"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Movie Name/Year: The Alternate (2022) Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Length: 1h 27min Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: Bursell Productions, Uncork’d
Entertainment Director: Alrik Bursell Writer: Alrik Bursell Actors: Ed Gonzalez Moreno, Natalia Dominguez Blurb from IMDb: Upon unlocking a portal to an alternate dimension where all his dreams have come true, struggling filmmaker Jake is forced to confront his idealized self.
Selina’s Point of View: I’ve heard some
buzz about The Alternate, not a lot, but the quality of every word was sky-high.
The people who have been talking, have been saying that it was a damn good
film. When I realized it was a screener I had access to, I jumped on the chance
to see what the fuss was all about. Upon doing a bit of
research, I found that there was a crowdfunding element to it. There’s a
profile for The Alternate on Seed & Spark and it raised just over
$20,000 in a month. I think investors
should be proud. The
Alternate is worth more
than the buzz it’s already getting. This project is a
good example of why it’s worth supporting new voices. Writer/director Alrik
Bursell (Brother, The Rage, High Stakes) has a few shorts under his
belt, but this is his full-length feature film debut. Using The Alternate as
an introduction to him, I think we can expect some good thing. He does
characters right. Although the main character is a bit on the obnoxious side, his
frustration at having to ‘sell out’ is relatable. Anyone who chooses a creative
career know the depth of crushing self-doubt that’s portrayed. Because he has
this very human aspect to him, it makes it easier to take the strange ride
alongside Jake as he spirals. It would have
been very easy for Bursell to fall into a hole with Jake as a main character. If
a character is too obnoxious, with nothing to tie viewers to them, that’s
pretty much the end of the film. People stop caring almost instantly.
The concept of The
Alternate is not a new one. I’m reminded of VHS: Viral (2014),
specifically the segment: “Parallel Monsters.” The base idea of finding a
different version of oneself in a portal is typical, that’s just the latest
flick that comes to mind. I could point out any number of early 2000s TV shows
that use the idea for an episode or two, as well. I don’t think it’s an idea
that would land on an ‘overused’ list, but it’s common. What then elevated
The Alternate? If you read my
2017 review of VHS: Viral then you know I hated it. With one of the segments
sharing a concept with The Alternate why wouldn’t that have brought up
my score for Viral? I’d say the
acting is comparable, the setting is, as well. The difference is
in seeming small things. It’s the accurate reaction Jake initially had to
finding the portal. It’s how the character of the wife is so different between
dimensions that it’s almost hard to see her as the same actor. It’s the bold,
and suddenly horrific, ending. It’s Bursell’s voice in the script. The way the film
is shot, and the feel of the dialogue, takes The Alternate from being a
basic recipe to rising above. I am not familiar
with the rest of Alrik Bursell’s work, but I’m thinking I should be. The
Alternate will be available
on DVD and Digital September 13.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None Metascore – None Metacritic User Score – None IMDB Score – 8.3/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5 Trust-the-Dice’s
Parental Advisory Rating:
R P.S. Some short scenes during the
credits. Movie Trailer:
Actors: Stephen
Amell, Robbie Amell, Sung Kang, Kari Matchett, Greg Bryk, Lawrence Bayne, Jai
Jai Jones, Alex Mallari Jr., Shaun Benson, Aaron Abrams, Martin Roach, Matthew
Gouveia, Laysla De Oliveira, Vlad Alexis, Simon Northwood, Peter Outerbridge,
Sarah Hödlmoser, Kyla Kane, Max Laferriere, Merwin Mondesir, Casey Hudecki,
Jeff Sinasac, Chris Handfield, Natalie Lisinska, Emma Ho
Blurb from IMDb: A
super-powered construction worker falls in with a group of criminals in order
to raise the funds to help his ill mother.
Cat’s Point of View:
I can’t tell you how excited I was when Code 8 landed on Netflix. I have been looking forward to watching this
movie since the same-titled proof-of-concept-short hit Indiegogo in 2016.
For the sake of full disclosure, I freely admit that I am a
die-hard fangirl of the Amell cousins: Stephen Amell (Arrow, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Vixen: The
Movie) and Robbie Amell (The DUFF,
ARQ, X-Files). Needless to say, this project hit my radar quick when they
launched their campaign. I devoted an article to this successful crowdfunding project. (If you
like, you can read it here.)
As a TL;DR summary, between the original and follow-up campaigns, the film
raised $2,404,740.00 with 28,400 backers. Sadly, my budget at the time did not
allow me to be one of them – but Selina was able to contribute. (I have been
jealous of her early-access DVD.)
All that aside, I feel that I can still provide a generally
unbiased view of this movie. I do like to look for the bright side when I can,
but I still try to call it like I see it – even when I’m a super-fan.
In this case, I'm happy to say they succeeded in making
a really solid blend of sci-fi and crime drama with Code 8.
