About this project
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THE DEEP FIELD is a documentary about the dying experience and the period of healing and self-discovery that comes after a loved one passes.
The film is a meditative and poetic look at my family uniting and coming to terms with the decline and death of my 102-year-old grandmother in the final weeks of her life at home in January 2010.
My grandmother was a central part of my family’s life and was like another parent to me. Her death was the first loss of someone close to me in my life and had a major effect on me.
I interviewed my grandmother about her life, and much of this is used as narration in the documentary, creating a unique and first-person view of her loves, laments, and celebrations.
THE DEEP FIELD is an honest and unflinching look at the tenderness, grief, and love that mixes strangely with the black vacuum of impending death. I feel the themes of this film are something that all people think about and must eventually face. Why are we here? Did we live our lives to its full potential? Do we have regrets? What comes after death? While there is an un-negotiable sadness in death, I discovered that there is also a terrible beauty that paradoxically goes along with it. We are fortunate to have existed and to be aware of it. There are many moments of beauty, healing and catharsis in this film, that to me, far outweigh the sad aspects. My grandmother lived a full and beautiful life.
This film is also about my own self rediscovery. In the period since I began shooting this film, I have noticed people in my family becoming visibly older, in spirit and body, people who I once thought were boundless and invincible. It seems to have happened instantly and has made me determined to live my life to its full potential, which has always included becoming a filmmaker. A year before my grandmother became sick, she bought me the very camera that I filmed this movie with, a small Canon HDSLR. She wanted me to realize my dreams and it seems only fitting that my first film will be a celebration of her.
I have been working alone on this film for the past 2 years, and I am at the point where I need physical and financial help. All of the filming was done in 2010. In 2011, I have been focusing on as much post-production as I am able to do on my own.
I am fortunate to have my good friends in the band, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, composing an original score for the film. They recently contributed the main musical theme to the film Moneyball.
I have been hesitant to give away too many details about the story this early so that, by the time it's released, it will be an original and fresh experience for the viewer. I edited the above teaser to give you a feeling for the tone, scope, and mood of the film.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE DEEP FIELD:
Make a pledge today via Kickstarter. Any contribution, no matter how small or large, will make a difference. All contributions will be rewarded! Please check out the donation tiers to your right to find the level and gift that’s right for you!
Spread the word by telling your friends, family and social networks about The Deep Field and this Kickstarter campaign. Please send the URL of this page with a heartfelt endorsement to everyone you know! "Like" and Share the link on Facebook. Encourage people to follow the film.
If you have other ideas how to help, please contact me!
HOW DOES KICKSTARTER WORK?
Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects, driven by the rule of all-or-nothing. If I don’t raise my goal of $20,000, I lose everything, and no money changes hands. If I do reach my goal, the film will come out. The funds will go towards the last remaining scenes to be filmed, as well as for post-production in editing, sound, score, and color correction. My campaign will last for 60 days. 60 days go by very fast. If you can, please pledge now – it will help build crucial momentum.
I appreciate your taking the time to let me share my project with you, and I hope you decide to collaborate with me in this shared goal and invest in THE DEEP FIELD.
Thank You,
Rui Cavender
Director
WATCH THE TEASER ON YOUTUBE IN HD
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TEASER TRAILER CREDITS
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RUI CAVENDER Director/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor
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GUY TAYLOR Sound Engineer
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MUSIC
(all music used with permission)
"Morning Light" STUART DEMPSTER
"The Bringer of Old Age" RUI CAVENDER
"Killed the Lord, Left for the New World" THIS WILL DESTROY YOU
"Secret Currents" STUART DEMPSTER
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SPECIAL THANKS
Guzmán Rosado
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
157
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 7.
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A Postcard with still image from the film, mailed to you with personal thanks from the director.
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Limited Edition Film Poster, signed by the director.
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CD of "TUNNEL BLANKET", the latest album by THIS WILL DESTROY YOU + Poster of the same album. Both autographed by the band. Shipping is free in the US. Add $5 shipping for all foreign orders.
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Digital Download of the ORIGINAL SCORE for The Deep Field, composed by THIS WILL DESTROY YOU.
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Blu-Ray/DVD of the film, signed by the director.
