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'Top of the Rock' - short film

In 1932 a picture was taken of 11 ironworkers 800ft above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan. This is the story about the family of men who built NYC.

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'Top of the Rock' - short film

'Top of the Rock' - short film

'Top of the Rock' - short film

'Top of the Rock' - short film

'Top of the Rock' - short film

In 1932 a picture was taken of 11 ironworkers 800ft above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan. This is the story about the family of men who built NYC.

In 1932 a picture was taken of 11 ironworkers 800ft above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan. This is the story about the family of men who built NYC.

In 1932 a picture was taken of 11 ironworkers 800ft above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan. This is the story about the family of men who built NYC.

In 1932 a picture was taken of 11 ironworkers 800ft above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan. This is the story about the family of men who built NYC.

Jes Bickhart
Jes Bickhart
Jes Bickhart
Jes Bickhart
1 Campaign |
Los Angeles, United States
$19,976 USD 58 backers
102% of $19,500 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

THANK YOU for taking the time to visit our Indygogo page.   We have been working on this project since March of this year and hopefully that shows from the amount of development that has gone into the creation of it so far.  We have an incredible team onboard and are very excited to invite you to join us over the next year as we shoot principal photography, work through post-production, and then go out to festivals all over the world!

Hopefully our video was fun to watch and communicated the heart of our message.  We’re not asking anyone to help fund a pipe dream or reach unrealistic goals.  We are asking everyone, our fans and movie lovers alike to help us complete a story that deserves to be told.

 

So what is “TOP OF THE ROCK”?

Well, it all started with a picture really, a picture that when you look at it, sends shivers down your spine.

On September 29th, 1932 photographer Charles Ebbets took one of Time's top 100 pictures of all time of 11 ironworkers enjoying their lunch break atop a girder on the 69th floor of the then-rising Rockefeller Center some 800ft above the street.  This year marks the 80th year since the picture was taken.

This story is free from the depression of tenement life and endless breadlines, focusing instead on the inspiring tales of a fearless few hundreds of feet above the Manhattan skyline.   These men were “numb” to the daily hardships of steel work.  They moved fast, often working incredible hours in fear of being instantly replaced by the myriad of others down below.  They were called “rivet gangs” and would throw red-hot rivets to each other across the girders, pounding them into the steel.  But it wasn’t their tremendous work ethic that makes these men so inspiring; it is the bond they shared amongst themselves, a brotherhood and family, stories above the depression-ridden streets of Manhattan.

 

WHAT exactly are we donating to?

We have enough funding to get us through principle-photography but need additional capital in order to finish off the project by February.  We are extremely excited to announce that Panavision has donated a 60K film grant to our production and numerous companies have offered their services at greatly reduced rates.  We ask that you please consider becoming apart of this team in any form that you can including joining the newsletter or just checking in on us from time to time.

We are in for the long haul and by the time we are packaged up and ready for the festival circuit in February, we will have spent over 11 months working on the film!  So take a look and hope to see you around.

 

WHERE is the money going specifically?

We are not hiding where this funding is going.  Below you will see specifically the breakdown for all elements of production that are in need of financing in order for us to finish this film on time.

PHYSICAL PRODUCTION BREAKDOWN:

            Set Design and Construction overhead

            Select Cast and Crew Salaries that were deferred

 

POST-PRODUCTION BREAKDOWN:

            Visual Effects: This makes up the vast majority of the budget.

            Matte Painting

            Rotoscoping/Wire Removal

            Match Moving

            Compositing

            Environments

            Particle Simulations and Elements

            Rendering

Music and the Original Score:  The composer John Dickson has an exceptional background in composing music for film, television, and the recording industry as well as performing with such artists as Barbra Streisand, Elton John, and Ray Charles.  John is currently working on the sixth season episodes of the USA Network smash hit Burn Notice.  John has been a good friend of Jes's since he moved to LA and they have collaborated on most of his work since.  John will be composing an original score for the film with a live orchestra.

Sound Editorial/Mixing: Often the unsung hero of Hollywood, sound can and does make the movie, especially when more is left up to the imagination.  The folks over at 424 Post (www.424post.com), a professional post-production sound and picture editorial company that has worked on films such as Pitch Perfect, Snitch, 30 Minutes or Less, Country Strong, Secretariat, Easy A, and many others, have worked with Jes before and are offering to significantly reduce their rate for this project.

