A FILM ABOUT THE INNER LIFE OF MEN
An inspiring comedy drama that will awaken men to the idea that untangling their inner lives will make them happier.
Much more than a movie - it's a catalyst for change!
We've completed production and are in the final stages before distribution! (Watch the trailer below.) We need your help to cover pre-distribution costs (music rights, subtitles, film festival submissions ...) We also need a marketing budget for the film release, because distributors barely market independent films.
We want this film to reach as many people as possible, so that it can change lives and make the world a better place. Therefore, we need your help with marketing and publicity.
We've launched this crowd fund to:
- Raise a distribution budget
- Build a publicity network (won't cost you anything!)
Watch the trailer:
Both funny and powerful!
Welcome to the Men's Group is a film about the inner life of men. Manly men. And some ... not so manly. But funny, flawed and fabulous men!
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Welcome to the Men's Group is an independent comedy-drama that takes us inside the intimate dynamic of an all-male support group when they gather one morning for a ritual breakfast and their unique form of male bonding.
One Sunday a month, these eight men refrain from beer and football to sit in a circle where they share their personal issues, in the noble hope of becoming a bit more evolved than their fathers.
On this day, things do not go as planned when one member appears suicidal, and long-standing conflict threatens to destroy the trust between the men.
The film delves frankly into themes of
male identity, competition, sexuality, shame, and grief.
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The film takes us on an emotional roller-coaster through the, often bumpy, inner terrain of the male psyche, as we hear the men open about their lives, sharing truth, telling lies, and revealing secrets they dare not discuss in their lives.
The film is largely inspired by the phenomenon of the "Men's Movement" of the past 30 years that was championed by writers like the poet Robert Bly and his bestselling book "Iron John" which explored the need for men to reconnect to their authenticity through storytelling, myth and ritualized gathering.
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Welcome to the Men's Group highlights the major shifts in men's consciousness and the changing attitudes towards traditional models of masculinity that are evolving every day.
It is a challenging look at "male vulnerability". It also uses humor and irreverence to celebrate the zaniness and absurdity of men - "Irreverence is the doorway to the sacred."
Ultimately the film shows a group of flawed men in a noble, painful and outrageously funny struggle to find their authenticity and a sense of community, and invites us, both men and women, to do the same.
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Men need the support of other men
"The story dances through deep questions about spirituality and fatherhood, material wealth and sexual attraction, mental illness and homelessness, and on into ridiculousness and hilarity."
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It's not about a Movie - it's about a Movement!
Making the world a better place by bringing men's groups to the mainstream.
Do You Share Our Vision?
Our vision is to help make the world a better place, and we believe that we can do that by using this movie to accelerate the growing movement to get men talking about, and healing, their inner turmoil.
If you share our vision we invite you to support us by contributing to our funding campaign and sharing our message on social media.
Why Men's Groups?
Mental health experts keep saying that the first step to dealing with the enormous silent epidemic of male depression and suicide is getting men to talk about it.
But men don't feel safe opening up and talking about it in their current environments. They don't feel safe talking about it with their friends in the bar, and they often don't feel safe talking to their wives or partners about it, because they feel that they have to keep playing the role of the strong, unshakeable man who is the confident protector of the family.
To get men talking about the deeper issues in their lives we need to create a lot more safe spaces for them. Men's groups are those safe spaces. There are men's groups all over the world and more springing up everyday. And now that the internet is so ubiquitous we can have online men's groups, so that regardless of where you are in the world, you can join a men's group.
Men's groups aren't the be all an end all, but they're a good starting point for any man embarking on a journey of personal growth.
This movie is a catalyst for change!
This film is a way of bringing men's groups into the awareness of many more men. A lot of men have never even heard of men's groups and many who have heard of them, don't really know what goes on in them, or what their purpose is.
For women
The film is also a great eye-opener for women in relationships with men. It will help women to understand that men also have a vulnerable side that often remains hidden ... and that men do think about more than sex, sports and cars!