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“SPECIAL SUICIDE SQUEEZE RECORD LABEL PACKAGE" This Will Destroy You’s “Tunnel Blanket” COMPLETE PACKAGE: (1)-2xLP grey w/ white haze (limited edition of 1,000)... (1)-2xCassettes (limited edition of 300)... (1)-CD... (1)-Black Dunes 7" Single w/ Holy Other REMIX (limited edition of 500)... (1)-11x17" poster (all items above SIGNED by the band) NOTE: There are only 15 of these packages available due to the last remaining 2xCassette and 7" Single editions.
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Blu-Ray/DVD. + Film Poster. All signed.
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(CD) Full Catalog of THIS WILL DESTROY YOU's Albums on CD. Young Mountain + S/T + Field Studies + Moving On The Edges Of Things + Tunnel Blanket + Tunnel Blanket Poster. All items AUTOGRAPHED by the band. (Please add $15 to international orders) THANKS to MAGIC BULLET RECORDS and SUICIDE SQUEEZE RECORDS!!! (This reward is limited to 35. Act fast!) NOTE: Moving On The Edges of Things will be in VINYL in this package, as no CD version exists.
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(VINYL) Full Catalog of THIS WILL DESTROY YOU's Albums on VINYL. Young Mountain + S/T + Field Studies + Moving On The Edges Of Things + Tunnel Blanket + Tunnel Blanket Poster. All items AUTOGRAPHED by the band. (Please add $15 to international orders) THANKS to MAGIC BULLET RECORDS and SUICIDE SQUEEZE RECORDS!!! (This reward is limited to 20. Act fast!)
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Museum-Quality Photo Book of Stills taken from the film, signed by director.
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A Test Pressing 2xLP of "TUNNEL BLANKET" by This Will Destroy You. Autographed by the band. There were only 6 of these made in the US! This was made before the album went into mass production as a "test" to see if everything sounded ok. These are super RARE. We can only find one of these, so we are offering only ONE as a reward. So act quick! Thanks to David at Suicide Squeeze for offering up this sweet reward!
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A Test Pressing 2xLP of "TUNNEL BLANKET" by THIS WILL DESTROY YOU. Autographed by the band. There were ONLY 6 of these made in the US! This was made before the album went into mass production as a "test" to see if everything sounded ok. These are super RARE. This unit happens to be Christopher Royal King from This Will Destroy You's personal test-pressing that we both listened to the album on for the very first time. Theoretically, this would be the "#001" Tunnel Blanket pressing if LP's were numbered. A BIG THANKS to CHRIS KING for offering this very unique reward!
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Photo Book. + Blu-Ray/DVD. Film Poster. All signed.
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Your Name in the Film Credits. + Photo Book. Blu-Ray/DVD. Film Poster. All signed.
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ONE 14x20" Gallery-Quality Framed Photograph from the film. + Your Name in the Film Credits. Photo Book. Blu-Ray/DVD. Original Score CD. Film Poster. All signed.
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ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Title in the Film Credits. 4 Tickets to a Film Festival Screening Near You. + THREE 14x20" Gallery-Quality Framed Photographs from the film. + Your Name in the Film Credits. Photo Book. Blu-Ray/DVD. Original Score CD. Film Poster. All signed.
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CO-PRODUCER Title in the Film Credits. + 4 Tickets to a Film Festival Screening Near You. THREE 14x20" Gallery-Quality Framed Photographs from the film. Photo Book. Blu-Ray/DVD. Original Score CD. Film Poster. All signed.
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PRODUCER Title in Film Credits. 2 VIP Tickets to World Premiere (flights not included). Red carpet access. Sit in section with creators of the film. Dinner with director. + THREE 16x24" Gallery-Quality Framed Photographs from the film. Photo Book. Blu-Ray/DVD. Original Score CD. Film Poster. All signed.
Project By
Connected as Rui Cavender (295 friends)
Born in New York City. Father is Portuguese. Mother is American. During his childhood, he lived for 2 years and spent all of his summers in Portugal with the other side of his family. Went to the University of Texas in Austin, where he currently resides practicing photography and film. Speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish. For the past 2 years he has been directing 2 films on his own, one of which is THE DEEP FIELD, and the other called, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, about the rock group of the same name.