The production team really got a lot of bang for their bucks
with the police drones and android enforcer guardians. When those land, you
really do get a sense of bulk and weight – and scary emotionless firepower. The effects for individual powers were also well done. I’m very happy that they
went the route of subtlety where possible, and I’m giddy about how the
eye-effects turned out.
I’ve seen so many critics rag on the film that it’s some
sort of X-Men knockoff. I’m a bit
irked by that sort of comparison. It feels lazy to me. This isn’t a comic
adaptation. It’s an original story full of grit and moral dilemma. It’s got ‘mutants’
by way of evolved humans with special abilities – but it’s not trying to be
part of the super-squad genre at all. These aren’t superheroes or supervillains
– they’re regular people faced with discrimination and injustice and forced to
make decisions accordingly.
I am going to say something that makes me wince to admit,
but it was a little dry in some places. I didn’t feel the usual zing I get with this talented cast through the entirety of the movie. I can’t quite put my
finger on exactly what it was. Also, I feel that part of it could be a personal cognitive dissonance, considering the personalities of the characters vs. the personalities of the actors behind them. The cast was really on point in their roles, so don't hold that against them.
Perhaps it was the fact that the film followed
the crime-drama recipe rather closely so that it was generally predictable. I
like to be kept guessing – but following a recipe isn’t always a bad thing. It
didn’t do the film a disservice here, I likely did that to myself with
over-active expectations for the movie. Honestly, though, these are observations made because I feel the need to look at this more clinically to balance out my inner fan-girl.
There were fantastic characters that also could have gotten
a little more rounding-out, but that’s something that can likely be addressed
in the future. It’s open enough that there certainly could be a sequel. That
seems to be coming in the form of a Quibi spin-off series, announced on
December 10, 2019. The Amells are slated to return to reprise their roles. I’ll
be crossing my fingers that they can get Sung Kang (Live Free or Die Hard, Fast & Furious 6, Power), too. I really
want to know more about his character’s story specifically.
When all is said and done, I would recommend this movie for
2 reasons. The first is simple, it’s a good movie and well-grounded in its
world and characters. The second is out of support for grassroots filmmaking of
fan-backed projects. The more views this film gets, the better others will fare
in its wake with future projects that seek production similarly. This shouldn’t
be lightning in the bottle – but if it was, I’m glad to have been even a small
part of that. (Sharing the campaign counts, too, okay?)
Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the
best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week.
These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe
in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your
friends, and/or post it on social media.
These projects don’t just need money, they need people to
care and spread the word that they exist.
Support creativity. Support indie artists.
Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you
have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.
Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project
creators for
appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the
idea,
proposal, and people involved.
5 – Grayscale
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Nicole
Sim Bao Ling
Writer: Nicole
Sim Bao Ling
Other Staff: Natalie
Balderas, Brielle Biscocho, David Benjamin, Nathan Baldonado, Michelle Cessna
Amount Requested:
$2,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $415 raised by 25 backers.
This project has a very interesting plot. A world with no
color allowed, where people are all forced to be exactly the same. The main character
falls into some paint and winds up all different colors.
There are a lot of projects that offer people looking to be
themselves something to hold on to. An idea that no matter how different they
are, they’re not alone in wanting to be allowed to be their particular version
of different.
Grayscale is a
dystopian story with a lot to offer. The page is also laid out incredibly well.
There’s no question as to where your money’s going or what the people involved
are capable of. You even get to see some interesting storyboards in their
trailer.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$5 – Thank you! – We thank you for your support! It means a great deal to us, really.
Every dollar counts.
Highest Fund Reward:
$500 – Executive Producer Credit! – You are the bomb dot com. Thank you so much
for your generous contribution! * Please note that we do not provide
transportation and/or lodging.
4 – Relapse
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Karl
Jackson, Ambreen Razia
Writer: Karl
Jackson, Ambreen Razia
Other Staff: No
names available at this time
Amount Requested:
$3,924
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $4,192 raised by 44 backers.
I studied Criminology and Sociology
in university. Naturally, a dramatic film focusing on the rate of recidivism in
the UK caught my attention rather quickly.
The prison system
isn’t just about locking away criminals, it’s about rehabilitating people who
have the capability to be better. A lot of people committing crimes do so out
of ignorance or because they just don’t have access to other options in their
life. When a person like that is convicted, prison is supposed to sort them out
so that they can come back to the world and be functioning members of society.
Unfortunately, that’s
not really how it tends to go.
The creators of
this film, Karl Jackson and Ambreen Razia, made this film from their own
personal knowledge. They’ve seen people have to try to readjust after being
released, and they know exactly the kind of challenges those people can face.
Furthermore, they want to hold a mirror up to society as they put things in
perspective.
“We both have loved
ones within our own lives who have been a part of the prison system, and upon
release disillusioned with the systems efforts to help them rehabilitate, which
is essentially the catalyst for re-offending. Having facilitated workshops in
schools, PRU’S and prisons you become exposed to more complex human stories.
It’s easy for us to disregard that section of society, especially when you feel
that it’s got 'nothing to do with you' through our work we're trying to remind
people that prisons are a close reflection of certain people's reality. And
that the state of our prisons holds a mirror up to the state of our society and
we want to look at that.”
