Our Story
Dream a Little Dream Productions, a small independent New England production house, is launching with a suspense/horror film called "Growing Things."
Things start growing when Lilith, a quirky, out of work costume designer meets Samuel, a quiet but successful gardener, and they are instantly bewitched. Both are bedeviled with self-loathing; discovering love in hating themselves, the couple comes up with what they think is their salvation.
"Growing Things" is already in development and will be Directed by Danny McGrath, with the help of 1st Assistant Director Matthew "Bagel" Baker. Both these Englishmen work tirelessly and continuously side by side with people such as Ridley Scoot, Guy Ritchie, Robert Downey, Jr., Ewan McGregor, Russel Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner and Rob Lowe on movies such as "Sherlock Holmes," "Robin Hood," "Hellboy 2," "The Invention of Lying," and many many more.
The score will be written by Emmy Award Winning composer Michael J. McEvoy and the production will be spearheaded by local award-winning producer, John Seymore.
The Impact
The funds we raise will go to developing and investing in "Growing Things."
A large percentage of the money will go towards investing in the film, to show investors that we believe in the project and are putting up our own funds in the faith that it will be successful.
The remaining money will go towards development. This means "attaching" key actors and key crew. Costs associated with this can/will be phone costs, meeting expenses (transportation, if necessary - parking & sleeping arrangements). It will also go towards researching, contacting and negotiating with investors. To do this we require print and online marketing collateral, public relations and press/investor kits, mailings, postal fees, website maintenence, etc. A major cost is lawyer fees we need to pay to help us in our negotiations with investors, actors, distributors, etc. As far as how much will be spent on what, that depends on the amount we raise by the end.
A word about getting investors - this is, as anyone in film knows, a particularly difficult task. Not only do we have to show them that we are serious, we have to show them that the project has a good potential to earn their money back, hopefully with a return on their investment. The number one way of doing this is by attaching name actors and people in key positions with a lot of experience.
Right now, we have attached three Londoners (two English, one American). We will also be engaging talent from either Hollywood, New York, or Canada. This is crucial because no one will invest without having names that will bring people to the box office. We do have a producer from Maine, though, and will be using local people in every role and position we hire after the development stage.
The short term impact of getting "Growing Things" through development and into pre-production is expansive. The first is that we will create some well-paid jobs that will last for several months within the creative economy in Massachusetts and New England. We will boost the confidence in the ability of the local film economy and gain more notoriety for our film economy. It is also our aim to gain the support of the filmmaking communities in the area and in so doing, bring them together, make the communities stronger and get everyone talking to one another.
In the long term, all boats rise with the tide. One of the key components in "Dream a Little Dream Productions" mission statement is employing locally and to contribute to reforging Massachusetts and New England as the US hub of the independent film-making industry; a Hollywood for independent films. We see New England in a few years as having a self-sufficient economy in which our talent and techs will be consistently employed and make a decent wage. In addition, such an industry will then contribute vastly to all the associated economies and tourist economies of New England.
Most of the states in this region have fantastic incentives for filmmakers. Why, then, do we depend on visiting Hollywood films for our bread and butter, relegating our own talents and projects to the weekends, non-existant budgets, personally funded, that can't pay anyone a wage and have little hope of financial recovery? There are a very few independent film production houses in the region that make films consistently and turn any sort of profit. But they are not working together to create a more favorable environment to for home-grown talent and the film economy.
So though this project and subsequent projects, by enlisting local talent and expertise, as well as rallying our vast local film-makers networks, we hope to foster an independent atmosphere that promotes uniting as professionals in our goal to establish what we know can be a powerful cottage industry for this region.
What We Need & What You Get
We need your money.
You get:
Your Name in the Credits ($10 minimum)
$10+
Everyone who contributes $10 or more gets their name in the credits, according to their Contributor Category. Boosters $10 min. Backers $25 min Supporters $50 min Allies $75 min Advocates $100 min Champions $250 min Patrons $500 min Co-Sponsors $750 min Sponsors $1000 min Benefactors $2500 min Angels $5000 min
Autographed Memorabilia ($25 minimum)
$25 - $49.99
When the Official Movie Poster is ready to roll, you receive one that has been signed by key cast and crew members. $50 - $74.99 When the Official "Growing Things" T-shirt becomes available, you will receive one that has been signed by key cast and crew members. $75 - $99.99 Stills are promotional photos taken on the set. For this contribution you will receive an autographed still. $100 - $249.99 When DVDs become available, you will receive an autographed copy of one.
Be An Extra ($50 minimum)
$50 - $249.99
For contributions between these amounts, you are asked to be an extra on the set in scenes where we need crowds of people.
Day On The Set ($250 minimum)
$250 - 749.99
You will be invited to spend a day on the set, meeting the actors and crew, and watching "the magic" happen
Invitation to Wrap Party ($500 minimum)
$500 +
You will receive an invitation to the wrap party at the end of production.
Chance for Featured Extra Role ($750 minimum)
$750 - $2499.99
You will be entered in a drawing to win a role on the film as a Featured Extra. That is someone in a scene who is featured in the picture, but has no lines.
Chance for Role Named For You ($1,000 minimum)
$1000 - $2499.99
You will be entered in a drawing to have a minor character named after you.
Prop or Costume From the Film ($1,000 minimum)
$1000 +
After shooting has finished, receive a prop or costume used in the film.
Chance For a Line In the Film ($2,500 minimum)
$2500 +
You will be entered in a drawing to get a line in the movie.
Two Tickets to the Premiere ($2,500 minimum)
$2500 +
You will receive two tickets for the Premiere.
Walk the Red Carpet ($5,000 minimum)
$5000 +
You and your guest to the Premiere will walk down the red carpet at the event.
Now, when you contribute, IndieGoGo (this website) will tell you to choose one. However, you will receive ALL those for which you qualify!
Other Ways You Can Help
Keep informed! @DreamALDream and on our "Growing Things" Facebook page. YouTube, LinkedIn and other sites to come!
Tell people! Send this to everyone you know, even people you don't. Spread the word and you'll be helping IMMENSELY.
