ABOUT THE FILM...
“My First Loves” is a story about a young woman who gets cold feet before her wedding day.
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THE INSPIRATION FOR THE FILM
I started writing “My First Loves” 2 years ago after a few guys I dated in the past found me on Facebook! It sparked the inspiration for a perfect movie and posed the question: What happens if you're on the verge of your wedding, and someone in your past showed up? What if you're in a serious relationship and you re-connect with a High School Sweetheart? What if you and that guy that made you melt in college suddenly crossed paths? Is there really "The One?"
So I started writing this script in the vein of classic love stories that still resonate with me today. I also love game shows and thought a DREAM game sequence (within the film) inspired by "The Newlywed Game" was a great way to place our lead character STARLA in a scenario with her first 3 loves, during different stages of her life: High School, College and Adulthood. All of us have had FIRST LOVES at one point in our lives. The question "My First Loves" asks is: Are you still with your first love OR if you had the chance to go back, would you?
I yearn to see characters on the ‘big screen’ that truly reflect the real women I know; interacting with the type of men we’d date. I believe “My First Loves” has what it takes to get film audiences excited about going to the theater to support sophisticated cinema for a sexy new generation.
Shortly after the screenplay was written, I reconnected with producer Monty Ross, the producer behind Spike Lee's first 7 films. Monty loved the script and quickly jumped on board to help get this film made.
My readers of the script have laughed, cried and fallen in love with the characters in this film and I hope that you will fall in love with “My First Loves” too.
“My First Loves” brings a fresh new perspective to the romantic comedy, because it’s from a woman's point of view.
HOW YOU CAN HELP!!!
With your contribution we can JUMP START production. Although, I’d love to have $2 million dollars to make this film, I have to be realistic so I wrote “My First Loves” simply enough to produce the film with all of my resources. (Which means I decided to call on my favors.)
I called on my ACTOR FRIENDS, PRODUCERS, MY DREAM COSTUME DESIGNER, CASTING DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND GUESS WHAT?! THEY ALL AGREED TO COME ON BOARD for very minimal costs because they think film fans like (myself) are waiting for a movie (like this) to hit the market. It’s time to support positive, empowering love stories for women, don’t you think?
If we reach our goal of $40,000 we can head into pre-production but the low, low, low-end of the production budget is $250,000 which is why we need your help to CONTRIBUTE WHAT YOU CAN and SHARE with everyone you know!
OUR GOAL is to surpass the $40,000 goal because we will not be able to make the whole film for $40,000.
$250,000 PAYS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- Pre-Production (May 2013): Production meetings, castings, rehearsal, script read
- Production (June 2013): Action! We’re on set and we’re making a movie!
- Post Production (July/August 2013): We’re editing and getting this film in the can, packaged and ready for film festivals and the market.
No donation is too small and you can contribute as many times as you like!
Donations are tax-deducible through our fiscal sponsor New York Women In Film & Television (NYWIFT)
The Campaign AND The Perks...
"My First Loves" leading lady is a fashionista, engulfed in the New York City entertainment industry. We thought it would be GREAT to give contributors "THE INDUSTRY" experience with some FANTASTIC PERKS and surprises!
- VIP Tickets to the cast reading and Reception
- Set Visit and a chance to sit in on all stages of production--from a production meeting to the editing suite and a private screening with cast & crew
- Special Music Industry, Fashion Industry and Hollywood packages
- A chance to have DINNER with the DIRECTOR, LEADING LADY & MAN at the featured restaurant in the film
- A Limited Edition "MY FIRST LOVES" movie poster with your photo included in the collage.
THE TEAM:
Dominga Martin (Writer/Director)
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Hi, my name is Dominga Martin and I’m a writer/director who lives in Brooklyn, NY (originally from Boston). “MY FIRST LOVES” is my first feature film. I’ve been directing since 2001 after launching my boutique motion picture company House of Ming. I've directed short films, a documentary on immigration that was invited to screen at the United Nations and a few music videos.
My most successful music video is for GRAMMY Nominated artists The FLOCAIST and Musiq Soulchild which has been seen on all major video channels including VH-1, MTV Hive & BET. I’m very active in New York’s creative scene, my friends are diverse and life has been very exciting creatively for me. My short film YELLOW recently screened at the new MIST Theater in Harlem, celebrating love stories. I was recently featured in a photo exhibit (Her Word As Witness: Women Writers of the African Diaspora) which celebrated the world’s most critically acclaimed writers including Sonia Sanchez, Edwidge Danticat and Esperanza Spalding. The exhibit is currently traveling and has run at New York University.