Since this project
was chosen for our top five, it has reached its goal.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$13 – Password & Film Credit – See the film before it’s released to the
public via special password-protected link, and have your name immortalized in
the credits!
Highest Fund Reward:
$1,308 – Executive Producer! – Legendary status!
3 – Come, Said
the Night
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Andres
Rovira
Writer: Andres
Rovira
Other Staff: Madeline
Berger, James Edmund Datri, Colby Reed Miller, Ali Kazzaz, Amy Geist, Lew
Temple, Nicole Sherman, Tate Birchmore, Max Page
Amount Requested:
$50,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $1,425 raised by 25 backers.
Come, Said the Night
is not your typical crowdfunded horror film. The plot runs a lot more in depth
than a lot of the projects I come across. Normally, that would already be eye
catching – but in this case, you have the added difficulty of working with
children.
A lot of directors do believe that working with children can
be difficult, especially when there’s some kind of mature content. There are
some that won’t even attempt it. In this case, Andres Rovira explained a very different
view to Trust the Dice.
“I enjoy working with child actors because they are still at
that age where acting is a sort of backyard playtime which leads to a more
honest performance. They don’t put on a theatrical song and dance for the
audience, rather, treat it like they are method acting as cowboys and Indians
and this, I find, is where some of the most natural performances comes from. In
the case of our 13-year-old lead, she’s an incredibly well versed and mature
actress for her age who knows the script better than I do, so I have no doubt
she will handle the mature topics like a pro.”
His argument is a good one, and even makes me want to
rethink the way I see child actors.
Come, Said the Night
utilizes their child actors to tell a grown-up tale. It’s a horror that is
meant to keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.
Everything Rovira seems to believe about horror films leads
me to understand that his project will benefit from the love he shows in the
genre. Even his use of the gorgon known in Greek mythology shows an innate
understanding of fear and what best heightens it.
“The Gorgon is a combination of Greek mythology’s version
but with my own modern twist. For example, the most popular Gorgon, Medusa, is
well known for the snakes in her hair. I wanted to avoid the familiarity of
this imagery because to me, fear of the unknown is the greatest fear. My
approach to scaring audiences is to bring to life what scares me and I’ve
always been disturbed by Bubonic plague doctors and masquerade masks. It’s that
long beak-like shape that if caught at the right light and focus, will stay
with you. With this new interpretation of the Gorgon, I want to create
something iconic that will be remembered.”
Clearly, this is not a project to be missed.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$5 – The Hum – You’ve heard the Gorgon’s hum. She has you now. As an inductee
of the night, we will send you a personal welcome email, an official shoutout
on our social media pages and access to all the behind the scenes updates. You
are part of this thing now. No turning back.
Highest Fund Reward:
$4,500 – The Never Forget – Receive a poster signed by the full cast, and a
thank you video from the cast to you! +1 day on the set, attend the wrap party,
1 ticket to the world premier (food/travel $ not included), and yes, an associate
producer credit! We’ll never forget your contribution to our film, and with all
this you’ll never forget this amazing experience.
2 – Sober and
Stoked
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Scott
French, Eugene Stiltner
Writer: Scott
French, Eugene Stiltner
Other Staff: Tyler
Valliant, Jenni Carney
Amount Requested:
$50,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $4,657 raised by 48 backers.
This project looks like incredible fun backed with an
important message.
Drugs and alcohol affect a lot of people – if not directly,
then through someone they love. Addiction is no joke, and what’s worse is that
there’s not often a way to help people who have succumbed to it. Not unless
they want to help themselves.
I’ve seen a lot of addicts get pushed to clean up by people
they love, and they ask what the point is. Why should they bother?
This film answers that question very simply. It states that the
point is to live, to have fun, and to move on.
Getting clean is a huge step for any addict, and the
creators of this project are very familiar with that. Together they fell to
their darkest, but they were also reborn – phoenixes from the ash.
For a lot of people, getting clean might very well mean
leaving behind all those friends that they once hung out with. Mainly because
those friends might not ready to pick themselves up yet. A recovering addict can’t
be around the same activities and substances that once dragged them down. Scott
French and Eugene Stiltner were very lucky. Trust the Dice spoke to Stiltner
and asked him about how he and French kicked their habits.
“I got sober a year before Scotty, and during that year I
stayed pretty low key. When he had everything go down with him and he had his
chance at getting sober, we were fortunate to reconnect and start surfing and
riding together again. We always push each other hard when we ride or surf,
just like we did partying, and now we get to do that in a way that actually has
a positive impact instead of a negative one!”
That was the birth of their understanding on how the best
things in life could substitute those things that hade once held them hostage.
Sober and Stoked
is an important project, not only for recovering addicts but for the people who
love and want to help them as well. If someone is helping a friend recover,
they need to understand that their friend can’t just go back to the same habits
they once had. Breaking a habit means breaking all habits that could lead to
it.
