Fund Phase 1 of Film on Golden Valley Vikings

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“In 1957, an unusual experiment in education was dedicated at this site and continued for 23 years. By 1980, in ways often challenging, sometimes unique, but always memorable, more than 2189 children had become graduated adults in rites of passage steered by Golden Valley School District #275, also known as the Golden Valley Vikings.”

My name is Joseph Stephans. Or as my childhood chums know me, Joey. I grew up in a place called Golden Valley. That's right, Golden Valley. But, as John Steinbeck discovered with his dog Charlie, there is no Valley and the non-existent valley is not Golden. Yet, the name somehow fits with my memories.

I’ve spent my life thinking the public school I went to was a very special place. I wasn't sure how it got to be that way, or, if in fact it was! So at a class reunion I talked to some friends and found I wasn't alone...that we had what seemed to be an outsized affection for our school compared to the people we got to know as adults.

Was there something special going on? How did it come to be? And why did it come to pass just 23 years after its founding? Did the school closing in 1980 (after 9th grade for me and my classmates) and subsequent merger with Hopkins create more of an emotional attachment to GVHS for us? Driven by these questions, I decided to explore the history of our school and hopefully help preserve its legacy.

As a filmmaker, the natural course of action was to create a documentary film. However, the scope of the project initially overwhelmed me until I saw a manageable first step: conduct on-camera interviews with as many GVHS folks as possible. And, that is what I am asking for help with here … the funds to pay for the cost of filming at least 30 documentary interviews. This footage will help to preserve the memories and stories of GVHS and be incorporated into a forthcoming documentary tentatively titled, “Golden Valley Vikings.”

The funds raised will cover the cost of professional production of broadcast and theatrical quality footage that meet industry specifications and standards. If we fall short of the fundraising goal we will adjust the scope of work based on funds raised. I am a New York-based filmmaker so I will be driving to Minnesota at the end of April, staying in my mom’s GV house, and scheduling interviews to take place in May & June. The per interview breakdown of discounted costs are as follows:

Thank you for considering this project,

~Joe(y)

Joseph Stephans ~ GVHS Class of would be 1983

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