What is this film about?
In order to finish the last scene of their play, “The Making of a Deathbed,” Sylvia is forced to ask questions that are too difficult to ask while they are awake. As they use their dreams to inspire the last scene of their play they get lost in a world of mourning. How can you let go of something so beautiful? How can you live with such great loss and guilt? Where do we go when we sleep or when we die? And most importantly, what is a deathbed made of?
Teaser Trailer
Behind the Scenes Footage
A word from the Director and Writer, Lilly Dickinson
This film has been over two years in the making. Ever since finishing my thesis film "The Lexicographer" during my senior year at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, I have been left with a yearning for a larger project. Yearning to tell a larger story that is near to my heart. This yearning has turned into The Making of a Deathbed. This story stems from my fears of losing people in my life that I hold dearest without ever being able to express my love and gratitude towards them. This story is really a fantasy and reality that I think everyone goes through. The fantasy and hope of living a fulfilling life, where every moment you loved as much as you could love, you laughed as much as you can laugh, and you celebrated every last drop of life. I have had such beautiful support from my family and friends throughout all aspects of my life. Through my passions of making music, art, and film, through coming out as a transgender woman, and through the regular ups and downs that life throws at us all. Now after receiving all of this support I am asking for a helping hand from you, so I can give back to all of these beautiful people and express my love and gratitude through this story.
I want The Making of a Deathbed to be a love letter to life, family, friends, and the beauty of it all. Your donations and contributions will not only be supporting a young filmmaker who has only made films using money from her own pocket... Your contributions will not only be supporting local independent artists, actors, and creative thinkers... But most importantly your contributions will be helping to tell a story that speaks toward the love and loss we all have deep inside of us. Thank you for your support in making these dreams come true.
Meet the Makers
Lilly is a Winthrop-based filmmaker, musician, painter, and ‘Jill of all trades.’ Her storytelling bridges the gap between narrative and abstract filmmaking with themes focused on mental health, loneliness, the meaning of art making, and gender identity. Currently, she holds a position as a Video Producer on the award-winning video team at Berklee College of Music’s online school, Berklee Online. Her role involves producing and executing lesson videos for Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Certificate courses, covering a wide range of subjects surrounding the music industry including songwriting, music theory, performance, and music production. Along with writing and producing her own films, Lilly composes music and film scores for other independent filmmakers and artists. Lilly is also active in the Greater Boston art community as a painter and illustrator with work featured by The Dorchester Art Project, The Boston Compass, Greater Boston Art’s Collective, and Boston Hassle this past year.
Casey is a Dorchester-based artist, maker, and overall dabbler. He has a long history with film as a form of expression, communication, and emotional exploration. Currently, he holds the role of Technical Operations and Studio Coordinator in a teaching and learning center at Harvard University where he works to maintain a media studio and making-space; helps run workshops on building virtual and alternate realities, podcasting, videography, and photography; and helps manage the on-site needs of any projects the media team is engaged with. He also teaches classes for Cambridge Community Television in editing and cinematography, and spends his free time trying to make things out of metal at the Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville.
Why we need your help.
The Making of a Deathbed is currently only 30% filmed. Unfortunately production has had to stop because of the lack of funding. We have already invested in over $500 of our own out-of-pocket money to complete these first few shoots. Moving forward we only have more and more expensive hurdles to jump through that we can't afford without your help.
All Campaign funds will go straight to finishing the production and post production costs of making this film. In order to complete this passion project as it has been written and imagined we are aiming for a minimum goal of: $8,000
Support local actors, artists, musicians, and filmmakers.
45% of our earnings will be going straight back into supporting local, unsigned, DIY, and freelance performers, artists, musicians and filmmakers that will make this film possible. So when you donate to our project you are actually supporting a much greater community of talented individuals that need your support.
Support Creativity and Design for the Production
36% of our earnings will be going towards achieving the vision of the films design and aesthetic. Every cent of this percentage will make this film come to life.
Help share this film with the world
The last 19% of our earnings will go towards finishing the film and sharing it with as many people as possible.
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Detailed look at our funding needs.
Talent
~$1,750 of goal
Actors who will participate in our 13 shooting days for production.
Musicians that will assist in recording the score for the film.
Artists that will assist with the marketing and promotional material.
Production & Crew
~$300 of goal
Stage Lighting Expert who will setup lighting for scenes taking place in the theatre
Behind the Scenes Documenter who will film and document the production process
Script Supervisor who will be present on select shooting days to assist with the production logistics
Location Costs
~$2000 of goal
Renting Shooting Locations. In order to tell this story we need to rent a black box theater space to film at. This is a very expensive aspect of our budget that is unavoidable.
Rental insurance/ security deposits and other costs associated with renting.
Food & Catering for Talent
~$1,000 of goal
Meals and Catering for Talent, Crew, and unpaid Extras while on set. Since this is a micro budget film, even with 33% of our budget will be going toward paying our Actors and Crew we wish to create a comfortable environment for these talented artists. This includes feeding them during our pre-production meetings, 13 production shooting dates, and post production meetings.
Travel
~$600 of goal
Travel Expenses for cast and crew getting to and from location shoots (if self transportation isn't available) As well as reimbursement for gas and other travel expenses associated with obtaining and transporting video gear, set pieces, and props.
Custom Camera Rigs
~$400 of goal
Prop and Set Building
~$600 of goal
Prop Rentals that are necessary to put on a believable play for the film.
Buying crucial Set Pieces that will also be used during the duration of shooting. Including: Back drops, furniture, risers and seating for the theatre, ect.
Distribution
~$1,000 of goal
Film Festival Budget
~$600 of goal
Sending the Film to Film Festivals to get have it reach the broadest audience as possible. Film festivals can become very expensive, but with this budget set aside we hope to send the film out to at least 10 film festivals in hope to reach a larger audience and to seek further distribution, exposure, and funding.
If our $8000 goal is not reached we will have to make certain sacrifices across all aspects of production and post production. Our priority is to not just to make this film but to make it in an ethical way and in a way that does justice to the story and the efforts of all of those involved in making it.