THE FILMMAKERS
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Hi Everyone! We're Joseph Culp and Scott Ben-Yashar.
We wrote and produced the film.
Why did we make this film?
We made this film because we have been part of the "Men's Movement" and believe in what it's trying to do - connect men in a deeper way, and make us better, more evolved men! We've participated in men's groups for years and wanted to make a film that would take people inside this social phenomenon that has inspired us so much!
We want to bring this experience into the mainstream of modern culture and invite the men and women to support men's consciousness work everywhere.
Breaking the taboo: Men can talk about their feelings
THE GOALS OF OUR FILM
- Bring men's groups into the mainstream
- Show that men are evolving, just as women are.
- Break the taboo: men can talk about their feelings
- Show that men can be strong supportive AND vulnerable
- Bring deeper compassion and understanding for men and women today
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CHECK OUT THIS SCENE FROM THE FILM!
"The Men's Group Manifesto"
FILM STATUS: WHEN CAN YOU SEE THE FILM?
GOOD NEWS!
The film has crossed the finish line!
This is a fiercely independent film! With blood, sweat and manly tears we have completed all phases of production and are in the final stages before distribution!
We have begun early preview screenings as we build toward a release! Festivals in Europe and speciality screenings in the U.S. have been very successful and people love what this film is all about. We are building awareness of the film and audiences are getting excited to see it.
"It's hilarious. It's irreverent. It's poignant. It tackles men's issues that most movies these days won't touch, and in a way that you definitely won't see on the TV any time soon."
THE MANKIND PROJECT
"A Movie that Opens the Window Into Male Vulnerability"
The Good Men Project
European audiences are calling it:
"Woody Allen meets Almodovar!"
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WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We can't rely on distributors alone to provide the money and promotion needed to get the film to our audience - they just don't do that anymore. They make promises, take their fees, and nothing happens. So like Hemingway, we must be very manly and take the bull by the horns and do the work ourselves!
We've launched this crowd fund to go directly to our audience so we can:
- Raise a distribution budget
- Build a publicity network (won't cost you anything!)
DISTRIBUTION BUDGET
To release an independent film these days takes a village of men AND women! WE NEED YOUR HELP to market and release the film to theaters, cable, streaming services, the U.N., the space station, and in perpetuity throughout the Universe!
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If you can give generously to our campaign then we can cover all the necessary finishing and promotional costs of distributing the film and help it become a positive force and catalyzing event in the lives of men and women everywhere!
Do you own a business?
If you own a business, then you can support us by advertising your business on our Supporters page and that way your contribution will be tax deductible. Find out about advertising on our website.
PUBLICITY NETWORK
You can also contribute to our worthy cause in many non-financial ways:
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Follow us on facebook and twitter
The more people that follow us on facebook and twitter, the more money that a distributor will be prepared to spend on marketing the movie, because followers are proof that there's a market for the movie. So please follow us on facebook and twitter
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Share our posts and tweets
Help us reach more people by sharing our posts and tweets to friends and followers.
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Join our mailing list
Stay connected, so that we can let you know what's happening with the film, and when there are opportunities for you to help us with publicity.
www.themensgroupmovie.com/subscribe/
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Write about the movie/movement
If you have a website, then write something about the movie and the movement. If you send a newsletter to your mailing list then include a paragraph about us and a link to our website www.themensgroupmovie.com.
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Comment on this page
Scroll to the top of this page and click [comments] and leave a comment of encouragement or a question. More comments will help us get onto the front page of indiegogo, which will lead to more funding.
CHECK OUT OUR PERKS!
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We're offering a number of wonderful thank you gifts for your generous donations. From collector's items to meetings with the cast. , our perks include such cool items as:
- Naked man t-shirt!
- Signed poster!
- See the movie before release!
- Online men's groups!
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Signed Books!
- Premier!
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Private screenings!
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Breakfast with the cast!
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Attend a men's group!
- Become a producer!
- See the full list at the top right side of this page
Choose the level that shows your support and join the community that will help distribute this film everywhere!
