Gift of Fear - Pics from pre-production

A FEATURE NARRATIVE

A feature film addressing the issue of Murdered and

Missing Indigenous Women.

LOG LINE

A FEATURE NARRATIVE

She couldn’t save her mother 11 years ago,

but when her friend gets taken by a kidnapping ring working the reservation, a hardened young woman leaves her world behind to seek justice...and vengeance.

MAIN CHARACTER

A FEATURE NARRATIVE

MAIN CHARACTER

Mili knows the statistics: Native women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the general population, there are

thousands of Native women missing and 72 of them are from her own reservation. But this isn’t about statistics for Mili. It’s

very, very personal.

MILI'S STORY

THE COMMUNITY

MAIN CHARACTER

Mili shut down after seeing her mother murdered 11 years ago. She has had to look out for herself as she navigates foster care. Out of options, she is finally making it work at her placement in a group home and has found a family of sorts with the MMA Jiu Jitsu team.

THE GANG

THE COMMUNITY

But her past refuses to stay in the past and the gang she once ran with decides to teach her a lesson by kidnapping her friend. Now Mili must choose between the life she’s finally making work or risk everything to save her friend from a life of sex trafficking.

THE COMMUNITY

It’s present day in Northern California on tribal lands. The community is hurting from the disappearance of daughters,

sisters, mothers and wives. Tribal police and local law enforcement argue over jurisdiction while families helplessly

grieve.

Youth search for ways to channel the impacts of generational trauma and a bleak future. Some turn to gangs, some to

substances and others find a positive outlet in the local MMA Jiu Jitsu Dojo. The feisty, retired MMA fighter is a mentor to the kids she coaches, including our hero.

Mili is a 17 year old, mixed-race Native American girl. She’s a tough, defiant, group-home youth whose mother was murdered. She is gay with a lot of male energy. A major chip on her shoulder has created a wall between her and anyone trying to help her. She sought family with a gang but is trying to break free from gang life and get her future on track.

KOKO

Manny is a 40 year old mixed-race Native American man, athletically fit and handsome. Head of the new regional Missing & Murdered Unit for the Department of the Interior, Manny investigates human remains discovered near the reservation. Manny must overcome suspicion from law enforcement and mistrust from the victims’ families when another girl goes missing.

KOKO

Koko is a 36 year old mixed-race Native American MMA fighter and Jiu Jitsu Coach for the Dragon Fox Dojo.

She has suffered abuse in the past and is a local activist for the the Missing and Murdered Indigenous movement in her town. Although she rides a Harley and

is quite the badass, she has a tender spot for Mili and all the kids she coaches.

KYAH

KOKO

KYAH

Kyah is a 19 year old mixed-race Native American woman. She was kidnapped by the Sidewinders Gang two years ago. Kyah works in a massage parlor in a

man-camp against her will.

Although she is able to escape eventually, she must remain in hiding as the Sidewinders have issued a death order to kill on sight.

KOKO

KYAH

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Dr. April Lea Go-Forth

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Jack Kohler

DIRECTOR/ACTING COACH

Katy Dore

PRODUCER/PROJECT MANAGER

Elle Beyer

PRODUCER/FIGHT COORDINATOR

Lon Beyer

WRITERS

Carly Kohler & Jack Kohler