About this project
GOAL REACHED! BUT FUNDRAISING CONTINUES!
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OPEN SECRET is a first-person documentary that chronicles Steve Lickteig’s 20-year search for 1) Who his real birth parents were; 2) Why a whole town kept the secret from him; and 3) How his family’s tumultuous history is bound up with Kansas itself, a misunderstood land of tornadoes, prairies, fried food and deep secrets.
When I started OPEN SECRET, I had no idea of the surprises waiting for me—or the amount of interest this project would generate. My family has come forward with revelations that have completely changed the story’s outcome. Producers, including HBO’s Documentary Films, have responded to the film and are waiting to see a rough cut.
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO FUND OPEN SECRET. The film received initial funding from the Rosenthal Family Foundation and the Eastman Family Fund. From this support, we’ve completed 90% of the shooting and now are deep into the editing process. But we need your help.
OUR GOAL is raise five thousand dollars by February 16, 2010, in order to finish the film by May 31, 2010. This money will be used primarily for editing, which is the most time-intensive and expensive part of making a film like this. Given the enthusiasm expressed so far, I feel confident we can distribute the film through HBO, the BBC, or another quality venue. OPEN SECRET will eventually be available on a deluxe DVD with all the extras—and, I hope, your name in the credits as a funder!
SUPPORTERS LIKE YOU are essential to telling this story. After spending hours interviewing my family and the people I grew up with, I've come to realize that this story is about more than a secret; it's a story about difficult choices; parental love and personal identity. It's a story about family.
Making this film has not only helped me to understand the potency of secrets themselves, but also the power of talking about them. I think my family is stronger because of the process of making this film and I hope OPEN SECRET will inspire other families to talk about their history.
If you have questions about the film or if you'd be interested in making a tax deductible contribution, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
--Steve Lickteig
PRODUCTION TEAM
Charlotte Stoudt, Producer
Karen Everett, Supervising Editor
Bret Sigler, Editor
Laura Kissel, Director of Photography
Rob Hilton, Composer
FAQ
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Backers
$8,380
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 16, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more
Receive a thank you on the OPEN SECRET website.
Pledge $150 or more
Receive a thank you on the OPEN SECRET website plus a signed OPEN SECRET DVD.
Pledge $250 or more
Receive all of the above plus an ONSCREEN CREDIT.
Pledge $1,000 or more
Receive all of the above plus an invitation to a Producer’s Dinner and Private Screening of OPEN SECRET.
Pledge $5,000 or more
Receive all of the above plus an Associate Producer ONSCREEN CREDIT.
Project By
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I am a radio producer and filmmaker.
I’ve produced hundreds of stories, interviews and documentaries for public radio, including the NPR programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered. I also independently produced and reported the public radio documentary “One Family and a Kansas Town.” It aired on 100 stations nationwide and on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
I served as assistant director for the documentary film “Waiting for Hockney” an official selection of the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2008 Toronto Hot Docs Festival. The film recently had its U.S. broadcast premiere on the Sundance Channel.
I live in Washington D.C. where I’m executive producer of The Bob Edwards Show on Sirius XM Radio and Bob Edwards Weekend from PRI. I also co-curate Small Good Thing, an online showcase of creative work in film, radio music and the web and am co-founder of Ignite DC, a showcase of innovation and ideas.
