***JUST ANNOUNCED***
Actress KATRINA BOWDEN from the hit show, 30 Rock expressed interest to play a MAJOR supporting role in the film. We look forward to working with her!
WHAT IS "HATE IS A STRONG WORD" ABOUT?
Rodney, pushing thirty with no direction, is on the brink of homelessness before winding up in the home of a hardened, tough, unrelated to him grandmother and the unlikely family she and Rodney create for each other over time.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPORTING?
A production requires many things to get off the ground. Your generous contribution allows us to cast professional SAG-AFTRA actors, staff a highly skilled crew, and be able to shoot completely independent of a studio! Most of all, you're supporting filmmakers that want the opportunity to showcase their work for all of you. A budget is truly the soul of any production -- oh and a good craft service too!
SO IS $30,000...REALLY ENOUGH?
On a major blockbuster film, not even close! However, being Indie Filmmakers and technology being so advanced, a film can be shot much cheaper nowadays. A typical feature film production can last anywhere from 3 months and up. We are planning to shoot 100 pages in 14 days. Most productions would call that 'over-kill.' We call it a challenge we plan to conquer!
One of the biggest costs incurred are actors. We are big supporters of SAG-AFTRA, and with that, we want to cast only true, professional actors. With that being said, the union mandates a minimum daily rate which totals into the thousands! Yikes!
But wait... why not NON-UNION (free) actors? Sure we could go that route, but SAG-AFTRA actors are an elite kind who take their craft seriously -- as we do as filmmakers!
Aside from that, we are shooting on the ARRI Alexa, one of the most used cameras in the profession. Just how often is it used? Pretty much any movie -- Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man, etc. The Alexa will allow us to shoot professionally and capture beautiful scenes. Our cinematographer, Santiago Calogero is one of the best DP's (director of photography) out there. More on him in a bit.
Sound. Another crucial expense that cannot be skimmed. If you have shoddy sound, you can pretty much guarantee that you wouldn't be interested in watching it. Pristine sound is a leading factor to a solid film. A good sound mixer ranges from a few hundred dollars per day to several thousand.
Food. Why you ask? A well fed crew is a happy crew. A happy crew puts their all in. We're sure you understand.
Permits/Insurance. Yeah, yeah, we could steal shots and probably get away with it... but no one likes a thief. We have a few contacts at FilmLA who are ready to assist us on making sure we are permitted to shoot on location. Insurance is a must, too!
As you can see, a lot goes into a production!
WHO IN THE HECK IS ON BOARD?
Funny you ask. Here's who we've got...so far:
Michael A. MacRae, Writer/Director:
Michael is from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and has been living in Los Angeles for 6 years. He started in Chicago by doing background work and eventually standing in for actors. In 2013, Michael created a pilot that was produced and optioned to Amazon. Unfortunately Amazon passed, and he continued on writing. In 2015, Michael wrote and directed a short film, The First Step that went on to win two awards during it's festival run, and is currently available for rental and purchase at Amazon. Aside from that, Michael has worked on shows such as, Glee, among others.
Wyatt Aledort, Writer/Producer
From a small hippy town called Sea Cliff, New York, where he’s always had a creative influence thanks to his father, a professional guitarist and mother an owner of a local bookstore and avid reader. Wyatt can recite every episode of Seinfeld in his sleep. He was told he was going to graduate a year early, on a whim, took a introductory screenwriting class which would change his life forever. Realized screenwriting was his passion so he added an entire new major and finished his old one still within four years.
Santiago Calogero, Director of Photography
Santiago was born and raised in California and has always had a passion for the film industry. With parents in the film business, it's no surprise where Santiago ended up. Santiago studied film and cinematography at California State University Long Beach and has held very respectable jobs with Machinima, and is currently a Cinematographer and Associate Producer at Fullscreen Media headquartered in Los Angeles.
Pritesh Shah, Producer
Pritesh started his career as a standup comedian and has performed all around the nation. You've seen him on the latest national Toyota commercial. He was on an episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and will be recurring on the newest History Channel show SIX. More recently, Pritesh has been producing, alongside his acting career.
Stephen Neri, Consulting Producer
Stephen Neri was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He became interested in acting and entertainment at a young age after participating in a performance at the age of 7. He acted in various projects and was inducted into the National Thespian Society in 2008 and SAG-AFTRA in 2013. Stephen has an extensive background in web development and online social optimization having worked for the largest domain and hosting company. With a degree in Administration of Justice and Computer Engineering Stephen add his knowledge to help develop and consult on this project.
Daniel Semon, Post-Production Sound Design
Daniel has an extensive audio background. He holds a Bachelor's in Digital Audio Technology with an emphasis in Sound Design.
THE CAST
We are currently in the middle of auditioning and negotiating, but here's who we have so far:
Steve Olson
Steve is an exceptionally talented comedic actor, having appeared in several commercials from Progressive w/ Flo, Zoosk, Ford, among others. His television credits include New Girl on FOX, Days of Our Lives as well as a handful of indie films. Steve will be playing "Rodney."
For a complete list of Steve Olson's previous work, click HERE.
Jenna Willis
Jenna is a star on the rise, having acted in several notable indie films as well as television series. She has appeared on Grey's Anatomy and recently completed a major episodic arch on FX's American Crime Story : The People v. OJ Simpson portraying Tanya Brown.
For a complete list of Jenna Willis' previous work, click HERE
Quinton Aaron
Quinton is widely recognized for his outstanding role as Michael Oher in the Academy Award Winning film The Blind Side opposite Sandra Bullock. Since his breakout role, Quinton has gone on to act in several projects, as well as producing.
ALL IN ALL, HOW MUCH SHOULD I CONTRIBUTE?
We're doing something TOTALLY DIFFERENT! Nearly all campaigns have specific contribution tiers, while ours does not. But why not? That's because we are leaving it totally up to you! Might we add, we are super grateful for even giving us your time by checking out our campaign and hearing us out! If our project compels you to contribute, we ask for a minimum of just FIVE BUCKS! That minimum contribution gets you an EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at the film when it's completed! But what if I wanted to contribute more, you ask? We totally invite and encourage you to contribute what you're able to! By you funding our project, we get to maintain complete creative control vs. being funded by major investors and studios. We truly believe in the team we have so far, and most importantly, our script. We think you'll soon find that you'll believe in us too -- and once again, we thank you for stopping by our campaign and hearing us out!
RISKS & CHALLENGES....BRING IT!
The biggest challenge in the film business is the film business itself. The obstacles that a production must jump through often times can delay, or even halt a shoot entirely. Some obstacles may be, but not limited to: SAG-AFTRA contracts, Insurance, Permits, Availability, Emergencies, Locations being unavailable, etc.
Even though we have yet to be funded, we are currently in the process of developing our production schedule. We feel, with an incredible planned out schedule, shot list, and rehearsals, we can greatly reduce any of the above obstacles that could prevent us from shooting efficiently. Efficiency is key for any tv/film production.
THIS ALL SOUNDS GOOD...WHAT NEXT?
Yay! Thanks again! If you'd like to contribute the five dollar minimum, click on "CLAIM THIS PERK" above and to the right. If you're all about contributing more, click the pink button that says "BACK IT" at the top, and specify your amount!
Regardless -- whether you 'share', contribute, or spread the word, we truly appreciate your involvement! We'll update you all very soon!
- Michael, Wyatt, & the good folks at HIASW Production