This film explores the aftershock of Egypt's Revolution through different Egyptians to understand why real change can be elusive.
Friction. Resistance. Inertia. In the course of human history, there have been but few genuine tectonic shifts in the status quo. The reason is simple. People with power and privilege want to maintain that power and privilege and will fight like hell to do it. Thus, even after cracks in the status quo are exposed and widened, true revolutionary change is hard to cement. Children in the Garden of Democracy is a feature length documentary film that looks at the aftershocks of the Egyptian Revolution through the eyes of different Egyptians in an effort to understand why real change is so elusive. The film explores notions of Egyptian political and social identity and tries to understand how those notions impact the revolutionary movement in Egypt.
MirrorLake Films (hi, that's us in the video) have partnered with the University of Tennessee's Center for the Study of Youth in Political Conflict to document the lives of these passionate young people as they fight to create a more free and more democratic Egypt. We have been with them in the immediate aftermath of the January 25 uprising, the July sit-ins, the first parliamentary elections and Mohammed Mahmoud Street clashes as well as the anniversary demonstrations in January 2012 and the Port Said massacre and ensuing violence.
Now, the country is grappling with the implications of drafting a new constitution and simultaneously planning the first post-Mubarak presidential elections. Without a finalized constitution, the powers of the eventual winning president are still in doubt. With threats to democracy (real or perceived) germinating from the religious right, foreign interests, or the continued militarization of Egyptian government, these upcoming elections (May 23-24 with possible run-offs in June) may be the most pivotal moment in the revolutionary process.
Your support to this Kickstarter project will ensure that we are there to cover the elections with each of our amazing cast members. We need your support so that we can pay our local producer in Cairo and additional camera/audio crew to ensure we are able to adequately cover this moment in history and tell their stories. We've purchased flights and booked an apartment near Tahrir Square for May, by putting everything on our credit cards, because we feel this film is IMPORTANT. Children In the Garden of Democracy puts a real face to the struggle of identity through these current events in Egypt. Your contributions go directly to production expenses and will help us capture what we expect to be a climax of the film: the presidential elections.
By trusting in our filmmaking efforts and supporting us through your pledges you will be participating in capturing history in the making!
Thank you for reading and watching and for contributing to this important project.
Manjula/Arthur/Chantelle
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Funding period
May 17, 2012 -
Jun 16, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 3 backed
- Arthur VanWagenen 638 friends
- Website: mirrorlakefilms.blogsp...
Pledge $5 or more
11 backers
For giving us a shout out: we want to thank you for rallying behind us and showing us your support. you will receive a special thanks on our "you say you want a revolution" portion of the film's official website!!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $10 or more
11 backers
A powerful voice: the love and support you are showing us is wonderful!!! we will send you a handwritten thank you card from the director :) and you will receive a special thanks on our "you say you want a revolution" portion of the film's official website!!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $20 or more
43 backers
comrade on the film: your commitment and excitement to help us make this film is rockin' - we can't thank you enough!!! you will receive a a handwritten thank you card from the director :), you will also receive a special thanks on the "you say you want a revolution" portion of the film's official website AND yes there is more...are you excited? Cause you should be!!! You will also receive an autographed dvd of the film itself - could it get any better?
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $45 or more
13 backers
Children in the Garden of Democracy: you are amazing!!!! thank you so much for believing in us and our film!!! we are SO excited!! It is only because of your support we will be able to make this film happen. Because of the love you are showing us you will receive everything above as well as an 8x10 photo that our team took in Egypt during one of our earlier production trips for this film.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $60 or more
4 backers
You are as excited about this film as we are, and it shows! You will receive ALL the fun cool things stated above PLUS you will be credited in the "power of the people - special thanks" section of the credits in the film itself!!!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $75 or more
11 backers
Your commitment to us is ridonculous!!!! Since you are showing us how much you care we will show you our love in return. You will receive EVERYTHING above as well as actual keffiyeh from Tahrir Square
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $100 or more
19 backers
Did you just go there?? Yeah, I think you did! And boy does it get better... cause get ready!!!...you will get ALL of the cool things stated above and get your speakers ready cause you will also receive the amazing soundtrack we will have for the film and a conversation with the director of the film. He could tell you about the best Yemeni restaurant in Cairo that he discovered while working on the film or his favorite Cairo football team. He would love to tell you about the making of the film and the amazing people he has met along the way as well.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $250 or more
11 backers
We ADORE you!!!! And this is how you will feel it! You will receive all the amazing this above plus TWO tickets to the premiere of the film. Yep, get ready for the red carpet, my friend! * Travel and accommodations not included.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
2 backers
OKAY, so you want to be a film producer, eh?? We'll launch your career through this film, by showing us your support. When you get up this high, we will give you ALL of the amazing things above as well as an associate producer credit on the film. HOLLAAA!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $2,500 or more
4 backers Limited (1 of 5 left)
You are an extraordinary person, and you will be able to tell your children that you supported us and our team, while we went and told the story of the revolution in Egypt in a way unlike before. For being this amazing we give you EVERYTHING above and you will receive 2 VIP passes to our after party for the premiere of the film where we will be SO excited to meet you and thank you in person for all the love and support you gave us. *Travel and accommodations not included.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
