Suicide Party Film Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-tXkDnGjQ
DAVE'S SUICIDE PARTY is a dramatic film which deals with a critical issues in our times -- inequality and the wealth gap in America between rich and poor causing the loss of the middle class and the rise in suicide for the new poor.
Both entertaining, timely, and thought provoking, SUICIDE PARTY tells the story of Dave, a late-30s once successful salesman, who has lost his job, can't find another, and is 30 days from losing his house.
Using the popular found footage approach, Dave's best friend Steve tells the story. Since the bank won't help nor can his friends, who are struggling, too, Dave turns to Steve to help him put on a Suicide Party to raise funds.
If he gains enough, he'll live; if not, he'll end it all. Steve reluctantly agrees, and the plans for the party turn into a media frenzy with unexpected results.
We already have a Director and actors for Dave, Steve, and other lead roles, who have extensive IMBD credits for over 30 feature films, with Jack Skyyler Directing.
The Writer/Executive Producer is Gini Graham Scott, who has written and produced over 60 short films, from narratives to documentaries, and has published over 50 books with major publishers.
We have raised $25,000 so far from investors. Now we need an additional $5000-$15,000 pay for the editing, marketing, and promotion, and you'll get great rewards for your contribution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCnoZny6O0U
To help raise funds for this film, we produced a sizzle reel and first episode locally with volunteers and started several fan pages, including www.suicidepartyfilm.com, a Save Dave website at www.savedave.net featuring invitations for anyone around the world to submit 10-30 videos on why we should save Dave, and a Save Dave Page at www.facebook.com/youcansavedave.
There will be prizes for the best, most creative, and funniest videos, so submit your videos and we'll post them.
The short has already been featured in several film festivals -- the Scary Cow Film Festival in San Francisco, the Oakland Film Festival, and the Northern California Film Festival, showing globally online.
We'll be showing the feature in festivals and workshops to highlight the issues raised by the film about inequality, the declining middle class, suicide, the media, and celebrity, and contribute to the dialogue on these topics. The author has a related book being published by the Nortia Press in October -- the New Middle Ages -- comparing inequality in America to life in the Middle Ages. The book will help in promoting the film.
SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR FILM SHOOT TO CREATE A SHORT AND SIZZLE REEL
Here are photos from our initial film shoot. First, here are Dave and Louise when things were great. He is a successful salesman expecting a promotion, and she is the daughter of a wealthy company owner. He has recently popped the question and they are planning their wedding and honeymoon.
Then boom! Dave's boss tells him he has to let him go, because the company is going bust since jobs are going overseas. After Dave can't find another job, Louise walks out, his credit is shot, and he's about to lose his house. His friends can't help since they are struggling, too.
Then, feeling desperate, Dave decides to have a Suicide Party with his friend's help to save his house and get back on his feet, because he can't imagine becoming homeless and living on the street or in a shelter.
Then, once Dave announces the party, crazy things start to happen, including a media frenzy and lots of unexpected events. And his friend Steve tells it all in the film.
SOME ADVANCE PUBLICITY FOR THE SHORT
We already got some notice for Dave's initial short that premiered at the Scary Cow Film Festival in San Francisco on July 6 at the Castro Theater. Here we are introducing everyone in the cast and crew to several hundred people in the audience.
The feature film continues from Dave's decision to have the party. It is very controversial. Dave even gets death threats and pleas to cancel the event.
But finally, the party happens, with hundreds of people attending, followed by many surprising events, twists, and turns. It's a film that's sure to be talked about.
SUICIDE PARTY is in the tradition of films which are both entertaining and deal with themes in the news, like The Help and Inside Job. It has the excitement of found films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity.
JOIN THE PARTY
Since the film is called Dave's Suicide Party, we'll be having a number of parties in LA, San Francisco, New York, and other cities to celebrate after the film shoot and once it is in released at festivals and in a theatrical release. So you can expect invites to great parties to meet and mingle with the cast and crew. Plus there will be networking events, workshops, and conferences.
We've already had several parties to show Dave's initial video and sizzle reel -- one September 11 at the San Francisco restaurant in several scenes, another Film and Networking Party October 9 at the San Francisco Digital Film School, and several monthly events since then. We expect to have lots more after the film's release.
PLANS FOR FILMING THE SUICIDE PARTY
We plan to film in Las Vegas from July 14 to 27 and complete the film by October or November 2014.
THE IMPACT
Besides being an entertaining, suspenseful film, the film will have a powerful impact in raising the issues touched on by the film, including inequality, the decline of the middle class, suicide, the role of the media and celebrity, and more. We hope the film will contribute to a national conversation on these topics, and even lead to changes in some laws.
