A big THANK YOU for your interest in this film and to those who were able to contribute to the project.
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https://www.facebook.com/songbirdfilm/
THE FILM
In the tradition of the 1940's & 50's film noir movies comes The Case of the Shanghaied Songbird.
It's 1954 Melbourne, Burn City. Private Detective Frank Drennan has been down and out now for too long. He has a head full of eel juice and drags his heart around on a fifty-pound chain. Jobs are far and few between and his shadow is a reflection of a once successful detective.
A case arrives at his office and with his reluctance, it will take him into a world of sultry jazz club singers, surreal dreams, metaphysical philosophies, a mysterious comet and a sleeping beauty. All to solve The Case of the Shanghaied Songbird.
THE CAST
PRIVATE DETECTIVE FRANK DRENNAN
Private Detective Frank Drennan will be played by Jack Campbell. Jack played Dr. Steve Taylor in All Saints and Jim Devine in Underbelly Razor.
JANET - THE SECRETARY
Janet will be played by Australian actress Gabrielle Sing.
ISOBEL - THE GIRL LOST IN A DREAMTo be announced soon. See the new campaign page for details!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-case-of-...
JOSIE - JAZZ CLUB SINGER Josie will be played by Chinese actress Yiya Xu
MORE ON THE CASE
The Case of the Shanghaied Songbird will be a twenty-five-minute film set in the 1950's Jazz world of Melbourne. The film will be shot in black & white until the final surreal dream sequence in vivid colour! It uses all the stylish visual elements of a 'Film Noir' including interesting camera angles, high contrast lighting, and striking shadows. The characters are also in respect to the 1950's tradition with The Cynical Sleuth, The Sassy Secretary and The Sultry Femme Fatale (who has all the answers). Frank's language is hard-boiled slang as he refers to crooks, shysters, dames, croakers, quacks and 'the stool pigeons down at the clubhouse'.
The style is like a knowing wink to the nostalgia of the 'Film Noir' tradition. And in this way it will give the film a good-cheer or jeu d'esprit (sometimes the French just say it better :) even with Frank's heavy heart.
The difference is where a traditional Film Noir case will generally be about solving a murder or theft, in this case the private eye is attempting to find a girl who is lost in a dream. She hasn't woken from sleep in six months. The doctor's call it Kleine-Levin Syndrome, but Isobel's grandmother is convinced that it is something else and it's when she hears Isobel cry out Frank's name from her slumber that the mysterious case unfolds and her connection to Frank unraveled.
In the attempt to free Isobel from her dream Frank will discover truths that may also liberate himself from his own mental slavery.
To read even more about the film and it's philosophy you can visit this page:
http://american-noir.blogspot.com.au/
HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE SPENT
The Case of the Shanghaied Songbird will be shot with respect to emulate the older style film look. It will help create a haunting and beautiful mood for the film. The hire of camera equipment for this is quite expensive and a large proportion of your investment will be spent here. It will certainly be worth the end result.
Another large section of the budget will be used on Art Department and to create props. As you can imagine it will be quite the task to recreate 1954 Melbourne. The dream sequence is also a large Art Department job.
The rest of the budget will be spent on wardrobe costs, location hire, equipment hire, wages for the key cast and crew (except myself) and post production.
SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack to the film will be Jazz inspired. From an evocative saxophone drifting down a lonely street to a cool smokey Jazz number performed by the femme fatale actress herself..
SCREENING
The film will have a grande premiere screening event in Melbourne. Then it will be submitted to acclaimed film festivals both nationally and internationally. There will also be opportunities to screen the film on television and internet after the festival circuit.
By investing in this film you will be a part of this production. So thank-you again in advance and look forward to creating something special with you.