Indiegogo is committed to accessibility. If you have difficulty using our site, please contact support@indiegogo.com for assistance or view our accessibility notice by clicking here

This campaign is closed

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

Love dogs? Help us raise awareness and inspire people to make a difference for 200 million strays!

You may also be interested in

Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

The Stray Story: A dogumentary

Love dogs? Help us raise awareness and inspire people to make a difference for 200 million strays!

Love dogs? Help us raise awareness and inspire people to make a difference for 200 million strays!

Love dogs? Help us raise awareness and inspire people to make a difference for 200 million strays!

Love dogs? Help us raise awareness and inspire people to make a difference for 200 million strays!

CHRISTINA GEORGIOU
CHRISTINA GEORGIOU
CHRISTINA GEORGIOU
CHRISTINA GEORGIOU
1 Campaign |
Nicosia, Cyprus
$5,686 USD 120 backers
16% of $35,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Overview
200 million stray dogs struggle to survive around the globe every single day. In an attempt to help, I joined forces with volunteers from all over the world, who are nothing less than rescue superheroes. Yet, even superheroes need help. Through their incredible work, this documentary aims to fight the root of the problem - lack of awareness. It presents the issue as well as its solutions, inspiring people to make a difference. Wanna be a dog rescue superhero? Join us by helping those who help!

Message from the director

My rescue dog, Leo (aka Lord Leopold) and I, would like to thank you for stopping by and finding out more about our effort to make a difference for strays! Even reading this is a huge step towards our goal of raising awareness and spreading the word.

We all have a list of things we're passionate about. On the top of my list are films and dogs. So, making a film about dog rescue just came naturally. I have been making films for a living, while also helping out in shelters for more than a decade, and the results so far have been nothing but rewarding. Several films I've worked on have been awarded in international festivals (check out IMDb for details, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3408378), while some have been distributed to millions of households around the globe.

Yet, looking into the grateful eyes of a rescued dog is worth more than any award in the world! And that is why I want to make this film - to explain how the problem arises, celebrate the incredible work of volunteers out there and inspire more people to make a difference, any way they can: either by looking after their pets more responsibly, or by rescuing, or by supporting those who rescue, or simply by spreading the word (it helps!).

No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you do for a living, becoming a superhero for a cause takes nothing more than finding what you believe in and doing what you can to make a difference. I've found my calling, and would like you to come with me on this unforgettable journey. 

 

Audience engagement

The positive response we’ve had so far has been incredible, and the film has taken on a life of its own, developing into something much larger and more important. Though our digital strategy was only launched a few weeks ago, our project has received a massive reach and has grown  more impact than ever imagined, and this is just the beginning! Our recent posts on www.facebook.com/thestraystory received thousands of views and an impressive percentage of audience engagement. The project receives constant interest from media, and was recently featured extensively in an article by In-Cyprus, https://in-cyprus.com/a-cypriot-dogumentary-aiming-to-become-global/, which prompted numerous radio and TV shows in Europe to present our project. Follow us on facebook for updates!

 

Some of our featured volunteers

Andreea Roseti - Translator / Events Organizer - Sibiu, Romania

Andreea has been voluntarily helping stray dogs for the last 11 years and is now the President of Animal Life in Sibiu, a developed area of Romania. Legislation allows for the capture and killing of dogs, which certain individuals have taken advantage of for profit, receiving high payments by local authorities for each dog they capture and kill. 

Nicos Kountouris - Air Traffic controller - Nicosia, Cyprus

Through a primary school education program on companion animal welfare, Nicos aims to decrease the numbers of strays and incidents of animal abuse in Cyprus. He also lobbies for new companion animal legislation. He is the director of the NGO Zootropion Humane Education Society Against Animal Cruelty.  

Norma Torres - Forensic Neuropsychologist - Gadsden, FL and Puerto Rico

Norma was the first to introduce pet therapy within the prison system, healing abused animals and people. She lives in Gadsden, known for animal abuse and dogfights. She is the founder/director of the NGO youcanmakeadifference.inc, and aids both people and animals stricken by the hurricanes in Florida and in her homeland, Puerto Rico.  

Takis Proestakis - Former Dentist / Night club owner - Crete, Greece

Takis quit his job in 2012 to open his own 6 sq. km shelter in Ierapetra, Crete. Also known as "the Saint of dogs", he runs a vivid social media campaign in order to acquire donations and support. Local authorities in his area do little to help, while many of his fellow citizens continue to abandon and mistreat animals.  
  
          

What We Need

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford

This has been my passion project for several years, with footage dating from as early as 2014 and with all expenses covered by myself, with the kind generosity of fellow film-makers (who either worked voluntarily or with discounted fees), friends and family. With their help, I have so far filmed extensively with selected volunteers from Cyprus, Romania and the U.K. We are pretty much half-way through filming.

