I AM A GHOST is the story of Emily, a ghost trying to find her way out of her own haunted house with the help of Sylvia, the psychic.
Hi, everyone! I'm H.P. Mendoza and I just wrapped photography on my supernatural thriller, I AM A GHOST. With a fantastic cast, the support of local businesses and my co-producer and partner, Mark Del Lima, it was self-funded and shot on a microbudget in San Francisco and I'm VERY happy with the footage I get to work with. In trying to get the film into major festivals, I'll be expected to have a cut of the film in time to meet their submission deadlines. On top of the actual editing, the film still needs color grading, visual effects, music production, ADR and audio re-recording. Any contribution you make will bring us that much closer to getting our baby into a festival.
The teaser trailer, above, was put together specifically for this Kickstarter page. Once we reach our goal and post-production is wrapped on the film, expect a longer, snazzier trailer. Help us bring I AM A GHOST into existence!
I AM A GHOST: facebook / twitter / Google + / website / e-mail
Emily, a troubled woman, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can't leave. With the help of Sylvia, a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily is forced into a "patient/therapist" relationship, uncovering mysteries about her past that may help her move on to "the next place". Spooky, atmospheric and experimental, I AM A GHOST is H.P. Mendoza's second narrative feature.
ANNA ISHIDA (Emily) - Born in Tokyo and raised in the "Nickel-Dime" (East Bay, CA), Anna is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Mills College, and the Acupressure Institute and completed the 30th Annual Shakespeare & Company Month-Long Intensive training program in Lenox, MA. Nominated for Best Supporting Performance (OF THE EARTH, 2010) by the Bay Area Theatre Critic's Circle, Anna Ishida is a member of The Shotgun Players and is currently in Edinburgh performing in Banana Bag and Bodice's BEOWULF: A THOUSAND YEARS OF BAGGAGE.
JEANNIE BARROGA (Sylvia) - Born in Milwaukee and member of the Dramatist's Guild, the nationally produced, published and anthologized Jeannie Barroga has helped break down stereotypes in Asian American theatre (especially Asian-Am female roles) for the past two decades. Barroga's WALLS received the NEA "Access to Artistic Excellence" grant and was recently awarded the Wallace Alexander Gerbode/William and Flora Hewlitt Foundation grant for the upcoming BUFFALO'ED.
FAQ
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No, I'm taking a break from musicals for a while. I always thought it would be fun to do a horror musical, but not right now. Besides, if you want a horrifying musical, you could always watch the deliciously bloody, gory SWEENEY TODD. Or CATS.
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First and foremost, it is a supernatural thriller. I'm saying it has "experimental elements" because there are a lot of concepts that fascinate me when it comes to storytelling. The film deals with memories and what happens when those memories expire (i.e. "death"). I've always been fascinated with the way we form routines, patterns and memories for audiences using visuals, sound and editing, and I AM A GHOST plays a lot with all three. A friend, after reading the screenplay, told me that she felt that the whole piece was like a song, going through patterns that change ever so slightly as it transpires, until it reaches a crescendo.
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I will always be asked that question, and when I say that it's "just a horror" film, that's not to say that it doesn't deal with identity. Quite the opposite, actually; the movie actually has a LOT to do with identity. Emily is played by Anna Ishida and Sylvia is played by Jeannie Barroga so there's your Asian quotient, and I'm queer, so there's that. But I will always refer to I AM A GHOST as my supernatural thriller. Not my "Asian thriller".
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If Tarantino can kill Hitler, I can have Asian Victorians. :) Seriously, though, I think it's too bad that the kind of color-blind casting in theatre rarely extends to film. There's an arrogance in thinking that it's "different for film", one that implies that film audiences expect more realism. But these standards are only perpetuated by the creators who constantly make media that keep people of color unseen, voices unheard. The truth is that I don't ever want to do anything "expected", and if *you* do, go fund The Hangover 3. :)
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With your help, I'm hoping I AM A GHOST will screen in the early part of January 2012.
130
Backers
$10,405
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Aug 8, 2011 -
Oct 7, 2011
(60 days)
- First created · 8 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: hpmendoza.com
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On top of our deepest thanks, you'll be subscribed to our newsletter.
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A special thank you tweet and subscription to our newsletter.
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13 backers
Everything from above plus you'd get your name on our website and in the I AM A GHOST book.
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40 backers
Everything from above plus a digital download of the I AM A GHOST Original Motion Picture Soundtrack composed by H.P. Mendoza
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Everything from above plus your name/photo on the website with link of your choice (facebook, twitter, blog, IMDb...you name it!)
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Everything from above plus an official movie poster and a digital copy of the film BEFORE it's recut for distribution!
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8 backers
Everything from above plus the I AM A GHOST book, containing interviews, production photos, concept artwork, storyboards and the entire screenplay.
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Everything from above plus Special Thanks in the film's credits and a Q&A session with the director, via phone or video chat.
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Everything from above plus two passes to the San Francisco premiere (travel not included)
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Everything from above plus an Associate Producer credit and a Blu-Ray of the film BEFORE it's recut for distribution!
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Everything from above plus dinner with the director for a personal Q&A session.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2011
