**UPDATE**
Thank you so much for your continued generosity and please don't stop! We've hit our original modest target of £3000 and now we'd love to reach beyond that and smash the £5000 barrier so we're able to get a stunt co-ordinator, two extra days of editing and populate a key scene with supporting artists. You can help us make that happen...
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What's this all about?
Hi there, I’m Paul Gilbert and I’m producing a gorgeous and unique little film
set in Gateshead about two worlds colliding in the most surprising way.
Usually I make television drama for a brilliant company called Big Talk
Productions, but this is my first foray into producing film. My cousin, Richard Beecham, who’s a prolific and
experienced theatre director, passionately wanted to make his first film set around
our home in the North East of England. I introduced him to a clever writer, Gabbie Asher, who’s written great shows
like Call The Midwife, and together we cooked up the 10-minute script, The
Guitar.
If you didn’t know (and few people actually do), Gateshead in the North East of England is home to one of the most Orthodox Jewish communities in the
world. And side by side with this antiquated way of life is modern, secular
Tyneside. And in our film these parallel worlds are about to collide.
Chaim is a 12-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy. His mother has just remarried after his dad died and he’s putting on a brave face. Just around the
corner, 16-year-old Kayleigh – a damaged and mouthy Geordie lass – has been
kicked out of her house and she's got nowhere to go. When an incident forces
Chaim and Kayleigh together, unexpected things begin to happen. Full of humour, heartache and humanity, this perfectly-formed film explores being Jewish, being Geordie and being different."
What We Need & What You Get
We applied for, and were lucky enough to win, a small bursary of £10,000 from the Pears UK Jewish Film Short Film
Fund... read about it here: http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pears-short-film-fund-winners-announced-by-uk-jewish-film/
This has given us a good start to hire some of our cast, crew and
locations, but there’s loads more we need to pull together before we have a
chance of completing the film. Ideally we need at least £3,000 to make the film a reality and this is where
YOU can really make a difference.
Your kind donations will be spent in the following ways…
·
Costume, Design and Make-up: there are quite a few specific and expensive items that are essential to making the world of the film feel real
and authentic – from Jewish ring-curl hairpieces to acoustic guitars (without
which we’d have to drastically change the title of the film!)
·
Travel, Accommodation and Food: we need to transport quite a few
talented actors, crew and pieces of equipment up to the North East before filming
begins and also to house them while they’re there for 4 days. Oh and to feed
them well so they can do their best work for us.
·
Post Production: We need to secure the expert services of a really good editor and sound
engineers to put together the best film we can, and thereafter to make sure it reaches the widest possible audience.
Why's it important?
This is a big passion project for Richard, Gabbie and me, it’s a story that’s very close to our hearts, and we're confident that many amongst you will relate to it and – most importantly – find it funny, moving and entertaining. Collectively we know we have the professional experience and know-how to make a truly distinctive film.
The quality of the script has attracted lots of amazing, professional talent both on and behind the camera. We’ve been beavering away preparing it for over 6 months and now we’re in the final stages before shooting in July. But to make sure we get to finish the film properly with bells and whistles we need your help to get us over the line.
There are always challenges involved in coordinating a production like this with so many moving parts and so many exterior scenes (we’re all praying for a dry summer!) but we know we will tackle these head-on and maximise the value of the money you donate.
Oh, and the film will premiere at the prestigious UK Jewish Film Festival in London in November and at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle thereafter, and in a big way it will be because of YOU!
A Word from our Writer, Gabbie...
"It’s 2015 and bigotry is
rampant, widespread and active. But strip away the noise
and the truth is as simple as it’s always been. We’re all
human. We’re all the same.
I wanted to write an
elegant, powerful story that reflects this and short film was the perfect
form for doing so."
A Word from our Director, Richard...
"
I've always wanted to
create a drama set amidst the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community in Gateshead. As a boy growing up north of the river in Newcastle, I would
cross the Tyne twice a week to go to Hebrew classes at Mr
Rosenthal's cheder.
Even as a kid I was struck by the incongruity
of two completely opposing worlds living side by side. I'm fascinated by difference, by the
collision of cultures, and by the possibilities opened up by journeying in to new
and unfamiliar territory."
Other Ways You Can Help
We promise to work hard to repay your generosity and give you the most entertaining film we can create! It’s a story about a little-known community, in a far-flung corner of Britain, but one which we know will resonate with everyone around the world.
Even if you can't donate any hard-earned cash we'd be incredibly grateful if you could help spread the word about our campaign... please pass on the link to anyone you think this might appeal to and make some big noise about our wee film. You won't regret it...
And remember to use the Indiegogo share tools below for further updates and information.
Thank you in advance for your support!
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PS. BIG THANKS TO MICHAEL THORPE AND GEMMA ASHER FOR MAKING OUR INDIEGOGO VIDEO!