Color Grading:  One of the final ingredients that gives big movies their polished touch.  It’s the distinct visual palette or ‘look’ of our film.  We plan to grade the film in a slightly de-saturated and sepia tone with a slightly higher contrast look.

Promotional Expenses:  Festival Submissions, DVD/Blu-Ray printing, Distribution, and online promotion are not cheap and in order to get the film out there and into festivals we need to be fully backed by an online presence as well as have posters and postcards designed and printed.

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There are definitely some cool, fun, one-of-a-kind gifts to be had for supporting this project, including but not limited to original concept art, props used in the film, and even a trip out to LA for the wrap/launch party in February 2013!

This project means a lot to me and the rest of the team so on behalf of the crew we will be making the short film available for viewing online privately the week of the wrap party if you subscribe to the newsletter or like us on Facebook!  Thank you on behalf of the entire team here at TOP OF THE ROCK headquarters in Los Angeles.  We look forward to updating you weekly on our website, here on the Indygogo updates section and on all of our social media platforms.  Welcome to the team!

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Have questions?  Feel free to email us at info@topoftherockmovie.com.  We will be sure to get back to you quickly.

Join the Newsletter! - http://eepurl.com/qAy7H

Check out our website! - http://www.topoftherockmovie.com/

Like us on Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/groups/topoftherockmovie/

Follow the creator on Twitter! - http://www.twitter.com/jesbickhart

 

 

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Choose your Perk

Top of the Rock Fan!

$1 USD
Access to the weekly Top of the Rock newsletter and a personal thank you email from the Director!
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
0 claimed

All-Access Pass!

$10 USD
All of the above, PLUS: The official “Top of the Rock” bumper sticker and a special thanks on our website (www.topoftherockmovie.com).
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
2 claimed

HD Download + Script!

$25 USD
All of the above, PLUS: An HD download of the movie and .pdf version of the script following the film’s official February release.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
0 claimed

A copy of the official DVD!

$50 USD
All of the above, PLUS: A copy of the official DVD following the film’s February release and official Top of the Rock festival postcard.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
7 claimed

Signed specialty-bound Script!

$100 USD
All of the above, PLUS: an exclusive, specialty-bound and numbered shooting script from set, signed by the creators and cast.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
20 claimed

Credits and Cast Photo!

$250 USD
All of the above, PLUS: Your name in the Special Thanks section of our credits (and yes that means IMDB!), along with an exclusive Cast photo printed with a glossy finish and the official “Top of the Rock” movie poster signed by key members of the cast and crew.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
17 claimed

Props from the Rock!

$500 USD
All of the above, excluding equal tiers, PLUS: the rivet-gun used in the making of the film signed by the cast members who used it.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
0 out of 1 of claimed

Props from the Rock!

$500 USD
All of the above, excluding equal tiers, PLUS: the scally cap used by one of the ironworkers in the film signed by the cast members who used it on set.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
0 out of 1 of claimed

Props from the Rock!

$500 USD
All of the above, excluding equal tiers, PLUS: one of the period lunch pails used in the making of the film, signed by the cast member who used it.
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
0 out of 3 of claimed

Movie Still and Storyboard!

$1,000 USD
All of the above, PLUS: A signed and framed official numbered still frame from the film with it’s corresponding and fully inked storyboard from development of the film. (Does not include $500-level tiered gifts).
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
1 out of 8 of claimed

Framed Official Movie Poster!

$2,500 USD
All of the above, PLUS: A signed and framed official numbered movie poster signed by the entire cast. (Does not include $500-level tiered gifts).
Estimated Shipping
December 2012
1 out of 4 of claimed

Attend Wrap Party in LA!

$7,500 USD
All of the above, PLUS: an invitation for you and a guest to attend the film’s wrap party in Los Angeles in February with the full cast and crew. Roundtrip coach Airfare from anywhere in the continental US and a 2-night stay at the Ritz Carlton - Marina Del Rey will be covered. (Does not include $500-level tiered gifts).
1 claimed
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