Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising campaign. The current total stands at $4,350 and I have taken in all the checks for the charitable donations so they should clear your banks soon. It is hard for me to describe how honored I am that you all believe in the project enough to actually share your hard earned money with us.
Most of our attention these days has been going to locations. There is a lot of bureaucracy that I won't bore you with. Suffice it to say, it's a process and we're working our way through it.
In the meantime, I've had some very exciting news about a past project. Killer, made in my first semester at BU, has just been picked up by a regional PBS station to air as part of a shorts showcase. The show TVFilm will have its sixth season starting in June. I don't have the broadcast dates yet, I will be shouting them from the rooftops as soon as I know.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Location Scouting
About two thirds of Ghost Tours is set on Esther's front step. It is her spot along the tour and also where Sarah likes to go when she needs a break from the pressures of school. So it is important that we find the right location. There are a lot of things that go into what makes a spot "right."
Friday, March 14, 2014
Second Casting Announcement
I am thrilled to announce that we have cast both "ghosts." Esther and Tim are the two people who helped Sarah start up her ghost tours business.
Monday, March 10, 2014
First Casting Announcement
We have been making some wonderful progress with casting lately. Here are our first three confirmed actors. Selima Smith-Dell will be playing our lead Sarah. Shubhra Prakash will be playing Priya, the TA that all the professors wish that all the other students could be. And Kevin Kate will be playing Professor Messere who is sure that Sarah can finish her PhD if she could just do it his way.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Charitable Donations to the Arts
When I was 8-10-12 years old my local PBS station would show episodes of Doctor Who, and then come on during the breaks and say, "If you want us to be able to continue showing your favorite British programming, you need to become part of the process." I would run off to count my allowance, and then thrust my ten dollars at them. Nobody used the word crowdfunding back then, but that's exactly what it was. PBS set the standard for the rest of us.
The idea is sound, because you're doing it one way or the other. You can spend $12 for a ticket and $10 for a box of popcorn at your local multiplex in the mall to watch whatever it is Hollywood wants to churn out for you. Or you can become part of the process and contribute to the creation of media that you want to see made. If you are into that kind of thing, Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are full of projects and you can almost certainly find people who want to tell the kinds of stories you want to see. On the other hand, you can save yourself the hours of trolling through random projects and stay right here.
I am not using one of the crowdfunding websites because I have found a fiscal sponsor. What this means for you is that if you donate to my film you will get to write it off as a charitable contribution. If you are itemizing your charitable donations for your taxes anyway, this becomes a win-win for both of us. If you want the tax deduction use the contact form on the right and I will send you the information on how to make out the check and where to send it. On the other hand, if you won't use the tax deduction anyway, then use the donate button on the right. It connects to our PayPal account, which will be very useful for things like prop buying.
What's in it for you?
In the fine tradition of PBS, I too will have thank you gifts for you. Everyone who contributes will get a special thanks in the credits. But wait, there's more.
$10 - a digital download of the film upon completion.
$25 - a digital download of the film, plus an autographed copy of the script signed by the cast and crew.
$50 - a DVD copy of the film, plus an autographed copy of the script.
$100 - a DVD copy of the film, an autographed copy of the script, and an official Ghost Tours tee shirt.
$500 - a BluRay copy of the film, an autographed copy of the script, an official Ghost Tours tee shirt, and a DVD anthology of the collected works of Heron Media.
$1000 - a BluRay copy of the film, plus the collected works of Heron Media, an autographed copy of the script, an official Ghost Tours tee shirt, and if you live within a 50 mile radius of Washington, DC, Albany, NY, or Boston, MA a private screening with the director for you and 20 friends. I'll provide the popcorn.
The idea is sound, because you're doing it one way or the other. You can spend $12 for a ticket and $10 for a box of popcorn at your local multiplex in the mall to watch whatever it is Hollywood wants to churn out for you. Or you can become part of the process and contribute to the creation of media that you want to see made. If you are into that kind of thing, Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are full of projects and you can almost certainly find people who want to tell the kinds of stories you want to see. On the other hand, you can save yourself the hours of trolling through random projects and stay right here.
I am not using one of the crowdfunding websites because I have found a fiscal sponsor. What this means for you is that if you donate to my film you will get to write it off as a charitable contribution. If you are itemizing your charitable donations for your taxes anyway, this becomes a win-win for both of us. If you want the tax deduction use the contact form on the right and I will send you the information on how to make out the check and where to send it. On the other hand, if you won't use the tax deduction anyway, then use the donate button on the right. It connects to our PayPal account, which will be very useful for things like prop buying.
What's in it for you?
In the fine tradition of PBS, I too will have thank you gifts for you. Everyone who contributes will get a special thanks in the credits. But wait, there's more.
$10 - a digital download of the film upon completion.
$25 - a digital download of the film, plus an autographed copy of the script signed by the cast and crew.
$50 - a DVD copy of the film, plus an autographed copy of the script.
$100 - a DVD copy of the film, an autographed copy of the script, and an official Ghost Tours tee shirt.
$500 - a BluRay copy of the film, an autographed copy of the script, an official Ghost Tours tee shirt, and a DVD anthology of the collected works of Heron Media.
$1000 - a BluRay copy of the film, plus the collected works of Heron Media, an autographed copy of the script, an official Ghost Tours tee shirt, and if you live within a 50 mile radius of Washington, DC, Albany, NY, or Boston, MA a private screening with the director for you and 20 friends. I'll provide the popcorn.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Marketing Sarah's Business
One of the interesting things about having a character who is running her own business is that her business needs just as much attention paid to the marketing as the film does. You might have noticed this in the background of the blog, but have a better look at our first draft of Sarah's logo.
Monday, February 3, 2014
First Audition Announcement
We are in the middle of the casting process for the five principle players. It's a bit earlier than usual, but I would like to have the time to get the word around the Boston community of actors so that we can find people who really fit. Also there are costume considerations for a couple of the parts. The sooner we get them cast the sooner we can have the costume designer working with a real person, and more specifically a real person's sizes.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in the following parts please use the contact form to the right, or send an email to gtmithesis@gmail.com with Ghost Tours Auditions in the subject line.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in the following parts please use the contact form to the right, or send an email to gtmithesis@gmail.com with Ghost Tours Auditions in the subject line.
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