Short Summary
My name is Rebekah, and I am a veteran of the armed forces and a writer, director and producer. My company, RLP Productions, and its partners, Franc Zalez, Valerie D. Parker, Glenda McEachern, Andy Rivera and director Monea McCLain, are super excited about this project. Women have been serving in the armed forces in this country for decades; however, history has never publically acknowledged their roles on the actual battlefield until now. Research as well as TV, film and other artistic visual mediums have told the countless stories of life in the military, but from the male perspective. Now that women are on the battlefield as medics, security, logistics and more, who's telling their stories? What impact does war have on women soldiers?
When I was in the Air Force, one of my duties was to collect the health data from soldiers returning from Desert Storm/Desert Shield and get them health care services for their health issues. The stories I heard from my brothers in arm were gruesome enough, but to hear these same stories coming from my sisters in arm was even MORE compelling. Finding treatment for them psychologically, financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually was difficult because no one considered how war would affect these women, and subsequently, their families.
So here is my story, "The War at Home." It is the story of SFC Belinda Oglesby and her fight to keep her sanity, her family and her dreams alive after returning home from war in Afghanistan. This show will make for powerful television/film because there is no other story out there telling it from the perspective of a female soldier. The truth is, we are hearing more and more stories about women veterans (and even active duty) who are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), homelessness (with their children), MST ( military sexual trauma), unemployment, suicide and so much more. This show will shed light on these issues and make for good, dramatic television and film. And you can help us make it happen!
What We Need & What You Get
Our goal is to raise $5000 to shoot a 30 minute pilot/film to submit to the GI Film Festival by its January 20, 2017 submission deadline. The funds raised will go towards the following:
- Camera/Film/Location
- Casting/Stipends
- Sound/Editing/Lighting
- Travel/Transportation
We plan to use every dollar we get (even if we do not meet our goal) to create a quality film that will make us all proud.
Risks & Challenges
There is never a guarantee that a submission will be accepted into a film festival, but we are willing to try our best with your help. In fact, this is not RLP Productions' first go-around in filmmaking or theatrical production.
- We are releasing the long awaited DVD for our feature historic drama, Black Wall Street: The Money, the Music and the People (www.blackwallstreetthemovie.yolasite.com) this January 2017.
- Our theatrical production, That Color Blind Kind of Love , will be live streamed in March 2017 from WCVE, PBS Channel 6 in Richmond, VA. (www.rlpproductions.com)
There is no challenge that a good team cannot meet. RLP Productions is collaborating with some of the best indie filmmakers, directors, producers and tech crew in the industry. But we could always use a little more help.
Other Ways You Can Help
Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help:
- Please use the hashtag #TWAH whenever you tweet or post on Twitter and Facebook (Instagram , too).
- Please use the Indiegogo share tools as well!
- Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool! Talk up the show!
- Make a connection: if you know someone who knows someone, send them our way.