658
Backers
$92,029
pledged of $70,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 13.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
• Special Thanks on the film Website • And listed on the Donor Wall on the website.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
(Around £3 / €4) All the above. PLUS: • Access to the exclusive update and Behind-the-Scenes videos in our "Backers Only" updates--please promise to tell 15 friends about our project!
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
(Around £6 / €7) All the above. PLUS: • HD Digital Download of the feature film • Personally signed ‘Thank you’ post card from the director!
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
(Around £16 / €18) All the above. PLUS: • Limited Edition DVD copy of the film. • Poster of the film signed by the director, featuring the film's logo, cast of characters, all on glossy paper suitable for framing.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
(Around £31 / €36) All the above. PLUS: • For the fan who wants to see ‘We Are Many’ at its very best, we'll send you the Special Edition Blu-Ray Combo Pack (featuring Blu-Ray, limited edition DVD and 2 x HD Digital copies of the film). • Digital Still from the film, suitable for printing and framing.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
(Around £62 / €72) All the above. PLUS: • Photo Book of the film’s production signed by the Director and Producer; • Digital still from the film; • A DVD Box Set of 3 of the director’s previous films for the BBC.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
(Around £155 / €180) All the above. PLUS: • VIP Ticket to the 'Cast and Crew Party' - one in USA and one in UK. • Limited Edition CD of film's Soundtrack.• Special Director's Cut of the film with DVD Extras.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
(Around £311 / €362) All the above. PLUS • VIP Ticket to the Film Premiere - one in the USA and one in UK. • Special listing in the Premier Invitation materials, and in all Press Releases and Marketing materials.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
(Around £623 / €720) All the above. PLUS: • Want to see your name on the big screen as a SPECIAL PRODUCER – this is for you! Listed as Special Producer on the film and in IMDB. • A Personal Screening of the film for you! With live running commentary (if you want it). And food. I’ll bring the film and the food…And if we are in your town on the east or west coast of the US, in London, or Berlin, Rome, Barcelona or Sydney, we’ll film you with a brief message to be permanently carried on the website. • 2 x VIP tickets to the Premiere. • 2 x VIP tickets to the ‘Cast and Crew Party’. • 3 Blu-Rays and DVD, and 3 HD Digital Downloads of the feature film.
Pledge $1,600 or more Pledge $1,600 or more
(Around £1000 / €1163) All the above, including SPECIAL PRODUCER credit on the film and in IMDB. PLUS: • A Personal Screening of the film for you with the Director and Producer! • VIP Sponsors Party + 1 guest. • 3 x VIP Tickets to the premiere; • 3 x VIP tickets to the ‘Cast and Crew Party’. • 5 Blu-Rays and DVD, and 5 HD Digital Downloads of the feature film.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
(Around £2000 / €2300) All the above, including DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER credit on the film and in IMDB. PLUS: • A Personal Screening of the film for you with the Director and Producer! • VIP Sponsors Party + 2 guests. • We come to your home and film YOUR STORY of 15 February 2003, to be permanently featured on the website, and considered for possible inclusion in the film. • 3 x VIP Tickets to the premiere; •3 x VIP tickets to the ‘Cast and Crew Party’. •5 Blu-Rays and DVD, and 5 HD Digital Downloads of the feature film.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
(Around £3120 / €3633) All the above. PLUS: • ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Credit on the film and in IMDB. • 5 x VIP Ticket to the Post-Premier Party; • 5 x VIP Tickets to the Premiere • 10 copies of Limited edition Blu-Ray DVD of the film; 5 HD Digital Downloads of the feature film; Special Thanks on the film website and in the film credits.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
(Around £6240 / €7266) All the above. PLUS: • CO-PRODUCER Credit on the film and in IMDB. • 5 x VIP Ticket to the Post-Premier Party; • 5 x VIP Tickets to the Premiere • 10 copies of Limited edition DVD of the film; 5 HD Digital Downloads of the feature film; Special Thanks on the film website and in the film credits. .
