Short Summary
I think being homeless in NYC is an extreme version of a feeling that everyone here has experienced; despite being continually surrounded by people, New York can be a very lonely place. Our protagonist Ferris lives in plain sight of the public, but exists as if invisible. Ferris presumes that he is alone in his fight for survival, and behaves as such for most of the film. He treats life as a rat race or a zero sum game; he presumes that in order to live, others must fail. This competitive and solitary existence takes its toll on him though, perhaps more than anything else. Ultimately his journey is about discovering how to give and receive care, even if it is not directly beneficial to his immediate survival. In this he is able to rediscover some of the humanity he feels like he has lost.
What We Need & What You Get
This film will entirely be shot in NYC, mostly in the subways! This film was written to be cheap, using public locations and natural light to tell our story. Nonetheless, film is expensive. We are looking at a total budget of $5000 for production and post-production costs. We’re reaching out to people who are interested in seeing a story told about a person who is used to being entirely in the periphery of society. The money will be going to equipment, production design, and on set production costs (such as feeding everyone!).
Everything raised will go to the funding of this film. We have perks available for anyone who wants to donate, from $10 all the way to $1000. Some of our perks include even being credited as a Producer on the film, visiting the set and meeting the cast and crew. We are completely reliant on individual funders for this project, so anything donated would be greatly appreciated.
Budget Breakdown:
Cast: $800
Camera Kit/Accessories: $800
Lighting/Grip: $900
Makeup/Hairdressing: $300
Production Design: $400
Sound Recording: $500
Craft Services: $540
Post Production: $760
The Impact
My hope for this film is to help us better learn to take care of each other, and see our own struggles in those we typically ignore. Despite Ferris’s differences from myself, this story is very personal. The importance of care, both giving and receiving, has been something I’ve had to learn over the course of my life. It is easy to get trapped in a self-centered headspace, either aggrandizing or pitying, and look at others as archetypes. Plus, the competitive nature of our culture, particularly in NYC, encourages us to view each other as competitors for the same money, space, attention, etc. It can be a great struggle to see past this. Furthermore, I believe that this mindset directly contributes to the omnipresent sense that something important is missing from our lives- namely, community and care. I hope this film can serve as a meditation on this subject.
Risks & Challenges
In the making of every film, there are anticipated challenges that we plan for. Since this film takes place mostly in the MTA train stations, we are taking extra precautions in safety and planning for the train routes we’re using. We are building a precise shooting plan through scouting the locations, determining train timing and pacing, and taking notes of the size of crowds on the platform and in the train. We will plot down each move in detail to ensure that we are safe and efficient in what can be a difficult and crowded shooting environment.
Another related hurdle is dealing with the general public while shooting. A stranger looking directly into the camera can ruin a take, and we always have to worry about unwanted behavior, body placement, or simply the absence of people when they’re needed. While we are shooting in a public space, we plan on staging a few featured background actors throughout the shoot to make sure we get the proper sense of space, as well as the reactions we need when we need them. I feel that this will help shape the space in which we’re shooting without placing it too much in control; we still want to maintain the sense of spontaneity of action that comes with shooting in public. We will also make sure to be respectful of strangers’ privacy. We will not focus on or heavily feature any strangers, keeping them in the background of our shots. We will keep our work discreet and nimble, drawing as little attention to ourselves as possible.
Other than that, we have planned this shoot to be very contained and simple. Beyond the challenges that are strictly necessary, we have minimized all other externalities so we can focus entirely on the acting and shot compositions. With adequate planning this shoot will be very simple, and I know my team and I are more than prepared to rise to the challenge.
The Crew
Kyle Andrews- Writer / Director
https://www.kyleandrewsfilm.com
Sam Wolff- Cinematographer
http://www.samwolff.com
Gretta Wilson- Production Designer
https://www.grettawilsonfilm.com
Jessica Moore- Producer
The Cast
Samuel Maria Gomez- Ferris
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5321377
Gil Perez-Abraham- Sam
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4909175/?ref_=fn_al...