The ARK Movie
Donation protected
So, here you are again, at the crowdsourcing page of another aspiring young artist holding out his hand for your money! And you’re probably thinking: Of all the projects out there, why exactly should I spend my hard-earned cash to support this particular one?
My name is Benjamin South, and I am a third-year filmmaking student at the New York Film Academy, at the Los Angeles campus. I am trying to raise $50,000 to produce and direct a short film called The ARK based on a short story called Virus by bestselling author A.M. Khalifa. I am hoping this short film will be a proof of concept that will help me get The ARK produced as a riveting television show. The sort of show that we’ve all been waiting for. If you’re a fan of shows like Mr. Robot, Twin Peaks, Lost, Firefly, Fringe, Black Mirror (when it used to be good!), and miss those deeply entertaining and addictive television moments, then you will want to see The ARK produced.
So, what is The ARK all about?
Synopsis: The ARK is set in a world, not too different from the one we live in now. The political, ethical, and social structures that have been serving us well are all coming apart at the seam, with populism and demagoguery corroding everything we’ve held sacred, while technology advances at a breakneck rate. The world of The ARK also happens to be inching closer to an impending apocalyptic war that threatens human extinction. It’s not a theoretical threat, but a certain one. As it happens, a group of scientists funded by a shadowy corporation (The ARK) inexplicably have advance knowledge of this impending war. They know the exact date and time in the future when it will all start and end. They are no longer trying to avert this war because they know it’s futile. Instead, they are racing against the clock and hedging their bets on fighting back. They plan to use technology and artificial intelligence to create resistance soldiers who will stand up to this unknown future enemy to salvage as much as possible, if not all, of human life and civilization.
The ARK achieves that and builds machines that are of human intelligence. But in doing so, by successfully mimicking a human brain and psyche, they also imported an unexpected and unwanted feature: a conscience. For these soldiers to be most effective in fighting back, they have to be autonomous, but they also cannot question the most atrocious acts of violence that are asked of them. To fix that problem, The ARK embarks on the highly controversial process of using religious fanaticism as a remedy to the human conscience. Because, as it happens, since the dawn of time, religious fanaticism appears to be the most potent paradigm that can successfully negate the human conscience and justify ruthless acts of violence in the name of faith.
I want you to come along this journey not just as a benefactor, but as a co-producer – no matter what amount of money you donate, you will always be a part something ground-breaking.
To bring you along on my journey and convince you to support my project, I could write a long passage here about how, by donating, you would be making the dream of a doe-eyed young filmmaker come true. I could ask my mum to write some testimonials here about what a precocious and adorable child I was (and I was!) with some anecdotes that would melt your heart.
But that’s not what I want.
I don’t want to press your emotional buttons so you can give out of charity. I want you to get excited about The ARK, like any producer, after being pitched a show they know will be a game-changer. I want you to donate today because you really can’t wait to see the short film version of The ARK, and ultimately many seasons of the television series, and be forever associated with a landmark piece of pop culture.
Let me jump right in and tell you why I am so obsessed with this story and what I think it will bring to the pop culture landscape, and more importantly, why you can’t afford not to be involved.
Here are my top reasons why I think you will fall in love with The ARK
1. Tackling religious radicalism on television for the first time ever
Too often in film and television, we see terrorism as the root of all evil, but the truth is far more complicated than that. Terrorism only exists as a byproduct of something else. Before terrorism comes radicalism and fundamentalism. The ARK would be the first ever show in the history of television to explore the dynamics of religious fundamentalism in an addictively entertaining and dramatic context.
2. A realistic exploration of the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on human life
We live in a world where the impact of technology on our lives is both enthralling and frightening. But most of the pundits out there who caution of the perils of technology speak only in theoretical terms about its short-term impact. The ARK does something I’ve never seen done before. It extrapolates the potential benefits and evils of technology along real-life, realistic vantage point through universal prisms: the impact of technology on religion as the fabric of society, and the human instinct to survive at whatever cost.
3. A story where the female lead is not there as eye candy
One of the things that struck me most about The ARK when I first read the short story is that the female lead is not a caricature or a stylized superhero. She’s a real three-dimensional protagonist, who is not dependent on the male lead for dramatic oxygen. In this day and age, our television screens more than ever need female leads that take our breath away for reasons other than their sexuality. The role of Jasinda, the female lead in The ARK, is trailblazing and exciting.
4. High production values mean seasoned professionals also believe in this project
Shooting The ARK first as a short film also happens to be my thesis project at The New York Film Academy. But don’t let the fact that this is a student project mislead you into believing the result will feel homemade. The reason I am asking for such a large amount is precisely that; I aim to work with seasoned professionals who will elevate this project. Believe it or not, despite the total dollar figure I am asking for, all of the crew members I plan to work with are either working for free or at a mere fraction of their real fee. So, ask yourself, why would Emmy winning television professionals want to work on this project with me?