Stiltner offered some advice to our readers.
“If you have to change friends, even if you have to stop
talking to family for a while until you get your footing, you have to do it. These
are the hard decisions in sobriety. You must remember that it is your life,
your freedom, your health on the line. If others can’t be supportive, you must
do whatever is necessary to not drink or use. For people who are trying to
support someone in recovery, go to a coffee shop! Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Go do whatever, and please, please, please,
don’t have a cocktail, joint, line right in front of them while you do it!!”
This film has the potential to help thousands of people,
because it’s made by people that understand. No other creators could tell the
story as reliably as they will.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$5 – Social shout out! – Ok, it’s not a marquee or anything, but you will get a
social media shout out from us as a thank you for contributing! Every dollar
helps, and we are super grateful for it!
Highest Fund Reward:
$10,000 – Presenting Sponsor – The big fish presenting sponsor of the film! If
you are a brand looking to get exposure to an exciting market of people who are
embracing a positive and active lifestyle, this is the place for you! Gain
positive PR in the fight against addiction and create a loyal base of
supporters in the process. Contact us for details!
1 – Tales from
the Edge
Crowdsource Platform:
Kickstarter
Director: Ben
Adams, Andrew Shire, David Spearing
Writer: Ben
Adams, Andrew Shire, David Spearing
Other Staff: Raffaele
Nocerino, Michael Macdermid, Steve Curtis, Charlotte Knight
Amount Requested:
$17,873
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $3,605 raised by 56 backers.
I was instantly drawn in to the
well-made trailer for this web series. Even though it was just a description of
what they were filming and why they needed the money, it was created like a
story all on its own. I love when crowdfunding teams do that. It gives
potential investors the ability to see the kind of work those behind the
project like to do. It helps people figure out whether or not they are willing
to invest in that brand of comedy or attitude.
Personally, morbid
comedy is something I’m very much a fan of. When I did some work at the morgue,
it was common to get through certain cases by joking. It’s a little odd when
you think about cracking jokes about decomposition, but when I saw this trailer
it almost made me feel a little nostalgic for that.
I don’t know how
that works for most people, but yes, I just compared this project to cracking
jokes while surrounded by bodies in varies stages of decomposition. Call me
crazy, but I don’t think the creators of Tales
from the Edge will mind.
Trust the Dice interviewed
the people at Broken Toaster, but the responses were so humorous that I’m just
going to copy and paste the whole thing here. It’s a first for this particular
article series, but I don’t think anything else will properly prepare people
for what kind of humor to expect from this project.
Trust the Dice:Thank you for agreeing to discuss your project, Tales from the Edge.
Below are my questions. If you have anything to add, I’ll be happy to read it.
I attempted to go to the town’s website you show on your Kickstarter page. Was
that an expert fooling or just a broken link? (Judging from the way everything’s
written, I can’t tell.) Broken Toaster: Well that’s part of the
mystery isn't it?! Does a magician tell you how a trick is performed...No. Unless its the Masked Magician. He's a right spoil sports isn't he?! TTD:The Kickstarter page highlights your sense of humor very well. It’s
easy to imagine what your finished project will be like because of that. What
would you say have been the greatest influences on your humor throughout your
life? BT: Thank you very much. Yes we have
and are influenced by such legends as Lenny Henry and great comedy duos like
Hale & Pace and The Crankies.
However if you enjoy, The League of Gentlemen, Garth Marenghi's
Darkplace and Murder Most Horrid then this is the viewing for you. TTD:No one likes to think about coming short of success, but that’s what
I’m going to ask you to do here. If your Kickstarter campaign does not reach
its goal – will you create another campaign or try to find another way to fund
your project? BT: If this campaign doesn't work, we
have a back up plan. We've hired a farm
on the East coast where we intend to meet up and all digest a lovely cocktail
of poison and paracitimols, washed down with a nice Herbal Twinings Tea. TTD:You mention, briefly, the possibility of adding two more episodes (I
imagine this is part of your stretch goals). Do you have those two episodes
mapped out yet? Would they occur after Dead and Breakfast or before The
Aristocrats? BT: We may top and tail the episodes by
having one set in the 1940's and one set in the 2010's. Or we may just not
bother and fill out the episodes we already have with filler. You can never have enough walking shots in a
script, a cut away of a flower or bloodied axe.
The possibilities are endless. TTD:Do you foresee any significant differences between the filming of this
series and the filming you’ve done for your YouTube content? BT: We shall apply our usual strategy
which is if you can't plan it well.
Simply throw money at the problem.
The web-series is going to be next level. The money will give us time to
rehearse, refine and reward. TTD: For people who are new to your content, what three videos from your
YouTube channel would you suggest to get them started? BT: The Tooth of Freddie Mercury from
Drew, Bodies from Dave and Guess Who from Ben.
But I would say the 24 hour shorts are a great starting point if you
want to get started on "The Toast".
