So why a short? We have a couple of feature length scripts...They're great stories. The problem is at this time who's going to believe that we can pull off a feature, let alone invest in a film by a young director (experience-wise) Hey, if someone does great. I'm not going to turn away the cash...or the support......I will say this, if anyone can do it, Amy can....
So why a short? Simply put: Story, Story, Story. Black Boots is dramatic, tragic, inspiring...I'll have to dedicate several postings about how and why what happened in the Balkan's is important. But that will wait once we start getting comments...and as we get deeper into the bigger film project that we want to do......definitely not short on ideas...
Ok, so why a short...money....enough said...
Why this story? Black Boots is very close to Amy's heart. Having relatives living in that part of the world (Slovenia), in a country (Yugoslavia) that collapsed and only by divine dispensation or geographical luck they were spared the tragedy of the war...Amy will have to post to fully explain her inspirations....
So we've submitted to several grants. We'll know in a few weeks with a couple of them (Black Boots has already passed the preliminary selection round - which is the written proposal, now onto the supporting material: our previous film FATHER, the storyboard).
Father was our first film (http://www.liquidcouragefilms.com/father/) a tough subject but the actors were great: Patrick Zeller, Michael Billingsly, Paulo De Sousa, Chaz Mena, Demone Gore....so hopefully they can look upon the limitations of the production value (read: lack of money and too short of a shooting schedule) and see the potential.
There are still 3 more grants we can apply to.....but as a way to supplement any grant awards we're seeking "contributions"..... That's the hard part........a potential supporter has to believe in the project, the filmmaker, and/or both....and have an extra $20 (or more)....
The response that we've received so far is encouraging....as of this posting we've raised nearly $2000 through our website...and after switching over to IndieGoGo (http://www.indiegogo.com/project/view/206) we've raised an additional $700.....we still have away to go before we reach our goal....but we are incredibly thankful for the support that we have generated...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Animated Storyboard: Teaser Trailer (1:00)
As a way to spark interest in our project, we created this teaser trailer. Being an independent film project, our funding resources are limited.
In the next few weeks we'll find out from a couple of the grants we applied for if we're being considered. I think our proposals have been comprehensive, but as we continue to apply for grants I am see how they're growing in clarity.
We also started the fundraiser. That is the purpose of the trailer, hopefully as we broaden our online presence it will get people to believe in us.
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We're also on Indiegogo.com.
IndieGoGo is an online social marketplace connecting filmmakers and fans to make independent film happen. The platform provides filmmakers the tools for project funding, recruiting, and promotion, while enabling the audience to discover and connect directly with filmmakers and the causes they support.
If you can't support Black Boots with a donation, you can still support us by going to our IndieGoGo page and rate, endorse, or ask a question about the project.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ready, Set, Go...
We've kicked off our fundraising....
We added the teaser trailer, we're on IndieAGoGo.com (black boots), added the video to YouTube....
We still have a couple of more places to link to before this phase of the drive is complete.
We're planning on raising money in increments. So for places like Indieagogo, we can hit a realizable target. Hopefully it will pay off.
We'll find out in the next few weeks about the status of our grant applications. Speaking of which, we have to complete three more this weekend....
........
We added the teaser trailer, we're on IndieAGoGo.com (black boots), added the video to YouTube....
We still have a couple of more places to link to before this phase of the drive is complete.
We're planning on raising money in increments. So for places like Indieagogo, we can hit a realizable target. Hopefully it will pay off.
We'll find out in the next few weeks about the status of our grant applications. Speaking of which, we have to complete three more this weekend....
........
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The starting Line
We're slowly rolling out the fund raising letters. Next week will show how the planning worked? Or Not.
Responses have been mixed. Not any many responses as I thought - whether in the negative or the affirmative. Few have acknowledged the letter. Some have sent kind regards. And Some have donated. Don't get me wrong, IT'S A GOOD START. We'll make our goal.
Next week comes, we'll roll out the second letter with the trailer. The Trailer looks good. It should definitely spur interest.
There are two other avenues we're going to explore as well. More to come about them later.
