Jessica Gonzales vs. the United States of America is a documentary about a human rights activist and domestic violence survivor.
UPDATE:
WE DID IT! As you may have noticed, yesterday we hit our $20,000 goal on Kickstarter! THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to our campaign. It's been so exciting to share our project with you - our friends, family, colleagues, and community of domestic violence and human rights activists, not to mention the new supporters we met along the way. Your feedback and kind words of support and encouragement are priceless.
Thanks to you, we'll now be able to hire an editor to make a rough cut of JESSICA GONZALES vs. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. We are thrilled to be one step closer to sharing this film with all of you after 4 long years.
We still have a couple of days left in the campaign - and some great rewards left to share - so we decided to try and raise $25,000! That extra $5,000 would help us finance our last few critical shoots for the film. We know this is ambitious, but hey, we never thought we'd make it this far!
Can you help us make it to $25,000? Remember, even a $5 donation helps!
Thank you again!
-Katia, April and Nina
About Our Documentary
JESSICA GONZALES VS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is the story of a domestic violence survivor’s groundbreaking quest to strengthen the legal rights of millions of women and children in the U.S.
In 1999, Jessica Gonzales’ three daughters were killed when police refused to enforce a restraining order against her estranged husband, who had abducted them earlier that night. Devastated, yet determined to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families suffering domestic violence, Jessica filed a lawsuit against the police for not enforcing the restraining order and pursued it to the Supreme Court and an international human rights tribunal, becoming an outspoken and effective advocate for human rights along the way.
Where We Are In the Process
We have been working on this documentary since 2008, following Jessica around the country as she advocates for other victimized women and children and educates the public about the need for stronger protections from domestic violence. We've been with Jessica through it all—we’ve filmed her as a tireless advocate in the courtroom and in the classroom, as a loving mother, daughter, and sister as she and her family reflect on their lost loved ones, and as a courageous survivor of domestic violence as she works to rebuild her life after a tragedy of such enormous proportions.
So far, our film has received support through prestigious showcases and workshops such as the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant, Independent Film Week's Spotlight on Documentaries, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers' Latino Producers Academy, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Producers Academy. We also received a small bit of financial support from the Independent Television Service (ITVS), an organization that funds programs for PBS.
How You Can Help
We now have more than 300 hours of footage and are ready to start editing this film – and this is where you come in! We need $20,000 to hire an editor to put together our first cut of the film. Several broadcasters and film festivals have already shown interest in our project. The next step is to show them a first cut of our film, so they see how powerful this story is, how important these issues are, and what an impact the film could have on a wide audience. A first cut of our film will also allow us to seek additional funding from grantmaking organizations and broadcasters so that we can complete this documentary and bring it to audiences in 2013!
Over the last four years, we've received tremendous support around this project in the domestic violence, human rights, and legal communities. We’ve been privileged to get to know all those invested in Jessica’s story: the law school professors and students who worked on her case; the advocates in the domestic violence community; and the countless others who have been touched by Jessica, her life, and her work. We would like to complete this film as quickly as possible so that we can get this important story out to all our supporters, who have told us that this documentary would be a valuable tool in their outreach and advocacy work.
So please help us to reach our goal of $20,000 by midnight on July 28th! Remember, Kickstarter only works if we make it to our goal—if we don’t, we don’t get any of the money.
And for those who would like to donate, please check out our list of rewards to the right. As our thank-you to you for donating, we'd love to give you a little piece of our project--a postcard, digital download, DVD, t-shirt, and tickets to screenings. There are also some rewards featuring work by our filmmaker, writer, and artist friends who are collaborating with us on this film. They have generously donated items of their own work to support our project and thank you for donating!
Other Ways You Can Help
1) Please "LIKE" us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. This way we can keep you up to speed with how the Kickstarter campaign and the film is going.
2) Please help us spread the word about our campaign by posting the link to our Kickstarter campaign on your Facebook and Twitter accounts—that doesn’t cost a thing, and is proven to be one of the most effective ways of expanding our circle of friends and supporters. We like you, so we want to meet your friends too.
Please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and on our website for any further info. We hope that you'll consider donating as much as you can, and we look forward to keeping in touch with all of you as our project moves forward.
April & Katia
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
249
Backers
$24,425
pledged of $20,000 goal
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Funding period
Jun 27, 2012 -
Jul 28, 2012
- First created · 8 backed
- April Hayes 381 friends
- Website: jessicagonzalesvsunite...
