Frames of Expression GoFundMe Campaign

Hey everyone, my name is Ryan Martin! As the Production Manager on Frames of Expression, I am setting up this GoFundMe in order to raise funds for our final year project at Queen's University Belfast.

Our Crew:

Director/Producer: Oisín-Tómas Ó Raghallaigh

Production Manager: Ryan Martin

Cinematographer: Michael McChrystal

Editor: Jonathan Braniff

Sound Designer/Recordist: Marc Graham

Production Designer: Kat Mrozek

The team behind the film are highly experienced, with 22 wins and 24 nominations on the festival circuit with our previous work. This includes selections at BAFTA and Oscar qualifying festivals, such as Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival and Encounters Film Festival. We are perhaps most proud of our films screening at local festivals, such as Belfast Film Festival and Cinemagics' Young Filmmaker Festival.

We are also no strangers to creating films that delve into social issues. Previous work has tackled issues such as domestic violence, drug addiction, and youth mental health. The latter film, 'Grounding', was one of three nominated for the World Health Organisation's Mental Health Film Prize.

In addition, we are a disability-led production, which is vital. As the saying goes, 'nothing about us, without us!

A little bit about Frames of Expression:

Frames of Expression is a student documentary that explores the transformative power of art as a tool of self-expression, empowerment, and activism among artists with disabilities, chronic illnesses, those who are d/Deaf and those who are neurodivergent. The film will feature three artists from different artistic disciplines. We will ask them about their experiences with their conditions and their art forms, hoping to explore and understand their relationships.

The documentary engagement will take place through traditional sit-down interviews and observational filming of the artists carrying out their specific art forms. For example, painting on a canvas if they are a painter, or playing an instrument if they are a musician.

As described in the video, the documentary will be a collaboration between the production team and the artists. We want to empower them to have their voices heard, spread the messages they want to spread and showcase their wonderful artistic creations in a poetic and emotive manner. We hope to give the audience a deep insight into the experiences of the artists, both of their art forms and disabilities.

Rewards

If you can donate anything at all to the project, we will be truly grateful!

If you decide to donate, you will receive an on-screen 'Thank you', with your name shown in the end credits of the documentary.

Anyone who donates £500 or more will also receive an associate producer credit in the end credits of the documentary.

Where will the money go?

As the video describes, the funds that we raise will need to be used in a different way than a fiction film. Most of our budget will go towards the accessibility needs of the participants.

Whether that be access to accessible transport costs, venues, equipment, or other support requirements, the needs of the participant will be put first! If a participant has any special requests unique to them, the budget will also cover these requests. Accessibility is vital to the filming of this documentary. We want to ensure that the participants feel comfortable on set and that their needs are met.

Beyond these costs, since this project will be a poetic documentary, some of the budget will also go towards set design and equipment costs. This will ensure that we have the necessary equipment to effectively bring the documentary to life!

Thank you!

We are so excited to bring this documentary to the screen and with your help, we will be able to make the best and most faithful documentary we can for the participants and their communities. Thank you!