Tuesday, May 11, 2010

30 Day Film Fund Raising - Or Else!


Time and Money. That's all it takes to make a film. Ask my filmmaking friend Mike Flanagan, creator of the awesome film "Oculus".

Well, okay, maybe that's not all you need. You need talent, perseverance, and, among many other things: a way with people. But Time and Money are required no matter what. And I don't know anyone who has too much of either commodity.

So what's a filmmaker to do...?

Enter Kickstarter.com a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers... anyone who has an idea or an endeavour can use it to search for their cabbage patch full of leafy greenbacks.

Mike is prepping "Absentia", his fourth feature film, and his first horror film since the multiple award winning "Oculus" (featured on "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Vol. 1").

He's raising funds in "pledge drive" style, with a project page and both a funny pitch video (you gotta see it) and a scary trailer. If you've seen "Oculus" you know Mike can do scary. For me, the revelation was that Mike can also do funny. Good on ya!

Filmmakers and fund-seekers should check out the project page - AND PRONTO! As of today he's got 25 days left to raise the funds.

If I'm reading the site correctly, unless he raises 100% of his goal by the deadline the pledges go away. You can pledge as little as $5, or go whole hog. Don't worry, you won't be the first to pledge. So far over 80 film friendly folks have put their shoulders to the project's wheel.

Here's a taste of the info about "Absentia":

"Absentia" represents a rare kind of horror movie: one that doesn't rely on gratuity, gore, violence, and cheap shocks. Instead, it operates under the philosophy that if you combine fleshed out, realistic characters with a thought-provoking storyline, and then weave in elements of universal psychological fear, the result is what makes great horror films like "Let the Right One In," "The Descent," "The Exorcist" and "Session 9" possible.

After all, what you DON'T see is always scarier than what you DO....

The film also represents the inaugural feature film of Fallback Plan Productions, a company formed by Justin Gordon and Morgan Peter Brown to give creative opportunities to writers, directors, and actors still laboring on the fringes of an industry that can be impossible to infiltrate. The philosophy is simple ... if you're having a hard time getting your foot in the door, make your own door!

Shot on the revolutionary Canon 5D Mark II, "Absentia" will begin principal photography on June 21, 2010 in Glendale, CA.

Katie Parker (“The Young and the Restless”), Courtney Bell (“Step Up 2: The Streets”), Dave Levine (“Charmed”), Morgan Peter Brown (“Nailed”), and Justin Gordon ("What's Bugging Seth") are attached to star.
Lots more info about the film and the pledge funding model on the site links.

Enjoy. Benefit. And let 'em know Mighoul sent ya...

LINKS:
Mike Flanagan Film
Absentia Kickstarter page
Fallback Plan Productions

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