Short Summary
- Hi! Thanks for taking a look at our campaign. My name is Anlezia Moné Venter. I created this story, developed and wrote the script, am currently busy in pre-production as Executive Producer, and later on, I will star as the protagonist in my first original screenplay: MATA HARI. I am currently in my last semester as a BFA Acting student at NYFA with full talent-based scholarship.
- In order to graduate, for part of my Thesis, I am to write, develop, produce and star in a short film. I was inspired by the story of Mata Hari. She was an undercover spy and exotic dancer in WW1, mainly in Paris. She was executed by firing squad in 1917, and her case was ordered to be sealed shut by the French Government for a 100 years. Next year, thus only, will the alluring mystery surrounding the infamous Mata Hari, be cleared up. Life is hard and unfair, and people like Mata Hari take the fall for government mistakes everyday. This is a tribute to her life.
- My film is a fictional interpretation of Mata Hari, a jazz singer and undercover spy, who was betrayed and turned into the government by the only man she wasn't with just to get information. She fell in love, and paid the ultimate price for it.
- It is important to me to tell this story to honor the memory of Mata Hari and what a celebratory, unapologetically beautiful woman she was. Up until her last moment, she chose dignity. She chose to express herself freely, instead of bowing her head and accepting defeat - despite the unjust things that happened to her.
- On her last day, facing a firing squad of 12 soldiers, she refused to be tied to a pole. She wanted to look the soldiers who were about to shoot her, in their eyes. She removed her blindfold, blew a kiss to the soldiers and was shot dead. This is what my film will revolve around - her last moments and what lead up to that.
- With your generous support and donations, this tribute could be made a reality. With the funds raised, not only will I be able to finish this project I've been working on for months, and graduate with a BFA degree, I will also be able to have a film of high quality that I will be able to submit to numerous film festivals and share this beautiful tragedy, as well as gain exposure from the storytelling veterans in this industry - actors, directors, producers we all look up to.
- The exposure of this film will ultimately help me in the application for my O-1 Artists Visa, a visa that will allow me to work as an actress in the United States, which is a lifelong dream.
- When successful as a short film in the festival circuit, I also dream to develop this story into a feature film; Mata Hari's story is so rich and beautiful, I am extremely passionate about giving her life more than 5 minutes of tribute, (when we get there).
But for now...
What We Need & What You Get
Films are really expensive to make, no matter the size. This is technically a no-budget film, however, below follows a breakdown of the funds we need to make this vision a reality.
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Meals & Craft Services: The very hardworking crew and cast need to refuel their energy!
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Props: Our story is set in WW1, thus to make it look beautiful, we need a lot of 'period' props.
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Costumes: To truthfully convey the 'world' the story is set in, accurate costuming is essential.
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Set-Dressing: The set-dressing incorporates and completes the world wherein the story is set. In a period piece, it is essential for all the detail of the set time period to be represented as accurately as possible.
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Transportation & Travel: Firstly, We need to transport all the equipment and props from Cape Town to the town the locations are in. Furthermore, Principal Photography is scheduled for South Africa, because we found an absolutely amazing crew there, and production costs are lowered significantly, but first we need to get there.
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Equipment: To make the film look great, we need camera and lighting equipment.
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Hair & Make-Up: A lot of detail goes into making the cast look like they're from the 1910's.
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Film Festivals: Believe it or not, film festivals average about $40 - $50 per festival. Screening this film at festivals around the world to industry professionals, will make the months of hard work and all the funds worth it.
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Insurance: For the safety of everyone involved on set as well as the wonderful equipment, production insurance is required to make sure we don't have any unwanted surprises.
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Contingency: Despite months of meticulous planning, unforeseen things always come up.
- If we don't reach the minimum funds goal, we will put the raised funds firstly towards absolutely essential set-dressing and props. All raised funds will go toward covering costs of making this film.
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Fee - Indiegogo fee for raising the money.
