a heartfelt thanks to all!
i must confess that working in the film business affords you incredible experiences and a vast diversity in your day to day interactions. one minute you are having drinks at the chateau with ryan gosling, the next a coffee with james deen. i've been able to hang out with larger than life figures like amarillo slim, the outlaw gambler as well as athletes, professors, painters, cops, you name it. and, of course, two artists in particular, bret ellis and paul schrader, whom i respect greatly and for good reason.
but honestly, working in hollywood is also a pride swallowing affair. you get dressed down by belligerent, erratic agents, blown off by studio execs who are only interested in their next franchise, suffer endless delays on projects you are emotionally invested in, withstand constant pressure to capitulate to crass commercialism, observe rampant nepotism and are subjected to the prevailing groupthink that can blunt really interesting voices. if you simply like compelling, artful stories and are motivated by the constituent parts of filmmaking -- the photography, the production design, the wardrobe, the sonic landscape -- then hollywood can be rough sledding. you don't always find fellow travelers. what you are sure to find is a whole obstructionist system. no point in dwelling on it, but hollywood shouldn't have a bad rap, it often does, and the reasons are often totally valid. but it need not.
i mean, we love film. it shouldn't be that hard. and i think you do too. so.
this is why kickstarter, e.g. YOU, have been such a wonderful, inspiring, important, revelatory process for us. not only are the financial resources crucial, but the community that has been established, the feedback we've gotten, the messages, the comments, the discourse on potential cast -- this is wildly useful stuff. paul, bret and myself, the entire canyons team, we all pay attention. and honestly, we would rather engage with and be responsive to people like yourselves who have expressed an interest in what is going on, then try to persuade and coax the machine to support what we are trying to accomplish. this changes the equation in the best possible way. in the past when i have had to attend an nrg recruited screening for a film i've produced and you listen to the feedback as mediated by the studio, you are wary and distrustful. it's like being forced to go to a dentist who tells you that you need a root canal when you feel no pain. this feedback is just the opposite. it's welcomed. you feel it comes in a straightforward way from people who care and have an informed opinion.
so, on behalf of paul and bret, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all who backed us. phase one has been enormously successful. over 1000 backers -- awesome. we are now in the midst of active pre production and will be announcing all the casting decisions shortly. we want to keep everyone up to date and please feel free to check facebook for continuing updates as well as an imminent tumblr page. we are operating in a new media way in a spirit of transparency. we couldn't have asked for more considered, engaged support and for that we are appreciative.
we commence filming july 9th. onward!
best,
braxton
1,050
Backers
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Funding period
May 3, 2012 -
Jun 9, 2012
- First created · 2 backed
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- Website: braxtonpope.net
Pledge $1 or more
78 backers
High resolution poster download. Choose either one designed by Peter Stults or Lauren Farmer.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $10 or more
106 backers
Help us cast the film! You will be given access to a private link on www.LetItCast.com that will allow you to vote on our casting finalists. Plus BOTH poster downloads!
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $25 or more
279 backers
"The Canyons" DVD when it is released -- and we will send you a PRINTED copy of both posters, plus you get to help us cast "The Canyons", and the digital poster downloads.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $50 or more
268 backers Limited (232 of 500 left)
Everything mentioned above, but a Blu-Ray of "The Canyons" instead of a DVD. And one of your posters gets autographed by Bret Easton Ellis another by Paul Schrader.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $100 or more
84 backers Limited (916 of 1000 left)
Two tickets to attend a private cast & crew screening and Q&A of "The Canyons" in Los Angeles or New York. (transportation and lodging not provided) -- Your choice of Blu-Ray or DVD copy upon release. -- Plus all the aforementioned perks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $150 or more
72 backers Limited (128 of 200 left)
"The Canyons" SCRIPT PACKAGE: Personalized autographed copy of "The Canyons" script. (Ellis and Schrader) Binded and complete with artwork cover, your script will be one of a kind and durable. Plus all the perks from above.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $200 or more
24 backers Limited (76 of 100 left)
SCHRADER FAN PACKAGE: Same as "The Canyons" script package, but add any one autographed script from the Schrader canon. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001707/)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $201 or more
26 backers Limited (14 of 40 left)
BRET EASTON ELLIS FAN PACKAGE: Same as "The Canyons" script package , but add a personalized autographed copy of Imperial Bedrooms (paperback)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $300 or more
7 backers All gone!
B.E.E. HARD PACKAGE: Same as above, plus Vintage personalized autographed copy of American Psycho, and Hardcover Imperial Bedrooms copy.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $400 or more
16 backers Limited (9 of 25 left)
B.E.E. Paper Package: Receive everything in the Canyons Script Package, plus personalized autographed copies of Less Than Zero and American Psycho! (paperback)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $450 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
20 Minute SKYPE SESSION with Bret or Paul - Questions about The Canyons, American Psycho, Raging Bull? Now is your chance. Plus your choice of The Schrader Fan Package or the Bret Easton Ellis Fan Package.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $500 or more
15 backers All gone!
TWEET YOUR SHORT FILM! Bret Easton Ellis and Braxton Pope will watch your short film, tweet their honest thoughts AND the link to their combined 390,000 followers/fans! (Facebook too) -- Special Thanks in the closing credits -- Plus everything from "The Canyons" script package and above!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $501 or more
15 backers All gone!
