Hello Fantasy Fans!
My name is Darin Coelho (also known as Darin Coelho Spring) and I've been a passionate amateur filmmaker for years. By "amateur," I mean that I have made films for the love (amour) of creating art in itself. My films have always been inspired by literature. My first film was inspired by the Cold Mountain poems, and I was later greatly influenced by the work of Jorge Luis Borges.
I am currently filming a feature-length documentary about the visionary fantasy author, poet and artist Clark Ashton Smith. Smith is a sort of cult figure; he has a devoted legion of fans, but he has not gained the recognition he deserves as a fantasy writer and as a poet.
By helping fund this project, contributors can help me create a high-quality, lasting film to bring Smith's life and work to all fans of fantasy literature.
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Smith scholar and poet, Donald Sidney-Fryer, in front of the Clark Ashton Smith plaque at the Auburn Library
How You Can Help and What You Get For Doing So
If I were to raise my goal of $5,000, I could finish the film in the way I envision. I am over halfway done with filming and most of the money would go to final production costs. Here's a rough breakdown of how your contribution would be spent:
Editing
Music licensing/voice over
Licensing, scanning, restoration and archiving fees of photographs
DVD production and packaging
Other/Misc
The reason I chose Indiegogo as a campaign platform is so I could reward backers with unique perks! I will be offering some original Clark Ashton Smith photos that are being used in the film. There are other compelling and original rewards as well. Or if you just want to buy the film, it will be available to backers for $25!
If the complete goal is not met, I still plan on finishing the film and saving enough to produce a limited edition DVD for the backers that chose that reward.
Why you should contribute and why the film might interest you
This project is important because Clark Ashton Smith is important. He was a pioneering creator of stories in multiple genres: fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction and science fiction. As a poet he was hailed as the Keats of the West Coast when his first book of poetry, The Star-Treader and Other Poems, came out in 1912, when he was just 19 years old. He was a member of the California Romantic tradition along with Ambrose Bierce and his poetic mentor, George Sterling. And, as a friend and correspondent of writer H.P. Lovecraft, Smith's life and work should be of interest to the many fans of the creator of The Necronomicon and Cthulhu! He also deserves regional recognition in the Northern California foothills, as he was nearly a lifelong Auburnite who was known as the "bard of Auburn." I hope to show the film in Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville, and other venues in the Gold Rush area.
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Harlan Ellison holding up one of his favorite Smith books
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Donald Sidney-Fryer and Ron Hilger on Crater Ridge
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S.T. Joshi - Editor and Lovecraftian par exellence
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Wilum Pugmire at his home in Seattle
I've had a great time filming all sorts of scenes with Donald Sidney-Fryer. He is the film's tour guide and commentator on the life and work of "The Bard of Auburn." I have also gotten the chance to interview legendary writer Harlan Ellison, Lovecraft and Smith scholar S.T. Joshi, weird poets K.A. Opperman and Ashley Dioses, and The Queen of Eldritch Horror himself W.H. Pugmire! I have also received guidance from noted Smith editor Ron Hilger and Smith's biographer Scott Connors, both of whom I hope to interview soon.
Risks & Challenges
There are always many risks and challenges to low-budget filmmakers. I have produced long projects before, and it takes dedication to complete these projects. Helping fund this campaign would give me the freedom to hire the help I need to finish the final edit and license music among the other myriad costs such projects require.
With regard to using the copyrighted work of Clark Ashton Smith, I am happy to have the full support of CASianna Enterprises! Thank you Bill!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't help with a contribution please share on Facebook, blog, or even just tell some friends about the campaign. Get a Northern Californian paper to write an article. Buy a Clark Ashton Smith book. Do it for love of LITERATURE! Do it for the love POETRY!
Here are photos of some of the perks!
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The "Necromancer" t-shirt by Peter Scartabello
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