Project By
Connected as Amir Amirani (1588 friends)
Amir Amirani is a London based film maker of Iranian origin. Over the last 15 years Amir has made films for some of British television’s most prestigious series, including Arena, Timewatch, Picture This, Correspondent and Newsnight. In films that have received critical acclaim, Amir has covered the life and death of Concorde, the crazy world of awards and awards ceremonies, Jimi Hendrix’s house in London, music under Apartheid, the arms trade with the writer Will Self, the challenges of sex change in Iran, and the horrors of chemical warfare in the Iran-Iraq war. Two of his documentaries have been nominated for an Amnesty International Award and One World Broadcasting Trust Award.
He went to the BBC in 1992 as a Graduate Production Trainee and two years later joined his brother Taghi in setting up Amirani Films. Amir has produced and presented programmes for BBC Radio 4. They include In Business, From Our Own Correspondent and documentaries on Iranian comedy and poetry.
His journalism includes writing for The Guardian, New Statesman, New Scientist, Business Traveller Asia and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
He has a First Class (Hons.) degree in Biology from Nottingham University, and an M.Phil in International Relations from Cambridge University.
Hi Amir,
glad you raised enough money for the project, one close to my own heart, and pleased to donate. I was called up to serve in the war and was willing to do so even though I had the opportunity not to, it was an honour to protect the free world from WMD and dictators, imagine my disgust to find I had been lied to and misled by people who pretend to be the leaders of the free world, all they want is cheap oil so they can stay in power. Good luck with the project and look forward to seeing the film.
All the best with the project, February 13th 2003 was a day marked in my mind, and I hope the film can do the spirit of that day justice.
Dear Amir,
Thank you for your very kind, personal response. I would be very happy to speak with you. We live in Amherst, New Hampshire, and are in the phone book. My husband is Peter. I'm reluctant to leave my phone number on this blog, but you have our email and can reach us that way. My husband of 53 years is retired military; we opposed the war in Iraq from before it began! We were so touched by what you are attempting to do that we immediately felt it was a project we had to support. Good luck and best wishes. We hope to hear from you. Nan
Although I was only 15 in 2003, I helped organise a protest at my school (as we couldn't get to London). It was a great success with almost all students and some teachers joining us. It was such a moving day, the world united in solidarity, and many bystanders spontaneously joining us for the cause. It left a mark on me, prompting me to march at many more demonstrations including the student demonstrations in London last year, the March for the Alternative, and helping in the occupation of my University. Unfortunately I missed the most recent events as I'm currently studying in Holland, but made the effort to visit Occupy Utrecht. I'm also a keen environmental and human rights campaigner and aspire to work in international law in these areas.
We truly are many, and large demonstrations have fundamentally changed who I am and how I see the world. It is a crucial time for films like this, prompting people to unleash their inherent power as human beings and start to tear down the injustice, exploitation and inequality of our world.
Proud to be a backer and sorry I can't afford to give more, (bloody students, eh?).
Dear Claiborne, thank you for your message! My heart has been doing cartwheels too as I see the wonderful support and lovely messages. We can only grow and grow and get bigger and make the film as effective as it can be. Sending love over from London to CA. Amir
What amazing comments you get here! (I'm just commenting on yr comments!)
Shaun, that is such a great story. We have to speak with you and film interviews with you and some of your friends on those 2 or 3 coaches from New Mills. What you described was very much the spirit of the day that I want to capture. Please send me an email, clicl the 'send message' link above with your contact details so that we can reach you. You are very kind to back us, and we in turn are very proud to have your backing. Thank you, and please thank your friends and colleagues up in the North West for the wonderful collective act of protest that you took part in. I hope, and want, the film to reflect that feeling which you had on that day, and even more. And in making this film, we intend to make it much harder for politicians in future to ignore such events. Thanks again. All good wishes. Amir
Proud to back this great project. The day back in 2003 was amazing. We had 2 or 3 coach loads of people from a small town in north west England, New Mills, going to London for the big demonstration..something unheard of up here. Seeing coaches from all corners of the UK on their way to London was great...fantastic camaraderie...so many young people as well..using the V-Sign for Peace as a kind of greeting to complete strangers who immediately reciprocated it was very moving...I remember so many people on the march that by the time we made it round to Hyde Park all the speeches were over yet the march was still on going! I never did get to hear those speeches!
