In Nero: Black Girls in Rome
Have you ever toyed with the idea of just tossing everything you own in storage, throwing caution to the wind, and starting over somewhere new?
In Nero: Black Girls in Rome is a fiction web series loosely based on the creator's experience of taking a huge leap of faith and moving abroad to Italy after suffering a broken heart.
I'm Tamara--said creator. I also write children's books, curate for artists, and generally do what I like and enjoy in life. It's been a long, windy road, but I believe this web series will provide an entertaining and inspiring as well as fresh perspective on the creative existence as well as the treasures that await when we just get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
I never really set out to film enough footage for a first season. But that's how the creative process works, isn't it? It's unexpected and addictive! What was supposed to be a pilot episode is now just shy of sufficient content for seven or eight short episodes. We (the crew) are just looking for funding to add a few necessary scenes to ensure the series pops the way it should and to ensure stellar post-production. Making stuff ain't cheap, ya'll, and this series was mostly self-funded and powered by favors from a host of incredibly gracious and talented people (painters, filmmakers, actors, musicians & more).
Check out the trailer for the web series here--
As the creator of Black Girls in Rome, I believe that this project is timely and necessary. I think that Black and Italian cultures, curiously enough, have something in common as far as how they're portrayed in the media--mainstream outlets rarely (if ever) get the two cultures right. I mean, from over-exaggerated accents to stereotyped roles, Black folks and Italians can't seem to catch a break when it comes to how they're shown in shows. This series provides an interesting and authentic glimpse into Italian life from an ethnic expat's perspective, and captures just a bit of the whimsy and wonder that the eternal city and its inhabitants have to offer.
The cast and crew filmed in three continents and several cities. From NYC to Rome to Morocco, this web series displays mobility and the beauty of naturally occurring cultural exchanges amongst true friends.
Finally, to be honest, I'm not a professional actress. I decided to execute this web series to make good on a bet with myself. After losing my sister and only sibling to cancer in March of 2014, I decided that I would give myself permission to thrive. I am committed to doing all the things that pop into my mind as good ideas. I made the decision to be fearless and to do the work that I feel needs to be done. The thought of a bunch of people seeing me do something that I'd never done before with no formal training (see: write a scripted series, direct it, produce it, act in it) terrified the **** outta me...and that's precisely why I did it. My life has taught me in the last couple of years that if you just push past the fear, only treasures lie on the other side of the obstacles.
We've all got these great ideas, I believe--ideas that are persistently knocking on our imagination's door gently requesting permission to be pulled into reality through us.
In Nero: Black Girls in Rome is one of those gentle ideas, and we're right on the cusp of having a finished product that can be shared and discussed around the globe. We're asking for some assistance in the final stretch, and thank you for considering throwing your support behind the project.
What We Need & What You Get
Check out the perks for this campaign because they really are incredible.
It's my opinion that high art is funding high art with this indiegogo project, and there's something for everyone in the perks.
We're looking to raise at least $10,000--but oh, what we could do with a bit more! With the funding, the more you have, the more you can do. So even once filming is complete or editing is all wrapped up, there's still so much work to do that requires significant financial resources. Meeting and exceeding our goal would allow us to put resources into making sure as many eyes as possible see the web series, through advertisements and other campaigns. We'd also love to submit to festivals as well as hold screenings.
So, I figure $10,000 is an attainable goal. Theoretically all we need is 100 friends to donate $100, or 200 friends to donate $50, and we're all set.
As I stated earlier in the campaign, making quality stuff isn't cheap. And once filming is a wrap, production is far from over. Scoring, color correction, laborious editing, voiceovers, submitting to festivals, looking for distributors and more are all expenses to consider.
We understand the amount we're looking to raise is significant, and we believe the perks listed warrant the amount we seek to obtain. From chiseled stone to a dress specifically designed for this project to masterpieces painted by a renowned Italian artist, we hope to have provided perks that are as unique as the In Nero: Black Girls in Rome project itself.
Check out the image gallery to view the perks. They're gorgeous.
The Impact
There's no such thing as a little bit of help with a project like this. Every single cent counts--every gesture, and every kind and motivating word means the world. Every dollar has a huge impact. I've put so much into In Nero: Black Girls in Rome and its development and so have countless other creatives who believed in the project from the very beginning. So if you find it to be a project worth your time and generosity, you're joining a family of creatives here who believe that this web series can really make a difference for viewers.
As we like to say in Texas, this isn't my first time at the rodeo. I've done a few crowd funding campaigns successfully in the past. In fact, my first children's book, The Ghanaian Goldilocks, which is award-winning, (I've published eight to date) was funded via crowd funding. You can trust that your donation is going to be used in the ways described above to assist in producing an incredible web series that you can be proud you were a part of creating.
Risks & Challenges
There's an old Italian proverb that says, "Tra dire e fare c'e di mezzo il mare." Loosely translated that means the sea lies between saying you're going to do something and actually doing it. Even though we've completed most of the filming for the series, there are still some challenges to overcome. Sticking to a strict timeline for editing can be a bit difficult. We're shooting to launch the series in the summer, so that really leaves a couple of months for the last bit of shooting and all the post production to be executed. However, I'm confident that everything can be completed in a timely manner.
Other Ways You Can Help
Like what this campaign is about? PLeAsE--Make like Bob Marley and pass it on!
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, smoke signals--whatever works!
We'd love and appreciate your support.