To show our faith
in this web series, Trust the Dice has donated a small amount to Tales from the Edge.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$1 – Bear Minimum, Fam – The bare minimum, or Bear minimum if you are from
Peckham or a Bear. The size of the donation isn’t what counts, it’s what we do
with it. Every $1 you give will go towards a part of production that we’d be a
pound short for if you hadn’t donated. Mainly this will go on coffee,
cigarettes, and renting the James Bond stage at Pinewood.
Highest Fund Reward:
$10,503 – Nearly There Person – Because of you, we’re nearly there! We’ll shout
you out every week as ‘almost there man/woman’ and you’ll be a part of the team
basically, you can come to set, even be in it, we may even give you a line… but
you don’t get any creative control of course, that’s just for us and you have
to bring your own cigarettes & coffee to set.
Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the
best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week.
These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe
in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your
friends, and/or post it on social media.
These projects don’t just need money, they need people to
care and spread the word that they exist.
Support creativity. Support indie artists.
Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you
have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.
Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project
creators for
appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the
idea,
proposal, and people involved.
There will be no Crowdfunding article next Sunday.
5 – EXIT
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Stephen
Mathis, Evan Rutherford (assumed)
Writer: Naveed
Khan
Other Staff: None
listed
Amount Requested:
$2,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $556 raised by 6 backers.
This is a very unique project, but I wish I knew more about
it.
EXIT is a short
film about a woman struggling with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to
donate her consciousness to someone after death. The idea behind the project is
simply fascinating.
I did attempt to talk to the people at Blue Frost Films, but
didn’t receive a response from them by the time this article needed to be
written. That means I know very little about them other than what I could find
on their Indiegogo page and IMDb. It’s a shame, because I had a LOT of
questions to ask about this one.
The production company responsible for EXIT is known for at least three other films that can be found on
IMDb, which lends a lot of credibility to their project – even with less
information available.
With that said, I think the trailer says a lot. It’s eye
catching and interesting. Exactly what you want to see in a crowdfunding
project.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$1 – Good Luck! – Send us a good luck wish in the best way! We get that times
are tough, and we will still make sure your dollar doesn’t go to waste. You
will receive our thanks and appreciation because every dollar counts!
Highest Fund Reward:
$2,000 – Executive Producer – You are the ultimate supporter! You will have
single handily funded the entire film and we couldn’t be more thankful. You get
all the perks we can throw at you! (Note, you must be in Denver for a set visit
unless we make more than our goal for travel expenses.)
This was the first project to catch my eye this week… but
photography isn’t my specialty, so I brought a photographer friend of mine in
to take a look at the page as well.
Where the trailer caught me, it didn’t catch him as much…
but the visuals did. He indicated that the set-ups shown throughout the trailer
seemed like they would produce some incredible photographs. Of course, he
wanted to make sure I mentioned that not all photographers live the way those
in the trailer seem to.
I think that response indicates why I was so attracted to
this film. Although my own experience with photography involves cutting the
heads off anyone I attempt to aim a camera at, to someone more interested in
the subject – this documentary shows the dream. People will get to see the best
of the best where wedding photographers are concerned… and it will give them
something to strive for.
Dreams are great, but they’re even better when you can see
that future goal in your mind.
WedTrotter is a
documentary series and it is asking for a lot of money, but you have to
understand just how much world travel is involved with the filming. With the ‘All
or Nothing’ goal, there’s still very little risk to backers. I think that makes
it worth looking at, despite the high price point.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$4 – Website & Facebook Thanks – We list your name on our film’s Thank You
page and on our Facebook page.
Highest Fund Reward:
$10,048 – Get your name on the presenter’s T-shirt in one of the episodes. + 30
seconds video advertisement for your product/service at one of WedTrotter’s
filming locations. + We integrate the video in the documentary episode.
3 – Thousand
Yesterdays
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Robbie
Bryant
Writer: Robbie
Bryant, Rhys Hills, Tom Bailey
Other Staff: Fred
Bonham Carter, Franziska Lindner, Alessandro Farrattini, Thomas Carter, John
Hubbard, Ros Hubbard, Andy Robertshaw, Alexandra Toomey, Ronnie Rackley, Jamie
Edgell, Malcolm Huse, Kieran Waites, Nettie Hurley
Amount Requested:
$12,192
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $6,022 raised by 39 backers.
The deeper you look into this project, the more impressive
it gets.
I find the plot interesting enough, but the trailer
heightens that interest quite a bit. The problem was my concern over just how
well the setting could be duplicated on a smaller budget. When I dug deeper
into the page, I learned they had a military advisor lined up for accuracy.
That was when I really started to pay attention to what the
Indiegogo page was telling me.
The idea that this film isn’t about trying to save the love
interest, but about appreciating her while she’s still alive… that’s new to me.
You see the same base plot all the time, but it’s always about trying to save
the woman. That small twist is enough to change the plot from seeming trope-y
to seeming fresh.
There’s a very experienced team working on this project and
they have a clear idea of how to make their short film work.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$26 – Digital Copy of the Film – Thank you credit at the end of the film and a
private online link to the film once the festival run is finished.