We also expect this to be the first of many low-budget films dealing with social issues, crime, and new developments in science and technology, produced through Changemakers Productions. We have a slate of 6 films with $40,000-$50,000 budgets designed for TV, cable, streaming, foreign sales, and theatrical release, including THE PARKING LOT, DEAD NO MORE, NEW IDENTITY, THE NEW CHILD, and THE BETRAYAL. With your help, we can make that happen.
WHY WE NEED THE MONEY
We already have $25,000 towards production committed by private investors. Now we need an additional $15,000 to finish editing, producing, distributing, marketing, and promoting the film. Anything beyond our goal will make this an even better film and help with promotion, marketing, and organizing national events to increase interest in the film and the issues it raises -- as well as being fun.
As a subscriber, supporter, or contributor, you'll get advance notice, reduced price, and VIP invitations to events, as well as many other perks based on your contribution. For as little as $5 or $10, you can get involved.
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE SUICIDE PARTY
Dave's Suicide Party was inspired by the recent economic crisis in which over 20 million middle income people have lost or are losing their homes in today's economic turmoil. Even though the Great Recession is considered over, millions of people are still suffering after losing their jobs, businesses, and homes. Also, over 100 people commit suicide every day, many because of the economic crisis.
The writer Gini Graham Scott previously completed several documents about this situation:
Middle Class Homeless: The Crisis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2cTACN-iNA
Middle Class Homeless: Families in Trouble:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBi-PC0xg-k
Forgive Our Taxes: The Victims
She has also written a book THE NEW MIDDLE AGES which compares life in America today to the Middle Ages. It will be published by Nortia Press in October and will contribute to promoting the film.
OUR CAST
The following lead actors have been selected so far. Other cast members will be announced shortly.
DAVE: STEPHEN MEDVIDICK
Stephen Medvidick is an actor, known for #3c (2013), Mancation (2012) and End of the World Etiquette (2012).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4385580
STEVE: RICK LUNDGREN
Rick Lundgren is an actor and producer, known for Paranormal, Burbank (2007), Reunion (2012) and The Neighbor (2014).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2072767
AMY: JAYME LAKE
Jayme Lake is an actress, known for Suicide Party (2015), Ingles Ya! (2008) and 1000 Ways to Die (2008).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4201929
GIDGET: ANNA SHIELDS
Anna Shields is an actress and producer, known for Little Bi Peep (2013), Infested Ship (2011) and Death & Beauty (2013).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4828989
SOCIAL WORKER: STEPHEN MANLEY
Stephen Manley was born in Encino and comes from a long line of actors, and is a third generation actor of his family, first appearing on "The Art Linkletter Show" at 9 months of age. He soon landed many parts in film, television, and commercials.
He is best known for his role in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" in which he plays young Spock during the famous Pon Farr scene. He attended college at The Pasadena Art Center and graduated with a degree in Film and Fine Art.
He wrote, produced and directed a film called "Greasepaint" which played for two years on Bravo and won awards at the Houston Film Festival. After taking a hiatus from the film industry, he has resumed his career as an actor.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542603
OFFICER TANYA: DREA CASTRO
Drea Castro, played the suicide bomber in the climax of the box office hit: Act of Valor and one of the pivotal women in Chris Rock's feature: I Think I Love My Wife.
EMELIO: LUIS FERNANDEZ-GIL
Luis Fernandez Gil has over 70 features to his name. His biggest features were Manic, starring Elijah Woods, and Jack and Jill, starring Adam Sandler.
OUR TEAM
Our team is led by Writer/Executive Producer Gini Graham Scott
based in Lafayette, California, Director Jack Skyyler in New York, Assistant Director Alex Zinzopoulos in Los Angeles, Associate Producer Glynn Praesel in Texas, Executive Producer Anita Merrihew in San Francisco, and Executive Producer Phil Palade in Little Rock, Arkansas. Other Associate Producers include Tom Malloy and Joe Charbonic. Brandon Gibson assisted as a Script Consultant. Initial PR Assistance is being provided by Jana Collins of Jones & O'Malley, based in Los Angeles. So this truly is a national production.
WRITER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: GINI GRAHAM SCOTT
Gini Graham Scott is the owner of Changemakers Productions and author of 50+ books, 15 original scripts, over 80 low-budget short films, and author of WRITING, PRODUCING, AND DIRECTING A LOW-BUDGET SHORT FILM and FINDING FUNDS FOR YOUR FILM OR TV-PROJECT published by Hal Leonard. The funding book has a chapter on crowdfunding.
