Kickstarter

Hi all! Thanks for lending an ear to Disgrace.

ABOUT THE FILM

Thematically, Disgrace explores the way in which children are conditioned through their family - in this case towards patriarchial violence - and the ways in which masculinity can function dangerously as a crutch for insecurity. It is a somber film with occasional strokes of black comedy.

Production will be taking place from November 8th-12th and we couldn't be more excited!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are raising the rest of the budget needed to make this film. Every penny counts. Your aid will go towards production design, costumes, camera and lens rentals, lighting and grip rentals, the fees of the casting director, compensations for the cast, food, housing, and transportation. 

Thank so much for breathing our film into life!

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Casey Modderno grew up traveling around the world with his family. After living in Beijing and Manilla he eventually settled in New Haven, CT.  It was here that he became involved in performing and booking in the DIY punk scene; a community that sparked his undying passion for the arts, philosophy, and politics. 

Starting in fall 2009, he has been attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts to study Film & TV production with a minor in Social and Cultural Analysis. In addition, he studied under Werner Herzog at the Rogue Film School in Los Angeles as a Freshman.  

In his time at Tisch he worked as the production designer for a micro-budget feature called The Homefront, stretching $600 to fill an empty house and simulate a war raging outside (currently in post production); he has worked as a cinematographer on several shorts, including a handful of documentaries and two narratives shot on 35mm in the Czech Republic that are moving on to festivals; he has assistant directed a multitude of films, include Right Hand Red, in selection at the Warsaw International Film Festival and the Palm Beach International FIlm Festival. 

His real conviction, however, is as a writer-director. As a sophomore he produced a series of somber black and white films channeling his most pervasive dreams, culminating in an avant garde work inspired by the disturbing Kitty Genovese case, titled Lessons Learned Through Shadow and Glass.

As a junior he wrote and directed a short film titled Devotion, a gritty, unyielding study of a recently separated couple who, despite their bitterness, can't seem to part ways. It has recently been finalized, packaged, and sent to several festivals, including Sundance (fingers crossed!).

This past summer, while assembling the crew for Disgrace and finishing Devotion, he directed a comedy short titled Just Listen, about a bizarre therapy session gone wrong, that will be displayed and advertised on the Upright Citizen's Brigade website. 

Disgrace was born while Casey was a sophomore, and after a bit of rumination, has blossomed into the nuanced, challenging film that is is now. It's more than just an NYU thesis film; it is his most bare, honest, polemical work to date.

ABOUT THE CREW

Produced by Benjamin Kim

Born and raised in the southwest border town of El Paso, TX, with an upbringing of American, Hispanic, and Korean culture, Benjamin has always had a keen eye for stories that stood apart. He is currently finishing his BFA in Film & TV at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and focuses primarily as a writer and director - taking the time to produce when he finds a project he is truly passionate about. As well as working on Disgrace, Benjamin is producing his first feature film, a documentary on the housing crisis in America through the filter of a micro-housing initiative happening in his hometown.

Cinematography by Oliver Anderson 

Oliver Anderson is a New York City based cinematographer and fellow graduate of Tisch School of the Arts. He has a history and reputation of creating dynamic imagery influenced by a diversity of mediums and personal experiences. He has shot commercials, music videos, and recently wrapped principal photography on his first feature, shot on location in Virginia last spring. 

He’s worked with a wide range of directors in almost every style, from B-movie horror to historical drama to comedy to fashion. Oliver approaches each project with a great deal of care, placing central emphasis on a film’s ideas and intentions rather than just the technology that captures it.

Assistant Directed by Raven Jensen 

Raven Jensen is a recent graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts film program. During her time in school she produced and worked as an assistant director on many student films. Abigail, a student film she produced and assistant directed in the summer of 2011, won second place at the Cannes Cinefondation this year. From May 2010 until March 2012 she worked part-time at The Criterion Collection in the Quality Control department. In March she left in order to produce and assistant direct a feature length film in Virginia entitled Wear. Raven recently signed on to assistant direct an independent feature film called F**k I Love You, which is set to shoot in October of this year in New York City. 

Production Design by Arianne Alizio

Arianne Alizio is also a senior in the Film & Television department of Tisch. With a strong background in studio art, Arianne's keen eye for aesthetics and love of visual environments led her to pursue work in production design. She has led art departments on 16 films (both shorts and features) in the past three years. She works on set as a costume designer and special effects makeup artist as well. Arianne is also an experienced director, with a disposition towards documentary-fiction and the avant garde.

She and director Casey Modderno have been working together for over three years as a dynamic creative duo, and cannot wait to further their collaborative efforts in the production of Disgrace.

You may sample her work at http://vimeo.com/ariannealizio

Original Music by Jacob Goldman

Jacob Goldman is a senior at New York University.  He was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut alongside his brother, sister and a few pairs of Bernese Mountain Dogs. In his passionate musical pursuits, he has studied with revered composers, Joan La Barbara and Morton Subotnick, and spent the summer of 2011 studying with Rhys Chatham in Paris.

Jacob and Casey grew up in the same community, attended the same schools, and performed in some of the same bands. His work will lend a nuanced and haunting quality to Disgrace - the perfect complement.

Here are two of his tracks for you to sample!

and...

More can be found at http://soundcloud.com/jacob-goldman

Casting Services by J&R Creative

J&R creative serves as an umbrella that embraces, fosters, and develops innovative storytelling on a global level. Fusing their casting expertise in film, television and theatre, they continue to discover some of today's most notable talents. With their insight, they help creatives further develop their ideas with a multicultural spin, and create opportunities for talent who crossover between various areas of entertainment. 

J&R creative's recent projects include the short films "Future Tense" (directed by Philip Van) and "Elvis (directed by Nicolas Santana), as well as a promo for UNICEF's 'Trick or Treat' Campaign, and the national tour of the musical Clifford the Big Red Dog (directed by Mark Fleishcer). Currently casting the U.S. national tour of Spank: The Fifty Shades of Parody (directed by Jim Millan). J&R Creative insures that Disgrace will have the most talented and moving cast available, and one that will engage the audience as a convincing, though troubled, family.

You may read more at http://www.jandr-creative.com/

IN CONCLUSION

Thanks so much for reading up on Disgrace. We hope that, whether you choose to donate or not, you will continue to follow its development - we are very excited!