Highest Fund Reward:
$19787 – The All In – Discuss your bespoke investment incentive over dinner at
Gastronhome, one of the finest restaurants in London!
2 – All Talk
Crowdsource Platform:
Kickstarter
Director: Jim
Tierney, Mike Hayhurst
Writer: Jim
Tierney
Other Staff: Erik
Jacobsen, Matthew Kay, Christina Bianco, John Bianco, Thomas Yannite, Tikki
Suarez, Dor Dotson, Michael Tranzilli, Colleen Britt, Devon Delatour, Jerzy
Gwiazdowski, Johnny Hildreth, Katie Shea Drossel, Ozie Carty, Padraig Sweeney,
Patricia Brown, Richard Prock-Golan, Douglas Cranfield, John Bianco, Patricia
Bianco, Isabella Bianco, Helen
Amount Requested:
$20,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $8,039 raised by 73 backers.
I wasn’t sure what to make of this project at first. I was
watching the trailer with a kind of confused expression, but things changed
rather quickly.
The trailer wound up becoming my favorite part of the
Kickstarter for this series. It highlighted the comedic timing and writing
involved in the project.
I laughed a lot while watching. And that gives me incredibly
high hopes for the finished project.
The page is one of the best laid out pages I’ve seen in a
while, also. It’s full of information that could get you interested in the
series, but it also has all the necessary information to make backers feel more
comfortable about donating. They know why they need that exact amount of money
and they lay out how they’re using it really well.
Even if you’re not sure you want to donate anywhere, you may
want to take a look at this series. At the very least, enjoy the trailer.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$10 – Ten for the show – You’re great! You’ll be listed as an official
supporter on our website, plus we’ll give you a shout-out on our Facebook page.
Highest Fund Reward:
$2,000 – You’re kind of a big deal – Hey, boss. You are officially an Executive
Producer of All Talk, Season 1. Welcome to the team! You can rest well every
night knowing you are an integral part of making our dreams come true. You’ll
get an official credit on the show, and you’ll be listed prominently and
separately in the credits. We’ll keep you apprised during the rest of the
creative process. And when we’re huge stars, not only can you say you knew us
when, you can make up fun stories about the early days and we won’t even deny
them.
1 – Severed Silence
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Elizabeta
Vidovic, Kathryn Michelle
Writer: Elizabeta
Vidovic, Kathryn Michelle
Other Staff: Rob
Raco, Maiara Walsh, Izabela Vidovic, Adam Huss, Alla Tumanian, Mostly Kosher, Allen
Hooper, Austin Nordell, Polly Gregory, Barbara Holmes
Amount Requested:
$25,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $8,260 raised by 68 backers.
Severed Silence
was the real stand out project this week.
It’s a horror film that truly seems to be top of the line. It
offers some of the traditional jump horror you’d expect, with an underlying
thrill that drives it.
I asked the creators of this film, Elizabeta Vidovic and
Kathryn Michelle, how they felt about balancing subtle and overt horror, their
answer was very informative.
“When we can make our audience feel uncomfortable,
unsettled, and vulnerable to the point they are biting their nails without even
a knife being lifted, then we know we've got our hooks in and the fear they
feel runs much deeper. However, we don't shy away from traditional gruesome
horror, we just don't make that our foundation. So, the intense mysticism and
folklore surrounding our Romani family in Severed
Silence is already unsettling and plays to the audience's fears of an
unknown culture. When we challenge the audience's perception of our Romani
characters and work against stereotypes, we hope the audience's internal
conflict will deepen, especially as they emotionally connect with these people
before they have to tragically and inevitably lose them. For us, the balance
will simply be in staying true to what is already on the page and allowing the
intense moments to form organically as the murders begin to take place.”
In that one response alone, you can catch a glimpse of the
experience, passion, and talent involved in the making of Severed Silence. The Indiegogo page speaks for the rest of it.
The trailer is eye-catching and has a humanity to it that
helps connect any interested party to the project they’re learning about. There’s
even a concept trailer to help prospective backers get into the feel of the
film – something not a lot of projects have.
To show my confidence in this project, I have donated a
small amount in the hopes that it gets funded.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$5 – A personalized thank you! – We will post a personalized “Thank You”
addressed to you on our social media, for being so awesome!
Highest Fund Reward:
$5,000 – Executive Producer Credit – You will be credited as executive producer
on Severed Silence, Plus receive the premium perks!
Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week. These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your friends, and/or post it on social media.
These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.
Support creativity. Support indie artists.
Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.
Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for
appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,
proposal, and people involved.
5 – Why is there no fifth project?
Sometimes, crowdfunding doesn't work out. It's a sad fact, but it's true. One expects that there will be times that projects don't meet their goal. However, it's a little more shocking when the project fails before the end date.
That was the case with one of the projects I chose for this week.
Not even an entire 24 hours passed between when the person involved opted to respond to my request for information and the moment when they pulled their project from Kickstarter. They made no mention of the possibility that their project might be on the brink in their interview, either.
