Bringing the Tibetan story to life
Tibet is a country that has been living under China's brutal occupation for over 65 years, but do people actually know this?
Tibet has been independently rated as the second-worst place on Earth for human rights abuses, lack of freedom and government oppression, with only Syria receiving a worse score. This means that the situation on the ground in Tibet is worse than North Korea, Saudi Arabia or Somalia, yet it receives nowhere near the levels of international attention that these places do.
According to our research, knowledge of Tibet is sorely lacking in the public sphere. Tibet is not the mainstream issue it once was and, with China's limitless resources to fund their ongoing propaganda campaign, we need to keep up by continually renewing our message for the modern world. For the sake of the millions of Tibetans who are suffering every day, we have to show people the truth.
Why make an animated film?
Though Free Tibet is constantly out campaigning in the real world, this can only take us so far. We can't persuade everyone if we do it one conversation at a time, and a film can reach people that we can't. We can screen the film in places that we cannot be ourselves. Also, in order to really spark a global movement, we must take advantage of the internet. We already have a very active online presence, but research shows that the absolute best way to capture people's attention is through video.
One simple film, if done well, can propagate like wildfire. As it spreads from person to person, so too do the ideas it espouses. But this only works if the film is so good that people who see it feel compelled to share it. It has to stand up as a beautiful piece of art in its own right. By using animation, we can hire fantastic artists and storytellers to ensure that our short film is poignant, compelling and captivating. China does a very good job of preventing any footage which shows them in a bad light from ever leaving Tibet, but our animation team can create their own powerful imagery to make an audience connect with the issues.
What do we need and how we will use it?
We are asking for £10,000 to fund our short film. The money raised will allow us to hire experienced and talented people to make our film truly incredible. Apart from paying for the animators to design and draw all the visuals, we will also need to fund a screenwriter to help with the story and script, buy original music for the film's score, hire sound designers, and work with voice over artists.
What impact will the video have?
If done right, the impact of this animated short film could be immense. Using Free Tibet's vast online presence (via our social media, website and mailing list) we have immediate access to hundreds of thousands of supporters to get the ball rolling. Once they have started sharing, the growth and viewership can be exponential. Beyond this, we can host screenings and submit the video for film festivals and animation awards. Each time the video is featured or covered in media, that too will raise the profile of the Tibetan issue.
We could get the story of Tibet in front of millions of people who may not have heard it before. Even if only a small number of those people go on to become supporters, this could represent a marked shift in levels of support for Tibet world-wide.
FAQs
Why do you need a crowdfunding campaign to run this?
We’re not a large organisation and manage our resources very carefully. We simply don't have the skills and expertise to create a video of this quality in-house, and we don't have the budget to fund it on our own.
What will the video actually be about?
We are already hard at work on the script and design of the final product, but the fact is we can't truly answer that question until we know our budget. The more money we make the longer the video can be, the more we can spend on hiring writers to flesh out the story, and the more complex and professional the animation work can be. What we can tell you, is that it will be an emotional, character-driven story, that will also get across the basic knowledge of Tibet that people need to know.
What if you raise more than the target?
If we raise more than the £10,000 target every penny will be spent to make the film bigger and better.
What if you raise less than £10,000?
We will still use the money we raise to make an animation. It might be simpler or shorter than planned, but we will still ensure it achieves maximum impact.
How do I send my details for receiving perks?
We will send you your perks using the email and/or address you provide when making your donation. Please email andrew@freetibet.org if you prefer we use a different address or contact.
When will the film be completed?
Again, it is difficult to say as the amount raised will determine the scale and complexity of the final product. However, as a rough estimate, we hope to have the film finished within 6 months.
Can I donate in a currency other than British Pounds?
You can donate using your credit card from anywhere in the world using Indiegogo's secure system or PayPal, with amounts converted from your currency into GBP using the current exchange rate. Your credit card company may charge you a currency conversion fee.
