Daffodil Hill Movie
Daffodil Hill Movie
Daffodil Hill Movie
Daffodil Hill Movie
Daffodil Hill Movie
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
This campaign is closed
Daffodil Hill Movie
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
What is he trying to hide?
Daffodil Hill is based on real life scenarios that we all deal with on a daily basis. The concept of this film stemmed from a collection of different events that occurred in the lives of the actors involved in the film. On this journey, you will follow Donny McDonald as he goes through his day-to-day, abnormal life; learning about his past in the process. We soon find out that things aren't exactly what they seem with Donny. Sprinkled along his path are .themes of loss, depression, denial, mental health treatment, drug abuse and most importantly, the truth of his life.
Brandon Russell | Actor & Director
Character Role: Donny McDonald
Brandon Russell (22 years old) was born in Memphis, TN to Tommy and Cissy Russell, and has a younger sister Brittany. Around 5 years old, Brandon started doing Shotokan at USA Karate, and soon started competing in tournaments all around the United States. He has accumulated about 650 trophies in his years of competing in karate.
In the fall of 2007, Brandon started playing drums, with his first band being named Brittany Russell and the Trunk Monkeys, featuring dad, Tommy Russell (guitar), Uncle Wayne Russell (bass guitar), and sister Brittany Russell (vocals). He later joined a band named Young Guns, and had the chance to open up for ZZ Top, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, and Blues Traveler.
He is currently a senior at the University of Memphis, and will be graduating in December 2018 with a degree in Supply Chain Management. He currently works as a Supply Chain Intern at Smith & Nephew. His desire to create has never gone away. This project is his acting & directing debut. In this film, Brandon plays the lead role of Donny, who we follow as he goes about his life in search of his past love Jenna...
Eric Mabry | Financial Advisor
Character Role: Bret
Eric Mabry was born and raised in Memphis, TN while pursuing acting across the nation as a child. Later on, he studied at the University of Arkansas. Today, he works as a Financial Advisor and seeks to be advocates for his clients. Besides a few roles when he was younger, this will be his first film in a while, playing the care-free character of Bret, Donny and Claire's friend.
This will be the first project Eric and Brandon have worked on and the team of Chicken Coup Productions.
Bailey Inman | Screenwriter | Access
Character Role: Claire
Bailey is a film student at the University of Memphis, concentrating in screenwriting. She is responsible for adapting Brandon Russell's story, "Daffodil Hill," into the script, but is not responsible if you don't like it.
In addition to writing the screenplay, she plays the supporting role, "Claire" in the film -the tomboy "funny friend" that doesn't know her own alcohol limit -and as the saying goes, art imitated life, and it was not a stretch to portray. She grew up acting in various local projects, both on screen and on small stages, and was told by both Disney and Nickelodeon casting directors that she is "great, except for her snaggle tooth and two chins." As a result, she began her writing career at a very young age. She wrote a novel at 16 years old and it was published her senior year of high school, however it did not make her popular among her peers (until college). This is her second writing credit for a short form film, the first being "Sidekick," in the Spring of 2017, which also served as her directorial debut.
This will be the second project Bailey and Brandon have collaborated on, "Sidekick" being the first, where Brandon acted as a supporting character.
Reba Russell | Musician
Character Role: Aunt Becky
Reba Russell is a name synonymous with the Memphis Music scene. Beginning early in the 1980’s (with band’s Visions, Portrait, and Reba and the Portables) and now currently fronting the Reba Russell Band, Reba has covered most bases in the music industry. She is a published songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, backing vocalist, bandleader and producer, as well as a touring and recording artist. Reba and her band tour throughout the United States and Europe and have released 8 Independent Albums. She is a highly respected Memphis studio/session vocalist but she is perhaps more popularly known as a powerful live performer.
The list of credits for recording artists that Reba has performed backing vocals in session for is vast. A few notable credits are; U2 (When Love Comes to Town, BB King/ Bono). Class of 55 Homecoming featuring: Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins. Huey Lewis and the News, album; Soulsville. A few Local/Blues/Regional acts include; Tracy Nelson, Jim Dickinson, Sid Selvidge, and Lucero.
The Memphis Chapter of NARAS awarded a Premier Player Award for vocals to Reba in both 1998 and 1999. She was also named an Emissary of Memphis Music by the Memphis Shelby County Music Commission in 2009. In 2011, Reba Russell was nominated for the Koko Taylor Vocal Award by the Blues Foundation during their annual Blues Music Awards Show in Memphis. For over 35 years Reba Russell has performed in almost every venue, studio and event around the Memphis area and continues to be a stalwart of the Memphis Music Scene.
