CAMINO DOCUMENTARY: Somewhere Along The Way

Our intention is to raise financial support to help us make a professionally-produced feature-length documentary film about Dan Mullins walking a special musical Camino de Santiago. It's also our love letter to the Camino and Spain.

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WHAT IS THE FILM ABOUT?

Somewhere Along The Way is a documentary film that follows singer/songwriter Dan Mullins on a 300km walk from Leon to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. The route is part of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St James, a pilgrimage leading to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

In early 2023, Dan contracted a virus and lost his voice. The prognosis was not good. During his long recovery time, despite being warned he may never sing again, he wrote songs; stories about aspects of his life he had never shared before.

 

After speech therapy, he started to talk again. And eventually sing.

Dan first walked the Camino in 2016, in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims before him, going back to medieval times. The people he met along the way, the friendships he made, the energy he felt, and spiritual awakening from his experience, resulted in writing a song – Somewhere Along The Way – as he walked. He sang it to people, in cafes and bars. Word spread, and a few weeks into his journey, strangers were coming up to him asking him to sing it to them. Over the past few years it’s become a Camino anthem for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world.

The documentary film follows Dan’s return to Spain, armed with a collection of new songs, written during his challenging sabatical. There’s enough material for an album and a two hour show. It’s called Storyteller.

This time he’s accompanied by 50 people with front row seats on a very special musical Camino. They’ll get to experience Storyteller for the very first time. Dan is playing concerts for his fellow pilgrims – in cafes, town squares, churches, a medieval wine cellar, and under the stars.

The film will bring you along on Dan’s personal journey from heartache to triumph. We’ll hear songs from the new album, and the stories that inspired them. And we’ll get to see the magnificent landscapes and rich culture that Spain’s Camino de Santiago has to offer.

Part travel guide, the journey will showcase Medieval villages, ancient wineries and churches, and incredible food. Landscapes from vast forests, lush farmland, and arid mountains. And of course, the friendships that are forged on the Camino, the spiritual awakening and revelations many pilgrims experience, and the physical and mental challenges faced when walking over 300kms. All wrapped up in a moving musical package.

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WHO IS DAN MULLINS?

Dan Mullins is an Australian singer/songwriter, broadcaster, podcaster and writer. He has more than 40 years experience as a live performer.

 

His popular podcast, 'My Camino' features over 350 interviews with a global audience, and over 1.3 million downloads.

 

His album 'Duende' spent more than a month at #2 on the ARIA Country charts and reached the top 40 of the ARIA Album chart.

Dan is a truly great storyteller, a six-string troubador with soaring vocals and lilting melodies. 

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WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS FILM?

Dan put out an invitation for people to join him on this special Camino in May 2024. Pilgrims walking with him are contributing financially to help raise funds and support the recording of a professionally produced studio album. But there are limited places.

Many people have expressed an interest in accompanying Dan on this truly unique experience. But due to timing, lack of funds, or health issues, are unable to make the three week hike.

It seemed like and obvious thing to do, document this journey for those who can’t be there, and allow viewers to experience some of the music and magic. And majesty of the incredible country of Spain.

When we started talking about the idea, we realized it would also be an opportunity to make a film that is a love letter to the Camino de Santiago and Spain.

There have been documentaries that highlight how the Camino is a life-changing religious or spiritual journey, how it can make us look at the world differently when we return home. How lifelong friendships are made. But there are other things that make the Camino so incredible that aren’t talked about very much. And should be. The country of Spain itself. The culture, the people, the rich history, architecture, food. And the changing landscapes as we walk.

So our idea is to weave those things into Dan’s story, and create something that is part travel guide too. We want this film to be a great resource for those who haven’t yet walked the Camino.

Somewhere Along The Way will tell an enthralling inspirational story about one man, and the regions of Spain he walks through, will be the supporting cast.

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FUNDING

Any pledges you make to supply this film will go mostly towards post-production. Editing and packaging the film at a high enough quality for streaming and/or broadcasting requires a lot of time and expertise.

Some of the funds would go towards a specialist “fixer” to help obtain filming permissions and costs of permits.

All of our time spent on planning the shoot, sorting out logistics, flights, accommodation, vehicle rental to transport gear, additional filming equipment etc., is coming out of our own pockets.

If we happen to raise more than what we need to complete the film, that would help towards our out-of-pocket expenses during production.

Funding breakdown

Fixer to arrange filming permits / fees $750

Vehicle Hire for transporting gear $2,000

CF Express Media Cards & SSD Storage Drives $10,800

Post-production audio, incl. voice-over, custom scored soundtrack and sound design $15,000

Editing/Color Grading/Graphics $20,000

Total CDN $48,550

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DISTRIBUTION

The plan is make a film that will be available for streaming and download online.

We will be pursuing opportunities for movie theatre screenings in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK. And film festivals also.

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REWARDS

Any pledge amount is most appreciated, and you have our sincere gratitude. But we want to give back as much as we can, so we have some support tiers that you may be interested in.

Tier 1

$100 - $300

A link to stream the premiere of the film before public release

Tier 2

$301+

A link to stream the premiere of the film before public release

+ A special limited edition film poster for framing and certificate

Tier 3

$10,000+

Sponsor credit at start of film and on marketing & publicity materials.

NB: If you're a company / brand interested in becoming a sponsor, we'd love to discuss how we can work together and provide you value. Please contact us through SimonBurnCreative.com

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THE PRODUCTION TEAM

SIMON BURN

Producer/Writer/Director

Simon is a professional storyteller. He’s a creative director, photographer and filmmaker, who has worked extensively in the travel, tourism, food and lifestyle sectors. Over the course of his 35 year career Simon has produced and directed video content from brand ads & promotional videos, to adventure travel documentaries.

Simon is an avid hiker, explorer & foodie. He walked the Camino Frances in 2022, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela

More about Simon

DAN MULLINS

Co-Producer/Writer/Presenter

Tapping into Dan’s years of experience as a broadcaster and writer, he will be working with Simon on the production planning and script.

Dan will also be narrating as he walks across Spain, providing interesting facts and stories that will give an insight into the Camino and Spanish culture.

Dan has walked 3 Caminos

2016 - Sahagun to Santiago de Compostela

2017 - Lourdes (France) to Santiago de Compostela

2022 - Villafranca del Bierzo to Santiago de Compostela

More About Dan

ANDY HOLLOWAY

Assistant Producer / Writer / Second Camera

Andy is a lifelong entrepreneur, marketer, and storyteller. After a stint as an advertising account executive, the real fun began, professionally speaking! Andy designed and built a small tourist destination on Whidbey Island in Washington State.

Andy is also an avid traveler and photographer. His travels always include yearly pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago. Since 2017, he has spent two months each year walking various routes of the Camino falling in love with the people, landscapes, and stories of the trail.

Andy, his wife Maggie and their two daughters, Lily and Hana, have lived abroad for the better part of the last 15 years and now reside in Stuttgart, Germany.

JENNIFER MULLINS

Production Manager / Logistics

Jennifer Mullins is a Sydney-based graphic designer. Having worked in magazines for more than 20 years, Jennifer is also a freelance designer working in the music, travel and home interiors industries. She is also mum to 2 boys 20 and 22 year old which she walked a Camino with in 2022 - life changing for the boys as well as her.

Jen has walked two Caminos

2022 - Villafranca del Bierzo to Santiago de Compostela

2023 - Porto to Santiago de Compostela (coastal)