*Our campaign ended as of yesterday 3 p.m. Though we didn't reach our target, we will be planning how best to administer the $590 we got (before payment to indiegogo and production of inventory). They will go into 3 core areas which are: research, completing the script and looking for producers.
Thanks a bunch to those who showed up and to those who want to help out in other ways, we are consistently looking for artistic/talented/visionary people to work with, so do drop us an email at lettersfromdeathrow@gmail.com.
Also we are shipping out the items in a couple of days and had already done so for some. This is a long-term project, we hope to bring more good news soon. - Kit Lim, Wretched of the Earth Pictures* 08/09/2013
The much-anticipated crowdfunding campaign is now here. As featured in:
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http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/sunday-star-sept-1-2013.html
![Juice Magazine]( "Juice Magazine")
http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/juice-magazine-april-issue.html![I.M. Magazine]( "I.M. Magazine")
http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/im-magazine-beyond-the-death-sentence.html
![Synopsis]( "Synopsis")
A young man from an impoverished village ventures into the city to find work so as to support his family. Tricked by a drug cartel into delivering their goods, the ordeal leads to his arrest in a foreign country and placed on the death row at the age of 19.
Back home, his ailing mom is prevented by his siblings from knowing the truth for fear she would be unable to handle the news. In latter years, his estranged father ventures into the foreign country with their lawyer, who attempts to make a case for him in the legal system despite all odds.
Throughout his stay in prison, he undergoes a spiritual change, repents and leads an austere lifestyle. He befriends a fellow death row inmate and their bond strengthens as they face the uncertainty of their days ahead. As his execution date looms, his mother soon finds out about his imprisonment and makes a last-ditch attempt to free him. Will he survive death row? Or will the weight of his crime bear down on him and see him executed?
While awaiting execution, he writes the eponymous Letters From Death Row, his swan song to life, death and everything in between.
![LFDR]( "LFDR")
This film project is inspired by the true story of Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian death row inmate since the age of 19 for carrying drugs into Singapore. While pleading for a second chance at life, he written 12 letters from death row. The following are the letters: http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/the-letters.html
![YVK]( "YVK")
Director’s Intention
I came from a society where drugs is strictly a taboo matter and drug users are harshly shunned upon. Some time ago, a friend of mine told me about a chance meeting with a man in Sweden at a supermarket in the 70’s. The man revealed he had been caught for trafficking drugs once but due to the liberal drug policies there, he received a light sentence in prison and managed to turn his life around. When my friend met him, he was a happily married man successfully running a construction business.
In Southeast Asia today, things are a bit different. Instead of helping criminals turn over a new leaf, states are more intend to punish them, to make an example out of them – sometimes by the penalty of death. I strongly believe that petty drug offenders should be given the opportunity to rehabilitate, not be penalised with the death penalty. These mules are not hardened criminals, nor are they the drug barons. They just made a clumsy decision and now are made to pay with their lives.
I intend to make a truthful and heartfelt film based on the life experiences of drug mules which have opened my eyes to some reality. What must they have felt, being so close to the end everyday? What must their parents have felt?
Themes that will be explored in this movie are: child labor, family, poverty, love, sacrifice, redemption, grace, resonance of choice, survival, spirituality, disparity between the rich and poor, plight of the working class, the justice system and the mandatory death penalty.
Why We Need The Money?
In Malaysia, there exists a very poor film funding support system and budding filmmakers and independent directors face the challenge of receiving little to no support from the government, more so those that attempt to make a film that challenges the status quo.
To overcome this, we aim to take our project live on indiegogo.com and appeal for crowdfunding as well as approaching local private investors to invest and raise the required budget in making this film a reality.
Where Will The Money Go Into?
What
you seen (above) is just the trailer and not the actual film itself. Estimated
costs of making the film is at $350,000. We need a minimum of $15,000 to
continue working on the film. The money will go into:
1.
Covering the production cost of the trailer & pitch video - $300
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We spent roughly $300 on the production of the trailer and pitch video, mostly on transportation, food, location recce and securing equipment. We would like to pay back the people who have helped out in some ways as well as the cast and crew by throwing an awesome party whereby all family, friends and contributors are invited.
2.
Completing the final draft of the screenplay - $3,000 (over the period of 5
months)
![]()
The
script is currently 1/3 completed. The beginning, whereby we see the upbringing
of the character in the village until his departure for the city, is done. We would like to work on it full-time
but we are in between jobs. $3,000 will be able to sustain us for five months
to put out the best possible script.
3.
Research - $3,000 (over a period of 5 months)
In
our effort to work on the screenplay full-time, we need to visit some places,
talk to some people and gather some important information. The story spans
across three major locations (Sabah, Kuala Lumpur & Singapore), involving
multiple characters and consistency with facts requires intensive research.
$3,000 will be able to help us conduct the intensive research and interviews;
bringing the story as close as possible to facts.
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4. Coworking space - $3,000 (over a period of 5 months)
We envision a proper working space with amenities where we can work full-time. It would be a place where we can brainstorm for ideas, convene, write, produce, edit and generally get this film out to you.
