Short Summary
Overview:
A magic-realist short film to be shot in northern Nicaragua in late July/early August 2012. Based on true stories, as well as the poem "Las Loras" by Nicaraguan poet Ernesto Cardenal (
http://colecizj.easyvserver.com/pscarlor.htm)
20% of the money raised for this film will be donated to Fabretto Children's Foundation (
fabretto.org) for use in their education programs in Nicaragua. I have volunteered with Fabretto in the past and will continue working with them in the future. Addtionally, Fabretto will likely be assisting with some of our logistics while we are on location in the country.
Most, if not all, of the actors in the film will be former Fabretto students who have graduated from their education programs.
Synopsis
Adolfo, a country kid who has taken up life as a wannabe gangster in the city, runs into his old friend Ernesto, who has also started a new life in the city as a college student. Adolfo "borrows" Ernesto's dirt bike for the weekend, leaving Ernesto to take the bus home to his village in the mountains and reflect on whether the city life is really for him.
~15-20 minutes
Crew & Equipment
His recent photography project with Fabretto:
Jonny Zeller
Colt Seman
Andy Bell
Second Camera: Brandon Losey (possible)
Script consultants: Norman Flores, Walder López, Ana Bosch, Lenin Baez, Ernesto Lara
The film will be shot on a RED camera system, which is owned by the Sweatpants Media production team, as well as equipment from their various sponsors:
Panasonic
F-Stop Bags
SmallHD Monitors
Camtrol
Mole-Richardson Co.
Gearnex
Hotrod Cameras
Phase One
Extended Information
Budget:
At the minimum, we need $7,056 to put this film into motion, which includes the 20% of our Indiegogo revenue being given to Fabretto as a donation and the 7% that goes to Indiegogo/paypal (our net that we receive for the film will be $5250 with this figure). This will cover our airline costs, transportation and logistics costs, and most of our crew and talent.
The more money contributed = the more money that will be donated to Fabretto Children's Foundation.
Our goal is to surpass this $7,056 minimum, not only to raise more money for Fabretto but also to allow us to bring more film equipment, pay actors more, provide a cushion for unexpected circumstances, and go towards covering a larger overall budget and the finishing costs of the film in post production.
What you get
YOU get to be a part of a unique film project that bridges social awareness and cinema innovation. Read "The Impact" for more. (Perks listed on right)
*Additionally, it should be noted that this project is not a project run by Fabretto Children's Foundation; we will simply be making a 20% donation to them of whatever net revenue we raise here on Indiegogo. So if you'd like to contribute to our film separately, please contact us, and if you'd like to contribute directly to Fabretto (which we'd be thrilled with), contact them-- just realize that money donated to Fabretto will not be able to be funneled into this project.
The Impact:
This project will not only serve to bring publicity to Fabretto Children's Foundation and their fantastic education programs, but will also bring attention to this beautiful area of Nicaragua, which has some of the most fantastic sightseeing and the nicest people in the entire country-- let alone the world.
There are a lot of negative stereotypes regarding Nicaragua that I hear year after year from people in the US and elsewhere, especially regarding safety and poverty in Central America. While the poverty aspect rings true, Nicaragua is truly a special place. It is the most peaceful country in central America:
http://www.economist.com/node/21543492, and while poverty is still a big problem, every bit of attention we can bring to the region is a step in the right direction, especially when it comes to highlighting education issues, as this film does.
...And instead of putting the developing world in front of a documentary camera, why not make them "movie stars" for once?
Social awareness aside, this film is a creative piece, not a documentary or a promotional video for Fabretto. We are a group of young, innovative filmmakers and we intend on making a creative statement with this film using our collective experience and vision.
Completion & Distribution:
Our estimated completion time for the film is sometime around December 8, 2012, when it will be shown as Doug's thesis film for his film major at CU. It's likely it will be done before then, in which case we will distribute it to our $25+ contributors.
Similarly, we won't know for sure what kind of distribution channels we'll be able to reach until we have a finished product, but at the very least we hope to send the film out to various film festivals, who often have sections for "International Films," and to set up a couple local screenings in Colorado and elsewhere. We will keep everyone updated with our progress during post-production in the fall.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you believe in this project,
SHARE IT!!!
indiegogo.com/nicaraguafilm
More about us:
The Ninth Octave Films LLC is a startup film production company based in Colorado, started by University of Colorado student Douglas Cushnie. In its first year it intends to produce two short films in order to establish itself as a reputable independent film production house. Despite being a startup, by bringing together a positive and experienced team and partnering with established commercial video production company Sweatpants Media we will have the foundation needed for our foray into the world of narrative cinema and beyond.
At The Ninth Octave, we are driven by the notion that movies can serve a greater purpose than just entertainment. Movies can be powerful, thought-provoking, and most importantly, valuable. We intend to achieve and display this value by mixing classic film production style with modern tech and an innovative mindset in order to produce films that truly represent the next generation of cinema.
Sweatpants Media (Partner):
At Sweatpants Media, our passion for everything film & photo related pushes us to reach the full creative, intelligent, and meaningful potential for each project we undertake. With offices in both Long Beach and Minneapolis, our body of work spans the country and even the globe, covering commercial endeavors, short films, and television series. We’re much more than just a production house on the rise.
With a network that spans industries and generations, no project is too big. With access to a huge array of equipment, no job is too technical. With a creative team that has the rare quality of being both young and experienced, no idea is too rigid or too shapeless. Sweatpants Media can make something out of nothing or take an existing idea to the next level.
http://sweatpantsmedia.com/
Contact:
Feel free to email us with any questions. We'd be happy to talk with anyone who is interested in supporting our project: theninthoctave@gmail.com