WHO AM I? I’m a writer ready to enter the world of directing. I’ve been optioned, represented, done well in screenplay competitions (Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist and Big Break Top 10 Finalist amongst them), but in truth I was in a comfortable loop convinced I wasn't a director, or ever would be. That storyline has now fallen away.
WHY THIS SCRIPT? I’ve loved Glass Houses since I read it a few years ago. Written by award-winning screenwriter Jenni Prange Boran, it dances off the page and provides a wonderful antidote to the cynical post-truth world we live in. Bringing it to life is the perfect opportunity to step out of the mouse-like world of the writer and into the directors’ chair with an eye to directing a feature. For more on this shift read Glass Houses, The First Step.
THE STORY: Brooklyn 1969, young Cathy‘s focused on buying a new television while the rest of the world is focused on the Apollo 11 moon landing. When the television doesn’t work, Cathy’s anger turns to sadness and it takes the intervention of a neighbour and a paper plane to alter the course of her life.
THE PLAN: Shoot in Vancouver August 12-13, 2017. Between now and then: building a fantastic team of collaborators, a cast and crew to bring Glass Houses to life.
There will be no sexist misogynist bullshit on (or off) my set.
There are prizes to be won (glance to the right), and for those with deeper pockets, there’s potential to double your return on investing in Glass Houses. Angels are welcome!
For privacy, donations can be made anonymous on the website.
INVESTORS
There are multiple ways to become an investor in Glass Houses.
Financial returns will be paid based upon future earnings from work either as a director or screenwriter.
- Each C$1,000 invested will grant a 1% return on future earnings to a maximum payout of C$2,000. (THE MEL BROOKS)
- Each C$500 invested will grant a 0.5% return on future earnings to a maximum payout of C$1,000. (THE GENE WILDER)
- Each C$250 invested will grant a 0.25% return on future earnings to a maximum payout of C$500. (THE ZERO MOSTEL)
Don’t worry, sales will be capped at no more than 15% of future earnings, not 25,000%!
At the time of writing C$100 = US$76 and £59.
If you’re smart you’ll pool together with a group of friends (5 x C$50 = C$250 or 5 x C$100 = C$500 etc.) for a percentage, however one person must be responsible for making the whole payment and distributing returns.
A little bit of math: if I earn C$50,000 you would earn half your investment back, and at C$100,000, all of it, and anything over, well, you'll definitely be the smartest person in the room.
Funds raised in addition to my own will go towards equipment, set, props, costume, hair & makeup, vehicle hire, editing, score, sound editing, CGI, insurance, graphic design, and nourishment for cast and crew. If I’m able to pay the cast and crew from these funds I will, and if not, like my deep pocket investors I will do so out of fees I receive in the future (Darren Aronofsky is my role model).
In my previous non-film “career” I was a project coordinator in financial print, a 24/7 time-sensitive demanding beast of its own, dealing with personalities where hundreds of millions of dollars were on the line. For better, or worse, this coordinating gene is activated and will prove useful for producing and directing Glass Houses.
As a nod to this former career, below are some risk factors for investors.
RISK FACTORS
There is no guarantee I will be able to make a feature film.
There is no guarantee of fees or sales from said feature films.
There is no guarantee I'll sell a script.
The Exchange Rate may differ from the time of investment. (Currently the C$ is weak to the advantage of international investors).
Inflation may reduce the real value of return.
High cholesterol may get the better of me.
PRIZES
If a winner of a draw decides the prize is unsuitable, or legalities, or logistics prevents them from receiving a reward, alternative compensation will be made. If the fund raising goes well, more prizes will be added. If we exceed the goal I'll double them.
HOW TO FOLLOW GLASS HOUSES
Bookmark this page!
All contributors will receive notification of updates.
Follow Glass Houses on twitter and Facebook as we build the team and move into production and beyond!
What is a moon ball?
