Kickstarter

UPDATE:  You guys are amazing!  We hit $2000, and we still have 2 hours to go.  The backer screening party is a go!  Now, if we can hit $2500 before the timer runs out, Kevin Joiner has agreed to do a special concert performance at the party.  And remember, every dollar goes right into making this film amazing!  Let's keep it going!

UPDATE:  You did it!  We've reached our goal, but the clock is still running.  Let's keep going, because every dollar goes right into the production of this film.  

So here's the surprise incentive:  If we reach $2000, EVERY BACKER at $5 and up will be invited to a special screening party at Stephen's house.  (Greenville only/Transportation not provided.)

So keep the word going...let's hit $2K!!!

THE STORY

Emmeline Muffet Gives Up Her Tuffet is the story of little Miss Emmeline Muffet, a spunky young girl on her own in the toughest city in the world.  Her father disappeared almost two months ago, but she knows he didn't leave her.  He always comes back after his shows.  Right?

While waiting for the clock to run out on the 60 day limit before DSS takes her into the system, she encounters Phineas, a man-shaped spider who is also on a deadline.  If he doesn't eat some meat soon, he will die.  And he's constantly reminded of that fact by Humphrey, Phineas' dark, other half. The id to his ego, as Freud might have said, had he studied spiders who have conversations with their own stomachs.

Phineas wants to be more than just a mouth. He's drawn to the light.  He wants to glow.  Humphrey just wants to feed (and probably enjoys the carnage a little too much).  And Emmeline just wants her father back.  

She's not scared, though. Her cheese stick and whey protein shake give her all the courage she needs.  But will that be enough to stand up to a hungry spider with nothing to lose?

Main Bathroom Set Concept Art

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

We're trying to raise money for the production of our short film, Emmeline Muffet Gives Up Her Tuffet. If we meet our goal, we'll begin filming in mid-December for an early 2012 film festival release. We are also applying for a grant, but it's a matching funds grant.  That means part of what we raise here would be doubled, but if we don't reach our goal, we get nothing!  

CAN YOU RAISE MORE THAN THE GOAL?

Absolutely!  New incentives for backers will unlock when we reach the goal, and we'll keep adding incentives and setting new extended goals until the timer runs out!  Our starting goal is just enough to make the film on a shoe-string budget.  The more we raise, the more we can invest directly into production. And while we will stretch every dollar as far as it will go, we would love to be able to actually pay our actors and crew a little something for the time they are lovingly investing in this film.  If you could help make that happen, it would be a huge victory for locally-produced independent film.

WHO IS MAKING THE FILM?

The project is being produced by Stephen Boatright and Adrian Vanderbosch.  Stephen is a nationally published entertainment photographer and filmmaker, and Adrian has partnered with some of the top producers in LA. Stephen is directing.  The script was adapted by playwright Anne Pecaro from her original one-act stage play. Original music will be provided through a collaboration between Kevin Joiner, Jason McMahan, and Robert Gowan and his band, Wasted Wine.

The cast includes Mae Tromsness (she just turned 10!) as Emmeline, Matthew Merritt as Phineas, Jason Shipman as Humphrey, Michele Labar as the Lady from DSS, and Adrian Vanderbosch as Emmeline's father.

CG spider previs concept

CAN I INCREASE MY PLEDGE AFTER IT'S BEEN MADE?

YES!  You can raise your pledge, or upgrade to a new incentive if you'd like.  Just log in and you'll find that the "Back This Project" button has turned into a "Manage Your Donation" button.  Just click that and you can enter a new amount or choose a new incentive.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

The two most important things you can do are:

1.  Become a backer.  We know that money is tight these days. But for the entertainment industry, your money is your voice, and now more than ever we need to tell the decision makers in Hollywood that we want original stories, instead of just more remakes of the same tired cliches.  Your contribution to this project is a vote for original, innovative films.  Every dollar helps.

2. Spread the word.  Even if you can't give, you can help spread the word.  If you're reading this page, odds are you're the kind of forward-thinking influencer that others look to for advice on what's cool...what's good...what's worth their time. So spread the link around Facebook.  Talk to your friends about it in person.  And email it directly to people you think would dig it. 

Nothing is nearly as effective as enthusiastic word-of-mouth!

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT?

You can follow our progress on our behind-the-scenes production blog, WHAT THE KCUF IS A TUFFET?, at: http://emuffet.wordpress.com.  Subscribe to the blog there for email updates, and be sure to "like" the film on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/emuffet.

We sincerely thank you in advance for your help, and if you'd like to contact us, just click the "send a message" button at the top of the page.

Now pick your incentive level and let's make a movie!