Yes it's a painting: Newsletter #130

REStevensArt - Newsletter #130! - 11/26/14 www.yesitsapainting.com
First of all And now - ON with the SHOW!
The Origins of "Learning to Drive" with writer - Roderick E. Stevens (above) Shot during a recent interview with the local newspaper, this edited snippet explores the origins of our film "Learning to Drive". Click here to check out our IndieGoGo Campaign! (below) Prepare yourself for more LTD Awesomeness as our star Connor Long tells it like it is! Connor Long promotes Learning to Drive from Roderick E Stevens II on Vimeo. We've reached 30% of our current IndieGoGo crowd-funding campaign and we REALLY NEED YOUR HELP to reach our goal!
Remember YOU can choose your perk! The perks on IndieGoGo are there as suggestions, but if there's a piece of art that interests you, just let me know and we can make it work so that you get the art you want, you get a tax-deduction, AND you get to be a part of a fantastic film project!
About the Film! If you're just discovering "Learning to Drive", it is a short film inspired by the true story of a spirited young man with Down syndrome determined to convince his caring but distracted brother to teach him how to drive. The story follows these two brothers on a road trip to the Grand Canyon to scatter their mother's ashes. A sudden, strange opportunity however gives Red cause to try and alter their plans. Meanwhile, Michael sets out to convince Red that he can and should get a driver's license. This battle of wills, both humorous and contentious leads to an eye-opening encounter with an Arizona State Trooper before bedding down for the night in an old desert motel. The next morning, with Red passed out from his night's venture with imbibing, Michael chooses to complete their mission on his own, which leads to a frightening climax and the beginnings of change in Red's ideas about his brother. We hope to both entertain and elighten people about the capabilities and desires of people with disabilities and to empower and encourage those with disabilities to express those desires and pursue them. Since history has shown that affecting social change is far more successful when you can entertain folks rather than preach to them, I purposely chose to seek out the humor in the script and give audiences something to laugh at and characters to embrace. So far it has won accolades from two screenplay contests and received some very encouraging coverage so far from a third that is still underway.
We need your help to raise the money to help us get this film in the can and every donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE thanks to our fiscal sponsor, the From The Heart Foundation! You can simply click on the link below left to make a donation, or follow the link below-right to check out our crowd-funding campaign at IndieGoGo, or keep scrolling down to learn more about the film.

What we HAVE! An Award Winning Script! (LA New Wave Film Festival and the Life Fest Film Festival) We've been granted fiscal sponsorship under the 501(c)3 From The Heart Foundation! An Award Winning lead actor (with Down syndrome) for the role of Michael! A CSA Casting Director (Daryl Eisenberg Casting) is presently helping us cast Michael's brother Red! The Production is officially SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) Signatory! We have a full crew of experienced professionals (see the website for details and links)! A Sony F55 camera (to shoot 4K Raw digital video)! An Arriflex BL-IV (to shoot 35mm motion picture film)! A comprehensive camera package donated by Clairmont Camera (one of the largest camera houses in Hollywood)! A full 5 Ton Grip & Lighting package donated by Misty Production Services in Tucson! Meals catered for free by Schlotzky's in Sierra Vista, Az. and Big Tex BBQ in Willcox, Az.! Remote aerial drone and 4K camera for our aerial footage! All locatinos have been scouted and secured for free! All picture vehicles and production vehicles have been donated! Our sets (for over 50% of the production) are nearing completion right now! Two full days of second unit footage have already been shot!
What we NEED! In spite of all of these WONDERFUL contributions to the film, we still have a LOT of expenses left to cover, including: Production Insurance (liability, third party property, non-owned vehicles, equipment coverage) Travel and Lodging for the cast and crew traveling from out of town to help with the film Miscellaneous equipment rentals for items not being donated (scissor lift, e-fans, tables & chairs, space heaters, etc.) Wardrobe (purchases and rentals), props and set dressing not yet donated to the production. FUEL and LOTS of it - for all of the production trucks, RV's, generator, picture cars, etc. Field data recorders and storage drives for all of our 4K digital data Filmstock, labwork and datacine for our 35mm filmed footage Craft services - meaning snacks, water, drinks, etc. for the cast & crew Office supplies, photocopying, postage and shipping expenses Expendables for all departments (tape, globes, batteries, etc.)
Please check out the links above and share these links with anyone and everyone you know. Even if all you can pitch in is $10, a lot of these contributions can add up to help us cover a necessary $2200 insurance policy, or $2,500 in lodging expenses. AND the more interactions we have with the public on IndieGoGo, the more they will feature our campaign and expose it to a broader audience! You can simply make a donation through the From The Heart Foundation, or go check out the swell perks at our IndieGoGo crowd-funding campaign. Even buying any of those perks goes through From The Heart, so it's ALL TAX DEDUCTIBLE! As always, thanks for following along in my adventures and please toss me a note with any feedback or questions to roderick@restevensart.com 'till next time!