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The Good Citizens - Storyboards, Conceptual Art and Animatic

Raising development funds for a comedic feature film set in New York and Tokyo!

The Good Citizens - Storyboards, Conceptual Art and Animatic

Raising development funds for a comedic feature film set in New York and Tokyo!

1 Campaign |

New York, United States

$5,000 USD 53 backers

13% of $37,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Story

FAQ

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Comments 31

If you missed the Campaign, you can still contribute by contacting me directly or contributing via paypal account geckotale@gmail.com. Thank you!

The Goal

Over the past few years, I've dedicated pretty much all of my time and earnings toward writing my script THE GOOD CITIZEN(S) and getting it made into a feature film. I've done research in Japan, taken meetings in Los Angeles, New York, London and beyond, hired translators and UPMs to draw up budgets, revised the script numerous times to meet a "doable" budget, and put together comprehensive business packages. It's been a worth while journey with a huge learning curve! Now, to go the distance, I need a little assistance. Specifically, I need to hire a storyboard artist and animator. As you've seen in my video, my drawings are simply too rudimentary.

Why do I need storyboards, conceptual art and an animatic? To further convey and sell my vision to financiers and talent by illustrating the unique look and pace of the film. As well, these elements will be used to break down a few barriers!

Producer Marc Abraham (Children of Men and forthcoming The Man with the Iron Fist) gave me some encouraging advice. He said, "don't allow people to label you as a first-time feature filmmaker," because "you have film experience, you wrote the script, you should direct it." I keep this in mind always! That said, "first-time feature filmmaker" is a label that is hard to shake in the film industry. So, it is my intention to lay out a very clear vision on the table, shake labels and get my film financed! Storyboards are a big expense and it can take up to 3 months to storyboard a straight forward narrative from beginning to end. At this stage, it's only necessary to storyboard key scenes and create about a dozen conceptual drawings. In addition, a good guesstimate for an animated trailer is about $10,000 - $20,000, depending on the duration.

Your contributions/pledges will assist me in covering these costs and continuing the pursuit of seeing The Good Citizen(s) into production. If I should have the amazing dilemma of exceeding my campaign goal, those funds will go toward additional storyboards, conceptual art, a script translation into Japanese, legal fees for setting up an LLC, and the ongoing effort of making this independent film! I am good hands, as Oscar nominated producer Jeremy Dawson (Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox) oversees each process.

The Perks

Every little counts and will be greatly appreciated! Please peruse the Pledge Perks to help you decide how/what you can contribute and what you get for doing so. You can do a combination of pledges or contribute any amount you desire! In addition, you're contributions will be helping other independent artists, as I will be hiring them to work with me in this development stage.

*Unfortunately this campaign is set up as a non-profit. Donations are raw gifts. Non-tax deductible.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please help get the word out about this campaign by using the Indiegogo share tools!

Well wishes are also deeply felt and impactful!

The Feature Film Project

The Good Citizen(s) is a feature film budgeted to be produced at $5.2 million and for theatrical exhibition in the United States and abroad. The film genre is buddy comedy, having attributes of crime, action and romance. It's fun! It's funny! It's fresh!

Synopsis

The Good Citizen(s) is a buddy comedy set in New York City and Tokyo's criminal underworld. The film centers on the unlikely friendship between Marlon, an unemployed dilettante with a vague perspective of right from wrong, and Yoji, a mild-mannered Japanese accountant on the lam for allegedly misappropriating a charitable fund set up by a powerful syndicate (of Yakuza persuasion). The two inadequate outlaws meet on the side streets of New York City and hijinks ensues …

By happenstance, Marlon encounters Yoji outside a hole-in-the-wall sushi bar. After one too many shots of sake, Marlon takes it upon himself to facilitate Yoji's US naturalization. Taking Yoji through a series of impromptu westernization exercises –– bigger gesticulation, louder articulation, punchier determination –– Marlon realizes he has a knack for helping others get beyond the pale of their inhibitions. A sense of community develops as a few social oddballs join them in their daily do-gooding and abnormal posturing.

Marlon and Yoji's problems become less civic and more survival of the fittest when Yakuza mercenaries are sent to collect the missing money. And as the Yakuza only accept cash and/or severed appendages, Marlon and Yoji's bond is put to the test: ban together or fan apart in order to survive. Individually, they don't stand a chance; together, they (arguably) stand half a chance. And so, together they sets out to prove Yoji innocent and collect on an unclaimed reward.

There are many quirks and turns and romantic interludes along the way, but Marlon and Yoji's journey is one of friendship that perseveres in the face of fear and cultural misinterpretations. No good deed is unblemished in The Good Citizen(s).

The Filmmakers

Khmasea Hoa Bristol (Writer/Producer/Director) has received numerous grants and awards for her short films, including a Princess Grace Award and a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship nomination. In 2003, with the assistance of a Film Arts Foundation Development Grant, Khmasea wrote the screenplay Sundogs, which grabbed the interest of producer Patrick Markey (The Horse Whisperer, A River Runs Through It) and First Look Pictures. Presently, Khmasea is producing her script The Good Citizen(s), which she is slated to direct. Khmasea divides her time between New York, California, and Asia.

Jeremy Dawson (Producer) started in the film industry by designing the title sequence for Darren Aronofsky's debut feature PI. He has designed visual effects and animation for many films, including Frida, Across The Universe, Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain and Black Swan. Jeremy’s association with Wes Anderson began on The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. He was co-producer of The Darjeeling Limited, producer of the Oscar nominated animated feature, Fantastic Mr. Fox, producer of Moonrise Kingdom, and is producer of Anderson's forthcoming feature, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Jeremy lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Talent

Two years ago, I flew to Tokyo to meet with internationally acclaimed actor Asano Tadanobu (47 Ronin, Thor, Mongol, Zatoichi) –– I sometimes refer to him as the "Johnny Depp of Japan." The meeting went well and he was enthusiastic about playing the Japanese lead role in The Good Citizen(s). Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed start date for an independent film until full financing is secured. So, I hope Mr. Tadanobu will still be interested and available when The Good Citizen(s) is ready to roll!

For Inquiries

You can contact us directly at geckotale@gmail.com.

*After watching my campaign video, my father asked me, "How did you get John Malkovich?" And I had to confess it was me! During the making of the video, I discovered I have a hidden talent to impersonate Mr. Malkovich.