Short Summary

Have you ever traveled somewhere and been overwhelmed by local sellers running up and trying to get money out of you? I've encountered this quite a bit in my travels and it can be pretty exhausting. But in 2014, I lived with one of these guys in Ghana and it changed my perspective. His name is George and he introduced me to his circle of friends who do this for a living outside of an old colonial castle on the west coast of Africa. During this time, I got to know them pretty well. I heard their stories and learned about their perspective on these interactions. This was way before I became a filmmaker but once I started picking up a camera seriously, I knew I wanted to make this film.

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This film is about the people in these communities that we often ignore or even avoid and rather than sensationalizing their struggle, it's about their lives, their work, and their dreams. As an outsider to the community, it was important to me that the film was shot in collaboration with the guys there. George is a producer on the film and he and the other guys shot some of the footage themselves. Those scenes are used in comparison to mine to show what they are able to capture as people who live there versus my outside perspective.

  

Having been friends with them long before deciding to make the film, they trusted me with their stories and have been incredibly open while working on the project. I hope that when you see the film, you will see that it was very much a two-way collaboration and conversation with the guys there and that it was made with a lot of thought and care. I think in today's divided world, it's more important than ever to put out art that encourages cross-culture understanding and communication. Your contribution will help do that. 

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What is the Film About?

Castle Boys is a 90-minute documentary exploring the lives of young Ghanaian men who make a living hustling tourists at Elmina Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site once used as a holding facility during the Atlantic slave trade. Travel reviews often warn visitors to avoid these youth, who are viewed as a nuisance on the somber castle grounds. While the film portrays the various and sometimes questionable methods these young men use to earn money, its deeper focus lies in exploring their inner worlds: their struggles, dreams, and perspectives. These young men call themselves the “Castle Boys” and they share their stories with an American filmmaker who questions his own presence in this historically charged environment.

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What We Need & What You Get

• If we raise $500, we can finish translating footage. 

• With $7,000, we can do another production shoot in Ghana.

• With $20,000, we can completely finish the film as intended with more shooting, professional color, professional sound, and film festival submissions.

• Beyond that, I would love to help the guys in Ghana and bring them here for screenings!

• For transparency, I've included the full detailed budget on my website www.chadwallin.com/castleboys

• Everyone who donates will receive credit on the film and a digital copy.

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The Impact

I think that often when we travel, we put blinders on and don't really take in the community around us -  especially when visiting tourist sites. I've traveled quite a bit and have seen people get off tour busses, go into a site, and get right back on without connecting with anyone who lives there. I've done this occasionally myself but it's not the only way to see the world. With this project, I want to encourage people to get out of their comfort zones and to interact with and learn something about the people who work and live in the shadow of World Heritage Sites and tourist attractions. 

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With films like this, it can be easy to fall into being didactic or explaining for the audience what to think or feel about the community they are portraying. That is not my goal. I want to help these young men share their stories in a way that feels like a mutual exchange and I hope to create bridge between Ghanaian and Western filmmaking. I don't want to be like, "Hey Americans. Look at Ghana. Isn't that interesting!" I want to create a piece of art that gets you thinking about how we interact with the world outside of our own communities and what it means to photograph or document another way of life. I also hope to encourage adventure and perhaps promote ways to be more conscious when we travel.

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I've been making films, music videos, commercials, and YouTube content for years and I've finally developed my skills enough to feel confident in doing this story justice. I had been putting it off for a while since it is such a heavy subject matter that deserves a thoughtful and skilled approach and I feel equipped to do that now. If you'd like to see my previous work, go to www.chadwallin.com. 

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Any contribution will help finish this film. Even if I only raise $500, I can finish translating some of the footage that isn't in English (though most of it is). I've already spent quite a bit of my own money on translation so I'm a little over halfway finished with that process! If we get beyond the main goal of $20,000, I'd love to fly some of the guys here for screenings when the film is finished. Your support could help us make that happen. 

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Risks & Challenges

One thing I would like to do is bring George (one of the Castle Boys) here to the United States for a follow-up interview and for potential screenings. However, this is dependent on his visa application process and dependent on our ability to raise funds for his travel.

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To be honest, it's also been tricky trying to raise funds through traditional resources such as film grants or the film industry in general. As an outsider to the community in Ghana, I'm not exactly an easy sell to investors. There are a lot of ethical considerations when it comes to making a documentary about other communities and historical atrocities. I have put a lot of thought into this project. I know that I am handling it with care and that the film is ultimately worth making.   

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Other Ways You Can Help

• If you want to contribute an amount other than those listed as a perk here, you can donate anything you want at www.chadwallin.com/castleboys

• I am also looking for an assistant editor to help with the project.

• If you have a film skill (color, sound, producing, etc... ) hit me up!

• Share the campaign!

You can also check out our IndieGoGo campaign here!