If only the politicians had listenend to us.
Amir ~ my heart has made a cartwheel! Bravo and I look forward to hearing of your progress ...so excited ... many now stand with you, deservedly! Warm greetings from California.
Dear Womac, thank you for your message. Thank you for standing up on Feb 15th 2003, and for standing with us here on this project. We are honoured to have you stand with us. Thank you and stay on this journey with us, and if you think others would like to know about this film, please share it with them. Thank you. Amir
Dear Nan, It is so great to hear from you, I am honored to have your support. Thank you for sending the request to your membership, and we would welcome their pledges with open arms. We have a big film to make, and all the pledges will go towards making the very best film we can. I love the name of your group - WMD! Beautiful! We will be privileged and delighted to not only list you as supporters, but to keep you fully updated in all our progress so that you can stay on the journey with is all the way till the end. Your generous pledge was a great humanitarian gesture which we will not forget. Please convey our love and gratitude to everyone at WMD - Women Making a Difference. Please send me a message above with a way that I can reach you so that we may talk in person. Very best wishes. Amir Amirani
Yesterday I pledged $1000. to help fund WE ARE MANY. I am the fearless founder of WMD - Women Making a Difference in Amherst, NH. We have sent out a request to our membership to help you, and we believe that others in our group will pledge. As an organization formed in February of 2005, in response to GWB's second election and committed to ending the war in Iraq, we hope you will list us among your supporters. That's WMD - Women Making a Difference.
Thanks,
Nan H. Stearns, Amherst, NH
I stood up on 15 February 2003 and I'm proud to be standing up with you today. My government went to war for oil, they did this "Not In My Name".
Dear Peter
Thank you for your message and words of support. Your memory of the day in NY echoes that of many of my friends who were there, and in fact the story of the battle with the police will be a part of the NY story. The film will certainly address the aftermath of the protest, and the way in which terrible frustration and disillusionment set in. Although other big protests happened afterwards, especially in Europe, they were not on the same scale as Feb 15, and perhaps few things ever could be. But the long view is a very important part of the film, connecting the events of 2003 with other strands of protests right through to the present global peoples movement.
For us, this has always been an ordinary people's story - expert talking heads are there for a number of reasons - because they marched on the day and so they can bring us attention, in order that we can try to raise funds - this is the eternal problem with making films independently. We have no broadcasters backing us, so we have to rely on whatever means we can to be heard and noticed. Otherwise the media would ignore us completely, as they dismiss all such movements and projects. I am sure you understand this issue.
Once we have the funds, we will be of course be turning to the core of the film - the many individual members of the public who have written to us, the ordinary organizers whose stories are untold by the mass media, individuals whom we have sought out, to tell their stories. So please be assured this will be the story of the people, for the people, by the people - and we have been helped by the expert talking heads to be noticed and to push us along.
The organic evolution of this movement is fascinating - as you say, a shift from vertical to horizontal organization - and the entire story has yet to be told in any form on film. That is our aim in this, hence the title WE ARE MANY - inspired by Shelley's great poem.
I hope that helps explain the nature of this teaser - the full length film will be something I think will echo your own feelings. Thank you for your help, and I hope you can share this project with your network - we welcome your continued support. Best wishes. Amir Amirani (Director) and the We Are Many team.
Dear Taghi Amirani - I saw your appeal in a note to Pam and Paco. The project looks terrific. I will always remember that freezing day in Feb. in NYC when we had to battle police three separate times just to get near the rally area. I hope the film also addresses the terrible social passivity that followed the start of the war, the fits and starts of a global movement. The difference now is clearly that there are the beginnings of a movement in the belly of the beast. What I love about your project is the long view, the building of a peoples movement. What I don't love about it is the reliance on "expert talking heads." To me Jesse Jackson is an opportunist, not an orghanizer. Where are the ordinary people who could tell this story; and what about the shift from vertical to horizontal organization? Today is not just an extension of Feb. 2003, but a growth and change. Anyway, good luck. Peter Kinoy