DESERTED is about a confederate soldier becoming a substitute father to an orphaned boy. The thesis film pays homage to the Hollywood epics from the 50s, featuring grand vistas, long, anamorphic shots of locked of cameras and an orchestral score composed in close collaboration with the UCLA orchestra. Featuring horse chases, stunts, child actors and a period setting, it has been used for many years by AFI to demonstrate what students can do on a shoestring budget.