What This is All About

My name is Klaus Mayr, I am a high school student from Charlotte, North Carolina. Last summer I had the privilege to travel on a service trip to Bahía Ballena, Costa Rica. I had already been very interested in the idea/science of happiness, but this interest soared after this trip. I got back into the U.S. and I knew I had to do something to satisfy my interest. So I contacted a community member I met in Bahía Ballena, and one thing led to another and we decided I'd be returning the next summer to film a documentary about this small community and do my best to explain what is really needed to be happy. As a high school student, I don't have very much money to spend on this project. However, I want to make as big of an impact as I possibly can, and sufficient funds would certainly get me on the right track. I will be getting support from Biggs Camera and hopefully other organizations as well, but the more support I get from you guys, the more successful I will be. Ultimately, I hope I can show people that there is more to happiness than what most people think. I want to show that the things that truly make you happy are not just material goods, or even just satisfaction with life. Rather, the things that make you happy are the relationships you have with people and the world around you and the way you look at life. Through doing this, I want everyone who watches the documentary to be inspired to believe that anyone on earth can be happy, it's all about how you live your life.

What I need

The more funding I get, the more I will be able to make an impact with the documentary. There are certain things that I could pay for right now with what I have, but there are many more things that I truly need to make this project worth it. For example: 

- A better quality camera (Anywhere from $1,000 - $4,000)

- Equipment for camera (Microphone, tripod, lens, etc. $500 - $1,000) 

- Rent for the family I will be living with ($600) 

- Daily expenses for one month ($200)

 - Production and Post Production ($300-400)

Whether or not you are able to donate money, spread the word! just $5 would help, anything at all would be appreciated!

Risks and challenges

Taking on this project will not be easy. There have been and will be many bumps along the way.

I will be in a foreign country for a month, I will have to become acclimated to life in Bahía and film the documentary simultaneously, which will be difficult.

No great film is compelling without appropriate music, finding and getting rights for the best music could take time and money.

Post production in film making is not something I have a lot of experience with, if I do not get the money to hire a production company, I will have to do my best to put together the film independently.

If I do not gain a lot of support, I may have a hard time finding an audience to distribute the documentary to.