PRODUCER'S COFFEE: We're not gonna call it a pitch meeting, but...Braxton Pope will meet you in LA and bring you an exclusive autographed script with a 1 of 1 cover created from an on set photograph nobody else in the world will have. -- Special Thanks in the closing credits -- You and a guest get to attend the cast and crew wrap party! (transportation and lodging not provided) -- Plus everything else in "The Canyons" script package.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $600 or more
12 backers Limited (28 of 40 left)
CINEPHILE PACKAGE: Everything in the Schrader Fan Package in addition to one more autographed script (Taxi Driver and Raging Bull?) -- Plus you'll have a choice of one framed autographed photo of a legendary Film director from Paul's personal collection. (Truffaut, Kazan, Coppola, Lucas, Wilder, Bergman, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Polanski, Cassavettes, Capra, Forman, Huston and more to choose from) First Pledge, First Serve! http://flickr.com/gp/thecanyonsfilm/M4z12o (please list a top 5 choices) -- Special Thanks in the closing credits
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $1,500 or more
5 backers Limited (5 of 10 left)
LIVE TWEET YOUR FEATURE FILM: Festival or TV premiere? -- Bret Easton Ellis and Braxton Pope will Livetweet (approx 20 tweets) their honest thoughts on your film at the time of your choosing to their 390,000 followers/fans, hopefully helping you trend worldwide! They will also post about your film on their Facebook pages. -- And everything in "The Canyons" script package. -- Special Thanks in the closing credits
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $3,000 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
TRAIN WITH BRET: Train alongside Bret Easton Ellis and his personal celebrity trainer Christian Graham for a week. Package includes three hour long workouts, access to supplements and consultation. -- Associate Producer credit on the film -- B.E.E Paper Package.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $4,999 or more
1 backer All gone!
LAST TEMPTATION LUNCH: Special Framed commemorative photos from Last Temptation of Christ signed by Martin Scorsese, (to Paul) given to you at a personal lunch with Paul (NY or LA) http://flickr.com/gp/thecanyonsfilm/c683H7 -- Associate Producer credit on the film -- Two tickets to the cast and crew wrap party (LA) -- Canyons set visit in Los Angeles (appear as extra if desired) -- Transportation and Lodging not provided -- -- Everything from the Cinephile package (sans photo) -- Handwritten thank you letter and on set photo from Bret and Paul, along with a shout out in the Making of the Canyons video.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
6 backers All gone!
Bret Easton Ellis will read and review your novel and have that review appear on an international blog or website. (TBD) -- Associate Producer credit on the film -- You will also receive an autographed hardcover of every novel in Bret's canon. -- Two tickets to Wrap party -- Handwritten thank you letter and on set photo from Bret and Paul, along with a shout out in the Making of the Canyons video. -- Everything in "The Canyons" script package
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $5,001 or more
3 backers Limited (2 of 5 left)
Have your script covered by Paul Schrader: -- Notes to be delivered in person (NY or LA) or skype -- Associate Producer credit on the film -- You will also receive 5 autographed copies of any script Paul has written plus everything in "The Canyons" script package. -- Handwritten thank you letter and on set photo from Bret and Paul, along with a shout out in the Making of the Canyons video. -- Two tickets to Wrap party
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $6,999 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
PRIVATE SCREENING PACKAGE - Host a private screening of The Canyons with Bret Easton Ellis and Braxton Pope -- Bret and Braxton will attend a private screening in your hometown. (within 500 mile radius of Los Angeles) They will also bring you a one of one version of the script and both film posters signed by Paul, Bret and available cast members. -- B.E.E. Paper package -- Associate Producer credit -- Two tickets to the wrap party.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $10,000 or more
1 backer All gone!
DE NIRO'S MONEY PACKAGE: -- Receive a moneyclip that was autographed by Robert De Niro and given to Paul on the set of Taxi Driver. http://flickr.com/gp/thecanyonsfilm/8cjH6U -- Paul Schrader's shooting script at the end of filming. -- Dinner with Paul -- Canyons set visit in Los Angeles (appear as extra if desired) -- Handwritten thank you letter and on set photo from Bret and Paul, along with a shout out in the Making of the Canyons video. -- You will also receive everything in the above Paul Schrader package.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013
Comments
Creator Todd Sniffin on June 16, 2012
Lohan? Really? She's crazy enough to play the role, but her acting ability greatly concerns me.
Creator Melinda Barrett on June 12, 2012
As long as James Deen is in, I'll be a happy girl :)
Creator Bernie on June 12, 2012
Thanks for giving us a chance to be a part of this. We appreciate the updates and hearing about the process. Great to hear you will be filming in a month.
Creator Samuel Johnson OOTG on June 12, 2012
i was only able to put 1 dollar in this as im poor as hell but i knew i had to play a part however small, in the creation of this movie. bret is one of my alltime fave authors!
and i just researched more about paul, i knew he wrote taxi driver and raging bull and last temptation but i didnt notice that he directed the much superior exorcist prequel: dominion which shat all over that hollywood crap they originally released!
very glad to be a part of movie making history!