I am also a journalist and publish my very own lifestyle online publication Crème Magazine. Additionally, I've free-lanced for some really amazing publications such as ESSENCE, VIBE, GLAM.com, Blackfilm.com and many others. I've interviewed lots of celebrities, such as: Tom Cruise, Jay-Z, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett, Tyler Perry, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Russell Simmons and the list goes on and on and on...
I absolutely love journalism, however, making a feature film is my biggest DREAM!
MONTY ROSS (PRODUCER)
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Monty Ross, Spike Lee’s former producer and co-producer on such groundbreaking “Made in NY” productions as School Daze, She’s Gotta Have it, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X and Crooklyn, started his career with the Atlanta Street Theatre, a small resident theatre company in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to New York City to pursue his career in 1985, quickly partnering with Lee, as the Production Supervisor on the legendary 12 day shooting schedule of She’s Gotta Have It, starring Tommy Hicks, Tracy Camilla Johns, and John Canada Terrell. The film shot in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn with a $100K budget grossed over $7 million dollars, which was unprecedented, showing that Black Film had an audience and guerilla marketing was the key. She’s Gotta Have It launched Spike Lee and Monty Ross’ career, in addition to leading the way for the future of Black film.
Over the next 17 years, his roles at 40 Acres and a Mule Productions were multi-faceted, from Production Assistant to Vice President of Production. While co-producing a film each year, he also produced advertising campaigns for brands such as Nike’s Air Jordans and Levi’s 501 campaign, as well as music videos for artists such as Stevie Wonder and Prince. He also worked on the New York City production Inside Man, starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster, which was Lee’s highest grossing film, ($86 Million) to date.
Today, Ross is actively involved in digital production and developing projects for emerging directors.
The Impact
The impact that this film could have on my career and the film industry is that it opens the door for the production of my slate of movies after the success of "My First Loves".
I'm inspired by the golden era of hip-hop and classic cinema. I make the kind of movies that inspired me. When I went to the movies in the early 90‘s there were a variety of urban movies to choose from. And while movies like “Think Like a Man” & “Jumping the Broom” are successful, there are many more voices, like mine, ready to share our perspective. It’s a great time for black film and I’m very excited to share my point of view.
“My First Loves” is a universal story about love and relationships. It is cross-cultural and has all the elements to be a successful box office hit and I need your help to bring it to the screen! Because when you support movies like “My First Loves”, we will see MORE!
Let's show the world that there is an audience for a movie like “My First Loves”...Let's put our money where our mouth is and let's make our mark because “My First Loves” is COMING SOON and it all starts with YOU!
Other Ways You Can Help
- After you make a tax deductible donation (as many times as you’d like), share this campaign on Twitter, Linked In, Facebook, Instagram or any of your social media pages.
- Tell 25 of your friends about our “My First Loves” campaign and have (their friends) tell 25 more and so on, and so on...
- Participate in our Twitter Chats coming up!
And that’s all there is to it. Help us raise awareness and raise funds for “My First Loves”
BUT WAIT! BEFORE WE GO, HERE'S WHAT THE PRESS & TASTEMAKERS ARE SAYING...
"Dominga Martin is a talented, innovative and dynamic writer/director. She isn't what's next. She's ready to be what's now."
-- S. Tia Brown (Senior Editor, JET Magazine)
"Mostly Dominga is a visionary...there are very few of those..since this is her first film I can't talk about how great a film maker she will become...But I can see clearly that her vision is precise and she is determined to make significant marks on the film making industry. I've seen a few people like Dominga before in the visual arts...Wangechi Mutu comes to mind...Sanford Wylie. I saw the same thing in their eyes that I see in Dominga's and they have changed the face of contemporary visual art. She reminds me a little of my brother Russell when we bought a house and lived together...all he did was eat, think and sleep hip hop...she's pretty much the same way with making this film..."
-- Danny Simmons (Critically Acclaimed Painter & Older Brother to Mogul Russell Simmons & Rev. Run of Run DMC)
"Judging by the trailer, we should be in for a uniquely refreshing and entertaining experience that is both informative and artistic!"
-- Wilson Morales (Blackfilm.com)
To see more quotes, visit: House of Ming's website.
THANK YOU!!!