Spied Upon documentary film project
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Special note as of Summer/Fall 2017
People have asked how they can donate now to Spied Upon. We still need further support especially for covering shooting costs this year in UK, Ireland and Germany, as well as editing a rough cut. Donations can be made via PayPal to:
jason( at )blackhelmetproductions.net
Please send bank transfers via the bank account listed below, or write for further info to:
jason( at )blackhelmetproductions.net
Thanks so much for your support! -Jason and the Spied Upon team
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My name is Jason Kirkpatrick, I'm a documentary director who is also passionate about the environment, and issues of social justice. When many of my colleagues and I found out that one of our best friends was an undercover cop who had targeted us intensely for years, I immediately knew I had to create a film that exposed the story around what had happened. Making the film Spied Upon and telling the story of how this internationally scandalous operation and others like it work, is a project that has totally consumed me since the outing of Mark Kennedy in October 2010.
Your support is crucial to help bring this film to people across the world, and to help stop current abuses happening to people because of a modern-day spying apparatus that has spun completely out of control. The need to support this film right now is crucial, as this film project is already increasing awareness and raising support for a number of women currently who successfully sued the British police for duping them into sexual relationships. See our updates page here to see how we have actively supported these women already by sharing their story at our public events and distributing their flyers, as well as helping give them a voice in Spied Upon.
What We Need & What You Get
After research and filming beginning slowly in 2011, now the puzzle pieces have come together we are getting ready for making a rough cut of Spied Upon so we can search for completion funds. Our goal is to create a visually and emotionally griping film that can captivate and engage people. Our team of seven has successfully completed prize-winning documentary projects on an international level, and to give Spied Upon a global impact we need your support.
We've had very positive meetings with some of the worlds biggest documentary film funders at DOK Leipzig, in Germany and CPH:DOX in Denmark. They loved our film! Now, we just need to keep filming. For example, when we met with the TV Commissioner from the biggest USA public TV station PBS, he said he wants to see a rough cut. We are working hard to be sure Spied Upon will have a huge audience when it's finished. Now we just need your help to be able to get to the point of sending these TV and Film commissioners a rough cut.
Concretely, your donations will be used for:
1. Travel with shooting team for filming in countries central to our film
2. Rental of professional camera and sound equipment
3. Rental of editing equipment and production of rough cut for fundraising
4. Taking this rough cut to show funders at film festivals
The Impact
The problem of governmental spying has been a international top story in the news starting from the time we began research shooting in 2011. However, reporting on the topic seems to be done in a factual, fragmented and dry style, often disconnecting people with the real human impact of being targeted by both internet spying as well as undercover operations. Furthermore, in growing numbers private companies have started hiring highly specialised former secret police to spy on people, and so far this area of spying is totally unregulated in many countries, leading to massive privacy violations.
Spied Upon allows targets of such operations from across Europe and the USA to tell their stories, in a visceral manner that directly impacts viewers. Our goal is to link-up these captivating stories to make Spied Upon a successful international film that can also act as a tool alongside various campaigns for protecting civil liberties, with the goal of curbing global spying operations which seem to be operating beyond all controls.
Additionally, we have begun "partnering" with non-profit groups that work on similar issues such as Europe's Statewatch, with the goal that we can mutually support each other's work and increase the impact of the film. The short initial "teaser" clips already available on our web-site have helped us reach over 10,000 people in 30 countries, just in our first week alone online!
In conjunction with this vital Crowdfunding campaign, we hosted a series of "Sneak Preview" events in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the USA with presentations from people featured in Spied Upon who were targeted by Britain's secret police . The impact was great, with major features in the press, including this lively Film Preview from Leeds-List, this article in the Nottingham Post on the day of our Indiegogo launch, and another piece in The Guardian! Further press including BBC Radio interviews and a St Andrews article are here. One of our interview clips was also featured in the Guardian regarding Mark Kennedy working as a private spy.
Our project and UK tour raised awareness in support of a number of women in court against British secret police bosses.
Your donations will help:
- complete necessary shooting
- edit together a viewable film after years of shooting in 5 countries
- help to broaden the impact of this vital film and campaign
Donating
If you want to help bring Spied Upon to audiences across the world, please help via a PayPal donation. You can quickly open a Paypal account if you don't have one already. All currencies are accepted, including USA dollars, Euros and British Pounds. Here is a quick and easy to use rate exchange calculator.
For easy electronic transfer, donate via the following German bank account:
*Recipient: Jason Kirkpatrick
*Name of Bank: Postbank
*Bank Code: 76010085
*Account number: 152453859
*IBAN: DE45 7601 0085 0152 4538 59
*BIC: PBNKDEFF
*Subject: Film Spied Upon-Enter your name/email (for processing perks)
If it's easier for you to send a check in USA dollars, please write.
jason( at )blackhelmetproductions.net
A number of prominent people are stating support for Spied Upon, including:
-Emily James, Director, Just do It: "A story that gets more shocking with each new revelation. This film lays it all bare."
-Ken Loach, UK Director, said: "extraordinary...a terrific story."
-Mike Bonnano, of The Yes Men, stated: "You should support this film, it's important."
-Jello Biafra, of Dead Kennedys and Alternative Tentacles fame, said: "The more this is exposed, the better, before we all wind up like Manning, Snowden or Assange."
-Mike Schwarz, award winning UK solicitor: "With the police, Home Office and authorities closing ranks and most of the mainstream media and politicians unable or unwilling to flex their muscles, this scandal has to be exposed by brave and committed individuals like the makers of Spied Upon."
Your donations and spreading the word of this film project will help bring a great impact exposing the problems of spying today. Thank you!
-The Spied Upon team