Announcement video
Synopsis
With the title based off of the hardcore anthem by Terror, Keepers of the Faith is an intimate, character-driven coming-of-age drama set in a fading DIY punk venue known as The Safehouse. Once a sanctuary for hardcore kids and punks alike, the space now stands on the brink of extinction (styled after Che Cafe in San Diego) — buried under rising rent, overdue bills, and the creeping shadow of redevelopment.
Told through the eyes of Dylan, a 20-something holding on to the only place that’s ever felt like home, the short film adaptation unfolds over a single day as he and his friends confront the painful reality that their world is slipping away. When a developer arrives with an offer to buy the property, Dylan’s desperation to preserve its legacy threatens to destroy the very thing he’s trying to protect.
Evoking the emotional realism of The Last Showgirl and The Wrestler, and the subcultural intimacy of Mid90s and This Is England, Keepers of the Faith isn’t about the death of a scene — it’s about the spaces that carry its soul, and what it means to let one go.
A love letter to underground culture and the people who keep it alive, it’s a story about faith, friendship, the quiet heartbreak of watching a legacy fade, and the difference between surrendering and going down with the ship.
MEET THE KEEPERS
Dylan – 23. Broke, bruised, and running on fumes. Over the last decade, he’s poured everything into The Safehouse — his time, his sanity, his sense of self — even as it quietly threatens to consume him.
Mark – 52. The grizzled caretaker of The Safehouse and its reluctant father figure. Beneath the sarcasm and faded band tees is a man whose body — and heart — can’t carry the weight of it much longer.
Julian – 24. Big-hearted, loyal, and endlessly searching for purpose. The first to crack a joke and the last to give up, he masks his own uncertainty behind humor — the kind of friend who holds the room together until it falls apart.
Eli – 22. sharp, ambitious, and halfway out the door. Torn between the life he’s been told to chase and the one that shaped him, he’s learning that growing up sometimes means leaving the things that made you whole.
personal Background
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been dreaming of a film that encapsulates crumbling under the pressure of what others’ have envisioned for your life, coming to terms with adulthood, and most importantly, the importance of finding your chosen family and that sense of unity that comes with being a part of the hardcore/punk music scene.
Growing up, I wrestled with the struggles of feeling like an outsider, never really fitting in anywhere. Years of being shoved and crammed into whatever box was deemed “normal” led to a growing resentment towards the concept of “fitting in”. At this point, my only solace rested in films. That was until I found hardcore around the age of 13. Immediately, I was embraced by others who not only looked like me, but more importantly felt that same pressure growing up, I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. Over the next few years, I was exposed to bands like Terror, Trapped Under Ice, Trash Talk, Touche Amore, etc. Living in San Diego, we would basically live at venues like Che Cafe, Epicenter, and SOMA on the weekend. Eventually, members of our friend group went on to start bands and play in the same venues we called home. Coming from a background of loving movies and being behind a camera, I took it upon myself to start shooting a lot of these shows in backyards, local venues, VFW halls, and the occasional church. I really started to appreciate the beauty in how the chaotic nature of these shows appeared through a camera lens. It was at this point I realized there is a story to be told in these rooms, and about these individuals. At the end of the day, it is my number one goal to accurately capture the passion and emotional catharsis that individuals express at these shows, and the ongoing spirit that lives in these rooms.
In 2015, I was accepted into the film program at Woodbury University in Burbank, CA. No matter what the focus of the project was, I felt a responsibility to put as much of myself into the project as I could. Since then, I’ve been freelancing as a director, editor, and occasional cinematographer for music videos, all while shooting hardcore and punk shows in my free time.
What are we looking for?
With independent feature films, it is common to create a short version of your feature screenplay, called a Proof of Concept. While in the grand scheme of things, Keepers of the Faith is meant to be a feature film, we would like to shoot a Proof of Concept beforehand in order to find funding on a larger scale, and potentially source producers, so we can shoot this thing on a budget it deserves.
We’re raising funds to bring Keepers of the Faith to life — a story about the people and places that shape us, and what it means to fight for them.
We're currently seeking:
Production Funds – Every dollar helps us cover essentials like gear rentals, location fees, crew, transportation, and meals. Our budget is modest but focused — we want every cent on screen.
Post-Production Support – Editing, color, sound design, and scoring all take time, talent, and resources. If you’re a post pro and want to get involved, hit us up!
In-Kind Donations – Got access to gear, locations, a van, catering, or even just a couch to crash on? We’d love to collaborate.
Executive Producers/Partners – If this story speaks to you and you want to help push it across the finish line in a bigger way, let’s talk.
More than anything, we're looking for people who believe in this story. Whether you contribute financially, share the campaign, or just send us some words of encouragement — it all helps us get this story out into the world.