But there's much more that needs to be done before the film can be released:

  • Traveling to Florida, U.S.A. to film our featured volunteer and her shelter
  • Traveling to Crete, Greece, to film our feature volunteer and his shelter
  • Proceeding with an assembly edit, to establish any need for additional filming
  • Complementary filming (if required)
  • Post-production: Final editing, color grading, sound design, music scoring, up-scaling etc.
  • Promotion and distribution to festivals (spreading the word as widely as possible is why we do this!)

As you can see, completing this film requires that the expenses of traveling, accommodation, filming, insurance, post-production and distribution are covered. And for these, your much appreciated contribution, no matter how small, would make a huge difference towards realizing our goal.

 

What You Get

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you're dead, either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing." - Benjamin Franklin

Films have a long-lasting impact, and so do animal welfare causes. This project merges both, and by contributing, your name (or your beloved pet's name and photo) will live on for years on end through the end credits of our widely disseminated film.

Additionally, we have put together a wonderful series of perks, as thanks for your valuable contribution and as a reminder of how you've made a difference to the lives of dogs and their rescuers. Go ahead and find out more by checking our individual perks, and watch out for flash sales and limited offers!

Ultimately though, the most important gift you get in return for your contribution is knowing that you have made a difference for the two hundred million stray dogs out there. Now, can you picture that many loving puppy eyes smiling at you gratefully? Yup, it's overwhelming, and it's all because of you!

 

The Impact

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

Our project is a social contribution initiative - one that aims to encourage change through positive example and success stories, with a global reach. The inspirational work of featured volunteers from all over the world, sets forth key issues and simple solutions which can really go a long way. Among other, the documentary sheds light on:

  • what it means to volunteer - forever grateful rescuees vs. people taking rescuers for granted
  • responsible pet handling - a pet is for life and deserves a loving home!
  • animal welfare educational programs - shaping people's views and behavior
  • the connection between animal abuse and criminal behavior
  • consumerism and its impact on every living creature's quality of life
  • the importance of comprehensive legislation and of its implementation
  • controlled breeding / reproduction - many strays are thrown-away litter
  • spaying / neutering - it can save lives and keep your pet healthy
  • name-tagging / microchipping - making sure your pets find their way home safely
  • adopt, don't shop! - animals shouldn't be sold! Open your home to a rescued dog instead
  • what to do if you find a stray dog - understanding body language - do you speak dog? 
  • no-kill policy - adopt shelter dogs, to give other dogs a second chance in life
  • how one can help the cause - fostering, fundraising, educating, donating

 

Risks & Challenges

"To make a film is easy; to make a good film is war; to make a very good film is a miracle." Alejandro González Iñárritu.

What we want to make is nothing short of a miracle, and that requires time, money, hard work and tons of patience, commitment and perseverance. But most importantly, it requires skill and passion, and we feel we've got what it takes to make it happen.

That means that some of your perks (such as the digital link to the finished film) may take some time to reach you, depending on when the film will be completed. We are estimating that by the end of 2020, we will have reached our goal.

As a passion project, this film is all about communicating something important and reconnecting people with each other and with the world around them.  What we would like is for the film to reach as wide an audience as possible, whether that means box office success or online dissemination. 

Films cost a lot to be produced, and sometimes never make any profit - documentaries even less so. There's some truth in the joke "if you want to be a millionaire, all you have to do is be a billionaire who's made a film". But even if this film never makes any profit, this does not affect any of your perks. You can rest assured that the film will be completed and all the perks will be distributed as promised. And, if all goes well (fingers crossed!), 50% of net proceeds will be donated to shelters.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

"Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because, unless you believe that the future can be better, it's unlikely you will step up and take responsibility for making it so. [...] The choice is yours" - Noam Chomsky

The main goal of this project is to encourage change by raising awareness. Which means that, whether you can donate or not, there are still numerous ways you can join this cause and help us make a difference.

First of all,  you can get the word out and make some noise about our cause, by

Additionally, feel free to contact us if you would like to:

  • volunteer for our project (media exposure, film-making or other services)
  • send us footage of you and your dogs - it may find its way into our film!
  • share your rescue story with us (we love listening to success stories!)
  • share your opinions and ideas - because "none of us is as smart as all of us" (K. Blanchard)
  • offer your services or donate in-kind (flights, accommodation, post-production  etc.)
  • provide us with constructive criticism (it is always very much appreciated!)
  • give us some encouragement (long projects require a lot of stamina)

Last but not least, you can become a volunteer for any cause you believe in, and be the change you want to see in the world!

