Funding for Michael Cook's Film, "I Am The Same"

Hi everyone!

 

I am excited to finally reveal the details of my senior thesis film, "I am the Same" Before I can share the final film with all you lovely people I need your help!

 

Over the past few years since filming, "Still the Same", a rather objective documentary on my father’s relationship with his Alzheimer's, I’ve come to terms and reconciled with a lot of the aspects of the way in which Alzheimer’s has affected my father and my family's life with a lot of help through making that film. However, while I’ve mentally progressed and matured since making, "Still the Same", I had once again come to a crossroads. A crossroads where I was unable to explain my fears that came as a result of that newfound understanding that I gained from that. Fears of death, illness, and the fear of wanting to become my father while also fearing ending up becoming who he is now. With "I Am The Same" I wanted to make a film where I confront the hard truth, where I confront MY fear of Alzheimer's and that while I aspire to be my father in every aspect of who I am in my day to day, does that mean I will inevitably face a similar end to life as him? One where I will also have to face the reality of my fading mind and memories? It’s hard to even write this out because I feel there’s no other way I can explain the things I feel than through this film and that's why it is so important to me.

 

Being able to confront my relationship with and fear of Alzheimer's through this film has made a huge impact on my life and I hope to have that same effect on as many people as I can which is impossible without your help!

 

For that reason, my goal is to send out to as many festivals big and small as I can, I know that we can get into these festivals because I have full confidence in the awesome team that brought this all together! The major caveat is that these festivals are quite expensive and with Covid, Lesley was unable to provide us with a budget for our films so we were forced to fund the films out of our own pockets.

 

I am hoping to reach around $750 as an initial goal (we hit wooooo) for funding to cover the initial budget for the film and also entries into festivals as mentioned previously. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated!

 

$250 of that money would go towards the initial budget for the film whether that be equipment, food, makeup, etc.

 

The remaining $500+ would go towards entering into film festivals (each new entry will be updated onto the GoFundMe along with its status at said festival).

(Added after initial goal of $750 hit) Now that we have hit our initial goal of $750 this allows us to submit to even more festivals and opens the door for advertising whether it being paying artists or paying for the film to be advertised on film freeway and other websites!

 

I would also like to do some form of a tiered donation system to reward all the donors! (Listed below)

 

$10+

My personal thanks and a thank you at the end of the film when it is released publically!

 

$25+

All prior tiers and exclusive early link to watch, "I am the Same" before it is released publically.

 

$50+

All prior tiers and a printed 11x17 poster of the film made by Jessie O'Neil!

 

$100+

All prior tiers, an executive producer credit on the final film when it is released publically and a personal phone call from me to thank you and answer any questions you may have on the film!

 

I am very excited about the future of this film and cannot wait to show you all!

 

Many thanks,

 

Michael Cook