Here is a breakdown of the total budget of $50,000 we are asking for,
Locations - $10,000
Crew - $15,000
Equipment - $5,000
Food - $3,000
Transportation and insurance - $2,000
Post Production and VFX - $7,500
Marketing and Festivals $2,500
10% contingency - $5,000
With a crew of over 25, 4 weeks of full prep time, screen tests, pre visual material, 5 production days, VFX compositing work, sound mixing, musical scoring, 4 weeks of post-production, as well as a 6 month festival run, know that whatever money you invest in this project will be money well spent.
And here’s the most exciting part. No matter what amount of money you give, we’ve developed one of the most exciting sponsor reward packages. For example,
How about spending a day in Rome, then drive north to visit the Tuscan vineyards with A.M. Khalifa, the author of The ARK? (flights included) ($5,000) only six available
Two tickets to a Manchester United home game in 2020 and a 1-night stay in Manchester (flights not included) ($3,000) only four available
A round of golf for two at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England with me, Benjamin South (flights not included) ($2,500) only four available
Come to the Premiere screening of The ARK on the Warner Brothers. studio backlot and enjoy a backlot tour ($1,000)
Come to set during production, receive a headset, free merchandise, and enjoy a meal with the crew and see how production works. ($750) only ten available
Receive an early release of Terminal Deception, signed by A.M. Khalifa, the sequel to his best-selling and acclaimed thriller, Terminal Rage ($500) only nine of ten available
Have a private consultation with A.M. Khalifa on your next script, or first three chapters of a novel ($350) only ten available
Spend the day with me, Ben South and the star of Annabelle Comes Home, and Love Simon on Disney + Michael Cimino and watch Annabelle Comes Home ($250) only ten available
Digital Copy of The ARK Movie, once completed, before the festival premiere ($50)
Signed Copy of Terminal Rage, A.M. Khalifa's debut, best-selling thriller ($40)
Signed script from A.M. Khalifa and Ben South, with directors’ notes and prep work ($25)
For everyone that pledges to The ARK regardless of the size of your donation, you will receive an on-screen 'Producer' credit at the end of the film. The ARK will be screened in September 2020 at the world-famous Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank.
Many of these perks have multiple available, but some are a one-time offer when they're gone, they won't come back. Don't miss out!
The merchandise for The ARK is available through our website - Www.TheARKMovie.com
Please give and give generously and come along for the ride!
For more information on The ARK, please visit our website www.TheARKMovie.com or reach out to the production at [email redacted]
My name is Benjamin South, and I am a third-year filmmaking student at the New York Film Academy, at the Los Angeles campus. I am trying to raise $50,000 to produce and direct a short film called The ARK based on a short story called Virus by bestselling author A.M. Khalifa. I am hoping this short film will be a proof of concept that will help me get The ARK produced as a riveting television show. The sort of show that we’ve all been waiting for. If you’re a fan of shows like Mr. Robot, Twin Peaks, Lost, Firefly, Fringe, Black Mirror (when it used to be good!), and miss those deeply entertaining and addictive television moments, then you will want to see The ARK produced.
So, what is The ARK all about?
Synopsis: The ARK is set in a world, not too different from the one we live in now. The political, ethical, and social structures that have been serving us well are all coming apart at the seam, with populism and demagoguery corroding everything we’ve held sacred, while technology advances at a breakneck rate. The world of The ARK also happens to be inching closer to an impending apocalyptic war that threatens human extinction. It’s not a theoretical threat, but a certain one. As it happens, a group of scientists funded by a shadowy corporation (The ARK) inexplicably have advance knowledge of this impending war. They know the exact date and time in the future when it will all start and end. They are no longer trying to avert this war because they know it’s futile. Instead, they are racing against the clock and hedging their bets on fighting back. They plan to use technology and artificial intelligence to create resistance soldiers who will stand up to this unknown future enemy to salvage as much as possible, if not all, of human life and civilization.
The ARK achieves that and builds machines that are of human intelligence. But in doing so, by successfully mimicking a human brain and psyche, they also imported an unexpected and unwanted feature: a conscience. For these soldiers to be most effective in fighting back, they have to be autonomous, but they also cannot question the most atrocious acts of violence that are asked of them. To fix that problem, The ARK embarks on the highly controversial process of using religious fanaticism as a remedy to the human conscience. Because, as it happens, since the dawn of time, religious fanaticism appears to be the most potent paradigm that can successfully negate the human conscience and justify ruthless acts of violence in the name of faith.
I want you to come along this journey not just as a benefactor, but as a co-producer – no matter what amount of money you donate, you will always be a part something ground-breaking.
To bring you along on my journey and convince you to support my project, I could write a long passage here about how, by donating, you would be making the dream of a doe-eyed young filmmaker come true. I could ask my mum to write some testimonials here about what a precocious and adorable child I was (and I was!) with some anecdotes that would melt your heart.
