Funding 'Washed Away'

We need your help to make our short film. In 1999 the visual artist Paul Whitehead saw that the simple act of enjoying a moment rather than possessing it can be all it takes to break through creative blocks. He wanted to create a story showing that so he wrote a script about letting go.

The film takes place on a windswept beach with a frustrated young painter struggling with his creative dry spell when he’s distracted by a mysterious artist who may or may not be the spirit of Picasso. When I read the story, I asked right away if I could direct it. I could already see the whole thing in my head. Paul was thrilled this idea would see light at last and here we are.

We’ve brought together a dedicated, bare-bones crew and we will shoot on a California beach over two days in January. Paul himself will star as the Picasso spirit and the immensely talented Darren Jacobs (Billy Elliott, Elevator Gods, Starship Rising, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake) will star as the young man. Our DP is the visionary Kyle Bart Reid who has already shot several award-winning shorts—hopefully this will be the next. My production partner, Erik Nielsen and I have directed and produced numerous commercials, music videos, and EPKs for bands like Last In Line, Dave Kerzner Band, and Rocket Scientists.

Everyone involved is graciously donating their time and talents to this project because they found it as inspiring as I did when Paul first shared it with me. We’re pulling in as many favors as we can but there are still hard costs we need funding to cover in the next 30 days. We need to pay for the film permit, insurance, lodging and food for the cast and crew, and then all the post production and festival entries that we see in this project’s future.

Your help means we get to bring Paul’s creative vision to life. It means a bunch of talented people who deserve to be known in film will get their work seen. It means we get to put a positive message out into the world.

We need a total of $3,000.

To thank you for your support, we have some fun things to offer you:

$50 or less - Your name in the credits as a Thank You supporter. A link to the finished film. (For all levels above too) 
$150 - (1) The stick prop that the actors create magic with in the short.
$150 - (1) One canvas our lead actor added some paint to in the filming action. Signed by the complete cast and crew including Paul. A real action prop, the frame was broken in the course of filming!
$200 - (3) Three limited edition lithographs of Paul’s Genesis album cover art available at the $200 donation level.
$250 - (2) The props for the shoot include 2 original paintings by Paul, both available at the $250 donation level. These are landscapes and as props are not finished scenes but Paul will sign them for you.
$500 - (1) A limited edition print by Paul featuring an alternative cover for the Beatles’ White Album that the lads themselves commissioned him for.

We believe this film will be moving and inspiring. It may provide a seed of inspiration to help move viewers through their own blocks.  Thank you so much for your support!