About this project

On November 4, 2008 the voters of California passed Proposition 8 revoking marriage rights for same sex couples. The next day a movement was born. GOAL UPDATE!!! Hey there Kickstarter crew!

Ian McIntosh here. I'm the silent-producer-type usually, but because we've actually just made our minimum goal of $5,000 dollars, Charlie and I decided now might be the time for me to come out of hiding and say thank you to all of you who have made this a success for us. So there you have it- THANK YOU!

But that's not where I'm going to stop. Because for people who might just be visiting this site, it's incredibly important for you to continue to back us via Kickstarter in the 18 days we have left.

"Why," you may be asking, "you made your goal, right?"

Yes, you're right, esteemed potential backer, we did just make our goal! But the reality is that our goal was a minimum expectation for Kickstarter and $5,000 dollars will help greatly but won’t cover every single remaining expense.

We have finished filming, but that is the tip of our iceberg. We still have so much more to look forward to- marketing costs, submission fees for festivals, color correction, legal fees, promotional materials, and that's just off the top of my head!

We know we have an amazing film here. I've said "award winning," out loud but Charlie forbade me from doing it again for fear that I'll jinx us, but I thinking typing it and letting you people know that I believe INSPIRED is THAT good is a little loop-hole around my agreement.

But as a testament to how amazing our work is I'd like to leak a few exciting bits of news here- for your eyes only!

1. We've recently found a fantastic animator, who will be adding a very necessary and unique flavor to our film, and we are very proud to welcome him into our incredibly devoted crew, and we will perhaps have a new update soon with some animation goodies only for backers. So check back soon.

2. We have also just added another fantastic face to our growing family- our second unit photographer. The man has an amazing eye for pictures and has been working with us for a few months, but only recently did he decide to allow us to give him a credit and hoof it all over Southern California just for us! We already know his contribution will be immense, and we might also drop a little update with some of his contributions as well. Again, strictly for backers, so get to backing if you haven't already, and if you HAVE- buckle up - cause we aren't finished with Kickstarter yet! ABOUT THE FIILM INSPIRED: THE VOICES AGAINST PROP 8 is a documentary film chronicling several people’s lives in the wake of the passage of Prop 8. Arresting live footage follows people from all walks of life, inspired to action in ways they never dreamed. Experience the passionate rallies and defiant marches of the new gay rights movement as it swept through Southern California. Intimate interviews reveal all the ways the movement comes together, and the subtle and not-so-subtle ways it can be pulled apart from within.

Shot in early 2009, our cast is anxiously awaiting for the California Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of Prop 8, and preparing for "Day of Decision" and "Meet In The Middle. "

The film's subjects include Matt Palazzolo and Chris Smith from The Equal Roots Coalition and members of the Latino Equality Alliance including Bridget Gonzalez, Elena Popp, and Sergio Carrillo. Also featured are Derrick Mathis of RENWL, Josh Einsohn founder of ALLorNotAtAll.org, and Dahlia Ferlito and Richard Aviles with Equal Action. WHY KICKSTARTER? This film is a micro-budget labor of love by myself, Charlie Gage, and my friend and co-producer Ian McIntosh. To date we have completed our filming, and we have begun post production.

Unfortunately we recently suffered a large setback with two of our hard drives crashing simultaneously. This incident along with the high costs of editing, audio sweetening, color correction and the myriad of post production costs is hindering us from completing INSPIRED as quickly as we would like.

With your help we will be able to complete this film and show people everywhere this important story of the people behind the new gay rights movement often referred to as "Stonewall 2.0."