Risks & Challenges
There are numerous amounts of daily challenges involved in creating and producing a film, but everyone involved by making and funding it can be sure it will get made before this year is over. #'nboermaak'nplan.
Other Ways You Can Help
Thank you so much for donating to this campaign, we will be ever grateful to you. If it is not within your means, we absolutely completely understand. Please hep us gain support by sharing this project on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or calling up an old friend! Any and all help is much appreciated.
Meet the Team
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WRITER, ACTRESS: ANLEZIA MONÉ VENTER
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Anlezia Moné Venter is an aspiring actress based in Los Angeles, California. She was born and raised in South Africa, and is returning to her roots to shoot her first original short film in Cape Town. Anlezia has always had a great passion for the arts and have participated in numerous theatre, musical theatre and short film productions, including an off-broadway performance while studying in New York. She is now finishing her BFA in Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy and dreams to work as an actress and producer both in the United States and South Africa upon completion of her degree. Anlezia has created this film, inspired by Mata Hari and is very thankful and beyond excited to collaborate with such a passionate group of artists.
DIRECTOR: ELLA VAN HEERDEN
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Elmeri van Heerden is an actress, writer, director and acting coach and started her career in 2007 after completing a Master’s Degree in Theatre and Film studies from the University of Stellenbosch. She completed her Post-grad Certificate in Education (Cum Laude) in 2015 and is currently in the process of applying for her Phd in performance arts. She has written and directed numerous theatre productions and is still active in the local film industry, both acting and on the production side. Elmeri has also had a successful career in radio and won numerous awards while working in the radio industry between 2011 – 2014. She currently resides in Cape Town.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: RUDI GREMELS
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Rudolf Gremels is an aspiring Director of Photography and is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television in Cape Town, South Africa. To assist his formal education in gaining filmmaking knowledge, Rudolf has taken the initiative of entering important circles in the Cape Town film industry and has over the past three years assisted in the camera department on international commercials, as well as local feature films and televisions series. He has spent a significant amount of time behind the viewfinder himself; in addition to having shot over a dozen student projects, Rudolf has lensed a corporate video for a highly important charity organisation (The Amy Biehl Foundation). Rudolf’s active approach towards filmmaking has earned him a position in a highly regarded film crew agency in Cape Town; a professional entry into the industry awaits him after his graduation.
PRODUCER: MARLI VISSER
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Marli Visser is currently a BA Film student at City Varsity, School of Media and Creative Arts in Cape Town, South Africa where she is majoring in Producing and Directing. She is an aspiring young filmmaker. Her goal is to become an accomplished producer in the film industry. She has a passion for turning ideas into a films that people enjoy to watch. The techniques and skills around creating a successful film, and the way that an idea can be turned into entertainment is what attracts her to the industry. Training to be a filmmaker, she has been involved in several projects respectively as producer, director and writer.
PRODUCER: DYLAN VERMAAK
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Dylan Vermaak is currently a BA film student at City Varsity, School of Media and Creative arts in Cape Town, South Africa where he is majoring in Directing and Producing. His aspiration in life is to be a storyteller. His goal is to become a successful working director in the film industry. Creativity is in his blood. He paints and he designs. Since he was a child he has been mesmerized by film and performing. To him, it’s a new world, a magical one filled with endless possibilities – one that he wants to inhabit. Each film is unique and fulfilling. Every creation is a story, a snapshot of life in some way that allows one to look through the window and experience someone else’s problems or issues and even triumphs in some way. He is interested in the power that film has to facilitate awareness of social issues and the power that lies within the medium to promote change in the world. To him, the visual medium- be it film or television, is an important and powerful tool in education and media and will play an ever increasing role in the future. He has been involved in several projects respectively as producer, director and writer.
VISUAL REFERENCES
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* I DO NOT OWN THE COPYRIGHT TO ANY OF THESE PICTURES. THEY ARE FOR PRE-PRODUCTION REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY.