By Lauryn Kern
Mesquite local Mercedes Murguia has requested the help of her hometown in funding the necessary equipment and support needed to launch Tanner McCowan’s upcoming film, First Haunt.
Growing up in Mesquite, Murguia found a community that was supportive and safe, now as she supports the creation of her boyfriends new film she is asking that same community for the support she received growing up.
“We all have strong bonds with our individual communities and hope to seek support from the people we know and trust from our hometowns,” Murgia says. “Growing up in a small town has crafted who I am, they always encouraged me to follow my dreams.”
First Haunt follows protagonist Claire, who is abruptly murdered and transported to a strange and corporatized afterlife where she is designated to haunt a man named Will, who is in search of a muse to kickstart his new murder mystery novel. This film takes inspiration from classics like Beetlejuice and Joe vs. the Volcano, and is themed around the similar eerie but lighthearted comedic approaches.
However, in order to see the movie on the big screen the couple is prioritizing reaching out to their hometowns in an effort to fundraise and make this possibility a reality.
In asking for help, McCowan and Murguia are offering unique opportunities to get involved in the film through various amounts of donations.
“A really cool example is if you donate $100 you get a special screening ticket, or a thank you in the credits is only $25,” Murguia said.
There’s even more exclusive opportunities as the donation amount goes up, such as staring in the film and having “lunch with the sound guy.”
To get involved and donate to put this film into action, you can follow the link below, or you can follow the couple on their filmmaking journey at @firsthaunt_film on instagram, or check out their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085462862565
