Kickstarter

My dad says he’s lived two lives, but I think it's more. He has sailed to Iran as a merchant seaman, driven a tank over exploding kimchee vats in Korea, and survived two prisoner-of-war camps in Japan during WWII. You wouldn't know by looking at him - I only found out after I saw a curious scar on his back and I started asking questions. And then I asked more questions.

Recently, my dad showed me a secret diary he kept while he was a prisoner of war in Japan during WWII. I was shocked. Also excited, and touched. Why show me? Why now? Why were there some pages missing? It was like a window into his nineteen-year-old mind, into his soul. Are we really that similar? No. I try, I try very hard – to emulate his kindness, generosity and tenacity. Life to him is pretty black and white. Things just are. This resoluteness, this assuredness – I don’t have that at all. Life to me is all shades of grey, of maybes and possibilities.

I read the old, carefully penned pages, and start to daydream and ask questions. It starts to make sense, why every day as a free man is a holiday. What ceases to amaze me is that as much as he wants to tell me stories from his past, he is still very much part of the present.

He won’t be around forever, which is why this unique look into a family – an American family with international ties – is timely and important. Please help me finish making this film, EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAY.

To watch the special Kickstarter trailer, click on the video above and you'll see my dad embarrass me in the first 20 seconds.

WHY PLEDGE? EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAY has been green-lit by the Independent Television Service (ITVS)!

We need your help to bring EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAY to public television! The Independent Television Service (ITVS) has green-lit our film and will provide $79,000 in matching funds towards the completion of the film once we contribute $34,496. We hope to raise as much of these funds as possible on Kickstarter. So far, we've received over $10,000 in pledges. Thank you! The funds we receive will be used for post-production. But there's still more to go!

Help us meet the challenge! And score tickets to the premiere, an exclusive interview from the director, your name in the credits, and more!

Make pledges of ANY AMOUNT on KICKSTARTER. EVERY dollar you pledge will go DIRECTLY to post-production and help bring the film to public television. Sample costs include:

• $1000 one day of sound design
• $2500 basic map animation
• $7500 editing sessions
• $10000 archival licensing

The last day to pledge is February 28! Please help us meet our FUNDRAISING GOAL to get our matching funds.

FAQ Where can I learn more about the project? 
 Please visit the official website: http://www.everydayisaholiday.org. You will find more information about the film, the cast, and relevant posts about documentaries, filmmaking and WWII. You’ll get an inside peek into the director’s slightly quirky brain.

How else can I help? You can also help by telling others! Become a fan of our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Every-Day-Is-a-Holiday-Documentary-Film/170949786281906

Why not set your goal as $34,496? $8,000 was our initial Kickstarter goal to continue with post-production, since Kickstarter is an all or nothing fundraising platform. We are also applying for grants from foundations. It's quite a process, so we very much appreciate your support!

Don't want to pledge online? Email us at info*at*everydayisaholiday*dot*org and we'll tell you how to do it offline.

Thank you for your support!