Thanks again for taking the time to view our campaign! 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Virtual hug from Leo!

Virtual hug from Leo!

$5 USD
Leo loves it that we are helping more strays like him, but misses his human when she's away filming. So your contribution means a lot, because it will speed up the process and get him back to more cuddles on the couch with his favorite human. Until then, he offers an abundance of virtual hugs to the world.
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
Estimated Shipping
September 2019
9 claimed
"Thanks" in the end credits

"Thanks" in the end credits

$10 USD
Your name will be featured under the "Thanks" section of the film's end credits, as a token of our appreciation to you for making this possible. Plus, a virtual hug from Leo, on the house!
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
Estimated Shipping
December 2020
26 claimed
Private preview link

Private preview link

$25 USD
Be the first to view the film you helped get made in the comfort of your home, plus all previous perks (meaning, if you don't have a dog, Leo can stand in for virtual cuddles while you watch your name feature in the end credits!).
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
  • Private preview link
Estimated Shipping
December 2020
13 claimed
Mamika Dog Grooming Voucher

Mamika Dog Grooming Voucher

$29 USD
One of the goals of our documentary is to spread the message that everyone can help a cause in their own way! So, the people at Mamika Dog Grooming in Nicosia are offering the proceeds from their services to 6 lucky doggies. The vouchers are valid for July & August 2019. Just print out your donation receipt and book your appointment on 70003320!
Included Items
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
  • Mamika Dog Grooming voucher
Estimated Shipping
August 2019
3 out of 6 of claimed
Preview link and Soundtrack

Preview link and Soundtrack

$50 USD
So you've watched the film through your private preview link and loved the soundtrack (it's very likely)! With this perk, you get a digital download of the full album and its artwork. Plus all other perks. Ain't life swell.
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
  • Preview link and soundtrack
Estimated Shipping
December 2020
27 claimed
Preview, Soundtrack & Book

Preview, Soundtrack & Book

$80 USD
So you're chilling, listening to the soundtrack. Why not flip through a sold-out book? With this option, in addition to previous perks, you get a digital download of the illustrated Greek poetry book "The Eighth Day", written by Christina Georgiou and illustrated by Irene Christoudes. All proceeds went to an animal sanctuary.
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
  • Preview, Soundtrack and Book
Estimated Shipping
December 2020
0 claimed
Your dog's photo in "Thanks"

Your dog's photo in "Thanks"

$100 USD
We want to celebrate man's best friend! With this contribution, a photo of your dog will be featured in the "Thanks" section of the end credits, along with their name and yours. Additionally, your dog's photo will be featured on our Facebook page with a dedication "in celebration of / in loving memory of". Because dogs are forever in our hearts!
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • "Thanks" in our end credits
  • Preview, Soundtrack and Book
  • Your dog's photo in "Thanks"
Estimated Shipping
December 2020
10 claimed
Special Thanks in end credits

Special Thanks in end credits

$250 USD
Your generosity is staggering! Apart from all previous perks, with your contribution, you earn a "Special Thanks" mention in the end credits, as well as in our social media outreach. Plus the film's poster as a high quality download and 10 tickets for the VIP screening!
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • Preview, Soundtrack and Book
  • Digital Poster, 10 VIP tickets
  • Your dog's photo in "Thanks"
  • Special Thanks in end credits
Estimated Shipping
March 2021
1 claimed
Sponsor in end credits & press

Sponsor in end credits & press

$500 USD
We're overwhelmed! Apart from all previous perks, with your contribution, you earn a "Sponsor" mention in the end credits (with a small logo of your brand, if any), as well as in all press releases, media outreach and on the film's poster (of which you'll get a high quality digital copy). Plus 20 tickets for the VIP screening!
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • Preview, Soundtrack and Book
  • "Sponsor" in end credits&press
  • Digital poster, 20 VIP tickets
  • Your dog's photo in "Thanks"
  • Sponsor on Film's Poster
Estimated Shipping
March 2021
1 claimed
Associate Producer Credit

Associate Producer Credit

$1,000 USD
Your social responsibility shines! Aside all previous perks, with your contribution, you earn an "Associate Producer" mention in the opening credits (featuring your logo, if any), as well as in all press releases, media outreach and on the film's poster (of which you'll get a high quality digital copy). Plus 50 tickets for the VIP screening!
Included Items
  • Virtual hug from Leo
  • Preview, Soundtrack and Book
  • Digital poster, 50 VIP tickets
  • Your dog's photo in "Thanks"
  • Associate Producer Credit
  • Mention on poster & in press
  • Mention in Opening Credits
Estimated Shipping
March 2021
0 claimed

You may also be interested in

Up Caret