5. Sustaining a team of 5 people to continue working on the film - $3,000 (over a period of 5 months)
6. Looking for producers - $2,700 (over a period of 5 months)
With $2,700, we will be able to meet with industry players such as Christopher Doyle (acclaimed cinematographer of movies such as Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affairs and Hero) and try to bring them on-board our project. We want to attract highly-qualified producers and professionals in making this film and giving it the best quality it deserves.
![]()
Goal
Besides crowdfunding, we aim to approach investors to raise the required budget in making this film a reality. To help send a strong message to producers, we appeal to you to help reach the following goals and share the following benefits:
*Goal Reached* $15,000 - Free shipping for everyone!
*Stretch Goal 1* $20,000 - New design (poster & t-shirt)
* Existing contributors get to choose which design they want.
* Example: Lets claim a poster (you get to chose between design A OR B)
*Stretch Goal 2* $25,000 - More new design
* Existing contributors get to add-on a perk for 15% less.
* Example: Lets claim a t-shirt, $100 (you get to add another t-shirt for a $15 discount)
What Can Your Contribution Get You?
To help raise funds for the production of the film, we have the following perks on offer. By making a pledge and contributing, you naturally become an "Official Backer" of the film.
![$5 Perk]()
$5 Perk: Facebook & Twitter Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download.
![$10 Perk]( "$10 Perk")
$10 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download.
![$25 Perk]( "$25 Perk")
$25 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download + 3 x Postcards.
![$50 Perk]( "$50 Perk")
$50 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download + 3 x Postcards + Poster.
![$100 Perk]( "$100 Perk")
$100 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download + 3 x Postcards + Poster + T-Shirt.
![$500 Perk]( "$500 Perk")
$500 Perk: Adam's Jumpsuit
![$1500 Perk]( "$1500 Perk")
$1,500 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download + 3 x Postcards + Poster + T-Shirt + Associate Producer Credit (and a chance to name a character in the movie).
![$3000 Perk]( "$3000 Perk")
$3,000 Perk: Facebook, Twitter & Official Site Thank You + LFDR Artwork Download + 3 x Postcards + Poster + T-Shirt + Executive Producer Credit (and a chance to name a character and appear in the movie).
Marketing & Distribution
Letters From Death Row has a high-profile subject matter and strong commercial potential. The mandatory death penalty is a highly-talked about subject matter in the international arena. Upon fully developing the script, we aim to approach potential distributors and sales agents to devise a strategy for this film.
We will also give visibility to this project as well as the issue of the mandatory death penalty through our official website and social media networking. We hope to premier this film in international film festivals, strengthening its distribution value and generating great interest in the domestic market for a competitive local release.
About Us
Wretched Of The Earth Pictures, founded by Kit Lim in 2012 is an independent production company in Malaysia to produce human rights-themed film in the Asian region. Its aim is to create simple human stories with profound messages.
With Letters From Death Row, we aim to produce a cinematic experience with a captivating storyline, compelling characters and gripping emotions which will not lull audience into passivity but make them question the mandatory death penalty.
Kit Lim, started his career as a broadcast journalist before moving on to working behind the scenes at local productions. He embarked on a journey to get Letters From Death Row made after reading about Yong Vui Kong, a young death penalty inmate. Read interviews with Kit Lim here:
http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/kit-lim-taylors-alumni-interview.html
http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com/interview-with-we-believe-in-second-chances.htmlValis, co-writer / sound designer. Valis designed the soundscape for the trailer and is also working on the script. A fan of Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, his influences in literature are authors Franz Kafka, Herman Hesse and Albert Camus. Listen to his musical work here: http://soundcloud.com/crimsun
Tihah Abdullah, visual artist. Tihah is responsible for many of the project's artwork. Her visual style has been described as Impressionism coupled with vivid colors and realism to depict strong visual messages. An admirer of noir comics, Dark Horse Comics and horror games, she is also a music enthusiast/gig-goer and does freelance drawing as well as photography for gigs.
Sara Balaya, marketing / inventory. Sara is in charge of making sure everyone heard of Letters from Death Row and also helps out with the inventory. She studied broadcasting at UTAR and is currently pursuing her PhD in communication at USM. She also lectures at KDU College, Penang.
Nik Waheeda, acting coach / actress. Nik coached the actors on-set and voiced the oracle in the trailer. A theatre practitioner and Law graduate, she is into performing arts and can be seen in a host of stage plays. She participated in a play called "In a Nutty Shell" and will be acting in the 2013 Short + Sweet Festival in Kuala Lumpur. She also writes flash fiction for fun.
Adam Yusuf, actor. Adam played the part of the boy in the trailer. An ambitious and cool Sarawakian with a taste for films, he is currently completing his studies in broadcasting at KLMU University College. He can be seen in TV movies with the latest one being "Si Pengayuh Nyalang".
You can support us by:
Inviting your friends to this page.
Liking & sharing our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/LettersfromDeathRowthefilm
Following us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Lettersdeathrow
Visiting our Official Site: http://www.lettersfromdeathrow.com
Please email us at lettersfromdeathrow@gmail.com for any questions and comments. Thank you!
