Kickstarter

I'm directing a short film Prima Donna -it's my MFA Directing thesis at Columbia University. Watch the short SUPERTWINS, that I directed in preparation for this PRIMA DONNA (www.primadonnafilm.com)

ABOUT THE FILM

Prima Donna is a tragic coming-of-age story about a young African-American girl, May, 13 years-old, in love with country music and saving her father Raymond. May and Raymond take off from their small Florida town on their way to an out-of-state singing competition. What seems like a short pitstop on the road turns into an endless detour for May when Raymond decides he has other plans for their future.

Based on a true story about a girl's trip to the stateline casino with her father which has stayed with me for ten years. I'm excited to make a film that explores music, specifically traditional country music, and how it serves a girl at the age of ultimate desperation - thirteen. Beyond country music, there's gambling, and the primal wilderness of Florida. All these elements tie into the film's themes- neediness for love making a person unrecognizable to themselves.

Primadonna is also a dark country-western musical, but not in the traditional sense. We'll see how the music gets worked and reworked into these characters' lives. We're collaborating with a songwriter to write original music for the film. And we are casting a young lead actress from central Florida who will also make a record for the film's soundtrack.

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We are shooting the film on location in Tampa, Florida with the most amazing team of Columbia and Florida filmmakers who I feel so lucky to be working with. Our joint New York/Florida project needs some support.

We are deep in the middle of a hot two-month pre-production effort with afternoon thunderstorms and everything that comes with being based in LUTZ, FLORIDA. For those who haven't visited- Lutz is a small town just north of Tampa and off the gulf coast of Florida. We're shooting the film over five days in August and we need to raise 6000 to cover some of our production costs. Any donation will be of great help and we encourage you to be part of our extended team.

WHAT YOUR MONEY WILL HELP US COVER

-transportation is expensive to fly our amazing Columbia team to Florida, and food and accommodations
-to pay our skilled technicians in Sound and the Camera department without which we wouldn't be able to achieve the look and sound for this film
-to rent the Camera and Accessories that will help us achieve the best
-to rent and buy the design materials and the vehicle which is crucial to twlling the stories of these characters
-any excess funds will cover additional promotional needs (soundtrack, film festival submissions, marketing materials)

WHO WE ARE

Laurie Thomas- Writer/Director (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3622253/)
Carmen Jimenez – Producer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2315795/)
Michael Allen Long- Co-Producer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3166621/)
Owen Donovan- Cinematographer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2034689/)