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Update #11: New Poster
Check out our new poster, designed by Jacob Fletcher of www.BendingBrick.com.
Update #10: AWARDS HAVE ARRIVED!
Hey everybody,
We've finally received the new shipment of DVDs, original books, and graphic novels for everybody! Check out the picture below and keep an eye out for your rewards coming soon!
-Ryan
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Bethany Kimball on March 12
I"m sooooooo excited to get mine!! I read the book with my students about a month ago and they are just as excited as I am to see the dvd!!! :)
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Update #9: THANK YOU!
To Our Amazing Supporters:
I cannot express enough gratitude to all of you for helping make this project happen. As you know, the first part of getting any project off the ground is often the most difficult, and without each and every one of you, we wouldn't be where we are today. Just over two years ago Derek and I made the first phone call to Donn, not knowing where or how far it would take us. We never imagined that in such a short time we'd not only have a documentary that would play at film festivals all over New England, but also have the opportunity to actually begin putting Donn's story up on the big screen. We know this trailer is only the first step in a long and arduous process of getting the full film made, but just like Donn made it through the woods, each step leads to the next and as long we keep pushing forward we know we'll accomplish our goal. We had 191 donors contribute to our fundraising campaign, many of whom are friends and family, while some of you we've never met. I believe this speaks a lot to Donn and the connection he's made with all who've heard his story. Donn and his book have been inspiring people for years and it's our goal to make sure it continues to inspire for generations to come. We promise that we will not only represent Donn's story with the utmost respect and admiration, but also make sure that audiences know what an amazing place the State of Maine truly is. The overwhelming support that came from the Maine community during Donn's nine day ordeal is not to be forgotten, and the success of this campaign is proof that support still exists today.
Again, I cannot thank you all enough for keeping our project moving forward and helping us gain momentum as we try and preserve one our state's most iconic stories. We will be sending out a survey in the next couple of days requesting information from those backers who chose to receive rewards for their contributions. We will get these out as quick as possible, but please know that for those who are receiving any reward with a signature from Donn, it will take a couple extra weeks to process. Thanks again for everything and please don't hesitate to shoot me a message with any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Ryan Cook
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Uncle Tom on February 1
No, thank you. The hour that I spent at the Camden International Film Festival seeing the footage you have already captured, and being present to hear both you and Donn speak was one of the most meaningful events of this year for me. Can't wait to help some more.
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Update #8: My apologizes for any confusion
I sincerely apologize for anybody that is confused about the last minute reward of the photo with the chance to be in the trailer. If you are interested in the new reward simply increase your pledge by $10 and we'll make sure you receive everything promised. I've added the photo under the reward section for $15 to try and entice last minute donors and unfortunately there have been a few donors who've decreased their original pledges because of this. Again please just add $10 to your original pledge, don't worry about changing your reward level, and we'll make sure you receive the proper rewards. Thanks everybody and remember there's only 3 hours left!
-Ryan
Update #7: Final day opportunity!! Your chance to be in the trailer! Must act before Tuesday at 2pm!
For backers only,
Posted on January 30
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191
Backers
$16,670
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 31.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A big thank you shout on on our facebook and twitter accounts as well as on our website www.DonnFendlerFilm.Com
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
LAST MINUTE CHANCE TO BE IN THE TRAILER! Receive a 4x6 photograph of Katahdin Stream Falls taken Ryan Cook and if yours is one of the three to have Donn's signature on the back then you're in! You or someone of your choosing will receive a walk-on role in our trailer this summer!
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
A DVD copy of the documentary "Finding Donn Fendler". The documentary follows Donn's story as told through Ryan Cook and Derek Desmond who simultaneously work on getting his story made into a feature film.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A copy of the DVD "Finding Donn Fendler" as well as a copy of the original book "Lost On A Mountain In Maine" which made Donn's story so famous.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
All of the above plus the BRAND NEW graphic novel "Lost Trail" based on Donn's adventure.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
All of the above signed by Donn, Ryan, and Derek!
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
All of the above plus a signed movie poster for the film designed by Bending Brick Studios. www.BendingBrick.com
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
All of the above, plus first preview of the "teaser trailer" when it's completed next year. The trailer will eventually premiere at film festivals but you can be the first to view it, months ahead of the public!
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
All of the above plus be our guests at an intimate sit down dinner with Donn and the production team.
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
All of the above plus be listed as an Associate Producer and be featured as an extra in the "teaser trailer".
Project By
Connected as Cookie (444 friends)
Ryan Cook and Derek Desmond are two filmmakers who met while attending Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Derek being from New Hampshire and Ryan being from Maine, both quickly realized that they liked to make the same types of films. While fellow students were spending their time filming in the city, Ryan and Derek found themselves taking their cameras back home.
Most of their student films were shot outdoors surrounded by the natural beauty of New England. They also found themselves shooting several period piece films, which as many know is difficult to do on a student budget. "Whenever we explained to other students or professors what we were looking to do, we'd always get blank stares or words of disbelief," Ryan said when asked about their ambitions as student filmmakers. "We found creative ways to make it work, but we couldn't have accomplished any of it without the in-kind support of our communities at home. Whether we had known people all our lives or had just met them the day before, the support from our home states was what made it all possible."
Not one day had passed after graduation before Derek and Ryan found themselves working in the thriving film industry of Boston. They both currently work in location management for films that come through Boston, acting as the intermediaries between the film crew and the city. Their duties include scouting locations, pulling permits, hiring police and fire details, and parking over two hundred crew cars and twenty eighteen wheelers that typically move with the shoot every day. Their resumes include Ben Affleck's The Town, Tom Cruise's Knight and Day, and most recently Mark Wahlberg's Ted. The experience of working closely with the directors and producers of these films has proven to be invaluable in understanding what it truly takes to make a feature film.
Amy,
Most of the books and dvds have gone out with the exception of anything with Donn's signature. You're getting the bonus picture with the chance to be in the trailer so we're expecting to have those back from Donn this weekend to see who he chose to be in the trailer. I would expect to see your package in the mail by Wednesday of next week. I apologize for the delay, getting together all the rewards and getting Donn's signature (especially with him living in Tennessee over the winter) was a bit more overwhelming then we expected! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
-Ryan
Hi Ryan..I have yet to receive any of the promised items for my pledge. Will you look into this please.
Thanks, Anne
Anne,
My apologies for the delay in getting you your signed rewards. With Donn in Tennessee and Derek in California it's taken a little while to the books to make the rounds in order to get everybody's signatures. You should have your items within the next two weeks. Again my apologies, we're doing our best to get everything out!
-Ryan