She is a regular Huffington Post columnist, writing about social trends (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gini-graham-scott) and has published three books about the housing crisis that inspired this script, including: LIVING IN LIMBO: FROM THE END TO NEW BEGINNINGS.
Her other books on current social trends include most recently: TRANSFORMATIONS: HOW NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, AND SOCIETY ARE CHANGING YOUR LIFE.
Her book on inequality in America: THE NEW MIDDLE AGES will be published by Nortia Press in October 2014.
She has written and produced over 80 short videos (www.youtube.com/changemakersprod), which range from dramatic narratives and documentaries to music videos, promotional trailers, and photo videos. A few of her scripts and shorts won awards in festivals and competitions.
DEAD NO MORE received 2 awards in the Scary Cow Film Festival in San Francisco; the SUICIDE PARTY script was a finalist in Philadelphia's ScreenplayFest. Her latest videos include:
Dead No More - Suspense Thriller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG057_926l0
Dead No More - Sizzle Reel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-nanJqFRE
The Parking Lot - Short - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QEEWmMX8wk
The Parking Lot - Sizzle Reel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUalPgJmPTA
She teaches classes on low-budget filmmaking based on her book and organizes monthly film industry networking events through several film Meetup groups she founded with over 4000 members, including the Film and TV Connection and Hollywood Film Industry in L.A., and the Bay Area Film and TV Connection, San Francisco Film Industry, and Film and Business Connection in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her websites include:
http://www.changemakersproduction.com (for script writing and film production); http://www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com (for writing books, scripts, articles, blogs, and other materials http://www.ginigrahamscott.com (for published books, speaking, and more), http://www.youtube.com/changemakersprod (for Changemakers Productions videos), http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2592609 (for an IMBD profile and resume), and http://www.linkedin.com/in/changemakersproductions (for LinkedIn)
DIRECTOR: JACK SKYYLER
Jack Skyyler is the founder of Dear Skyyler Productions, based in upstate New York. He won a REMI and two Best Director awards for his first feature Hitting the Wall. Other films which he write, produced, and directed include: Night Aboard the Salem, Isabel: A Love Story, Skookum: The Hunt for the Bigfoot, Death of Love, Infested Ship, and Hitting the Wall. He has recently produced and directed The Haunted Ship, a $2 million production scheduled for a release in 2015.
Other films which he was involved with include producing Little Bi Peep for Rebel Cinema, providing special effects for Cheers: An Odd to John Woo for Seth Donald Productions, and providing visual effects for Yellow Brick Roadfor Points North Films. He was the producer/sound mixer for the television show: Life in a Straight World. He has been an Associate Producer for the horror filmCreeping Crawling with a $100,000 budget.
Some links to his films include these:
Trailer: Skookum, the Hunt for Bigfoot (producer/director): http://dearskyyler.com/skookum/trailer.html
Trailer: Night aboard the Salem (producer/director/writer): http://dearskyyler.com/salemsnight/teaser.html
Trailer: Little Bi Peep (producer): http://dearskyyler.com/littlebipeep/trailer.html
Trailer: Death of Love (producer/co-director): http://dearskyyler.com/deathoflove/trailer.html
Full Short: Infested Ship (producer/director/writer): http://dearskyyler.com/infestedship/film.html
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4457201/
Visual Effect's Reel: http://www.dearskyyler.com/jackskyyler/vfxreel.html
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: ALEX ZINZOPOULOS
Alex Zinzopoulos, who works with Dear Skyyler Productions, has an extensive background as a camera 0perator, first assistant director, casting Director, and video editor. He has worked on a number of horror productions, including Terror House, Savor the Hill, Haunted Ship, and Invested Ship. Other productions include: Skookum: The Host for Bigfoot, Ghostship Chronicles, Death of Love, and Heart of Faith.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: GLYNN PRAESEL
A native Texan born in Brownsville, Glynn Praesel has been acting since the late 1970s in both the theater and film. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1988, where he competed on the college rodeo team as a bareback bronco rider, he became the host of "The Nashville Network" for two years, and since 1985, he has been in both indie and major motion picture, and is represented by an agent in Hollywood. He is also a successful businessman and both an actor and producer in the film business.
As a lead he was in: Duque, Palo Pinto Gold, Hitting the Wall, Ride Wanted Trail, and Abandoned Project X. He played supporting roles in three films directed by Jack Skyyler: Skookum, Haunted Ship, and Heart of Faith. Other films in which he has played a supporting role include: Endgame, Ragamuffin, Rugaru. He has acted in several TV specials, including Love Death and Cross of Fire.
