Before he turns 32 in January, Fountain Hills resident Thomas Schade hopes to have a film ready for post-production.

An experienced filmmaker, Schade spent more than eight years in Hollywood working in the industry and earning his MFA in filmmaking. After disillusionment in what he describes as “the deceitful independent entertainment industry of Los Angeles,” Schade decided to move back to Arizona.

His film, a slice-of-life story based loosely on his own experience, details a “quarter-life crisis.” The film’s synopsis describes James struggling in his pursuit of his dream of making a feature film after a breakup and returning home to live with his family.

“This is something, I think, it relatable to many of the millennial generation,” Schade said.

He said so many in his generation were given the message they could just follow their dreams, do anything they wanted and success would come.

“It is such a great message, but unfortunately, it isn’t exactly true,” he said.

He expounded on the thought, saying that in the 1940s and ‘50s, when achieving the American Dream was realistic through hard work and persistence, isn’t necessarily true in the 21st century.

“There is so much more to contend with now,” Schade said. “Staying at one job for your whole career isn’t really something we do anymore.”

He said he does believe persistence and hard work still pay off, but the approaches are different from his parents’ and grandparents’ experiences.

He related he has always been interested in filmmaking, having started making “little funny videos” with his friends in high school.

Schade said he is excited about the film, and the early stages are going well. He currently is casting the film, and expects to be in post-production sometime in January before his birthday.

He is filming in Fountain Hills with some contrasting scenes in other locations.

“Fountain Hills is so beautiful, and it offers a great contrast to some of the scenes I will do in Los Angeles,” he said.

Financing the film at the moment is on credit cards, but Schade recently set up a crowdfunding website.

“I have a budget of peanuts,” he said. “But I plan to make the best film I can with the resources I have. Instead of waiting for somebody to give me the opportunity, I just decided I had to go with it.”

The link to the website is https://igg.me/at/americandreams1985. It features a short video of Schade telling the audience about the film.

Schade plans to distribute his film, “American Dream,” through Video on Demand (VOD).

“I like this avenue,” he said. “It does offer new people [the ability] to create something and have an audience. If I can make a movie every two years on a small budget, I would be really happy.”