Amy is going to be interviewed in a week, so we'll be able to roll that out as well....
Like I said, we have a plan, we'll see how it unfolds.
Responses have been mixed. Not any many responses as I thought - whether in the negative or the affirmative. Few have acknowledged the letter. Some have sent kind regards. And Some have donated. Don't get me wrong, IT'S A GOOD START. We'll make our goal.
Next week comes, we'll roll out the second letter with the trailer. The Trailer looks good. It should definitely spur interest.
There are two other avenues we're going to explore as well. More to come about them later.
Amy is going to be interviewed in a week, so we'll be able to roll that out as well....
Like I said, we have a plan, we'll see how it unfolds.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
moving forward
So we've been holding off on sending out any type of email regarding fund raising as we want to be able to a have a couple of stages to build interest.
And it's worth the wait. The concept trailer we've developed looks good. (almost done, editing the frames together now) Eric has done a fantastic job with the images Amy provided and turned them into finished ink drawings that convey the feeling we're looking for.....
So we have a plan. How we're going to target potential contributors as well as a few producers we know. We'll see....
And it's worth the wait. The concept trailer we've developed looks good. (almost done, editing the frames together now) Eric has done a fantastic job with the images Amy provided and turned them into finished ink drawings that convey the feeling we're looking for.....
So we have a plan. How we're going to target potential contributors as well as a few producers we know. We'll see....
Monday, March 17, 2008
A minor success
Our first short film FATHER- has been selected to the 2008 west chester film festival. http://www.westchesterfilmfestival.com/. It's a start. For a first film, shot on a micro-budget, over 2 days, it's a good first step.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Day 5
The last of the grants have been submitted. We applied to six. Hopefully our package is detailed enough.
A friend of ours passed on the website to some of her friends, and they found the story to be to dark. Understandable. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the feedback. It made us revise some of our text....
Black Boots is a tough topic. It's a story on Ethnic Cleansing. However, it's also an inspiring story - about how far a son will go to save his father....the ending is ultimately hopeful.....
But what makes a story like The Hills Have Eyes acceptable. I'm not trashing on that genre. Those films make money. Lots of Money. But why? Do people want to be scared or shocked... But yet it seems they don't want to feel fear. Not by a story that involves true human suffering.
I read a review for a film on NYTIMES.COM for "Blind Mountain" yesterday http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/movies/12blin.html?ref=movies It's a Chinese film about a girl sold into slavery. After it's premier a story broke about a factory in China that kept it's workers in slave like conditions. The reviewer, MANOHLA DARGIS goes on to say, that there was the usual show of outrage and condemnation, a flurry of news reports and then it's back to business as usual. She ends the review with - “Blind Mountain” is a coda to that story, as well as a reminder that art sometimes keeps the truth alive far better than the news.
Stories come and go in the news. Rarely do they remain in our consciousness. Hopefully our film will bring a voice to the people who suffered after the fall of Srebrenica.
A friend of ours passed on the website to some of her friends, and they found the story to be to dark. Understandable. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the feedback. It made us revise some of our text....
Black Boots is a tough topic. It's a story on Ethnic Cleansing. However, it's also an inspiring story - about how far a son will go to save his father....the ending is ultimately hopeful.....
But what makes a story like The Hills Have Eyes acceptable. I'm not trashing on that genre. Those films make money. Lots of Money. But why? Do people want to be scared or shocked... But yet it seems they don't want to feel fear. Not by a story that involves true human suffering.
I read a review for a film on NYTIMES.COM for "Blind Mountain" yesterday http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/movies/12blin.html?ref=movies It's a Chinese film about a girl sold into slavery. After it's premier a story broke about a factory in China that kept it's workers in slave like conditions. The reviewer, MANOHLA DARGIS goes on to say, that there was the usual show of outrage and condemnation, a flurry of news reports and then it's back to business as usual. She ends the review with - “Blind Mountain” is a coda to that story, as well as a reminder that art sometimes keeps the truth alive far better than the news.
Stories come and go in the news. Rarely do they remain in our consciousness. Hopefully our film will bring a voice to the people who suffered after the fall of Srebrenica.
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