About this project

Music credit in the location scout video (above): Vojtěch a Irena Havlovi; song: 120 album: Jako motýl na tvé dlani (Like A Butterfly On Your Palm)

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MARCH 29/2010

We're 10 days away from shooting SWIMMING AWAY and we have just THREE DAYS LEFT of our campaign that in just 1 month has helped us lock in 11 actors, 6 extras, 39 crew members, 4 locations, 120 burritos, 90 cups of coffee, 3 shootings days and 81 individual backers, who have collectively supported us with $9,765 net ($10,500 gross)!

However, we need $17,300 to make this film. We've got 3 days left to fundraise on Kickstarter so to those who haven't yet thrown down, please consider helping us in this LAST PUSH which ends Thursday Apr 1, 12:00pm EDT with a small token. Remember that you get a gift at every level!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported us - from $5 to $1,000 each backer brought us closer to our project, and a big smile to our stressed-out faces.

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MARCH 15th 2010

Friends, our short film SWIMMING AWAY is paddling along and we are EXCITED, ECSTATIC to announce that we officially did what we thought was impossible; in two week 56 kind backers helped us reach $7,210 by donating to Kickstarter! We've now officially reached our pledged goal - which is fantastic – thank you!!

However, it DOES NOT MEAN THAT OUR FILM IS FUNDED!

What DOES it mean??
We are guaranteed to receive the money already pledged. Yay!
Anything above our pledged goal is ONLY being used to complete our short film.

MONEY
Approx. 6-7% of all money raised goes to fees and commissions which means of our total of $9,710 (we got some money outside Kickstarter) we currently have $9,030.
We need $17,300 to make the film.

Since you make this possible, we want to be totally transparent. This budget does not include deferred fees for crew & cast...

SWIMMING AWAY BUDGET
Pre-Production $500
Production $9,700
Post-Production $6,500
Outreach $600
GRAND TOTAL = $17,300

We need to raise another $8,848 (since we lose 6-7% on fees).

Basically, WE NEED TO EXCEED OUR KICKSTARTER PLEDGE BY 300%!
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This is the bit where we assume that we know what you want to ask, and so ask it, and then answer it ourselves. aka FAQ.

WHY AM I HERE?
Because we need to make this film and we need you to make it happen!

WHAT IS THE FILM ABOUT?
Three finalists fiercely compete in an intense swimming competition. The prize? A citizenship to the most desired country in the world.
SWIMMING AWAY is about the personal and political borders that exist in reality and in our subconscious. The film is a provocation to start a dialogue that deals with themes of immigration, foreign policy and what it means to belong.

We are shooting in 16mm color film. Running time will be 10-15 minutes. Location is in upstate New York.

WHO ARE YOU?
SWIMMING AWAY is a film by award-winning director Margarita Jimeno , the team behind the music documentary GOGOL BORDELLO: NON STOP. And an extraordinaire crew of immigrants including Joshua Mehr Producer, Producer Leah Sapin, Cinematographer Daniel McKeowen, Production Designer Sanna Lund, Assistant Director Anna Bernstrom, Production Manager Kati Sklut, Casting at Bill Hopkings, and many more including a magnificent cast of god created swimming actors.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
Margarita: I’m always being asked how I became a US citizen, so I decided to make up my own story. Sometimes illuminated truths are far more intense, and for sure far more interesting. So my fabricated answer became: ”I won a swimming competition, and the prize was a US citizenship”.
I have heard countless stories about the lengths people go to in order to live and work in certain countries - USA, Australia, Britain, France... The fact that a Mexican TV game show exists where the grand prize is a green card, or that visa lotteries are common and accepted as a reality, is surreal and in so many ways a debased fierce competition.

AESTHETIC INSPIRATION?
VIDEOS Tsunami swimming Polar Bear poop Vodoo Steps ..............................................................................................................................
WHAT NOW?
Before we reach the swimming pool we need supplies to make it to the finals. With $9,000 previously secured, we are half of the way there. We are covered by insurance, but need the equipment to insure. We hustled a free 16mm camera out of a rental place, but we need the film to shoot on, Kodak is giving us some free cans, but not all of it. We "found" a car, but we need gas. We are banking on the hope that everyone under-the-line will bring their own damn lunchbox.
Here is where you come in as a key cheerleader, because without you, we are nothing.

HOW WILL YOU SPEND THE MONEY?
-Pre-production/production : equipment rental, film stock, props, wardrobe, video stock, and meals.
-Post production: Lab development/work, Color correction, sound mix, DVDs, print materials.

HOW WILL I KNOW YOU AREN'T SWIMMING AWAY WITH THE CASH?
Follow us! Keep posted on our progress here on Kickstarter, where we will be uploading videos, updates and random thoughts.
And, of course, Twitter!
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TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
If you prefer to go through our Fiscal Sponsor with a tax deductible donation, please visit Arts Engine and that way we both win.