She is the great aunt of Brandon Russell.
Wayne Russell | Musician
Character Role: Uncle Wayne
Artist, Musician Wayne Russell was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi to parents who picked cotton on family land. Both his father and mother came from homes where music was part of their daily life. Most of his family members played and sang in church as well community gatherings.
At the age of 5, Wayne and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Wayne's love of of art and music blossomed. He received various types of art supplies and guitars and by the time he completed high school he was voted most talented student. He later graduated Memphis State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. He studied art under artist John Robinette.
Wayne has been a professional musician his entire life and has performed in many countries. As well as a musician, he is also a published songwriter. During his music career he continued to develop his craft as an artist by painting portraits as well as keeping a sketch books of gigs, musicians and places he has covered. He plays with his wife Reba Russell in The Reba Russell Band.
He is the great uncle to Brandon Russell.
Corey Smith
Assistant Director | Producer
A Memphis native who has always had a passion for film. Corey has spent time at acting studios, and helped with local independent films. He is excited to bring the Daffodil Hill project to the Memphis film community.
This is first collaboration with Director Brandon Russell and the team at Chicken Coup Productions.
Josiah Weiss
Production Role: Director of Photography | Cinemtographer| Chief Editor | Producer
Ever since a life changing trip to Nairobi, Kenya in 2012, Josiah has had a passion for visual media. He started with photography and has branched out into video and graphic art as well.
Josiah has worked companies, actors and artist such as K-LOVE Radio, Kirk Cameron, Camp Electric, Matthew West, The Property Brothers and others…
This is first of many collaborations with director Brandon Russell and the team at Chicken Coup Productions.
John Christman
Production Role: Audio Technician | Producer
John Christman was born and raised in a musical family in Memphis, TN. Playing the piano from a young age, he has only entered the world of sound within the past few years and has since taught himself music production, studio engineering, and live sound engineering (the last greatly helped by an amazing mentor and sound technician in Alex Ertz).
Working full-time as a software engineer, John also works part-time as a venue sound technician and as a DJ. This will be his first venture into film sound, and he’s excited to share this adventure with the crew of “Daffodil Hill.”
This is the first of many projects with Brandon Russell and the team at Chicken Coup Productions.
During this crowdfunding campaign, our goal is to reach$20,000 with a stretch goal of $30,000. We understand that we are being ambitious but that's just a part of who we are as The Chicken Coup Production Team. With launching this Indiegogo, we understand that we must use our current resources to but also focus on acquiring the best quality gear available to continue to help make even greater stories come to life. The resources we have access to are plentiful and we are super thankful for those but as you know, we deeply feel that we Memphians must always be ready to take it to the next level.
The perks are built on an "US" model! With helping us achieve the $20,000 goal, everyone has the opportunity to engage in the Daffodil Hill Experience in whatever form you like. Want to support the group as a whole? You can do that. If you are a screenwriter and want to support fellow screenwriters, you can do that. If you just want to be apart of the film and get some financial advice, you can do that as well. Or simply, if you want to support the person who you feel the most comfortable with, potentially produce, or get to see your name in the credits -- we got you on that as well. Not only have we put up the money for a new Sony camera and rented equipment, everyone on the cast and crew are VOLUNTEERS who came together to create something dope for ourselves and our city. Plus, this is the Volunteer State. Regardless as to whether we hit our $20k goal or not, this film will be magical and we strive to make sure that you are a part of it.
This section highlights what we, the Chicken Coup Productions team, are trying to accomplish. We feel that we have a talented group of young men and women and we are already planning our future writing and filming adventure . By helping us achieve our goal AND EVEN MORE, you all will help us to secure resources that we feel are vital to our future projects. This will help to lay the foundation of the our Production Company so whenever you view one of our films, you will know that you have helped to lay the foundation for what you are watching. This Memphis based company is in the perfect location and position to continue to push the arts in a city that is known for its pure grit, grind and down home music.
There can be similar challenges when having such a big team, such as scheduling issues. It has been a blessing to really have everyone on the same page and be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve something that has a greater purpose. Another challenge was to find who was going to actually film the movie. One of our team members Josiah recommended a film associate he knew, and at first the budget was a little out of our reach. After racking our creative brains, Cafe Ecletic coffee, Cookout Trays, a little negotiation and a whole lot of white board sessions at the the new Memphis Symphony Orchestra Office (Thanks Rhonda), we got it down to a price that was more in our budget. We then invested our own money and decided that we would set our goal high so that we could shoot a dope film, pay our actors and secure the resources that would enable us to move forward with projects consistently. This was no easy task.
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