Hi there, I’m Mark. I’m making a film this winter and very excited about it. I have a story everyone can relate to… about how life never really works the way we want it to and how, the more we struggle against it, the worse it tends to get. I’ve got two fabulous actors, a patient and devoted producer, a brilliant director of photography and a crew dedicated to their craft and to bringing something wonderful and unique to the screen.

I’m of the opinion that a lot of films kind of look and feel the same, because ultimately they are devoted to telling a story at the expense of letting reality unfold in its random and unpredictable way. We're trying to take a different approach. Our story is ultra-simple, one we know all too well. It's about what happens at the end of a relationship, when two people have trouble letting go but know they have to. Something that’s maybe playing out for you right now, or if it isn’t, is surely playing out for someone you know. This is what we’re trying to capture… the crap in between the scenes that are supposed to matter… where the real story lies.

Using this stripped-down approach, we’re going to milk the power of cinema, the magical combination of sight and sound, to create a sensory experience that is faithful to one thing only… the experience of life as it’s lived, not as we imagine it with our eyes closed. I think you’ll be excited to be part of this and I’m hoping it will offer an interesting, compelling and unique example of what independent filmmaking can achieve.

Film is really, really expensive. It's not usually in my nature to ask for charity, but the costs of taking an idea to the screen are too much for one person to handle all alone. My personal investment in this film is significant but can't meet all of the associated expenses, including honorariums for key crew members, equipment rentals, location access, props, permits, food, etc.... The financial burden of making a film can be immense and I'm hoping you see the value in supporting a truly independently-produced film that aims to stand out from the crowd.

Everyone who donates at least $25 to The Ocean is Stupid will get a window into the creative process as we go from script to screen, breathing life into the characters and scenarios we've sketched out on paper. The journey will be exciting, and we'll be delighted to share it all with you, whether it be successes, challenges, or frustrations. We'll update you through a regular director's blog, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes production material, including but not limited to stills, rough edits, interviews and any anecdotes that can enrich your experience as a supporter of the film. We'd also like to make this process interactive, mining the community we're building for their real life experiences of love and its loss. 

Beyond financing, we're also looking for creative and passionate individuals who are interested in helping bring something special to life and want to get involved in a more hands on way. If interested, please feel free to drop us a line at theoceanisstupid@gmail.com.

We are going to be extremely active in 2014, shooting anywhere from 35-40 days. Most of the shooting will take place in Toronto over the winter months, with some segments to be shot in the spring and summer, including a final sequence at a Nascar track in the American South. We'll utilize a small crew made up of handy individuals that can help with more than one job, keeping costs lower and making us light and nimble.

Editing will take place simultaneously and the final edit will be locked by the end of 2014, finishing the film in one calendar year. Then we will proceed with our film festival and exhibition strategy, targeting festivals and events that emphasize artistic and expressive filmmaking. Our plan is ambitious but realizable, all the more so with your support. Thanks for reading!

Born and raised in Toronto, Mark has been making films since 2003, first using Super 8 cameras from the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto. Of late, his twin focus consists of feature-length dramas and more personal, experimental works. The Ocean is Stupid, his first feature, is an attempt to bridge these two styles.

Recent credits include Going Outside (2010) and Peninsula Valdes (2011) which form part of the National Screen Institute archive. Peninsula Valdes also opened the Saturday night program of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmaker’s $100 Film Festival in 2012. Click here for his Vimeo page.

Tara is an award-winning producer specializing in fiction and non-fiction films. Her films Lament for Bravo!Fact, Clean Teeth Wednesdays, Training Wheels and the feature Lucky 7 are all on the festival circuit. In June 2012, Lucky 7 screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Her work has appeared on Bravo!, CBC, ID: Discovery Channel, Superchannel, TMN and in cinemas across Canada and the world. Click here for her website.

Ryan is an independent filmmaker and cinematographer based in Toronto. He enjoys both analog and digital technologies, natural light, texture, and the unconventional. Have a look at his debut feature, Hills Green (2012), now on iTunes. Click here for his website.