Pledge $5 or more
29 backers
Become an official Outreach Partner, and receive a thank you on our film’s website. You’ll also receive our monthly email newsletter updating you on the progress of the film and featuring sneak peeks at behind the scenes photos and exclusive content!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $25 or more
68 backers
Receive a digital download of the film, a handwritten postcard from the filmmakers, a thank you on our film’s website, and our monthly email newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $50 or more
49 backers
Receive a DVD of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard, and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $100 or more
24 backers
Backers at this level will receive a limited edition JGVSUSA T-SHIRT, plus a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard, and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $150 or more
3 backers All gone!
ONE OF A KIND, HANDMADE TOTE BAG, made by JAMIE LAU DESIGNS, created exclusively for backers of our Kickstarter campaign! Jamie's work has recently been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio and in the New York Times. Plus all of the above rewards: a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $200 or more
3 backers Limited (2 of 5 left)
THE BOX SET OF THE PBS DOCUMENTARY SERIES “WOMEN WAR AND PEACE,” described as a bold mini series that “places women at the center of an urgent dialogue about conflict and security and reframes our understanding of modern warfare.” JGVSUSA Director Katia Maguire was Senior Associate Producer on the project, and Producer Nina Chaudry was Senior Producer. Plus all of the above rewards: JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $200 or more
1 backer
SKYPE conversation with the filmmakers to talk about documentary filmmaking, women’s issues, human rights, or anything that your heart desires! Plus all of the above rewards: JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $300 or more
1 backer Limited (1 of 2 left)
SEASON PASS TO UNIONDOCS, a documentary arts collective and screening venue in Brooklyn! UnionDocs hosts weekly intimate screenings and discussions with internationally-acclaimed artist, filmmakers, journalists and academics such as Barbara Hammer, Su Friedrich, Vincent Moon, and Richard Brody. JGvUSA co-director Katia Maguire is a former fellow at UnionDocs, and we're thrilled that they've made this generous contribution to our campaign. Plus all of the above rewards: a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $300 or more
1 backer All gone!
A ONE OF A KIND PIECE OF HANDMADE JEWELRY by award winning female metalsmith MEGHAN PATRICE RILEY, inspired by JGVSUSA and specially chosen for a contributor to our campaign! Meghan’s jewelry has been featured on Bottica.com and Fab.com, and is sold at museums and boutiques across the country. Plus all of the above rewards: a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $350 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
JGvUSA cinematographer Ross McDonnell, along with the Nuru Project, have graciously agreed to give away five of Ross' original 11"x14" prints!! Ross is a brilliant and talented photographer and filmmaker, whose work has recently been featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, and Very Short List. Plus all of the above rewards: a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
A SIGNED COPY of LIVING WITH THE ENEMY, the groundbreaking book about domestic violence by acclaimed photographer (and JGVUSA advisor) DONNA FERRATO. Plus all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $500 or more
3 backers
2 TICKETS to the film festival screening closest to you, plus a meet and greet with the filmmakers if they are present at those festivals (does not include airfare or travel expenses). Plus all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
1 backer All gone!
BOB DYLAN is one of Jessica's favorite artists, and his management office has generously donated a collector's package of items, just for our Kickstarter campaign. For a $1000 contribution, one backer will receive the following: 2 TICKETS to a show on Bob Dylan's 2012-2013 concert tour (you can choose the show closest to you), 2 beautiful, full-color hardcover EXHIBITION CATALOGUES of Dylan's painting collections, The Drawn Blank Series, and The Asia Series, which debuted at the Gagosian Gallery in 2012, 1 paperback copy of Dylan's 2005 AUTOBIOGRAPHY, CHRONICLES VOLUME I, 3 DVDs featuring Bob Dylan's life and work: NO DIRECTION HOME: Bob Dylan; the collector's edition box set of DON'T LOOK BACK; and THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR, 21 CDs WORTH OF DYLAN RARITIES AND OUTTAKES, including his original 1985 box set BIOGRAPH, all 9 of his career-spanning BOOTLEG SERIES releases, and the 2007 limited edition box set "DYLAN" Plus all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, a DVD of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
2 TICKETS to the NY PREMIERE and AFTER PARTY, plus DINNER WITH THE FILMMAKERS (does not include airfare or travel expenses). Plus all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $3,000 or more
0 backers
The filmmakers will come to your town for a PRIVATE SCREENING and discussion of the film! Plus all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, a JGVSUSA t-shirt, a DVD or digital download of the film, a DVD of the film, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
1 backer
An ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT on the DVD and theatrical versions of the film! Plus 5 copies of the DVDs to share with your friends and family of the work YOU made possible, and all of the above rewards: a Skype conversation with the filmmakers, a JGVSUSA t-shirt, your name in the “thank you” credits of the DVD version of the film and on our website, a handwritten postcard and our monthly newsletter.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013
