Kickstarter

NEW PERK--JUST ADDED!  All pledges over $25 will receive an exclusive first-look at Act I of THE WAKE, upon completion.

I'm Jesse Kreitzer, Writer/Director of THE WAKE.  Thank you for visiting our Kickstarter page.  Please take a moment to learn about this noble effort in American independent cinema and consider making a tax-deductible donation towards this film.

WHAT IS THE WAKE?

THE WAKE is the captivating, feature-length tale of a grief-ridden social worker who cares for a dying woman in secrecy from his wife and two children.  Set in rural Vermont and told over the course of four seasons, the film offers an intimate exploration of grief, guilt and ultimately -- acts of blind compassion.

THE WAKE was recently selected as a finalist for the Sundance Institute's 2012 Screenwriters Lab.

To learn more about this film, please watch the video above or visit the film's website.

WHY THE WAKE MATTERS

Perhaps I'm fighting an uphill battle trying to get this film made.  THE WAKE does not contain gratuitous sex or violence, does not spoonfeed or pander to its audience, nor is it a classic tale of antagonist vs protagonist.  Instead, it's a original, provoking and inspired vision of Man vs Self; where an ambiguous line between good and evil resides in each character, as they wrestle with their own response to grief and mortality.    

Having presented this film innumerable times, both privately and publicly, I've had the opportunity to witness the varying responses people have towards the 'taboo' subject matter.  Some commend my bravery for addressing an important and often overlooked subject, while others are baffled and dismissive of why I would explore such displeasing territory.  The people who exhibit the latter response are exactly whom this film is intended for.   

THE WAKE was born after I recognized a problem that extended beyond my own personal experience and permeated throughout our culture.  Generally speaking, western culture doesn't "do death well".  We grieve behind closed doors, avoid unsettling topics, struggle to say goodbye and toil to find proper closure.  Meanwhile, this avoidance of conflict can manifest itself into unforseen and destructive ways.  

Trough the scope of the film's characters, THE WAKE gives audiences the opportunity to explore our collective fears, in effort to raise awareness and provoke discussion.

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to produce Act I (the Winter segment) of THE WAKE in February 2012 and are need to raise $30,000 to do so.  Your donation towards this Kickstarter campaign will support the following:

• Three weeks of principal photography in rural Vermont
• Hiring a small, professional production team
• Equipment rentals, location permits and insurance
• Film stock, processing, transfer and postproduction edit

All donations towards THE WAKE are 100% tax-deductible through the fiscal sponsorship of Central Productions, a Cambridge-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing the emerging independent film community.

THE WAKE RESOURCES

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