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David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

OBLIVION is a film adaptation of the story by David Foster Wallace.

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David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION - Film

OBLIVION is a film adaptation of the story by David Foster Wallace.

OBLIVION is a film adaptation of the story by David Foster Wallace.

OBLIVION is a film adaptation of the story by David Foster Wallace.

OBLIVION is a film adaptation of the story by David Foster Wallace.

Francesco Marchione
Francesco Marchione
Francesco Marchione
Francesco Marchione
1 Campaign |
Brooklyn, United States
$2,065 USD 22 backers
4% of $50,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

OBLIVION Teaser Poster - Artwork by Alex Passapera
OBLIVION Teaser Poster - Artwork by Alex Passapera

I've been developing OBLIVION as a narrative film with a small group of incredible people, all inspired to bring David Foster Wallace's domestic nightmare to the screen. My goal was never to merely dramatize OBLIVION, but rather to make an entertaining film that stands on its own, and a whole new way to experience the story.  I worked with the David Foster Literary Trust and the Hill Nadell Literary Agency to obtain the rights to the story, and after many drafts, storyboards, design estimates, more drafts, scheduling, budgeting, more drafts, favors, hand shakes, countless meetings and alot of dreaming, the groundwork has been laid to mount this production.

Indiegogo presents a viable alternative model to traditional film financing, and is the most strategic partner for us because every pledge goes directly to the budget of the film, whether we achieve 90% or 190% of our funding goal. Indiegogo is a platform where an involving short film project like OBLIVION with a larger scale and more moving parts will have the chance to be judged on its artistic merit and not by the amount of money it can generate, and where those with the most interest in the project are literally responsible for its very existence. Nothing could be more exciting for a filmmaker, so its a privilege to bring this film project to Indiegogo and ask for your help.

In particular one of the most complex aspects of making this film are the visual effects. Randall suffers from hallucinations due to sleep deprivation, and one of the things Cinematographer Jimmy Ferguson and I determined from the outset was to create Randall's highly subjective perspective through in-camera effects and avoid CGI. These effects are going to take time because we want to achieve them organically. 

And that's where YOU come in. Our funding goal is $50,000. Any pledge, whether its 10 dollars, 100 dollars, or 10,000 dollars, brings us closer to our goal. Every single pledge goes straight to the budget of the film. Pledge as much as you can but most importantly Share, Tweet, and talk to your friends about our project and together we can make it a success. 

To become one of our backers, just click on the "Contribute" button. Indiegogo will ask you for contribution, which reward you want, and how you want to sign up. Signing up is very easy. 

Thank you so much for taking a look at our page, and I hope you consider becoming part of the OBLIVION Team and share our experience making this film. 

Sincerely,

Francesco Marchione
Screenwriter / Director

MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Francesco Marchione,  Director / Screenwriter / Producer 

Francesco is a New York based screenwriter and director, a production veteran of the NY Film and Television industry, and a lifetime student of cinema. He optimistically believes he will make films the rest of his life. 

Dez Ryan Stewart - Executive Producer 

Dez is the Co-Founder of Excelsior Entertainment, a full service production company aimed at both traditional and new media.


Liz Magee, Producer 

Jimmy Ferguson, Cinematographer 

Jimmy has won multiple awards for his films including "Louisiana Filmmaker Of The Year" and, most recently, a Jerome Grant. He is also a distinguished multi-award-winning cinematographer. He co-created the music video for Pearl Jam’s “Gone”, and his short films have premiered at Mill Valley, Salento International, and Newport Beach Film Festivals. His work has repeatedly won honors including best drama, best cinematography, and highest audience rating. Jimmy is a member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective. His current feature, "Am I Don Quixote?" participated in IFP's Project Forum 2013.

Franklin Vaughan - Sound Mixer/Designer 

Franklin is a New York based sound professional. He specializes in production and post-production sound for film, television, and commercials. His credits include "Lovelace", "Blue Ruin", "God's Pocket" and "Dark Horse". 

Jason Estrin - Storyboards/Concept Art 
A. James Marcolin / Hilary Whitham - Associate Producers 


PROJECT INFO

PRE-PRODUCTION - Pre-Production is underway, and as pledges come in we will begin to book and commit to line items from our budget. 

PRODUCTION - The film is scheduled for 5 shooting days in late 2014. 

POST-PRODUCTION - Post-Production will begin immediately after shooting wraps. A complex picture edit and sound design process is planned to bring the fractured, dream-like nature of the story to life. 


THE STORY 

OBLIVION is a story about Randall and Hope, a couple whose marriage is foundering over the simple issue of snoring. The film is narrated by Randall, but as the dreamlike narrative progresses, it becomes Hope's story, and the film itself becomes a projection of a disturbed subconscious. It is based on the title story of the best-selling collection OBLIVION by David Foster Wallace. 

David Foster Wallace was a novelist, essayist and short story writer. He was the recipient of the MacArthur 'Genius' Grant and O. Henry Short Story Prize. He is best known for his 1996 novel "Infinite Jest". 


WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

The reality is that it's very expensive to make a high quality film. We are asking for $50,000 because that is the minimum amount we need to hire a great cast and production crew, rent equipment, sound stages, arrange for access to locations, feed everyone, put gas in the trucks, pay for parking, and a million other decidedly un-sexy behind the scenes things that are necessary to make a movie. 

PERKS!!

Nothing could adequately convey how much we thank you for contributing to our campaign. 

We are really excited to screen OBLIVION in our home in Brooklyn, NY for our Indiegogo backers, friends and family. The film will be screened several times over the course of a weekend in 2015, and all screenings will be followed by a Q+A with the filmmakers and select cast. We also will have an extremely limited run of  Blu-Ray and DVD's, as well as one of a kind Props from the film. 

Other pledge levels offer copies of the shooting script, a beautiful 24x36 limited print run of the Teaser Poster for OBLIVION with original artwork by Alex Passapera. You can also get a copy of Greg Carlisle's book "Nature's Nightmare: Analyzing David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION", a digital production book, and the shooting script. 

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THEATRICAL SCREENING 

We plan to screen the film at Spectacle Theater, a volunteer-run one-screen movie house in Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY. After seeing a film there earlier this year, it was immediately apparent this was the home for our movie. 

We firmly believe all movies deserve a chance to be seen on a large screen as it was intended. New York City has a wonderful history of David Foster Wallace related events from the "A Failed Entertainment" exhibition at Columbia University in 2010, John Krasinski's film of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men at the IFC Center, and Daniel Fish's interpretation of "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" at the Bushwick Starr. 

Spectacle Theater, Brooklyn NY. 

We hope to continue in this tradition with an exclusive limited theatrical run of the film for our Indiegogo backers, friends and family. Each screening will feature a Q+A with the Director along with select Cast and Crew. 

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NATURE'S NIGHTMARE: ANALYZING DAVID FOSTER WALLACE'S OBLIVION - by GREG CARLISLE 

We are extremely lucky to be teaming up with Greg Carlisle (author of Elegant Complexity) and Matt and John Bucher at Sideshow Media Group. Greg and SSMG are generously making a limited amount of copies of "NATURE'S NIGHTMARE: Analyzing David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION" (paperback, 160 pages, SSMG). Greg and I began a conversation last year about the fortuitous timing of our two projects, engaging with the same work in very different ways, and he graciously made available his work on OBLIVION for my research. This led to making it possible for our Indiegogo campaign to offer these copies of Nature's Nightmare. Perhaps now my (and your) dog-eared copy of Elegant Complexity will get a brief rest. 

Nature's Nightmare
Analyzing David Foster Wallace's Oblivion
by Greg Carlisle
SSMG Press
160 pages / 9 charts / paperback / ISBN-13: 978-0-9889305-1-3

From the author of Elegant Complexity comes a cogent analysis of David Foster Wallace's OblivionNature's Nightmare is the first book of criticism devoted to Wallace's masterful story collection. Carlisle gives an in-depth narrative analysis of each story: Mr. Squishy, The Soul is Not a Smithy, Incarnations of Burned Children, Another Pioneer, Good Old Neon, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, Oblivion, and The Suffering Channel. Carlisle's methodical approach walks readers through Wallace's thematic interests and situates Oblivion in the broader arc of Wallace's career.  Every passage of each story is analyzed in terms of 1) interrelation of narrative forma and content, 2) relation of story to the theme of oblivion, 3) recurring thematic motifs in Wallace's work, and 4) assessment of content in relation to Infinite Jest andThe Pale King. The book includes nine charts that illustrate various narrative devices Wallace employs throughout the stories. Jason Kottke called Elegant Complexity "the reference book for Infinite Jest" and now Nature's Nightmare is the primary reference work for Oblivion.

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Thank you for visiting our page and watching our video! We hope you consider pledging to our campaign to allow Francesco and his crew to make the film David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION a reality.

We are planning to shoot the film in late 2014, and it is intended for submission to several prestigious film festivals beginning in the winter through 2015. Promise Dates for fulfillment of thank you gifts, including the theatrical screening, are based on these dates, and any number of circumstances (scheduling, availability of locations, equipment, people, etc) could cause these dates to change, so even if the delivery of an incentive gift has to be changed or delayed, trust that its for a good reason and we're working to send everything as soon as possible. 