But that’s not what I want.
I don’t want to press your emotional buttons so you can give out of charity. I want you to get excited about The ARK, like any producer, after being pitched a show they know will be a game-changer. I want you to donate today because you really can’t wait to see the short film version of The ARK, and ultimately many seasons of the television series, and be forever associated with a landmark piece of pop culture.
Let me jump right in and tell you why I am so obsessed with this story and what I think it will bring to the pop culture landscape, and more importantly, why you can’t afford not to be involved.
Here are my top reasons why I think you will fall in love with The ARK
1. Tackling religious radicalism on television for the first time ever
Too often in film and television, we see terrorism as the root of all evil, but the truth is far more complicated than that. Terrorism only exists as a byproduct of something else. Before terrorism comes radicalism and fundamentalism. The ARK would be the first ever show in the history of television to explore the dynamics of religious fundamentalism in an addictively entertaining and dramatic context.
2. A realistic exploration of the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on human life
We live in a world where the impact of technology on our lives is both enthralling and frightening. But most of the pundits out there who caution of the perils of technology speak only in theoretical terms about its short-term impact. The ARK does something I’ve never seen done before. It extrapolates the potential benefits and evils of technology along real-life, realistic vantage point through universal prisms: the impact of technology on religion as the fabric of society, and the human instinct to survive at whatever cost.
3. A story where the female lead is not there as eye candy
One of the things that struck me most about The ARK when I first read the short story is that the female lead is not a caricature or a stylized superhero. She’s a real three-dimensional protagonist, who is not dependent on the male lead for dramatic oxygen. In this day and age, our television screens more than ever need female leads that take our breath away for reasons other than their sexuality. The role of Jasinda, the female lead in The ARK, is trailblazing and exciting.
4. High production values mean seasoned professionals also believe in this project
Shooting The ARK first as a short film also happens to be my thesis project at The New York Film Academy. But don’t let the fact that this is a student project mislead you into believing the result will feel homemade. The reason I am asking for such a large amount is precisely that; I aim to work with seasoned professionals who will elevate this project. Believe it or not, despite the total dollar figure I am asking for, all of the crew members I plan to work with are either working for free or at a mere fraction of their real fee. So, ask yourself, why would Emmy winning television professionals want to work on this project with me?
Here is a breakdown of the total budget of $50,000 we are asking for,
Locations - $10,000
Crew - $15,000
Equipment - $5,000
Food - $3,000
Transportation and insurance - $2,000
Post Production and VFX - $7,500
Marketing and Festivals $2,500
10% contingency - $5,000
With a crew of over 25, 4 weeks of full prep time, screen tests, pre visual material, 5 production days, VFX compositing work, sound mixing, musical scoring, 4 weeks of post-production, as well as a 6 month festival run, know that whatever money you invest in this project will be money well spent.
And here’s the most exciting part. No matter what amount of money you give, we’ve developed one of the most exciting sponsor reward packages. For example,
How about spending a day in Rome, then drive north to visit the Tuscan vineyards with A.M. Khalifa, the author of The ARK? (flights included) ($5,000) only six available
Two tickets to a Manchester United home game in 2020 and a 1-night stay in Manchester (flights not included) ($3,000) only four available
A round of golf for two at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England with me, Benjamin South (flights not included) ($2,500) only four available
Come to the Premiere screening of The ARK on the Warner Brothers. studio backlot and enjoy a backlot tour ($1,000)
Come to set during production, receive a headset, free merchandise, and enjoy a meal with the crew and see how production works. ($750) only ten available
Receive an early release of Terminal Deception, signed by A.M. Khalifa, the sequel to his best-selling and acclaimed thriller, Terminal Rage ($500) only nine of ten available
Have a private consultation with A.M. Khalifa on your next script, or first three chapters of a novel ($350) only ten available
Spend the day with me, Ben South and the star of Annabelle Comes Home, and Love Simon on Disney + Michael Cimino and watch Annabelle Comes Home ($250) only ten available
Digital Copy of The ARK Movie, once completed, before the festival premiere ($50)
Signed Copy of Terminal Rage, A.M. Khalifa's debut, best-selling thriller ($40)
Signed script from A.M. Khalifa and Ben South, with directors’ notes and prep work ($25)
For everyone that pledges to The ARK regardless of the size of your donation, you will receive an on-screen 'Producer' credit at the end of the film. The ARK will be screened in September 2020 at the world-famous Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank.
Many of these perks have multiple available, but some are a one-time offer when they're gone, they won't come back. Don't miss out!
The merchandise for The ARK is available through our website - Www.TheARKMovie.com
Please give and give generously and come along for the ride!
For more information on The ARK, please visit our website www.TheARKMovie.com or reach out to the production at [email redacted]
Fundraising team (2)
Benjamin South
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Scott Schwartz-Owen
Beneficiary
Scott Schwartz-Owen
Team member