I can't explain what happened - if someone dropped out, or they decided not to go the indie route... that information was not offered to me. I didn't ask.
Sometimes that just happens. The best way to protect yourself from those issues, is by paying close attention to the campaign. If a page isn't laid out well, with a breakdown of how your money will be spent and the risks - along with solutions - of filming, then you usually want to move along.
It's great for a director/writer to know what they want and to have a good proposal, but it's also important that they have the business aspects down pat as well. If you don't know where your money is going, don't give it to them. If they don't have a plan b for any issues that occur, then anything can go wrong.
Be vigilant. That's the best thing you can do.
4 – FrankenThug
Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo
Director: Richard Tanner
Writer: Richard Tanner
Other Staff: Danielle Page, Cassidy Rose, Joseph Mcelwaney, Nathan Hamilton, Dante Sellers, Nik Uttam
Amount Requested: $5,000
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $510 raised by 10 backers.
This film is a little different than the majority of the projects I choose for the top five. It didn’t make the list by default, however, it beat several other projects for the spot.
It’s easy to underestimate a film sporting such a goofy title. When I was going through the various projects shown on Indiegogo for the week, I certainly did. I had no doubt I’d be watching just a couple of seconds of the trailer and moving on. Instead, I wound up laughing like a hyena in the middle of Subway.
I recommend it. The weird looks you get, alone, are worth it.
FrankenThug was filmed in two weeks with a budget of $5,000. It’s definitely meant to be a B-type film, but it does so gloriously. It’s got the camp and humor that you expect from a movie you want to turn your brain off for and just have fun with.
That makes sense, because the director has got B-horror in his heart.
“Funny enough, B-horror/comedy is my dream! I grew up on that stuff. Tons of gore and cheesy one liners,” Richard Tanner told Trust the Dice. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m living the dream! I have a ton of fans and I get to make silly films with my friends.”
From what I can tell, FrankenThug is a fun, incredibly weird, film specifically made for people who love camp. It’s worth giving a serious look if that’s your thing.
For a sample of Richard Tanner’s writing, before you donate, you can purchase “The Thin Veil of Sanity and Other Stories: A Cthulhu Mythos” from Amazon.
Lowest Fund Reward: $1 – No longer a Buck Short – For a dollar, we will be forever thankful! Bucks add up!
Highest Fund Reward: $1,000 – Hey, Hollywood! – At this level, we owe you everything! We will graciously give you executive producer credits on FrankenThug and a very special fruit basket! Also, we will be more than happy to personalize this perk for you in any way that you want (within reason… we are fragile!). All other perks are included!
3 – Beautified
Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo
Director: Emily Haigh
Writer: Emily Haigh
Other Staff: Beatriz Delgado Mena, Cassandra Rutledge, Joanna Masiewicz, Ana Baltova
Amount Requested: $7,000
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $760 raised by 9 backers.
More than once, Trust the Dice has spoken out about human trafficking. It’s a significant issue that’s growing due to the rampant violence and injustice in the world. Recently, more than 70 children went missing from foster care in Kansas. It was difficult to not instantly wonder if trafficking was involved.
Whether or not it was, the fact that those children went missing for so long before anyone even noticed… it shows just how big a problem there is.
Beautified is a little different than the other projects on the subject that I’ve supported before. It’s not a documentary.
This is a dystopian-style story involving three innocent girls that find themselves in a dark and terrible situation.
“The story is fictional but highlighting human trafficking,” Emily Haigh told me. “Sadly with the refugee crisis more people are being pushed into modern slavery - people need to be made aware and vigilant as most cases go unnoticed. The girls in ‘Beautified’ look like they have the perfect life but it is quickly apparent this is not the case.”
Not much is known about the film yet, since Haigh is still auditioning other actors at the moment, but the Indiegogo page is laid out well and is clear about where exactly your money will go.
Documentaries are good, but telling a horrific tale through the scope of a fictional film is sometimes the best way to get people to understand.
Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Smile – You’ve but a smile on our faces and we wish to put one on yours with a social media shoutout.
Highest Fund Reward: $2,000 – Botox – Become an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER! You’ll receive an Executive Producer credit on IMDb and your name will appear in our end of film credits! You’ll also receive TWO TICKETS to our London screening. Please note dates may vary and you will need to cover your own transport/accommodation.
2 – The Power of One Coin
Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter
Director: Flaminia Graziadei
Writer: Jack Angerstein
Other Staff: Zbigniew Siwek, Rebecca Morton, Magdalena Herfurtner, Amrit Bilkhu, Kathleen Nellis, Laurent Durham, Alice Beesley, Mathias Falcone, Alba More, Simon Pires, Rory Gardner, Devorah Corona, Chris Smith, Cristiane Delfina, Mark Rae, Simon Gibbons, Carianne Dunford, Michael Spry, Patrick Kigozi, Claire Richardson, James Troake, Ryan McDowell, Nigel Barber, Stacey Gough, Adrian Relph
Amount Requested: $39,858
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $5,717 raised by 73 backers.
