The Stevie Project Fund

UPDATE: WE SMASHED THE TARGET IN ONE NIGHT!

Now that we've raised enough money to employ a film festival strategist, any more funds will go towards raising money to pay for film festival entrance fees. Our strategist recommends we spend around £750-£900 on film festivals, so we've changed the target to £1,500.

If we can reach this, that will be fantastic! The more festivals we can enter, the more audiences The Stevie Project will reach.

Thank you so much if you've donated to the fund. I cannot wait to show you the whole film.

-Arlo

Transcript for the video:

My name is Arlo. Nearly 2 years ago, I was given an amazing opportunity to make a film about my family’s experience with Tuberous Sclerosis, a rare genetic condition that my affects my younger sister. Her name is Stevie.

Tuberous Sclerosis causes (mainly benign) growths in different parts of the body, including the brain and heart. Common problems that come with it include epilepsy, autism, learning difficulties and kidney problems, all of which my sister experiences.

The film is called The Stevie Project. With the help of the wonderful Fact Not Fiction Films, I’ve just recently finished it.

What I wanted to do more than anything with this film was highlight how well Stevie copes, despite all the struggles she has in her life. She has a wonderfully charming personality, surprisingly sharp sense of humour and a loving energy that I hope to have captured in The Stevie Project. But I also wanted to tell my own story of being a sibling of a disabled child. I’ve spoken about the struggles of having to grow up quickly, put your own needs second to your sibling, and coping with the needling thoughts of who they could have been had they been born without learning disability. Finally, I wanted to tell my parents’ story. Not only do they have to work hard to dress, feed, and emotionally support my sister the same way they did when she was five, but they have to come to terms with the fact that Stevie won’t do many of the things that girls her age will do.

This GoFundMe account is to help raise some money to initially pay our film festival strategist, and also raise money to pay for The Stevie Project to be submitted into film festivals, so our story can reach other families affected by Tuberous Sclerosis and shed light on what it’s like to live with someone who has learning disability and complex medical needs.

Our goal with this account is to reach £718 to pay for our film festival strategist’s fee ($798 USD). This is our priority, but if we are lucky enough to exceed our target on GoFundMe then the remaining funds will go towards paying film festival fees as well (we’re hoping to spend about £750-£900 on this). Any donations, big or small, are highly appreciated. Hopefully, we can get our film out to festivals and have our experience represented in the mainstream world. Perhaps we can even help other families affected by learning disability feel like elements of their experience have been represented as well.

Even if you don’t donate, I appreciate it immensely if you’ve taken the time out of your day to read this and listen to our story. Thank you.

All the love,

Arlo Taylor-Osmond (18)