The Filmmakers
İsmet Kurtuluş (screenwriter/co-director):
"Everything started with an e-mail. My friend Onur Koralp sent me a two-page story, asking for my opinion. As soon as I read it, I knew that it had to be made into a film. I loved the story."
After seeing Pleasantville by Gary Ross, Ismet realized life is not that pleasant and decided to become a filmmaker to do something about it. He has graduated from Istanbul Bilgi University's FIlm & TV Department in 2005. Since then he has been working as a freelance filmmaker, directing music videos, commercials and short films. in 2014, he made his directorial debut with the feature film Rimo & Zimo: Peace in Town (Rimolar ve Zimolar: Kasabada Barış).
Kaan Arıcı (screenwriter/co-director):
"I know İsmet and Onur for over 10 years now. We have studied film back in Istanbul together and since then remained close friends despite me moving to Denmark 7 years ago. We have been looking for a collaborative project, which we are both passionate about. A project, which we believe we can join our creative forces. And schnitzel was it! "
Kaan got the jitterbug for film after seeing Die-Hard III: With a Vengaence when he was 16. Although some may think that is embarrassing, he proudly admits it was Die Hard that made him the man he is today. After graduating from Istanbul Bilgi University's Film & TV Department, he followed a semi-academic and semi-professional career in film by moving to Copenhagen in 2008 to study film at the University of Copenhagen. Currently, he is finishing his second masters in the department of Cognition & Communication as well as working as a freelance director and as an assistant producer in a Copenhagen based film production company.
Onur Koralp (screenwriter/author of the original short story)
"Fictionally, I love the idea that a madman rules us. Ironically, this is a truth. I hoped that the story would spark some laughs and maybe live on in conversation. İsmet and Kaan loved it, they also had something to say. Here we are."
Onur graduated from İstanbul Bilgi University in 2008. Started working as a junior writer in ad agencies. He co-wrote a comic book, Dalgın Sular. In 2015 he was a staff writer for the Turkish TV Series, Maral: En Güzel Hikayem. Currently he is racking up short stories and working on other personal projects.
Kerem Cengil (VFX Supervisor)
"I know İsmet for over a decade and worked with him on various projects together. I got the offer on the phone and accept it without reading the script because I know I was on the same frequency with these guys. We had many questions along the way while creating the CG layouts. Making Schnitzel's VFX is like dancing on a thin line. We are dealing with loads of CG parts on the other hand we have to avoid an animation show off and hide them well into the picture to keep the viewers attention on the film itself. A real challenge awaits us. But we are depending on our team of fellow dedicated artists."
Kerem has graduated from Yeditepe University's Radio, Cinema & TV Department in 2000 and got master's degree on Art from Yildiz Technical University in 2004. Worked as a 3D Animator/Lead Artist in VFX & Animation Studios. Currently working for the Game Industry and still a dedicated, independent filmmaker.
Cast & Crew
Check our IMDB page with the link below to see others, who are taking part in the film. You will definitely be thrilled to see that we are working with some of the FINEST and the most WELL-KNOWN TURKISH ACTORS!
Our Goal & Your Impact
Our main aim with this campaign is to first build awareness of the project. Secondly, to raise the remaining the budget, which will allow us to make the film in absolute minimum cost (excluding any profit), as all the cast and crew will be working for free.
Most importantly, your support will allow us to have some breathing room, where we can make this film with a clear mind without the stressful limitations of time or being shorthanded. And so, we can concentrate on making the best film we can for you to enjoy.
The campaign is aimed at $12,500 but our dream budget is $15,000. Even if we can't make it to our goal, we will still make the film somehow. Maybe will sell our souls to the Satan. Not quite sure on that yet, though.
But we are feeling positive enough that we can make it up to our dream budget, thanks to you.
And for that, we will be giving some cool perks to our beloved contributors. We know that these perks are not crazy valuable gifts but they are our way of saying THANK YOU and something that will make you remember the film by. Check them out below.
Perks
Here is a sneak peak to some of our Perks!
T-SHIRT (S/M/L sizes available), FILM BAG:
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FILM BOOK, DVD/BLU-RAY (region free) & FILM POSTER:
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Quick note: DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs will be sent by the end of 2016 after the film's festival run while T-shirts and the other perks will be delivered around February, 2016.
The Danish Connection
One may ask: Why Copenhagen to shoot this film? We have come to the intention to use the Nordic look of the Modern Danish Architecture & Interior Design to represent the fictional country in the future would make compelling visuals for the film in a similar fashion Andrei Tarkovsky has utilized Akasaka, Tokyo to represent the futuristic Soviet city in Solaris.
In addition to the visual aesthetics, the project is first green-lit by the Danish Film Institute's Filmworkshop Funding Scheme, which now supports the project by supplying necessary equipment for production and post-production.
Chance to be Anonymous
One of the risks in supporting this project may be your name to be officially credited as a contributor to this project.
Due to the sensitive subject matter that the film deals with, we can fully understand if you would not like to be named. Then anonymity is also an option, meaning that you can still be our dear angel contributor without letting your identity out. You can easily choose to be anonymous when you are making your contribution.
But we hope no one will feel this way and indeed would prefer their names to be out there with all those others, who speak up. Because we believe, who are we if we can't speak up, right?!
Other Ways You Can Help
There are also other ways to help to get this project off ground even if you wish not to contribute financially.
- Just get the word out to your friends using facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, and even snapchat. It may not be you but maybe your friends would like to donate.
- Quick Tip: Check out indiegogo's share tools to quickly spread the word in your social circles.
And that's all there is to it.
Thank you so much for your time and support.
