Short Summary

“The Last 12 Steps” is a live-action short based on the true story of a young man, Mario Damiani, who is confronted with the spectre of a neuromuscular disease that threatens to rob him of the ability to climb stairs and to affect how he lives his life.  Faced with a challenge to do something that countless others take for granted, Mario relies on the strength of his will and every ounce of dwindling strength in his body to complete his climb.

“The Last 12 Steps” teaches all of us, those with disabilities and those without, that there can be light even on the darkest of days and that to get the better of life's challenges, we must not give up.

Mario Damiani's vision behind this short

My name is Mario Damiani, and I wrote the screenplay for my autobiographical short film, "The Last 12 Steps".  I have Becker Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease.  My disability prevents me from walking and performing many basic activities independently, but it has not overpowered my desire to truly "seize the day" when it comes to living a full life, whether that means preparing to marry the love of my life, spending time with my family and friends, earning a law degree, contributing to my community, or succeeding in my career.  It would be difficult to capture my life's successes and challenges in the span of a short film, but this picture provides a glimpse into the day I climbed the steps of my family home for the last time in 1994 at age 17 -- the momentous day in which I climbed "The Last 12 Steps".  

This film project represents not only my challenges but also the challenges of other individuals with disabilities and, in a broader sense, the many different kinds of challenges all people face everyday.  Determination, a positive attitude, and courage in the face of adversity can go a long way in helping anyone overcome the obstacles they face -- this is the message of this project.  

By supporting this Indiegogo campaign, whether by donating to it or by telling others about it, you would be helping me and my collaborators make the film and, by extension, spread our message of hope and raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.

This film is dedicated to the memory of my cousin, Charles "Chuck" Keefe, who fought a valiant battle against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and whose life, while too short, taught me a lesson in what it means to truly embody strength, humility, and grace.

What We Need & What You Get

Putting a movie together is never a simple task; regardless on whether it’s a feature or a short.  It’s always a complex team effort that requires the involvement of many different professionals and an extraordinary attention to details in all its phases. The money we’re trying to raise through IndieGogo will be used to cover the production and post-production costs of the film, from the storyboards (which are the first step of the pre-visualization process) to location-scouts, until the last touches in post-production and the costs related to its promotion.

This will include the costs of our 35-people crew and cast of 15 during the 7 days of shooting, the two weeks of pre-production, the 4 weeks of post.

Ways You Can Help

A donation would be the best way but if you are not in the position to financially contribute to this campaign, not even with $10, please help us reaching our target anyway by asking your family and friends to make a small donation and get the word out spreading the news about this campaign, because the success of initiatives like this one often lies in the number of people that can be reached.

Please, join the magic of our film set but especially donate knowing that this film will be used as a great tool to raise people’s awareness on Muscular Dystrophy, a neuromuscular disease that needs constant research and funds to improve the lives of those who suffer from it.

About our Perks

Look to the right to see some of the lovely perks you can receive for your contribution!  You’ll be able to visit the film’s website and watch the exclusive “behind the scenes” videos on the film’s website, get a personalized DVD, a poster, a T-shirt and other memorabilia such as a copy of the beautiful photographic book "Nel Chianti Con Gli Occhi Aperti" about Tuscany. You’ll meet the cast and crew on set, have fun at the wrap up party and enjoy yourself at the film’s screenings. And last but not least, win a 4-day holiday in Tuscany (Italy - see perks for details). Within a week after this campaign’s deadline, and if the target is reached, we’ll extract 2 people among those of you who’ll have made a donation of $250 or more to win a 4-day vacation in an incredible luxurious hotel in the small medieval town of San Sano (close to Siena). 

Get a copy of the photographic book about Tuscany "Nel Chianti Con Gli Occhi Aperti".

The first thirty (30) people who will donate $100 or more will receive a copy of the photographic book about Tuscany "Nel Chianti con gli Occhi Aperti". 

Win a vacation in Tuscany - Living a fairytale

Two winners will be selected, and each will get 4 nights’ accommodation (travel to, from, and within Italy not included) at an incredibly luxurious hotel in the heart of Tuscany, near Siena, called the Castellare de'Noveschi

                             http://www.castellaredenoveschi.it/en/

The resort offers an unrivaled opportunity to bask in the region’s many centuries of history and folklore, enjoy its world-famous cuisine, and have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a "wine therapy” session – think soaking, not drinking!