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About this project
From Grass to Cheese is a feature documentary that chronicles the ups and downs of a family-run dairy farm in Ohio during it’s first year of cheese production. From Grass to Cheese will tell the story of Nick and Celeste Nolan, their five children, and what it’s like to start up a family farm in the age of industrial agriculture.
The Nolan family’s Laurel Valley Creamery got it’s start in 2005 when they purchased farmland belonging to Nick’s grandparents in an attempt to carry on their family farming tradition. Their goal now is to create a successful cheese business and also help people renew their relationship with food production. Nick and Celeste firmly believe that by turning grass into cheese there are rewards far greater than just filling stomachs.
Todd Tue, a filmmaker and good friend of the Nolan family, was invited to the farm in 2009 and during his visit made a short video about the family business. The video was warmly received at the Bob Evans Farm Festival and was used on the Laurel Valley website where it gained the attention of many food/dairy blogs on the internet.
Todd and the Nolans have decided to embark on a new project together. The new film will tell the story of Nolan family and how they turn grass into cheese.
The current goal is to raise $28,000.00 to complete a feature-length documentary in 2011. This estimated budget would allow the filmmakers 1 to 2 trips per season to the farm (6-8 trips over a year), roughly 5 days per visit, during the first year of cheese production. The estimated budget for the film will help to cover costs including: rental gear, equipment purchases, gas, and in part, post production expenses such as editing, legal, promotions, and film festivals. Upon completion, the film will be sent to festivals and the filmmakers will seek DVD distribution. The film will also be distributed to farming/food advocates in order to spread the philosophies of community based farming.
Visit the farm:
http://laurelvalleycreamery.com/
Follow the farm:
http://twitter.com/lvcreamery
Follow the film:
https://twitter.com/grasstocheese
Check out production photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/milkproductsmedia/sets/72157622398467513/
Embed the video:
http://www.vimeo.com/9183839
Director Contact: Todd Tue
info@milkproductsmedia.com
http://www.milkproductsmedia.com/
Project location: Gallipolis, OH
127
Backers
$10,200
pledged of $28,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on April 24.Pledge $10 or more
Reward 1: Handmade thank you card from Milk Products and/or the Nolan family.
18 BACKERs
Pledge $25 or more
Reward 2: Milk Products and From Grass to Cheese stickers/buttons, access to blog and production photos/videos PLUS Reward 1.
31 BACKERs
Pledge $50 or more
Reward 3: Film soundtrack on CD once finished, a Twitter thank you/plug PLUS Reward 2.
18 BACKERs
Pledge $100 or more
Reward 4: 50% discount on cheese purchases from Laurel Valley Creamery (up to 5lbs for one year) PLUS Reward 3.
10 BACKERs
Pledge $200 or more
Reward 5: 1.5 lb cheese sampler pack AND a From Grass to Cheese poster AND a digital copy of the film PLUS Reward 2.
6 BACKERs
Pledge $500 or more
Reward 6: 50% discount on cheese purchases (up to 5lbs for one year) AND a 1.5 lb cheese sampler pack AND a digital copy of the film PLUS Reward 3.
1 BACKER
Pledge $1,000 or more
Reward 7: 5 lb party cheese pack AND your name or business listed in the credits as a patron PLUS Rewards 2 and 3.
1 BACKER
Pledge $2,000 or more
Reward 8: 1 lb of free cheese per month for one year AND an associate producer credit AND a From Grass to Cheese poster AND the soundtrack AND the film on DVD.
0 BACKERs
Pledge $3,000 or more
Reward 9: 2 lbs of free cheese per month for one year AND an executive producer credit AND a poster AND the soundtrack AND the film on DVD.
1 BACKER
Pledge $4,000 or more
Reward 10: Private visit and tour of the farm. Homemade dinner with the cast and crew AND 1 lb of free cheese per month for one year AND an executive producer credit AND a signed poster AND the soundtrack AND a signed DVD (Donors are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses)
0 BACKERs
Project By
Todd Tue
Chicago, IL
Send MessageTODD TUE - DIRECTOR
While growing up in the countryside of Southeastern Michigan I developed a strong affinity towards the traditions and culture of American rural communities. I have also always been interested in various forms of storytelling and specifically the storytelling crafted in traditional American folk and country music. The music that these songwriters created was really a love letter to the land they lived on and the fruits of hard labor, and most importantly how those notions were intertwined.
In 2008, I started to explore my family's southern lineage and my love of southern tradition, by co-producing/editing a documentary film called Seven Signs: Music, Myth & The American South. The film focused on the marginalization of traditional life, art, and work in The South and shows how the alt-country music scene has helped bring a focus back to this diminishing way of life. This project really gave me a better understanding of how I can use filmmaking to shed light on these American communities that are dwindling. As society tends to distance itself more and more from traditional rural America I feel an urgency to share the stories of these communities, these families and our friends so we don't lose these threads that helped to build our unique national identity.
The Nolan family farm does not just make cheese, it is a place that combines life with livelihood and exhibits the long-standing tradition of a commitment towards community building. That is what I hope to capture with this film, the story of a family working together, bettering themselves, and bettering the community at large by providing ethically produced food.
COMPANY BIO
I am one of the co-creators of Milk Products Media, a production company specializing in creative documentaries music videos, and new media. Our goal is always to tell a good story and we love exploring ways of marrying music and images together in new ways.
