About this project

SYNOPSIS:

Strange Play: Where Do You Go? explores contemporary communication. Created as an experimental narrative HD video – the piece examines both connectivity and isolation through our human dependency upon electronic devices. While these devices provide unique methods of sharing that unavoidably set the tempo of our modern communication – Strange Play earnestly observes the power and influence these devices have on our changing human relationships.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:

STRANGE PLAY was set in motion from watching the world. Every day I see multitudes of people interacting with devices, interacting with each other with devices, not interacting with each other... I want to share that with an audience as my way to start a conversation. I think I want to say, “Do you see? This behavior is us, our time. Isn't it weird that we're spending it so mediated and disconnected while being super connected at the same time? Isn't it beautiful and sad and funny, all at the same time?"
   
Strange Play’s 25 INTERCONNECTED VIGNETTES shuttle through scenes of distracted absurdity/comedic tragedy...meetings derailed by laptops, a publicly humiliated politician attempting to repair her cuckolded marriage online, prank phone calls to a fictitious woman, tongue-tied foreigners communicating using electronic dictionaries, a pair of identical twins who breakup...

THE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE OF THIS PIECE lends itself to a ‘fragmentary mirror’ sort of project, many small stories which might not be possible to tell in a more conventional narrative. This approach enables the audience to come in and out of the piece. Strange Play’s environs are aesthetically beautiful, playful, colorful, restless, and often curious. The idea is to place viewers in a space where they want to observe and possibly identify with moments of disconnection in their own lives. I am fascinated by how our wired culture is simultaneously a remedy for and a source of low-level anxiety.

My small but passionate Strange Play team and I have posted answers below to some FAQs -- please take a look!

FAQs:

WHAT IS 'CROWDFUNDING'? :: 'Crowdfunding' is a way for projects, ideas, and initiatives to raise funds from a group of people who might be interested in showing support.  Anyone can support a project and the individuals who pledge funds of support automatically become the 'crowd' in 'crowdfunding'.

I'M NOT BASED IN THE USA - CAN I STILL PLEDGE? :: Yes! Anyone from anywhere in the world can pledge and we appreciate contributions from all over the globe.

ALL-OR-NUTHIN' ON KICKSTARTER :: We have set Saturday, December 24th at 5pm EST as the finish line for our Kickstarter campaign.  If we raise USD$15,000 OR MORE by then, we keep all of the funds.  If we raise less than $15K by then, we keep nuthin' and will need to delay production of Strange Play come 2012. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MORE THAN $15,000 IS RAISED? :: We'll be elated!!  $15,000 is the minimum amount we need to raise on Kickstarter and will cover the production costs (crew, equipment rental, and wardrobe/props) for 10 segments of the final project.  More funding helps tremendously and will increase the amount of segments we can create.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH MY PLEDGE? :: Your pledge helps get us to our $15K or more goal by December 24th and shows a commitment to your funding support.  Your pledge does not become an official financial contribution to this project UNLESS we reach or exceed our $15,000 goal by the 24th.

CAN I PLEDGE THEN GIFT MY REWARD TO SOMEONE ELSE? :: Yes! Just let us know your preference and we will send your pledge tier reward to the person of your choice.

HOW CAN I HELP?!* ::  There are lots of ways that you can help. Pledges of absolutely any amount help us move closer to our goal.  Whatever you can afford from $1 on up.  If you'd rather show your support by spreading the word about Strange Play, you can:

-Like us on Facebook :: http://www.facebook.com/pages/StrangePlay/292761104102358

-Tweet about us (and/or follow us on Twitter) :: twitter.com/strangeplay

-Help spread the word via press ::

*Here we are in a Huffington Post article! :: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zac-hill/bridging-the-gap-gretchen_b_1157131.html

*And here we are on the Kickstarter Curated Vimeo Page :: http://www.kickstarter.com/pages/vimeo

-Tell friends and/or strangers about our project and direct them to this Kickstarter page!

*We're still happy to have you spread the word about the project even if you pledge.

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THANK YOU for viewing this project and considering a pledge!!  Your generous donation will enable us to complete Strange Play in 2012. Many, many thanks for your support!