Watch the director's showreel, above!
Thanks to the generous support of our supporters (see them here: http://lioninthetent.com/supporters.html) we have raised 65% of our budget to shoot Lion in the Tent! We are due to start filming the week of 25th May 2013; but we need YOUR help during this last push to reach our target and make it happen.
So, what's the story?
Inspired by true events, Lion in the Tent is a fun fast-paced coming-of-age-tale. And it goes like this:
Aamir (14) is a Punjabi boy in a bright red Thriller jacket who loves Michael Jackson.
The problem is, his father’s takeaway (in East London) is failing and his devotion to Jackson has made him an easy target for Tayab, the bully. Our tale takes Aamir from victim to victor. It starts when he is pranked by Tayab into delivering an expensive order of curry to a Chinese restaurant.
Aamir's father encourages him to confront Tayab and get the money they are owed. But a physical battle was never going to end well for our slight hero.
Thankfully nor does it for our tormentor. Tayab’s father, angry and embarrassed, punishes the bully: six in the morning at the Mosque to call the community prayer for a week. And if Tayab fails? His father promises he will be banished to Birmingham to live with his uncle.
6am starts are not for Tayab. However, threatening Aamir so that he records the call to prayer to a CD, could work. Tayab can set the CD to play instead of waking up to sing it.
Enter Kahal - Aamir's only friend. A wise and obese boy, Kahal is fiercely loyal. When Tayab comes for Aamir to try and use him to make the CD, Kahal tries, to his detriment, to stand in Tayab’s way. The question for Aamir is whether he will match Kahal’s bravery or abandon him and submit to the bully?
He makes the weak choice but as soon as Aamir has helped the bully, the bullying recommences. Lonely and dejected, Aamir knows he must ask for forgiveness from Kahal.
Together, the boys realise their Michael Jackson obsession is the strength that can defeat Tayab once and for all. They happen upon an unlikely solution: the call to prayer CD. The bold and satisfying resolution sees Aamir and Kahal swap the CD for their bhangra version of Michael Jackson’s Bad. Their victory is broadcast across the roof-tops of East London. Tayab lands the blame and is banished to Birmingham; the boys celebrate as only Jackson fanatics can.
Meet the team.
YOU!
So many of you have already helped us to get this far: see our list of supporters at http://lioninthetent.com/supporters.html. But with your help, we can bring in the final portion of the budget which will enable us to make this film a reality.
Director/Writer Joseph Oppenheimer
Joseph has already made a number of acclaimed films and award winning documentaries, though none in his opinion, have had the ambition of ‘Lion in the Tent’.
Joseph loves helicopters, the music of Dire Straits (a band he believes are not just for dads and long car journeys) and has taken off a plane (but not successfully landed one yet – he’s working on that).
Producer Natalie Blass
Where would we be without Natalie's energy, can-do attitute and most importantly of all, the dulcet tones of her silky smooth voice which keeps us all in check? You will know her as the voice of Olay and Kellogg's 'Special K'; we know her as our awesome producer.
Director of Photography Luca Ciuti
Luca is a classic Italian artist, his signature evident in every masterpiece he creates. Luca is uncompromising when it comes to getting the most beautiful results, which is why he is a part of this team.
His genius is fuelled by continental cigarettes and quality coffee, the breakfast of true champions.
Phil Currie
Not to hyperbolize, but Phil is quite possibly the nicest man on earth; without Phil's generosity we would have no film project. His personal attributes aside, he has also edited some of the biggest advertising campaigns of the last few years. As an editor he is likened to Edward Scissorhands, cutting reams of raw footage in to a succinct tour de force, with a maverick twist.
SIGNATURE - Suleman Mirza and Madhu Singh - Choreography
SIGNATURE are the world's number one Michael Jackson dance tribute. They first burst onto our screens with their electric performance on Britain's Got Talent and most recently during Danny Boyle's London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
When we first thought about who we wanted to be involved in the making of Lion In The Tent, SIGNATURE was the name we all came up with. It was ambitious; but here they are.
Bhangra music LEGEND, Rishi Rich
Music is a big part of Lion in the Tent and we are thrilled to have one of the giants of the Bhangra music scene - Rishi Rich - as the man charged with the responsibility for producing our score. If he is good enough for Ali G, he is good enough for us.
All descriptions thanks to JADE FITTON @ http://thisisfitton.wordpress.com/.
It sounds like a lot of money - where is it all going?!
We have begged, borrowed, but not yet stolen to pull this exciting project off the ground. The very generous help-in-kind we have been pledged has been factored into our carefully considered budget, but we still need your help for this final push.
Our experienced cast and crew have all agreed to work on this project for a tiny fraction of their usual daily rates (we're talking mimum wage before tax - not a lot when you are freelance!), but with the need to secure 40 skilled professionals for seven days, the sums soon mount up. Oh and then there are the things you don't immediately think about - permits, insurance, music, printing and all the post-production extras - we could go on, but you get the point. So yes, we really do need all the help we can get to make this happen.
A MASSIVE THANKS from the whole Lion In The Tent team to:
MOVIETECH, London
PANALUX, London
For the amazing support they are giving us - enabling the team to make this project happen.
We make Lion in the Tent - then what?
Well, we have big ambitions both for this film and for another two we are working on. As well as being a witty and entertaining standalone film, we want Lion in the Tent to be a showcase for the team’s potential. To that end we will be entering Lion in the Tent into a number of international film festivals. With your help, the team’s skill and the help of the super-slick state-of-the-art Arri Alexa camera, Lion in the Tent will be a short with the look and feel of a big-budget feature. We think this cheeky tale will get people talking, so please join us and say you were there at the start.
Spread the word and follow our progress at:
www.lioninthetent.com
www.facebook.com/lioninthetent
Follow us on Twitter:
@HowOppFilm / #lioninthetent
Contact us:
howellsoppenheimer@gmail.com