Hi, I'm a video producer working in independent media for almost twenty years. I can shoot, edit, and produce independent news, but want to make some more ambitious work than my usual nine-to-five grind. My independent media wages have no hope of affording a few pieces of equipment that will vastly improve the production quality of this work. I'm asking you for an equipment grant for a nice set of fast cinema prime lenses that will allow me to shoot with fewer lights and have better focus and control over my shots. It's about $40,000.
Here, I'm supposed to tell a story about the project, use some subtle adjectives, and make you feel like it's an exciting venture that you want to be part of. You might begin to imagine another story, about the production itself, with you as a prominent backer that had the foresight to support early. We're not going to do that here.
I promise not to condescend, pander, or offer simplistic non-profit bromides and boring liberal pablum. Just interesting movies that will get people to really think about "the ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.” Soon, I'm going to start shooting on the first project about one way the United States doesn't just lie ourselves into wars, but our way out as well to set the stage for the impending next one. If we talked about the seven ideas I ultimately want to explore, you'd probably notice a clear theme: a historical and fascinating attack on both "realism" and nostalgia. I don't want these ideas served up like yet another chore, but to sing and seduce, hence the nicer lenses. I have neither have rich parents writing big checks or an especially well-paying job, this is where you come in.
Maybe you're bored with the same paint by numbers infotainment you see everywhere. Maybe you have more money than you know what to do with. Maybe you're just feeling generous. What may not be a lot for you would fundamentally change my life.
Maybe you don't have $40,000 to contribute. Any amount will help and it does all add up. Will you please help me?
Small print: I will use all money for documentary/media production to make the world a better place. If I make more than the cost of the lenses, I will also get an audio kit to improve over my current set-up, just as a matter of convenience. When I make enough, I will turn the donate link off for this website. Even if you offer to pay for all of this yourself, I will not make your movie. There will be jokes in the movie (at least four good ones, about seven passable ones, no clunkers). If you want your donation private, I won't tell anyone; If you want a credit, I will give you a great credit. I don't want to apply for grants or make a fancy reel of my coolest shots or do a kickstarter and mail people thank you present or do anything more than this site and actually make documentary. How do you know that I'm talented enough to make a documentary? Every day and for the last ten years, I make media for a show broadcast on 1,500 stations and, if this is the only thing holding you back from making a grant, e-mail me and I'll tell you all about it.