About this project
SO WHAT IS THIS PROJECT?
Two weeks before the election of Barack Obama, filmmaker Jeff Deutchman asked his friends around the world to record their experiences of 11/4/08, a day that had become “historic” before it had even taken place. In Phase One of this transmedia-project, a feature vérité documentary, we witness a global canvas begin to unfold: in St. Louis and Austin, idealistic volunteers think they can turn their states blue; in Chicago, voter lines are made even longer when Obama shows up to cast his own vote; in Alaska, children seem to be as invested in the election results as their parents; in Paris, an organization discusses whether there could ever be a black President of France; in Dubai, Berlin, Geneva and New Delhi, expatriates express their emotion from a distance; and in Harlem, a felon casts doubt on whether any of this will actually affect his life. As we approach the final announcement of Obama’s victory at 11pm EST, what emerges is a portrait of how people choose to live through “history”: the celebration of a new future remaining entangled with the universally visible tensions of the past. The premiere of this documentary will coincide with the launch of a website that will mark the beginning of Phase Two: an effort to accumulate the most comprehensive collection of non-news footage shot on 11/4/08. The original version of the film will be updated on the website as a living document, but the footage will also be made available for users at home to edit their own versions of that day and then upload for all to see.
WHAT AM I KICKSTARTING EXACTLY?
The film will premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) in March 2010. We need funds to finish the film, get it to the festival, build awareness, and finally to turn it into a fully-fledged interactive web project.
* color correction - $1,250
* hdcams for festival screenings - $350
* poster printing & shipping - $400
* postcard printing & shipping - $500
* buttons - $600
* web design & maintenance - $1,000
* legal - $8,000
We reached our initial $3500 goal, which is going to be immensely helpful. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us. As you can see, we still have a ways to go in order to properly launch this project. Please keep the good will flowing!
WILL MY PLEDGE REALLY HELP THE PROJECT DO ANYTHING?
YES! So far, we've made this movie with virtually no funds. The contributing filmmakers all worked for free. Jeff edited the movie for free on nights and weekends. The producers have so far all worked for free. We've been willing and able to do this because we believe in the project. Now, however, there are some unavoidable costs in order to bring this project to an audience, which is especially important for a "participatory documentary" that is all about building an audience and turning that audience into our collaborators.
The color correction and HDcams are technical necessities to enable the movie's festival run. SXSW is the perfect venue to launch this film and its interactive website, but we need money to get there, and to make sure people show up for our screenings! This is just the beginning of a project that can have a long life, but now is the most critical moment of all; our launch will either make or break the journey.
ALRIGHT, BUT DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO REACH THE FINISH LINE?
Jeff has worked in the independent film business for four years, working in distribution, marketing and acquisitions for IFC Films and IDP Distribution. Natalie works at Chicken and Egg Pictures, a non-profit that raises funds for documentaries directed by women. Between us, we are intimately familiar with the current independent film marketplace and the nuts-and-bolts of documentary outreach and distribution. We have gotten this far with hard work and economical decisions. We are committed to continuing this pattern in order to complete the job. We know how to do it, we just need a bit of help.
FILM TODAY, GONE TOMORROW?
We know how many movies come and go, but our project is different. The feature documentary is only the first phase of the project; the second phase is the self-sustaining force of the website. The film and website will serve to cross-promote for one another, but it is the website that will live on in perpetuity as catalyst for and home to a multitude of user-generated “movie-histories,” not to mention as an indispensable resource for historical research and educational purposes. 11-4-08.com is already live and beautiful, but it needs a lot more work in order to become the sophisticated tool we intend it to be. If you donate $10 or more now, your name will be permanently etched on the website’s Thank You page for the rest of its life!
SWEET. HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?
Right now, we really need money. But we also need enthusiastic web users.
Post a link to our website -- 11-4-08.com -- on your website!
Upload your own election day footage!
Become an author of your own history!
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
If you would prefer to make a tax-deductible donation to this project, you can do that here.
THANK YOU
Check out the 11/4/08 Thank You Page where all collaborators and backers will have their names permanently etched in the history of this project.
***SQUEEZE TICKETS
Stay tuned for the announcement of tour dates. Once tour dates are announced, we will approach backers in order of when you came on board to choose your desired date/venue. Tour dates no longer available will be posted here.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 16, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more
You will receive our email updates and thanks on our website for years to come!
Pledge $25 or more
Limited Edition button
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One complete, mint condition copy of the famous November 5, 2008 New York Times! "OBAMA - Racial Barrier Falls in Decisive Victory"
Pledge $50 or more
A DVD of the finished film
Pledge $100 or more
Talented graphic artist Felipe Lima is designing our Limited Edition poster through one of the oldest letterpresses in the country. You will receive one original poster, signed by the film's collaborators.
Pledge $150 or more
A Limited Edition DVD "box set" (self-compiled) of films by the contributing filmmakers of "11/4/08." Consists of Margaret Brown's "The Order of Myths" (feature); Joe Swanberg's "Alexander the Last" (feature); Jon Lefkovitz's "Movie Boy" (feature); Jeff Deutchman's "Blackboard Bubble" (feature); Benh Zeitlin's "Glory At Sea" (short); Henry Joost's "Nike: Streets Are For Sports" (short); and "11/4/08."
Pledge $200 or more
Hour-long phone consultation with indie film executive Jeff Deutchman about film distribution
Pledge $250 or more
Two VIP tickets to see Squeeze play live as part of their 2010 Summer Tour at the venue nearest to you! (Only two tix available per show. First come, first serve. See to the left for more info)
Pledge $500 or more
Thanks in the movie (if your donation comes in after the HDcam is created for festival delivery, your thanks will still be included on the dvd copy of the film and all future iterations)
Pledge $1,000 or more
Have your story be part of our project! We will tape & upload your personal testimonial of 11/4/08 to include on our website.
Pledge $2,000 or more
Free private screening at your house for you and your friends with curator Jeff Deutchman (either in person or via Skype)
Pledge $3,000 or more
One flight to Austin for SXSW (March 12-21, but exact dates flexible) and two free tickets to the film's premiere
Pledge $5,000 or more
Executive Producer credit (if your donation comes in after the HDcam is created for festival delivery, your credit will still be included on the dvd copy of the film and all future iterations)
Project By
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Based in New York City, Jeff Deutchman is the Curator/Editor/Producer and a Contributing Filmmaker on 11/4/08. He has worked in independent film distribution, marketing and acquisitions for the last four years. He received a BS from Northwestern University where he studied film history and wrote about contemporary strands of cinema that challenge the Auteur Theory. 11/4/08 is his feature film debut.