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"Gratitude brings grace"
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ABOUT OUR TEAM: MEET THE FILMMAKERS
JOSEPH CULP (Co-writer/Director/Producer/Co-star)
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Joseph Culp co-wrote, produced and directed WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP. With over 30 years in theatre, film and television, Joseph also produced and starred in award-winning indie films like Hunger, based on Nobel winner Knut Hamsun's novel, and The Reflecting Pool, the first investigative drama about the 9/11 attacks. As an actor, you might know Joseph best as Don Draper's depression-era father "Archie Whitman" in AMC's hit show Mad Men. For comic book fans Joseph is known as the first (and some say best!) actor to play the Marvel Super-villain "Doctor Doom" from The Fantastic Four.
He is also the co-founder of the Walking-In-Your-Shoes Embodiment Process which is used by therapists, coaches, artists, and healers throughout the world. He is the son of actor Robert Culp, who starred on TV's I Spy and The Greatest American Hero. For more see www.josephculp.com
SCOTT BEN-YASHAR (Co-writer/Executive Producer)
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Scott Ben-Yashar is the co-writer and executive producer of WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP.
Scott started out in theater and television as an actor, writer and producer. Over the years he shifted into business and now moves back into the creative world of show business with writing and producing WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP.
MEET OUR AMAZING CAST
WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP stars an incredible ensemble of 8 actors. The true star of this film is "the group"! These pros show what ensemble acting is all about! Comments from early screenings say this might be the best ensemble since The Big Chill or Reservoir Dogs. If The Hateful 8 was a support group that didn't kill each other - this would be it!
WATCH THIS VIDEO OF OUR AMAZING CAST:
MEET THE MEN:
TIMOTHY BOTTOMS ("Larry" The stressed-out corporate attorney)
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TIMOTHY BOTTOMS is an iconic actor you may know from classic films like The Last Picture Show and The Paper Chase. He was hilarious as George W. Bush in the television satire of a sitting president That's My Bush!
STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY ("Carl" The glib, big business schemer )
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STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY is a beloved veteran character actor from classics like Groundhog Day, Thelma & Louise and television's Californication and Silicon Valley.
TERENCE ROTOLO ("Eddie" The Latino ex-marine/physical therapist)
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TERENCE ROTOLO has had a long career as and actor and stuntman in big films like Master and Commander, The Scorpion Kind and The Run Down. He plays "Frank West" in the highly popular game "Dead Rising".
MACKENZIE ASTIN ("Tom" The new man, an out of work/stay-at-home dad)
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MACKENZIE ASTIN has appeared in numerous film and TV roles such as The Last Days of Disco, In Love and War and Scandal.
JOSEPH CULP ("Michael" The history professor & recovering sex-addict)
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JOSEPH CULP is best known as "Archie Whitman" the depression-era father of "Don Draper" in AMC's hit series Mad Men. To Comic Book fans he was the first actor (and some say best!) to play Marvel Super villain "Doctor Doom" in The Fantastic Four.
ALI SAAM ("Mohammed" The Iranian-born restaurant owner)
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ALI SAAM was the key investigator in Ben Affleck's hit film Argo.
PHIL ABRAMS ("Neil" The lonely New Age social worker)
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PHIL ABRAMS has a slew of television and film credits including recurring roles on Parenthood, Kingdom and About a Boy.
DAVID CLENNON ("Fred" The accountant turned counter-culture poet)
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DAVID CLENNON is an Emmy Award-winning actor who appeared in numerous films and TV shows, such Hal Ashby's Being There, Coming Home, John Carpenter's The Thing, David Fincher's Gone Girl and as "Miles Drentell" in television's ThirtySomething and Once and Again.
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ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR FILM!
YOUR GENEROUS DONATION will be in good company as we are getting some early promotional support from great organizations who are aligned with our film, like:
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The Mankind Project - MKP promotes positive male values, mentoring and training programs. MKP is actively promoting our film!
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The Good Men Project - This wonderful online magazine has great information and articles all about issues that effect men today. Check out these articles about our film on the GMP site!
