Lotus is a short film in post-production about human connection. The script weaves the stories of six diverse Londoners together in a Crash/Magnolia/Love Actually structure to convey the inevitable loneliness that comes with living in a city like London. The film's intention is to inspire people to reach out to one another.
My Story
Born and raised in the foothills of Northern California, moving to London at the age of 18 came as quite a shock to my system. I was blissfully naiive and ready to 'find myself' on European soil. I felt like a sponge those first few months, taking in everything I could from people watching on Portobello Road to investigating the treasures in the V&A, watching fringe theatre, walking on the Southbank late at night to socialising with people twice my age and IQ. It wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, however, and I was soon faced with the brutal and simple truth that I was completely alone. This loneliness was something I started to observe in myself and eventually in others. What I came to realise is that we are all lonely. No two people will ever have grown up under the same circumstances or shared the same experiences or made the same connections making our interpretations of the world distinctly different from one another. This is where our misunderstandings develop and the root cause of loneliness. There is nothing more alienating than being misunderstood, whether it is your race, gender, culture, religion, upbringing, sexual orientation, or disability, each of us has something that sets us apart. This film is an attempt to examine everyday connections and equally disconnections to inspire people to take a moment and realise we are all in the mud but together we can grow out of it.
Lotus
The Film
Call me a sadomasicist but one of the reasons I moved to London in the first place was to suffer. I was obsessed with the idea that I wouldn't be anyone if I didn't struggle enough in life. This is where the Lotus comes in as I use the analogy that the mud we have to get through on a daily basis will help us grow into unique individuals. As human beings we rely on each other and connecting with each other. The film shows this by weaving together the stories of several Londoners. The characters are a colourful variety based on people who have inspired me in one way or another in my five years here. They range from my Chinese masseuse to my Polish friend/fellow theatre usher/artist to a Jamaican busker by my tube station.
What I admire the most about my 18 year old self was a fearless ability to be vulnerable. Though partially due to naiivete, this openness also came from pure necesity to connect with other human beings. If we are all so different and so misunderstood then doesn't that in itself bond us together? Being open and letting go feels like such a risk but once we can overcome our insecurities we have the opportunity to connect.
By donating you are becoming a part of my journey and helping me achieve a dream. This film is important because we are all lonely but we do have each other if we open our eyes.
A Bricolage Approach
I have been working as a freelancer within the creative industries for four years now, dipping my toes into as many projects as possible. I have done everything from photography exhibition curation, dance and music promo videography, theatre stage management, event photography and endless film festival involvement. My most recent and note worthy accomplishment was producing a TEDx event last autumn. Watch some of the talks here www.tedxealing.com. In the visual arts, bricolage is the construction or creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be available, or a work created by such a process. During my time in London I have met an incredible number of talented individuals and my hopes with this film are to utilise these skills and create a collage of their creativity. Here are some of the people on board already!
Team
Helen Bolter, Producer
Helen has taken a circuitous route into film! She is a Veterinary Surgeon who, wanting to make her life less one-dimensional, went to study contemporary theatre at RADA. She worked as the Production Vet on Amit Gupta's Resistance in 2010 and went on to produce and direct her first short thereafter, shooting on the edge of a 100-feet-high viaduct, with spectacular aerial shots and actors on rope-harnesses.
She has independently produced and directed three short films - two fiction and one documentary - all of which have been selected for festivals. She has worked on the production teams of factual TV programmes, both in the UK and internationally, and on a pilot for NBC.
Isabelle Sieb, Assistant Director
Production/German efficiency. Has directed short films, corporate and image films and documentaries in the UK and abroad in the last 5 years. Born and raised in Germany but have lived in Australia, New York, South Africa and now London. I love the fact that you can go for a walk in central London any day and there will be something special happening, like an arts festival
or a film premiere - always a nice surprise.
Keyleen Nguyen, Associate Producer
Freelance Producer/Writer. She simply loves film and wants to see creative ideas thrive. She's always looking to give films she has a crush on a leg up and has recently founded a film collective called Bunk with the hope that we can all power through and keep making films with little or no funding. She also runs Side One Track One Films, her own little video production tandem who make anything from making-ofs to music videos.
Sarah Donald, Production Assistant
Screenwriter/Producer and avid Bacon lover. Graduated from LSFMP with a variety of short films under her belt, a few films in her hair and a web series on Youtube. Grew up all about the globe, mainly Malaysia and is now back to her London roots. Loves London's angry underground travellers and the bagels in Bricklane.
Hannah Rowland, Production Assistant
Screenwriter/Producer/Editor. British but grew up in Bangkok and also lived in Manila and Sao Paulo. I came to London for my degree, even though my family are native Londoners I felt like an alien. Over the last three years I’ve really connected to this bustling city and it’s really become apart the person I am today.
Jak Wakefield, Set Designer
Works in post production for Deluxe and also freelances across Europe, working with corporate advertising and production companies in everything from art direction to Ad-ing and sound recording. Also has mad good ukulele skills.
Annelies Bekes, Production Assistant
Writer. Worked on several bbc documentaries and as a script reader for Waking Studios. Grew up in Canada but studied in London. Loves discovering all the secret food and drink that London has to offer.
Where your money goes
I need £2,370 to get this film off the ground but the more the merrier! The more money we raise the more resources we have and the higher the quality this film will have.
Equipment: Whilst some of the equipment is already owned by the crew there are those extra bits (nice lenses, HML lights) that make all the difference.
Locations: Because the script is trying to convey London's diversity, locations are many and varried. Your money will help us get some of those essential venues and film permits.
Cast and Crew: Guerilla filmmaking is rough and with everyone's fees being modest I would at least like to have the ability to accomadate my hard working team with proper food and transportation.
Film Festivals: I've been to several film festivals and even had a short in the Festival de Cannes. There is nothing quite like the buzz of being at a film festival and your money can help us make those submissions and potentially get screenings!
For my American Contributors
Don't be scared off by the pound signs! Indiegogo makes it easy, allowing you to pay by credit card or Pay Pal. Here are the approximate dollar to pound conversion rates.
£5 - $7
£10 - $15
£20 - $30
£50 - $76
£100 - $150
£200 - $302
£500 - $756
Rewards
I really appreciate every pound that gets donated into this project. To show my appreciation I have collected a unique variety of perks for you including:
Cali based musician/comedian Gabe Pannell http://gabepannell.com/ serenading you a thank you song.
A poster of the film by artist Maks Andala http://maksandala.tumblr.com/. He's the one drawing the lotus in the video ;)
A photo shoot with Ansley Braverman http://ansleybraverman.com/ for contributors based in Grass Valley/Yuba City area OR between May 5th-May 16th if you are London based!
The Impact
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our page! If you can't find it in your budget to donate or want to help out in some other way then please be so kind and help us spread the word via tweeting, sharing and any other social media tools you see fit!
Lots of love,
Hillary and the team xxx