He has won several awards as a producer, including three awards for Palo Pinto Gold, as the "Best Western" at the Trail Dance Film Festival, as Special Jury Best Film Award at the Houston International Filmfest, and as the Best Family Picture in the Gone with the Film Festival.
A links to one of his films is:
Palo Pinto Gold:Trailer
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4722920/palo_pinto_gold_movie_trailer
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ANITA MERRIHEW
Anita Merrihew, originally from the Midwest, now lives in San Francisco, where she has been a successful producer in the insurance and financial services industry for over twenty years.
She has also acted in a number of productions, including being a resident in Porgy and Bess, produced by the San Francisco Opera; Blanche DuBois in the Shelton Theater production of Streetcar Named Desire; in five different episodes as a patient and parent in Trauma, NBC; a VIP homeplate fan in Moneyball; a Nigerian ambassador in a Chinese soap opera; a creditor in the music video Bankruptcy Blues; and in several other Independent movies.
SCRIPT CONTRIBUTIONS: BRANDON GIBSON
Brandon Gibson is stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He's played leading roles on television on shows such as FOX's Ben & Kate, Disney's Austin & Ally and Prankstars, Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Awards, CBS's Fire Me, Please. Other shows include being a co-star on The Crazy Ones and Mob City. He has been a guest star on NCIS, Love that Girl, The Fresh Beat Band, Pit Boss and Guilty or Innocent. He has been a series regular in Static, Fanarcy, Payback, and Totally Busted. He has been a host for Trail Mix on the Travel Channel. He has also produced multiple TV shows including: Honky Tonk Central, a re-boot of the classic show, Hee Haw.
Brandon has also been in about a dozen film projects, including being the lead in Disney/ABC Family's Bigfoot and Paramount/Starbox Pictures' The Hanged Man. Other lead roles have been in 3 Years and Day, The Coin, and The Making of: He has been a co-star in Code Enforcer, The Great Mother, All that I Need, Nothing But Trouble, and VooDoo.
He has also been the lead in over a half-dozen theater productions, including roles with the Touring Company (What Now?! and For Heaven's Sake, Wasted Channels with Hooligans Productions, and Bent Neck Giraffe with RLC Productions.
He has been a stand-up comic as well, featured in numerous well-known clubs, including The Improv, Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, Funny Bone, Zanies, Comedy Zone, Bally's Casino, and the Sheraton Casino.
Links to some of his reels include:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340435
Drama Reel:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/47edbc3bed/brandon-gibson-drama-reel?ts=1389642394
Comedy Reel:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5ee74ba16f/brandon-gibson-drama-reel?ts=1389640521
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: TOM MALLOY
Tom Malloy is a producer, actor, and writer who is most known for The Alphabet Killer, Love N' Dancing, and The Attic.
As critically acclaimed actor, Tom wowed Hollywood with his stunning turn in the indie-cult favorite Gravesend in 1998, which was produced by Oliver Stone.. Though he no longer produces in order to focus on his acting career, over the years, Tom has raised more than $25 million in private equity from independent financiers and has written, produced and starred or co-starred in nearly all the films that his company Trick Candle Productions has made.
Some of these films include Ashley, directed by Dean Ronalds, which will be in theaters in 2013, Love N' Dancing, which was directed by Rob Iscove (She's All That), and stars Amy Smart, Tom Malloy, Billy Zane, Rachel Dratch, and Betty White; the psychological thriller The Alphabet Killer, directed by Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn, Crime & Punishment in Suburbia) and stars Eliza Dushku, Cary Elwes, Tom Malloy, Timothy Hutton, Michael Ironside, and Oscar Winner Melissa Leo; and a thriller directed by Mary Lambert calledThe Attic, starring John Savage, Malloy, and Elisabeth Moss.
He also appeared in principle roles on Law & Order SVU, Third Watch, Kidnapped, The Siege (with Denzel Washington) and Anger Management.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Tom is an accomplished author whose book Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films is considered the "gold standard" of indie film financing instruction. A second edition came out in 2012. Tom is also a nationally known motivational speaker for adults and kids and has traveled across the country spreading his positive message to students of all ages. Over the years, he has spoken to more than 100,000 students.
at the Trail Dance Film Festival, as Special Jury Best Film Award at the Houston International Filmfest, and as the Best Family Picture in the Gone with the Film Festival.
A links to one of his films is:
Palo Pinto Gold:Trailer
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4722920/palo_pinto_gold_movie_trailer
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – JOE CHARBANIC
Joe Charbanic is a highly experienced producer/director with an extensive background in low-budget music-video productions. Joe Charbanic has created music videos for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Soul Asylum, Slash, Sonic Youth, Coolio, Ice T., Ice Cube, Harry Connick Jr., Aaron Neville, Amy Grant, En Vogue, and even Keanu Reeve’s band Dogstar.