- Film Opens the Window on Male Vulnerability
- A Film That Suggests a New Father Archetype
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Kenny D'Cruz - The Man Whisperer I share personal development, management & marketing tools to empower men to transform their lives and businesses.
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The Men's Center Los Angeles - Promotes emotional and spiritual healing, enhancing the lives of men and those who share their lives.
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MenAlive - MenAlive seeks to help men, and the women who love them, successfully navigate the unique stresses of life in the 21st century, so that all our relationships can survive and prosper.
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PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN to this noble and entertaining cause for the benefit of men everywhere! And the women who have to put up with them.
HELP SPREAD THE POSITIVE MESSAGE of the men's group movement by helping us distribute this very special film!
HELP MEN TODAY to see this film and PUT AN END TO WAR once and for all! (Hey, it will help!)
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WHEN MEN SEE THIS FILM they will never look at themselves the same way again. And neither will their partners! And that's a good thing!
THANK YOU FOR DONATING
AND...
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REACH OUT AND CONTACT US!
Men's Group Productions
Tel 1 (310) 408-8023 Email: postmaster@themensgroupmovie.com
SEE THE FILM TRAILER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdwBzymDvZY&feature=youtu.be&a=
LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/themensgroupfilm/
TWEET OUR CAMPAIGN
https://twitter.com/mensgroupfilm
FOR MORE INFO ON THE FILM:
www.themensgroupmovie.com
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OTHER COOL STUFF ABOUT THE FILM:
Inspiration for the film
Our script drew a lot of inspiration from various aspects of men's consciousness work pioneered by social philosophers such as the poet Robert Bly who wrote a famous book about the need for male mentoring called "Iron John".
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"When men learn to go down into their grief, they will find it a nourishing experience."
"Men don't become men without the intervention of other men."
- Robert Bly
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What is Male Vulnerability?
WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP takes place on a single morning in the life of the group where we watch the men open up about their lives. The film deals with some very serious issues like male aggression, competition, sexuality, suicidality, shame, marriage, and integrity.
One of the significant aspects of our film is that it shows "male vulnerability" in a very intimate way, and invites us to see that vulnerability can actually be a man's greatest strength.
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A Film that is both Funny and Serious?
Though the film takes a serious look at men's issues, we don't take ourselves too seriously! We believe it is crucial to LAUGH AT OURSELVES! The film uses a healthy dose of humor and irreverence to celebrate all that is stupid and absurd about men.
AND LET'S FACE IT... WE CAN BE BOTH!
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"Irreverence is the doorway to the sacred."
IS THIS FILM FOR WOMEN TOO?
So some of you might be thinking, okay it's about a men's group, we get it - but is this film only for men? No, absolutely not!
WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP is "a film about men for women". This is a "feminist film" because it shows the positive effects of feminism which have influenced us to want to be better men and better partners.
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Men have been inspired by over 40 years of feminism to also seek their own empowerment, open up to their sensitivity, and at the same time to embrace the "male mode of feeling" and not lose their essential maleness. This is distinctly different than the more recent "men's rights movement" that is essentially misogynist and a fearful push back against feminism. Those guys need to get a clue and see our film as re-education.
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p"A film about Men for Women"p
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION!
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We're offering a number of wonderful thank you gifts for your generous donations. From collector's items to meetings with the cast. , our perks include such cool items as:
Joseph Culp co-wrote, produced and directed WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP. With over 30 years in theatre, film and television, Joseph also produced and starred in award-winning indie films like Hunger, based on Nobel winner Knut Hamsun's novel, and The Reflecting Pool, the first investigative drama about the 9/11 attacks. As an actor, you might know Joseph best as Don Draper's depression-era father "Archie Whitman" in AMC's hit show Mad Men. For comic book fans Joseph is known as the first (and some say best!) actor to play the Marvel Super-villain "Doctor Doom" from The Fantastic Four.
Scott Ben-Yashar is the co-writer and executive producer of WELCOME TO THE MEN'S GROUP.
