real attempt to secure a place for something they care about. We pull the deeds, talk to the people holding the keys, and examine what it costs to open a door, and what it takes to keep it open.
From the first ask to a yes, no, or change of plan: a standalone film that establishes the crew and approach for the wider series.
In development. We’re looking for the group and the attempt this film will follow.
The larger series
Six episodes. One quest.
Five teenagers. Five Boises. One proposal carried to the decision room.
They investigate the city they inherited, choose one physical idea, budget it, and argue over the trade-offs. Then they take it directly to the people with the authority to fund it, build it, or say no.
And if the door opens? What part of this city are they willing to carry?
A proposed six-part series, funded separately from the first short.
The Lines on the Ground
Five teenagers swap neighborhoods to map the routes, gathering places, and boundaries of their lives.
Who Owns This?
Following property deeds, leases, and budgets to find out who controls the space—and who carries the cost.
The Room
One surviving proposal goes directly before the people with the authority to fund it, build it, or say no. No scripted happy ending.
See all six episodes Proposed season · 12–20 minutes each
The Lines on the Ground
Five teenagers swap neighborhoods to map the routes, gathering places, and boundaries of their lives.
The City Before Us
Archival photographs and oral histories uncover where earlier generations found freedom—and who made those places possible.
What Makes a Place Alive?
The teenagers argue over what makes a place work. The people who run it show them what it takes.
Who Owns This?
Following property deeds, leases, and budgets to find out who controls the space—and who carries the cost.
What Are We Willing to Carry?
The group selects one proposal, budgets it, argues over trade-offs, and watches bad ideas break under pressure.
The Room
One surviving proposal goes directly before the people with the authority to fund it, build it, or say no. No scripted happy ending.
Research would also feed Boise Rising’s Civic Atlas. Any project that grows out of the series would need its own funding.
Make the first film possible
Back the first film.
$30,000
Working campaign goal
$25,000
Film production
~$5,000
Campaign preparation, processing, and launch
One finished short. A planned 60-day production. The clock starts once funding, crew, and participant support are in place.
Secure checkout with Stripe. Gifts are received by Boise Civic Trust, Inc.
Nobody gets to buy the ending.
Donors fund the cameras, safety, and craft. They don’t get to decide what the teenagers uncover or how the story ends.
What the money pays for.
The $25,000 production budget pays for a finished short: producing, directing, filming, editing, four paid adult media fellowships, and support for teen contributors.
Help cover a part of the production
$1,500
One paid media fellowship
$2,500
Teen participant support and youth-work guidance
$4,000
Experienced field production management
Amounts show costs in the working budget. Gifts support the whole campaign.
See the $25,000 production budget
First short film · Working allocation
Work funded
Amount
Producing, directing, and lead editing
$8,000
Experienced field production management
$4,000
Four paid adult media fellows
$6,000
Youth practice and participant support
$2,500
Employment, insurance, rights, and administration
$2,000
Field, postproduction, and contingency
$2,500
Production total
$25,000
The four media fellows are adults, age 18 or older. Teen contributors take part with experienced youth support.
Working estimates. The short is a complete film, separate from Episode 1 and the full season.
Boise Civic Trust, Inc., the nonprofit behind Boise Rising, is responsible for the project’s funding, contracts, and delivery.
