A new short documentary by three Nayland College alumni follows a young Maori rugby player in Japan as he tackles cultural isolation.

The three minute documentary Union will show Kiwi Jared James as he tries to find his feet in his new country.

The story explores the power of rugby to bring people together, even when those people don't even speak the same language.

The project is a collaboration between Nelsonians Jericho Rock-Archer, Joshua Rollo and his brother Phillip Rollo, a Fairfax Media journalist.

Joshua Rollo said their documentary idea was one of the 10 ideas Loading Docs, a launch pad for New Zealand documentary shorts, funds each year.

The Loading Docs initiative is funded by NZ On Air's Digital Media Fund with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Mangai Paho.

"We had $2000 funded by them and we're crowd funding to raise more. Every dollar crowd funded will be be matched by Loading Docs up to $2000."

He said if they reached their goal of raising $2000 it meant they would have $6000 to produce their short doco.

So far the trio has raised $1490 with the help of 34 donors and the crowd funding campaign runs until March 31.

The documentary fits in with this year's Loading Docs theme of diversity and shows James' personal story of redemption through rugby.

Rollo said he and Phillip would travel to Japan to meet up with Rock-Archer, who currently lives there, in April for one week to shoot the documentary.

"Jericho and Jared met on the plane to Japan, they were both going to be English teachers over there. They kept in contact and became good friends."

Once he heard his story, Rollo said he knew it would be a good base for a short documentary.

"We're really passionate about it, it's a really cool story and would be cool if Nelsonians could support us, even just if people wanted to donate $10.

"It's not something we're making money on.

"I'm stoked to do it with my brother and Jericho."

Rollo said the doco would be edited in June and should be ready in August, in time to be submitted to the New Zealand Film Festival if they deemed it of high enough quality.

To donate visit www.boosted.org.nz/projects/union

Article care of the Nelson Mail: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/90104117/short-doco-by-nayland-college-alumni-explores-rugby-to-break-down-barriers