Support My Next Documentary

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Philadelphia born Filmmaker Steven Pomerantz is a grassroots, independent documentary filmmaker. TAKING BACK OAK LAWN was the first full-length documentary feature, whose previous credits include the short film OPEN (2003) and was a finalist in the American Express 15-Second Film Contest in 2008. Steven resides in Dallas, Texas, and has been a resident for the past 17 years.  "I love Dallas and hope that through documentaries which highlight important topics, people may gain a greater understanding and respect for their communities, both in Dallas, and throughout the U.S."

THE PAST
Inspired by recent events in Dallas, I filmed my first feature length documentary TAKING BACK OAK LAWN https://vimeo.com/ondemand/tbol over a period of 6 months in 2015. The film gained local success, premiering at the USA Film Festival, with additional screenings at the Dallas Public Library and numerous private functions. The film shared the story of more than 18 violent attacks against the LGBTQ community in the Oak Lawn neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, and was shot and edited in real-time as events unfolded.


THE FUTURE

The direction of my next film project will be what I will call PANTSUIT NATION for now, named after the private facebook community that currently has close to 4 million members. I will be filming selected members from this page over the next 12 months to learn their personal stories through face-to-face interviews, email correspondence, phone calls, FaceTime, and video diaries they will film and submit to me, capturing the good and bad of the first year of the Trump administration.

I want to show how they are each personally effected by decisions made by the government over the next year, starting on Inauguration Day 2017, and ending in January 2018. I hope to include a variety of people from various religions, sexual preferences, ages, races, genders, and political affiliations. With all of the media coverage focusing on broad stroke portrayals of both sides, I plan to dig a little deeper into the hearts and souls of Americans who are passionate about their beliefs, and their fears, of what they think will happen over the next 12 months, with Trump steering the ship.

For those of you that donated, thank you again, as I feel this new story will be an outlet to do something, once again, that's close to my heart, and potentially very powerful. It will give me a chance to express my frustration with the current state of our country, and how people have been treating one another, and finally, how this election may (or may not) change the lives of many of us in some very personal and profound ways.

Given this, if any of you feel you would be a good candidate for this project, or know someone that would want to be part of this film, please message me. I should have the participants narrowed down by 1/1/17.

This project will also involve more travel this Spring than anticipated, so I will continue to raise funding through this page.

Funding:
New HD Video Camera                                                      $1,200
Lighting & sound equipment                                               $700
Travel (flights & hotel)                                     $2,000  - $3000
Fees for entry to festivals                                                     $1000

Links to info/media coverage from my last project: https://www.facebook.com/astorytotellproduction

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/take-back-oak-lawn_Dallas-Fort-Worth-376539601.html

http://www.wfaa.com/entertainment/-taking-back-oak-lawn-premieres-at-usa-film-fest/145311205

http://artandseek.org/2016/04/20/the-big-screen-taking-back-oak-lawn/

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/arts/headlines/20160417-oak-lawn-hate-attacks-inspire-a-filmmaker-and-an-activist.ece 

The fees to enter film festivals, which range from $10-$100 per entry, can become very expensive when you work as an independent filmmaker. While not ideal to basically "beg" for money, I also realize, based on my first film, I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE as one can easily spend $3,000+ to properly market and create an independent documentary film.

I also realize that as much as this is a passion for me, it is also a business endeavor and needs funding to properly exist and be executed.

As a donor, you will get a VIP access code to download my last film off Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/tbol , along with future project updates and information regarding my new project as it is created. Your name will also be in the closing credits of the film if you choose. Any donations exceeding $2,500 will receive an Executive Producer credit for this documentary.

Much of this is a leap of faith on your part, and the belief that I can "step-it-up" on my quest to tell a story and shed light on the world we live in.

I greatly appreciate all donations.