Whiskey: A Chef's Journey - Post Production

MY STORY

As a film major in college I planned to create good content and enjoy what I did upon graduation. I knew even back then that the entertainment industry was hard for women to make it to the top. This was partly evident in that there were only 3 females in the entire film program, in a school that had / has a very large cinema department.

It is very important to me that people look beyond my gender and look at my work for what its potential is. Since I wasn’t being given the opportunities to do quit the type of work I went to school for, I knew I would have to find a way to fund my own projects if I wanted to do the jobs that I have always aspired to do. 

Prior to the COVID 19 shutdown, I was finally breaking free of being a wheel in a cog that helped turn out show after show that I felt nothing about.  I was tired of all the long hours I spent working on things that did not interest me (and some things that quite frankly, revolted me).  With years of education, hard work in several departments across the entertainment industry, and dedication, it was finally time for me to create my own brand with my own content where as women I could stand tall and make it in this male dominated industry.

So in February 2020 the final preparations for my own full length show were finished.  After months of planning, and focus groups to find our audience, we were finally ready to start filming the series pilot for Whiskey: A Chef’s Journey.  Unfortunately, one act into filming the COVID-19 lockdown descended, and we were forced to halt production.  Not only did we need to stop down but we had to rewrite the episode's finale since we could no longer have large crowd scenes.  Since the re-opening of our industry we have been able to safely finish principal photography but with all the changes that COVID 19 has brought, funding for post production of our pilot has been lost.  What seemed to be the start of a wonderful year for me and my team professionally, has turned into one of the most challenging times in my career. 

YOUR SUPPORT

We are currently in post production of the pilot episode so we need to pay for editing, post production sound, graphics, color correction, music and any other unforeseen issues that may arise during this final phase. Your support will help us complete the pilot episode and help get it on the air. In addition, it will help produce more diversity for women and people of color in front of and behind the camera in the television industry.  This is something very important to me and being able to produce female driven content and provide high level jobs for women and people of color is something I think our nation needs right now.

THE SERIES

Whiskey: A Chef's Journey is a woman-created, woman-produced, and woman-hosted, high-energy, pop-culture, half-hour, docu-reality show that follows Chef Louise Leonard, winner of ABC's Emmy Award-winning The Taste, on her globe-trotting adventures in whiskey and food. With each episode, she's off to a new location, immersing herself in the food and whiskey culture of a given city or particular region, where she'll find culinary inspiration and cook up something special, serving a celebratory dinner at show's end. Across the series, we'll be entertained by Chef Louise's singular personality, as well as the many colorful personalities she meets along the way.

THE PILOT

We visit a bar in Hollywood, a distillery in Pasadena, a pop up BBQ in East LA and a unique spirits event space in DTLA. Through all of these places Chef Louise learns some more about her local whisky and culinary culture as well as some of the connections it has to people in far of lands.

JOIN OUR TEAM
When you contribute to our campaign, you are supporting people that:


• Increases REPRESENTATION on screen by having a woman host who visits all types of people and immerses herself in their cultures.


• Value DIVERSITY behind the camera with a female Executive Producer and female Native American (Apache) Line Producer, as well as a diverse production office staff.


• Encourages ACTION to visit new places (even of only virtually for the time being), try new things, and meet new people.

 

TIMELINE
With the re-write of the show we will be able to continue to series while following all COVID protocols and create jobs.  Therefore, we hope to screen Whiskey: A Chef's Journey on television or a streaming service by the end of the year. We're in talks with several networks and streaming platforms, so it's critical that we deliver the best possible pilot, particularly while there's a clear need for entertaining and educational, spirit-focused content. 

As a thank you for your support we have some digital incentives for the below donation amounts:

$1, - $25 Social Media Shout Out and Personal Thank You
You’ll have our undying love and admiration and we’ll shout out on social media so of your friends know we appreciate your support!

$50 Digital Contributor Show Credential
By pledging $50, you'll receive a social media shout out and a Digital Contributor Show Credential sent to you as a token of our appreciation.


$100 Signed Cast and Crew Photo with Credential
We'll thank you with a social media shout out and by sending a digital copy of our signed cast and crew photo AND the digital contributor credential!
 
$200 Set of Show Drink Coasters, Show Photo, and Credential!
You'll receive a social media shout out and a pair of Whiskey: A Chef's Journey drink coaster templates that you can print out and enjoy while drinking your favorite beverage. PLUS we'll send you a digital copy of our signed cast and crew photo and contributor credential!
 
$300 - Bronze Level Contributing Producer, Digital Gift Pack and 1 Cocktail Recipe from the show.
We'll thank you with a social media shout out, signed cast and crew photo and 1 cocktail recipe card from something that was made on the show PLUS a Bronze Level Contributing Producer CREDIT on the pilot episode AND Contributing Producer Credential!

$400 - Silver Level Contributing Producer, Digital Gift Pack and 2 Recipes from the show.
We'll thank you with a social media shout out, signed cast and crew photo and 1 cocktail recipe card and 1 Dinner recipe card from something that was made on the show PLUS a Silver Level Contributing Producer CREDIT on the pilot episode AND Silver Level Contributing Producer Credential!

$500 - Gold Level Contributing Producer, Digital Gift Pack and 4 Recipes from the show
We'll thank you with a social media shout out, signed cast and crew photo and both cocktail recipe card and both Dinner recipe cards from the pilot episode PLUS a Gold Level Contributing Producer CREDIT on the pilot episode AND Gold  Level Contributing Producer Credential!
 
$1000 Platinum-Level Producer Credit and Gift Pack!
We'll thank you with a social media shout out, signed cast and crew photo and both cocktail recipe card and both Dinner recipe cards from the pilot episode, a Platinum Level Contributing Producer CREDIT on the pilot episode AND Platinum Level Contributing Producer Credential as well as an invitation to appear on a future episode once the show is picked up. PLUS a set of Wee Glencairn glasses with our logo on them for those who provide a mailing address.


To see more about our project visit www.WhiskeyAChefsJourney.com

Thank you for your support!