The Universal Language
"Experience the beauty of dance and culture through a life changing immersive journey around the world"
Story:
The Universal Language is a global dance documentary showcasing dance culture, authentic human interaction, through the journey of our talented host Rebecca Reinhart through improv and no scripted lines. Dance has been recently gaining momentum in popular culture and our goal is to showcase the initiation/creation behind many styles.
Acknowledging the changes in the world and how people are living from COVID-19 outbreak, we wish to share the excitement of each encounter with the viewers as if they were experiencing it first hand by blending film production and new media.
Because we want you to be part of this incredible journey we will offer the added benefit of Virtual Reality (VR). You will have the option of discovering an extended version of the pilot and to explore landscapes, cultural dances and rituals of Alberta and the Tsuu T’ina & Cree Nation as if you were there! This will also give you the opportunity to learn the choreography.
This doc-series will respectfully share the history of various dance practices educating the audience on the meaning and joy behind such artforms showing the depth and hard work behind each genre and their secrets.
Let’s celebrate life together through dance. We cannot wait to bring this onto your screens!!
Alberta : the home of Tsuu T’ina & Cree Nations
Alberta is a multifaceted landscape in western Canada that is home to the rocky mountains, large prairie skies, desert lands, ice fields and large coniferous forests. Alberta hosts many opportunities for bonding with nature. Whether it's white water rafting, ice climbing, or canoeing through a peaceful lake, it is a dream location for any adventure seeker.
Home to the Beaver, Blackfoot, Chipewyan, Cree, Tsuu T'ina, Saulteaux, Slavey and Nakoda nations, these are a few of the indigenous communities that are a part of the backbone to Alberta's wild landscape. We will have the pleasure to film with Tsuu T’ina & Cree Nations and bring this amazing experience to you!
Estimated Budget:
With this Kickstarter campaign, we are hoping to cover some of the pre-production costs to film our Pilot episode in Canada. Members of the crew have been putting their own savings into this passion project. A stretch goal would be to cover all production costs, after all fees, shipping, and merchandise costs.Here are estimated costs, and it's break down, based on our current $30,000 goal.
Why do we need your help?
The Universal Language is moving towards signing with Netflix, BBC or some broadcaster of the sort, so we definitely need your help!
We plan to change the world through art and love. Traveling the world, covid safety first in our minds, we cannot wait to visit all the numerous cultures and their foundations in movement. Whether it’s a deeply integrated ritual to bring on rain, or a lively celebration in the streets, we want to share this with you, AND here’s how you can help us...
Travel: Shipping our amazing team from Toronto to Calgary and safely!
We have carefully selected specific members for their specific talents from across Canada. We need our incredible team in Calgary to shoot with the Tsuu T’ina & Cree Nation for the Pilot episode.
Multiple Perspectives: With plans to shoot two perspectives, Virtual Reality (VR) and Film. The equipment needs to be shipped or rented, to bring out vision to life.
Dues: Paying the respective communities for their time will be essential. Not only compensating others for their time, we need to pay our superbly talented crew members!! (Our DP, VR specialist, need to be paid for their time and dedication)
Food: Let’s eat. And let’s eat properly! We want to provide our crew and talent with food that will keep them healthy, happy and ALWAYS prioritize local food suppliers !!
Sanitization & Covid Safety: On top of regular film duties, we are going to need to ensure our set is clean and up to the covid safety standards. We are following all the guidelines to keep everyone safe.
Goodness, the wildest and most beautiful thing about film is all the amazing talent it involves. One episode takes an army of amazing souls, so ANY and ALL donations help!
We truly wish to have you be a part of the journey. We will keep you posted !!
Rewards:
$10 - You will receive a personal tagged mention on our instagram story! PLUS a digital film poster!
$20 - You will receive a personalized video mention from Rebecca on our instagram! (our creator and HOST!) PLUS a digital 'The Universal Language' Film Poster signed by the crew AND a soundtrack download.
$50 - You will receive a special thanks in the film credit + video call from set with Rebecca - LIMITED. You will also get a personalized video mention on our instagram (from @rebeccareinhart - our creator and HOST!) + our soundtrack download and our digital film poster!
$100 - You will receive a video DANCE CLASS with Rebecca - LIMITED. PLUS a personalized video mentioning you on our instagram @universallanguage (from Rebecca Reinhart - our creator and HOST!) PLUS a digital 'The Universal Language' Film Poster signed by the crew + a download of our soundtrack and a digital film poster!
$500 - Your name will be placed in our special thank you credits! Plus we will send out a HUGE personalized thank you on social media (from the host Rebecca Reinhart!) PLUS a video-class - LIMITED. AND digital rewards: Pilot Teaser download, Soundtrack download, Digital Film Poster signed by the crew , Behind the scenes videos!
The Crew:
Host and Co-Director: Rebecca Reinhart
She is the HOST and CO-DIRECTOR of The universal Language, and works professionally in the industry as an actor, dancer, director and choreographer. Her choreography can be seen in award winning musicals (Broadway World) and huge-hit music videos (Alx Veliz, Gord Bamford, Paper Lions, Lights, Classified, Warren G, Lindsay Kay and Featurette). Rebecca Reinhart cares deeply for humankind, art expression, and extensive experience as a choreographer making her the perfect host for this series.
@rebeccareinhart
Co-Director: Elisa Werneck
The CO-DIRECTOR of the doc-series wants to show some empathy to the world through her work. Originally from Brazil, Elisa Werneck lives in Toronto, Canada. With extensive experience in Cinematography, Directing, TV Production and working on Tier A sets. Through this ambitious documentary series, she wants to raise awareness and explore dance, cinematography and art in an immersive and unique way.
@_elisewerneck
Production Manager: Katharina Benjamim
The Production Manager cares deeply about art forms and how they communicate cultural aspects in a universal way. Born in Brazil, and experiencing cultural rituals at her home-country, she has specialized in historical costumes and cultural studies, in her studies at the University of Arts London, bringing essential knowledge to the production.
@kath.benjamim
Executive Production: West & Social
The Executive Producer is a Toronto based, boutique ad agency, specializing in the creation of high concept visual advertising with festival appearances around the world, commercially distributed feature films, and multiple awards including the Irving Avrich Emerging Filmmaker Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Run by Dan & Adam, they are working with startups and entrepreneurs, charities and causes, focused on collaborating with other businesses with the goal of improving the world around them.
@west_and_social
Risks and challenges:
Timelines in the film require multiple talented members to make the magic happen. Our current funding goal helps us to gather the necessary resources to bring to life the PILOT episode of The Universal Language in a breathtakingly immersive experience never seen before!
Please keep in mind that funding distribution may be relocated, to meet Covid-19 requirements and guidelines.
Thank you for the support, our team can't wait to show you the final result!