12 MONTHS...
is a documentary about a Los Angeles man who rents his three-bedroom
home for $1 per month to help a family in need. Told through the eyes of
Felicia Dukes and her four children, the project puts a personal face on
homelessness and encourages individuals to take personal responsibility for helping
address societal concerns. Here is a 1-minute trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VQENSy5wLA
I AM...
Charysse Tia Harper and I am the director/producer of 12 Months. I have been making documentaries for the past five years that focus on social and economic change and cultural expression. In addition to the work I have done with non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross, All People's Community Center and Citizens and Friends of Trinidad & Tobago, my film, The Other Side of Carnival (2010) - a look Trinidad & Tobago's Carnival and its social and economic impact in the country - won Best International Documentary and Best Cultural Film. I have worked on a documentary in Nigeria called Not In Our Culture, documenting how weddings are celebrated in three tribes in Nigeria, and am currently finishing up Panomundo, a film on the history of the steelpan and its global influence.
I DECIDED TO DO THIS DOCUMENTARY ...
when I met Tony Tolbert, the man who is renting his home in November 2012. He told
me that he moved in with his mother and was renting his home to a family for $1 per month for one year. He said he wanted to do the same thing with another family in 2013 and asked if I would be interested in documenting the new houseguests (of course, I said "YES!"). Tony explained that he was inspired by the Salwen family who sold their Atlanta home and downsized.
To put the project in motion, Tony
contacted Alexandria House, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles that offers
transitional housing for women and children in the process of moving from
emergency shelter to permanent housing {http://alexandriahouse.org/}.
Judy Vaughan, the Founding Director
of Alexandria House, assisted Tony in his search to identify a new family
to move into his home, ultimately leading him to Felicia Dukes and her four
children. They moved into Tony's home on December 29,
2012.
PRODUCTION BEGAN...
on that same day - December 29, 2012 - when Felicia and her children moved into
Tony’s home. We spent a weekend filming and produced the trailer. CBS This Morning {http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50138097n} and the Los Angeles Times {http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/22/local/la-me-banks-house-20121222} covered
Tony’s story. We provided some material to CBS in order for CBS
to produce a comprehensive package. The coverage generated a wave of
international media attention and traffic on various social media platforms.
OUR GOAL IS...
to share a journey that explains how giving a little of yourself can help others in big ways. Your contribution will allow us to showcase this story to people all over the world. We plan on premiering 12 Months in February 2014 to tie into the Valentine’s Day sentiment of loving one another.
WE ARE HOPING TO RAISE $16,500...
though, we are not aiming to put all the stress on you! We just hosted a local fundraiser, where we raised about $1000 and we have another one in the works! We know that we have to be just as proactive in person to MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
We have 13 shoot days in Los Angeles and 1 day being in Atlanta (to interview the family who inspired Tony to do this!). We have worked out the budget to include:
Producing Staff, Production Expenses, Crew & Personnel and Insurance: cost of the crew and the physical production of 12 Months. This includes the equipment, pre-production, production and post-production personnel, local food and gas.
Travel & Related Expenses: airfare, accommodation, rental car and per diem. During the Atlanta shoot, we will hire a local crew for the day of production with only me flying in for two nights.
Post-Production: locations (recording studio for the voice overs) and services (editing, transcribing, sound mixing, etc) that are required. This also includes marketing/publicity (which includes applying to film festivals and creating press kits for distributors, press materials), graphics, music rights, a recording studio and a location to duplicate DVDs.
Other Fees: we want to give something to the people who have helped Felicia and her family during this time, such as a dental office, a personal performance coach, and Alexandria House. We would like to make a donation to them for their generosity and participation in the project.
If we do not reach our goal, then we'll do what we can with what we have raised! AND THEN, we'll have to host another Indiegogo campaign! :) But I am not even thinking like that, because I hope we can show our generosity for your support!
We are giving away 12 Months flyers and the trailer, social media and wrap party shout outs, a 'thank you' note from the crew, your name in the end credits and dinner with all of us!
WE KNOW THIS STORY CAN RESONATE...
based
on the initial response that was received in January when we showed the trailer and CBS aired their package. It is a “feel-good”
story about helping others that expresses the power of generosity. To date, the story has generated domestic and
international interest and support from high school and college students, young
adults, working professionals and retirees.
We will promote 12 Months at film festivals in the United States and abroad, on
college campuses, through churches and other faith-based centers, museums and
libraries, and in a variety of public discussion spaces.
SINCE YOU ARE ON THE TEAM, PLEASE...
spread the word! Shout it out on Facebook, tweet it, call someone or even share this story over a meal! Remember, this project is only as big as we make it!
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me!
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!
![DP Brandon organizes the lights for our "bedroom scene" [calm down, everyone, it's not what you think!] with Felicia.](https://c3.iggcdn.com/indiegogo-media-prod-cld/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto,q_auto,f_auto,h_460,w_695/e35y3pjqi8zmwwxqxgaj)
