Movies You Want To Make: “Consideration”
I have been thinking about starting a variation of the Movies You Made series: Movies You WANT To Make. With Kickstarter and other funding resources, more filmmakers are making more films. Of course, that’s very much in the spirit of the spec: Come up with an idea, create it, put it out there. So it was a nice bit of synchronicity when I received this email from longtime GITS reader Amy Butler:
I’m two years out of the film program at the University of Michigan when a former professor approaches me with a fantastic opportunity. He wants to direct his first feature, and he wants me to write it. He was inspired by a New York Times article on a recent phenomenon of ‘sugar dating’ (younger women and older men in ‘mutual beneficial’ arrangements) — and the websites that facilitate it. One of the things that really interested us was that many of these young women were entering into these arrangements to pay for their student loans or tuition.
I myself can relate to the post-college financial crunch of the economy and student loan payments, having had to alter my post-college plans more than once because of finances. We’ve been working on the script for the past year, have solidified our cast, and are rolling on pre-production. We are indie super low budget and set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the budget. Our budget is going primarily to pay the cast and crew — we feel strongly that we need to reward the people who donate their time and passion to this project. The Kickstarter page has a video from us, the filmmakers, more articles on ‘sugar dating’ and backstory of the production, and some great exclusive rewards for our backers. We have just over 60 hours left, so hurry to snatch those exclusives!
I think this is a story a lot of people can relate to, and we’re hoping to send it to film festivals next year. It will be my first produced screenwriting credit — an opportunity I wouldn’t have gotten if I had left for Hollywood right after graduating. Another non-LA success story? I hope so!
Here is a video they have to promote their fundraising campaign:
I remember reading that article as well. Sounds like a good idea for a movie. For more information and to contribute to the funding of “Consideration,” go here.
If there others out there who are raising funds to make a movie, send me your information including any embeds, and I’ll be happy to consider promoting your efforts.
And good luck, Amy!