This is another project that covers an important subject, but takes a fictional stance with it.
Depression and the power of kindness are subjects that sit very deep in my heart. When I was in high school, I lost two friends to suicide… and depression has since been a common recurrence in my life since. Aside from my own battles, I’ve met many people that have dealt with it.
Along the lines of what The Power of One Coin is about, I have a story from my own life.
Me and my best friend are night owls. When I lived with my mom, however, that was a problem. My mother was always an early to bed, early to rise type. That meant no one was in the house past six at night, which is normally when my head stops being foggy. So, me and my buddy would go hang out at the nearby Dunkin Donuts and play a card game called Magic: the Gathering.
We got a lot of weird comments and questions, but it was the only place we had the option of hanging out… and it was one of our favorite activities.
One day, a young guy saw us playing and paused by our table to watch. We asked him if he wanted to join us, and let him use one of our decks.
It was a random act. He was a little younger than us, alone, and seemed interested in the game. I’m not the most outgoing person in the world, but I just stepped out of my comfort zone a bit that night. He turned out to be a really great player.
It also turned out that he was planning to kill himself that night and wound up not going through with it because he made some new friends. He’s married now and has moved out of the country, but I think about him a lot.
That night we made a difference to someone with our silly little card game and weird sleep schedules.
The idea that a small, random act of kindness can change a life… is one that I understand. And, having experienced it, I know that there’s a lot of truth behind what this short film is trying to teach.
It’s important to note that a small act of kindness can affect anyone, not just those suffering from depression. According to producer Zbigniew Siwek, this film will also focus on other mental illness issues, such as: dementia, OCD, anxiety, and PTSD.
As a project, in general, The Power of One Coin has the ability to truly succeed. They’re working closely with a Kickstarter expert, Justin Giddings, that has helped other projects go from troubled to funded, very quickly. Some of his former projects include: The Alley, Holiday Hostage, This is Normal and Cujo: The Smart Way to Fight Home Hacking.
The Power of One Coin is asking for a lot of money for a short film, but their message is an important one and they have a lot of great help. Not to mention, they are going with an ‘all or nothing’ kind of goal, so there’s less risk involved when donating.
Lowest Fund Reward: $13 – The Thank You Coin – We’re so glad that you’re here to support the film so we’d like to give you the thank you coin which will give you the power to be famous across all of our social media via a huge thank you shout out from the team!
Highest Fund Reward: $2,613 – Executive Producer Package – You put some serious coins into this project and we could not be happier to have you on board our team. We’d like to give you a coin that will not only make you an Executive Producer but also give you all the perks that go along with it! Your company’s logo featured at the end of the film and in promotional materials, you will be an official sponsor of the film. This of course comes along with all the perks of the Co-Producer!
1 – I Am Maurice
Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter
Director: Jerry Lamothe
Writer: Wil Sylvince, Bryan Kennedy
Other Staff: Paul Basile, Patrick Hay, Bryan Trenis, Tommy Harron, Bryan Bisordi
Amount Requested: $101,091
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $15,970 raised by 89 backers.
By the end of the first eleven seconds of this project’s trailer (different trailer than what’s featured above), I was hooked.
It was such a simple beginning. Simple sounds. Simple imagery. But it was so well done that I was instantly wondering about the main character.
When I go through Kickstarter and Indiegogo for these articles, I always watch the trailer without having read anything else on the page. I don’t even always know the name of the project before-hand. I do that because the majority of people surfing these sites are doing just that: casually surfing. There’s no guarantee they’re going to donate anywhere, and they’ll often just watch the trailer and move on if it’s not eye catching.
This particular film does not have that kind of problem. After watching the trailer, I was hungry to know so much more about the project.
I was shocked to learn that I Am Maurice was written by two comedians, but writer Wil Sylvince had a very good point about why I shouldn’t have been.
“I don’t know about other comedians, but my life is mostly drama,” he said. “Not like baby-mama drama, but it’s not always fun and games. Comedians, we take drama and make it OK to laugh at. So, most of the time, it starts out as drama anyway.”
After some thought, that made a lot of sense. Even the greats, like George Carlin, had jokes rooted in the serious dramas that took place in his live, and throughout the world.
Reading Sylvince’s response to my questions put the rest of his Kickstarter campaign into a different light for me, and an image of what to expect of the film manifested much clearer.
I’m absolutely certain that I Am Maurice has everything it needs to be a great film. The story is interesting, there are incredibly talented people involved, there’s an insane amount of passion, and it carries an important message with it for anyone who watches.
To show my confidence in this film, I have donated a small amount toward it’s hopeful success.
Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Updates & Behind the Scenes Access – We’re pretty sure $5 donations is how Obama got elected, so are hoping it works for us as well, but we’re filmmakers, not politicians. For $5 we’ll send you regular updates and behind-the-scenes news throughout the fundraising and movie making process!
Highest Fund Reward: $10,000 – “I Am Maurice” Co-Producer – Get a credit in the film as a co-producer!
