WHAT IS THE BOOK OF JOE?

"The year is 2012. The world is ending. Around the globe, biblical prophesies about the "end of days" are coming true. But everything is not as it seems—the Rapture is just a cover for an alien invasion, and only Joe can see through the ruse."

THE BOOK OF JOE is an action/sci-fi short film that pits Joe, an everyday man from South Texas, against Death, an Angel, and even Jesus himself in an apocalyptic battle for the future of Earth. Blending vintage science fiction, biblical imagery and South Texas Americana, THE BOOK OF JOE is a unique, entertaining, and action-packed take on the end of the world.

WHY KICKSTARTER?

Practical Effects - Props, make-up, costumes, blood and gore... building these things well requires time and money. We have a talented FX team whose work is comparable to that of any big-budget sci-fi movie, but we need to fund their labor and supplies. Practical effects will make or break this short, and we don't want to disappoint! We want as many butts in seats at as many festivals as possible!

Visual Effects - You know how Avatar was the most expensive movie of all time? Compositing, rotoscoping, animation...all of those special effects take a whole lot of time and computing power. We intend to make this movie as visually compelling as possible, using a blend of on set FX as well as composited VFX in post. Our visual effects team is the best of the best, and although they have drastically reduced their rates, utilizing their specialized skills will still cost a significant amount of money. 

Cast and Crew - As we said, no one is going to get rich while working on this film, and most of us won't be paid at all. But we believe that a talented, hardworking cast and crew deserves to be treated well, and that means paying as many people as possible. We're working with creative industry professionals whose time is very valuable, and they should receive some compensation.

A Horse! - Well, what else would Death ride?

Additional Costs - Location and permit fees, rentals, props, expendables, set dressing, gas, food...the list goes on.

SO WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

Most importantly, your contribution will help bring THE BOOK OF JOE to life, providing entertainment beyond reason! Our goal is for the project to screen around the country at film festivals before being made available for viewing online and on home video, but you, our Kickstarter supporters, will get to see it first. If you like sci-fi, action, adventure, and the apocalypse, we promise that you will love THE BOOK OF JOE.

We also have some great incentives for all levels of donation, including props, VHS tapes, t-shirts, producer credits, and set visits.

WHO ARE YOU? 

We are a group of passionate and dedicated media creators who met through our work on other projects. Utilizing each of our individual skills we merged like Voltron to form 5000 Films with intention of bringing you original and engaging entertainment. We are:

Mario James Pena - Writer/Director - Mario Pena attended Catholic school for 12 years before earning a BA in Radio,TV, Film from The University of North Texas. His first job was working as a runner for ABC/ESPN sports, where he eventually helped shoot such sporting events as the NBA Finals and the All Star Game. Since then, he has worked steadily as sound mixer and videographer for shorts, features, and TV shows. In 2010 his Fantastic Fest bumper "Cherry Pie" was selected by film critic Harry Knowles as the winner of their annual bumper contest. The theme that year was "Inappropriate." Gordonandthewhale.com said of the 30 second short, "I don't know if I can even describe it using legal words."

Dana Archip - Production Designer/ Art Director - Dana has been a member of the Society of American Magicians for 18 years. At age 12, she was performing magic in Las Vegas. She has been a lifelong fan of the arts and has volunteered for countless film festivals. In 2007, after receiving a degree in photography from Texas A&M Commerce, she moved to Austin where she teamed up with Mario and began making short films. She was the Co-Producer/Art Director on their award winning Fantastic Fest bumper and currently works full time at IBM as a Voice Over artist. She remains active in the film community as a part of film screening committees for several film festivals. 

Samantha Rae Lopez - Producer - Samantha Rae Lopez moved to Austin in 2008 to work in production management within the vibrant Austin film community. Samantha’s most recent credits include Unit Production Manager on Spring Eddy, a Texas based feature film, and Producer for PBS's On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival.  Other associations include the Austin Film Society, Austin Film Festival, Cine Las Americas, and Latinitas Magazine.  Samantha graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production in 2008 where she focused her efforts on assistant directing and production management.   

Alex Davis-Lawrence - Producer - Alex is an independent filmmaker with extensive experience in media production. Since founding his own production company in 2006, Alex has produced, shot, written, directed, and edited numerous commercial and artistic projects. Recently, he was an assistant editor and additional graphic designer on The Taiwan Oyster, a feature film (partially funded by Kickstarter) that premiered at SXSW 2012. He finished his first feature as director, Transfer, in 2011. A Seattle native, Alex graduated from Amherst College with a BA in American Studies and Film and Media Studies before moving to Austin in 2010.

Richard Watson - Editor/VFX Supervisor - Aside from being an accomplished editor, screenwriter, and VFX artist, Richard is also a loving husband and stay at home dad. Working out of his home in Lockhart,TX, his first feature film recently premiered at the Miami International Film Festival and is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit.

Faz Ahmed - Concept artist - Just across the pond, though the miracle of modern technology is London-based Faz. Working with us via Skype and email, Faz is developing storyboards, concept art, and promotional materials for THE BOOK OF JOE. He is a graduate of Brunel University and Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design.

I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. CAN I STILL HELP?

Yes! Any support you can give, even something as small as sharing this link or following us on the social networks, will be appreciated. Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments, or if you're interested in volunteering your time or resources. Contact us at bookofjoe2012@gmail.com, or follow us on the web at:

https://www.facebook.com/bookofjoe2012

Thanks again for taking the time to check out our project. Why not donate?

The world is ending this year anyway.

"They copied the Bible to steal our planet. But they forgot to read..."

                                     THE BOOK OF JOE.