A career highlight for Joe Charbanic was: The Watcher starring James Spader, Keanu Reeves, and Marisa Tomei. The Watcher was #1 at the box office for two weeks and turned a production budget of $30 million into a gross of $47.3 million, which is a $17.3 million profit.
DIRECTOR - LA-BASED DARK COMEDY: SHAMIL ERFANIAN
Shamil Erfanian is currently the development producer of Digital Era Productions, and is developing two films for the company, including a horror and a romantic comedy based on a fairy tale. He is also producing and directing two features with Premiere Entertainment, a Ranger in search of his kidnapped daughter, and Razor Fury, a sci-fi feature centered around a renegade martial artist. As the development producer, Mr. Erfanian is responsible for the development, rewrites, production and post production of motion pictures. His extensive background in script development and analysis at
Hollywood Outreach Network has been a vital asset in the rewrite and development of up and coming writers. His unique approach to script development has been a key to "fixing" story issues and weaknesses.
Mr. Erfanian completed a motion picture, Prairie Dogs, which will be released in 2012. Prairie Dogs is a story of two soldiers returning to broken homes and relationships. The story questions redemption of warring soldiers and the betrayal of spouses left home during combat. Mr. Erfanian has also been trained as a Director of Photography, mentored by notable DP Gale Tattersall, Rodney Charters, and David Stockton. In addition to being Associate Producer of Prairie Dogs, the Mr. Erfanian also was its Director of Photography.
EDITOR OF SIZZLE REELS AND SHORTS: SANJAY SOOKNANEN
Sanjay Sooknanan has over 14 years experience writing, directing, shooting, and editing films. He edited the Suicide Party sizzle reel and short film. A graduate of San Francisco State University, Sanjay juggled a career in education while working on over 25 short films, music videos, and short documentaries. He has worked with numerous local organizations and production companies, and is committed to supporting Bay Area-based independent films.
[email redacted]
www.vimeo.com/pegasuscompany
www.youtube.com/pegasuscompany
GRAPHIC ARTIST/DESIGNER: BERNARD PRINZ
Bernard Prinz is a graphic artist/designer with extensive experience in print media, image composition & image manipulation. He also has a deep knowledge of digital video camera and non-linear editing. He designed our original Suicide Party Poster.
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY ASSISTANCE: JANA COLLINS
Jana Collins works with a full service PR firm, Jones and O'Malley, established in 1985 and based in Los Angeles, specializing in the entertainment industry. The company has assisted in gaining recognition for million dollar companies, cutting edge technologies, and Grammy Award winning recording artists. The company assists with campaign planning, press releases, press kits, Internet marketing, and special event planning, and they have a broad reach in today's media. They have placed their clients and their products in every nationally distributed publication, major television network and top rated cable station, including; ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Discovery, National Geographic, "E", HGTV, DIY Network and many others. They have gotten clients on The Today Show, Doctor Phil, Dateline, T.V. Guide Channel, Good Morning America, This Morning, 60 Minutes, Entertainment Tonight, and 20/20, and they have worked with a number of big budget motion pictures such as Transformers and Mission Impossible. Their website is at http://jonesomalley.com
PHOTOS FROM FILM SETS
Here are photos from various film sets working with hundreds of crew members.
From I'll Make Some Bread and Behind the Scenes with Debbi and Frankie:
From the New Child:
You can see more at www.youtube.com/changemakersprod, which features over 80 short videos, including narratives, documentaries, music videos, promotional videos, book and script trailers, and photo videos with images set to music.
WHAT DO I GET FOR HELPING?
Your support is very important to us. To show our appreciation, we are offering a variety of rewards. These perks include:
- Invitations to film and business networking parties in SF, LA and other cities
- ReduceD prices for our parties and other programs
- An invitation to a day of filming
- A chance to be an extra in the big party scene or a small speaking part in other scenes
- A lunch or dinner with the director and lead actors
- A mounted photo taken on the film set
- Memorable props from the film
- Special listings in our promotional materials
- Credits in our film, including Associate Producer, Co-Producer, and Executive Producer credits
- An invitation to be a VIP guest at our red carpet premiers
- And more - as determined by our panel of advisers, which includes YOU, to help us decide what perks people would like.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Besides contributing funds, you can help by spreading the word. Let your friends and business associates know. Post information about the campaign and our website, Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/youcansavedave), twitter handle (#youcansavedave), and on your own social media ac
