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Voter suppression in the U.S. has been on a dramatic rise in recent years, especially in the swing states that determine our federal government. Heart of Democracy is a series of short documentaries that shines a light on the stories of ordinary voting rights champions who are working tirelessly across the country to ensure we have more just elections. It's a series grounded in hope and action that will galvanize more Americans to get involved with voting access ahead of the 2020 election. I am ready to go out and start filming the pilot episode and I need your help to do it!
What will the $3,000 be helping me get?
Your donation will help me get the sound equipment I need to make sure my video both looks AND sounds exceptional, and help with travel expenses to Virginia. For the last 9 months I have been building my connections, skills, and resources so I could start production of Heart of Democracy - and now it's time to launch! This opportunity came suddenly, with a perfect slate of events happening over 10 days in early October. While I am covering most expenses out of my personal finances, I need some help with this last bit, which is why I'm asking you to donate.
Who am I featuring in the pilot episode?
The group I will be covering is the Alexandria Chapter of Spread the Vote, an organization that helps people get their IDs in states with laws that suppress voters through restrictive voter ID requirements. More and more swing states are legislating these kinds of laws and we will need a huge effort by volunteers ahead of the election to help make sure every voter who needs one gets an ID. By sharing the story of the work these women are doing in Virginia we will be able to get more folks involved with Spread the Vote and help increase their impact.
Wait, Kyle, you make films?
For the last fifteen years I have been honing my skills as a community organizer and project catalyzer. This has included getting national, state, and local press for LGBTQ+ rights programs, raising tens of thousands of dollars for nonprofits, and producing award-winning community arts festivals. But, before all that, I had a passion for filmmaking, producing several creative projects in my youth. Since then, I've kept current with filmmaking skills and technology and I'm excited to put them to work for Heart of Democracy .
Why do we need this now?
More hangs on the 2020 U.S. election than can be put into words. The outcome won't be determined by ad-buys or Instagram memes; it will be by how many folks get involved with the old-school tactics of ensuring voter access and engagement. This country's fight against voter suppression is as old as its democracy. We are the heart of that democracy, and if we beat loud and beat strong we can beat back the wave of oppression and autocracy that is sweeping our nation.
Please, help me get Heart of Democracy into production by making a donation today.
***A Note for Supporters!***
I will absolutely be remembering your important initial support of Heart of Democracy and be honoring it through a number of thank you's. These will include special shout-outs, acknowledgment in the credits, postcards from my travels, and early looks at footage and the pilot episode as it develops. I can't thank you enough, but I'll damn well try!
What's that $3,000 being spent on?
*** Travel to Virginia: $1,000
While I plan on couchsurfing to save money and using my own money for daily needs, plane tickets and ground transport are expensive!
*** Professional Sound Equipment: $1,500
I need to get an audio recorder, shotgun mic, boompole, and wireless lavalier mic set, along with some accessories and cables, so I can capture the best possible audio. This is essential to documentaries - we can't do it all in post-production like fictional film can!
*** Other Lighting & Filming Accessories: $500
I've researched some simple and inexpensive tools to make sure shots looks beautiful. Also, I need to get additional data storage to hold all the hours of gorgeous, inspiring footage I'll be recording.
What will the $3,000 be helping me get?
Your donation will help me get the sound equipment I need to make sure my video both looks AND sounds exceptional, and help with travel expenses to Virginia. For the last 9 months I have been building my connections, skills, and resources so I could start production of Heart of Democracy - and now it's time to launch! This opportunity came suddenly, with a perfect slate of events happening over 10 days in early October. While I am covering most expenses out of my personal finances, I need some help with this last bit, which is why I'm asking you to donate.
Who am I featuring in the pilot episode?
The group I will be covering is the Alexandria Chapter of Spread the Vote, an organization that helps people get their IDs in states with laws that suppress voters through restrictive voter ID requirements. More and more swing states are legislating these kinds of laws and we will need a huge effort by volunteers ahead of the election to help make sure every voter who needs one gets an ID. By sharing the story of the work these women are doing in Virginia we will be able to get more folks involved with Spread the Vote and help increase their impact.
Wait, Kyle, you make films?
For the last fifteen years I have been honing my skills as a community organizer and project catalyzer. This has included getting national, state, and local press for LGBTQ+ rights programs, raising tens of thousands of dollars for nonprofits, and producing award-winning community arts festivals. But, before all that, I had a passion for filmmaking, producing several creative projects in my youth. Since then, I've kept current with filmmaking skills and technology and I'm excited to put them to work for Heart of Democracy .
Why do we need this now?
More hangs on the 2020 U.S. election than can be put into words. The outcome won't be determined by ad-buys or Instagram memes; it will be by how many folks get involved with the old-school tactics of ensuring voter access and engagement. This country's fight against voter suppression is as old as its democracy. We are the heart of that democracy, and if we beat loud and beat strong we can beat back the wave of oppression and autocracy that is sweeping our nation.
Please, help me get Heart of Democracy into production by making a donation today.
***A Note for Supporters!***
I will absolutely be remembering your important initial support of Heart of Democracy and be honoring it through a number of thank you's. These will include special shout-outs, acknowledgment in the credits, postcards from my travels, and early looks at footage and the pilot episode as it develops. I can't thank you enough, but I'll damn well try!
What's that $3,000 being spent on?
*** Travel to Virginia: $1,000
While I plan on couchsurfing to save money and using my own money for daily needs, plane tickets and ground transport are expensive!
*** Professional Sound Equipment: $1,500
I need to get an audio recorder, shotgun mic, boompole, and wireless lavalier mic set, along with some accessories and cables, so I can capture the best possible audio. This is essential to documentaries - we can't do it all in post-production like fictional film can!
*** Other Lighting & Filming Accessories: $500
I've researched some simple and inexpensive tools to make sure shots looks beautiful. Also, I need to get additional data storage to hold all the hours of gorgeous, inspiring footage I'll be recording.