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Choose your Perk

Thank You

$10 USD
A heartfelt 'Thank You' on the official OBLIVION Facebook and Twitter pages. You will also get a password that will grant you exclusive access to our Behind the Scenes weekly video blog that will cover the entire production from Day 1 to the Premiere.
1 claimed

Shooting Script (Digital)

$25 USD
A digital copy of the Shooting Script for David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION written for the screen by Francesco Marchione. script arrives in .pdf format, plus all of the above.
Estimated Shipping
December 2014
1 claimed

Digital Screening of OBLIVION

$30 USD
You will receive a password-protected link to view the film in its entirety as many times as you want for 30 days, around the time of it's festival premiere, plus all of the above. This also includes a free digital copy of OBLIVION *if* and when the film is distributed commercially. *All pledges above $30 include this perk.
2 claimed

DVD

$40 USD
Limited edition physical release OBLIVION on DVD. Disc will include special features and artwork exclusive to this release of the film to our Indiegogo backers. *Password for Digital Screener included.
2 out of 500 of claimed

BLU RAY

$50 USD
Limited edition physical release of OBLIVION on blu ray disc in sparkling high definition. Disc will include special features and artwork exclusive to this release of the film to our Indiegogo backers. *Password for Digital Screening included.
4 out of 500 of claimed

Premiere Screening

$75 USD
Admit ONE (1) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY. Film will be screened over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in 2015, plus all of the above. *At this time there will only be screenings in New York. Who knows what the future holds. Your seat will be reserved via email RSVP at least 30 days prior to screening date.
0 claimed

Production Notebook

$85 USD
Digital Production Notebook (.pdf) will contain material from the films production, including behind the scenes photos, draft excerpts, storyboards, notes and errata, large amounts of text crossed out in red pen, production stills, behind the scenes miscellany, visual references and concept art chronicling the journey to the screen. PLUS - ADMIT ONE (1) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
2 claimed

Nature's Nightmare

$100 USD
From the author of Elegant Complexity comes a cogent analysis of David Foster Wallace's "Oblivion". "Nature's Nightmare" is the first book of criticism devoted to Wallace's masterful story collection. Carlisle gives an in-depth narrative analysis of each story. Carlisle's methodical approach walks readers through Wallace's thematic interests and situates "Oblivion" in the broader arc of Wallace's career. PLUS - ADMIT ONE (1) to the Premiere Screening event in Brooklyn, NY
Estimated Shipping
December 2014
0 out of 12 of claimed

Premiere Screening + 1

$100 USD
ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY. Film will be screened over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in 2015, plus all of the above. *At this time there will only be screenings in New York. Who knows what the future holds. Your seats will be reserved via email RSVP at least 30 days prior to screening date.
2 claimed

Teaser Poster

$150 USD
Limited Edition 24x36 official Teaser Poster for David Foster Wallace's OBLIVION featuring original artwork by Alex Passapera, plus all of the above. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere weekend screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
Estimated Shipping
December 2014
1 out of 25 of claimed

Small Prop from the Film

$300 USD
Pledge at the 300 dollar level and get a Prop used in the film. Each are one of a kind, not a reproduction. Please select one. 1. Dr. Sipe's silver Ronson lighter 2. framed Family Photo from Audrey's bedroom, featuring Hope, Dr. Sipe, and Randall 3. Raritan Club ashtray - black glass embossed with heraldic crest and "Resurgam!" motto PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
1 out of 3 of claimed

Large Prop from the Film

$500 USD
Pledge at the 500 dollar level and get a Large Prop used in the film. Each are one of a kind, not a reproduction. Please select one. 1. Stuffed Tarpon from the '19th Hole' Raritan Club House. 2. the heraldic crest of the Raritan Club with Latin 'eschuteon' or motto "Resurgam!" Shipping TBD. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
1 out of 2 of claimed

Transportation Thank You

$600 USD
Trucks. That's right, we're going to need cube trucks and vans, several of them, to make this production flow. This is our cost per vehicle for a one-week cube truck rental, and for pledging this symbolic amount you'll receive an Extra Special Thank You in the Credits of the film from our Transportation Team. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
0 out of 4 of claimed

Associate Producer

$1,000 USD
Welcome to the OBLIVION Team! You will be credited as an Associate Producer of OBLIVION in the credits of the film and on all materials where Cast and Crew are printed in full, as well as an invitation to our Wrap Party in Brooklyn, New York with Cast and Crew and any future OBLIVION related events. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
0 claimed

Camera Dept Thank You

$2,850 USD
Pledging this symbolic amount covers the line item in our budget for a RED Cinema Camera package rental. You will receive a Producer credit in the film as well as an Extra Special Thanks from our Camera team in the credits of the film. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
0 out of 1 of claimed

Producer

$5,000 USD
Welcome to the OBLIVION Team! You will be credited as a Producer of OBLIVION in the credits of the film and on all materials where Cast and Crew are printed in full, as well as an invitation to our Wrap Party in Brooklyn, New York with Cast and Crew and any future OBLIVION related events. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
0 claimed

Executive Producer

$10,000 USD
You will be credited as an Executive Producer of OBLIVION in the credits of the film and on all materials where Cast and Crew are printed in full, as well as an invitation to our Wrap Party in Brooklyn, New York with Cast and Crew and any future OBLIVION related events. PLUS - ADMIT TWO (2) to a premiere screening of OBLIVION at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, NY in 2015.
0 claimed
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