A Brief Intro!
Hi! My name is Marci Fisher, I'm a 24-year-old non-binary filmmaker currently attending the University of Idaho. I've been obsessed with movies and TV shows for as long as I can remember, and I'm excited to finally make my own!! "The Tortoise and the Hare" is my senior thesis short film, it represents the culmination of all that I've learned throughout my time in college, and I need your help to make it as special and fleshed out as it can be!
So what's the film about?
Logline - In this dark, post-modern twist on the classic Aesop fable, a melancholic Tortoise is consumed by the envy he feels towards a spry and confident Hare. He resolves to beat him in a race and take his place in the animal community, even if it requires horrific violence.
Synopsis - A surreal take on an ancient morality play. The Tortoise is at the end of his rope. Years of losing the big annual race to The Hare have left him bitter and resentful. He promises to beat the Hare this time, by any means necessary. The big day comes, and it looks like another embarrassing defeat. That is - until he finds the Hare sleeping beside a tree in the middle of the race. Driven mad by his envy, he murders the sleeping mammal with a nearby woodsman’s ax. Winning the race this way, however, brings him no comfort and no joy. He is troubled by disturbing dreams, and must find some other way to solidify his shaky sense of identity.
No, but like, what's it really about?
"The Tortoise and the Hare" is fundamentally about envy, self-destructive thought patterns, and the lengths we go to in order to chase self-actualization. The character of the Tortoise is (loosely) based on the headspace I was in during the early pandemic, the jealousy and bitterness I felt watching people with the means to not be affected by such horrific world events as I scrolled through my social media pages. This attitude, while perhaps not completely irrational, was deeply unproductive, and only added to my misery. I overcame it eventually, but this film is a cautionary tale about a character who stews in that mindset for much much longer and gains nothing for it. It's an adaptation of a fable, but it sets its sights on modern attitudes and modern problems.
That's all well and good, but how are you going to do this?
"The Tortoise and the Hare" will be a live-action film with human actors in costumes and makeup meant to evoke the "vibe" of the animals they're playing. It will take itself completely seriously as a dark, surreal thriller, but it will also be sort of inherently funny to see costumed actors delivering such dire material. The film will be shot in Moscow, ID and the surrounding areas, by a crew of dedicated passionate and talented film students. When it's done, I intend to submit it to multiple film festivals, and, after the festival circuit is completed, release it publicly online for everyone to enjoy!
What We Need & What You Get
I'm asking for $3,000 for many reasons. For one, many of our actors, crew members, and specialists (costumers, makeup artists, etc.) live in the multiple towns surrounding Moscow, and as such we will need to pay for gas to give them rides. Also, the costumes and props necessary to make the script I've written work will inevitably cost money. And that's not even to mention the makeup, both for baseline character designs and for special effects (we're keeping it practical)! On top of that, there's the cost of solid state drives to hold the footage, securing locations, paying for craft services and porta potties (a fed and relieved crew is a productive crew), and paying our makeup artists who generously volunteered their time to help us with this ambitious project. In addition, we'd like a small amount to help promote the film by commissioning original posters from local artists. Any remaining funds will be dispersed to the cast and crew for their time, effort and energy. All the money raised will go into the production of a higher-quality film.
As far as rewards for our generous contributors, all of that will be covered in the "perks" section! Our gifts back to you range from a special thanks and a link to view the film prior to its official release, to signed posters, to DVD copies of the film, to promotions for your business, all the way to an executive producer credit on the film!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't afford to make a contribution, but you still wish to support us in our effort to create original indie cinema, consider sharing this page to your friends and family! Any extended reach helps, and as a person who grew up below the poverty line, I understand that it's not always viable to dole out money for creative works, even when you really want to. Fear not! Your contribution can simply be word-of-mouth. :)
