A film you'll be proud to support!
NATASHA MAYERS: An Un-still Life uses animation, live action and in-depth interviews to bring to life this extraordinary artist.
The film has been largely shot by Geoffrey Leighton and Anita Clearfield, filmmakers with extensive experience. Funded with our own money, we hope the sample footage gives you a taste of how terrific the finished, half-hour film will be! We launched this campaign (all contributions are tax-deductible!) in conjunction with the Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) Maine Masters series to do some additional shooting, editing, music composition and begin film distribution. We’re just about there!
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The Impact
It’s not just finishing the film for its own sake, but there are many other ways that this film will make a difference :
- Natasha's paintings can help viewers feel deeply and understand the important events going on in the world.
- More people will be inspired and strengthened in the activist work they do; many struggles are ongoing and draining, but the way Natasha integrates art and life is re-invigorating.
- Vice versa, the camaraderie of social activism can give isolated artists new energy to re-engage with their artistic expression. Watching Natasha inspires both artists and activists.
- The film promotes a wider view of how art can enrich our lives and the lives of our communities, showing the benefits of perseverance and dedication in a career that runs counter to commercial trends.
- Of course, if you already own some of Natasha’s work, its value will quadruple with the release of this film :)
The finished product will have widespread appeal: Natasha creates inspiration as an elder with exceptional energy, and children are also inspired because she’s irreverent and “cool,” an artist who lives life on her own terms. Geographically, the film will show her rural-based lifestyle, while the projects she’s part of are universal in appeal.
Many people will participate in the filming, as Natasha’s work is based on creating inclusive communities. For instance, in one scene, we filmed her working with students from over fifty different countries to paint flags from around the world on lobster buoys.
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What We Need & What You Get
Here’s a breakdown of how we plan to use the funds:
- Shoot remaining footage
- Have music composed and obtain rights
- Sound design and sound mix
- Editing -- this includes various versions of the film to distribute in many different venues: Theatrical, Domestic Broadcast, International Broadcast, film festivals, and educational markets.
- Distribution -- three priority strategies for distribution top our list of how to achieve results. These include, showings at film festivals, organized screenings in art venues, and creating social media awareness (including streaming online). The film will be shown on Maine Public Television and presented at local theaters. An additional activity would be to create an on-line curriculum based on the film that would “live” on our website, where art teachers, social studies or aesthetics professors, etc. could access the film as part of educational or inspirational work in schools, churches, political action, civic groups, etc.
NATASHA MAYERS: An Un-still Life IS A SURE BET
Many films are high-risk investments because they may never get finished, let alone distributed. NATASHA MAYERS: An Un-still Life is a film that is almost shot and made by a crew that is dedicated to finishing it, no matter what. As part of the Maine Masters series, the film is assured distribution on Maine Public Broadcasting and in schools – but we need your help to reach even more of the wider world. Please consider helping in any way you can.
If you are able to contribute financially, we have amazing incentives to the right. If you can spread the word about our campaign to your friends, on Facebook, etc., we would be grateful!
More About the Film
Presenting a woman who has remained true to her passion for over 50 years, the program will use a cinema-style to capture Natasha that reflects her own art-style, as she has pursued social and economic justice with humor, irreverence and a keen aesthetic that enlightens while it entertains. Her paintings have been critically acclaimed in their own right, but they also find their way into action, whether on the street or on-line. Responding to the times, her paintings have included The Desaparecidos, The Bully Series about US/Nicaragua Relations, The Iraq War, The Camouflage Series, State of War, World Banksters, and most recently, Men in Suits. She has taught art from nursery school children to graduate-school students, prisoners, adults with mental illness and the developmentally-disabled.
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Natasha’s indefatigable spirit has brought beauty and hope to Maine communities from the 600 school and community murals she has supervised, to the 4th of July parades and decorated utility poles in her home town of Whitefield, to re-invigorating the town of Lubec with a creative boost to their economy, to painting lobster buoys with flags that welcome our new Maine residents at the Portland Jetport. She founded and coordinates the Artists’ Rapid Response Team (ARRT!), an artist co-op that has painted over 250 banners for non-profits throughout the state to help them get their messages out to the public in an engaging way. (see arrteam.org)
HOW TO PLEDGE
Just click the red "Back It” button on the right. You will be asked to input your pledge amount and select a reward. From there, you will go through a credit card checkout process. You must finish the checkout process for your pledge to be recorded.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! This project is part of the "Maine Masters Series" a project of the Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA), a 501(c)3 non-profit that advocates for, and educates about, Maine artists. The series brings attention to the lives of important Maine artists, including films about Lois Dodd, Jon Imber, David Driskell, and Ashley Bryant, among others, and is widely distributed in Maine.
What if we don't reach our goal?
We are committed to this project and will honor all promises for funding incentives. But we do hope to make our goal and more. These 40 days will fly by, donate today!
Can we exceed our goal?
Yes, and then we'll have more resources for distribution!
Can I donate anonymously?
Yes. You'll be prompted to fill in the information for how you wish to be credited when you make your donation.
Can you donate outside of the United States?
Yes! You will see that you can pay with a credit card from any country! But you must finish the checkout process for your pledge to be recorded. If you have any problems just contact us.
WANT TO HELP, BUT CAN'T DONATE?
We had to twist Natasha's arms off, before she'd let us ask for money for a film about her. But she would be overjoyed to have this film encourage you to get involved in activist causes around you.
Of course, we need your help broadcasting the Indiegogo campaign. Facebook it. Tweet it. Sing it from the mountain tops. And don't forget to use the Indiegogo "share" tools!
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More About the Filmmakers
Anita Clearfield is a video artist whose work has appeared on Public Broadcasting and the Discovery Channel. Her national credits include “Vacation Nicaragua” and “Olivia Records: More Than Music.” She was a staff producer/director at Maine Public Broadcasting for over 6 years. Her awards and grants include a New England Emmy, a Silver Hugo, Chicago International Film Festival; First Place, San Antonio Cinefestival; Juried Selection, Festival of New Latin Cinema, Havana, Cuba and an American Film Institute (AFI) Independent Filmmakers Grant. She has worked with Natasha Mayers on the Artists' Rapid Response Team (ARRT!) and is a founder of LumenARRT!, video projections for social change. She holds an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art & Design at the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown. www.anitaclearfield.com
Geoffrey Leighton has over 35 years experience in film, video and multi-media production. In addition to his award-winning documentaries, commercials, and long-form programming, Leighton has produced a variety of large-scale multimedia educational projects, including “The Thousand Words Project” for Bates College Museum of Art. His production company, Leighton Images, is a full-service multi-media center that works with clients such as Apple Computers and L.L. Bean. He teaches video and film special effects at the University of Southern Maine and is a graduate of the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. www.leightonimages.com
Interested in playing an even larger role on the film?
There is a Co-Executive Producer credit available at $50,000, Your name will appear in the credits -- and IMDB of course! This donation is tax deductible through our 501(c)(3) partner.
Please note that this is an honorary title and does not promise any creative or business involvement/decision-making, nor does the credit entitle any claim of ownership.
