Kickstarter

THE LITTLE FIREMEN

Deep in the Andes Mountains, in Peru, there is a treacherous stretch of road between Huánuco and Tingo Maria. Known as one of the most traveled and dangerous roads in South America, it sees hundreds of large shipping trucks every day. It certainly is not a road for the inexperienced or unprepared.

Along this stretch of road, there are young boys (the ages of 8-12) who work as mechanics and life savers for stranded truckers. These young boys "ride" in homemade wooden soapbox cars, or go-carts, with food, water, coffee, and a toolbox. They are known along the highway as "Bomberos" or Firemen.

These boys will leave their families for months at a time and travel up into the mountains to work. They can skillfully deconstruct and reassemble the old engines in these shipping trucks at the mere age of 10. They have been known on occasion to rescue stranded truckers as well.

Unfortunately, this is also an incredibly dangerous job. The roads are filled with potholes, dirt, debris and fast moving trucks that can spell the demise for young boys on a small cart.

The story goes even deeper when we find out that they have created groups, each with their own specific logos or markings, and camps along the roadside where a "Lord of The Flies" mentality exists. You can imagine young boys free from home, with a little money, a go-cart, surrounded by similarly aged boys and an expanse of land and the trouble they might get into.

The Documentary

The Little Firemen is the result of all the travel that filmmaker Quincy Perkins has done in Peru. He gathered stories from every corner of Peru including Lima, Ica, Nasca, Puno, Cuzco, and Arequipa about these elusive boys in the mountains.

The film will focus on the day-in-the-life of these young boys and the struggles and successes they meet along the way. The film will be edited together with a back story, shots of the boys on the road, interviews, and compelling images of the landscape.

The Plan

Our goal is to get this documentary into some of the world's best film festivals! SUNDANCE, TRIBECA, TORONTO, CANNES. And hopefully to secure a distribution deal for commercial distribution! We plan to make a stirring documentary about the life of these boys on the most dangerous route in South America...

THE TEAM

ANNE O'SHEA + BRIAN QUATTRINI

Minerva Productions was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit by Anne O'Shea to give women more opportunities in theatre both in front of and behind the footlights. It was also intended to encourage new works by women and to focus on women's and children's issues both locally and globally.  Anne and Brian immediately achieved success with the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe winning and Oscar Nominated film, The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. Current releases include The Whistleblower, starring Rachel Weisz and based on the Kathryn Bolkovac story; and Another Happy Day starring Ellen Barkin, Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth and Ellen Burstyn. Most recently premiering to rave reviews at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival was the much anticipated “Goats”  (picked up for distribution by Image Entertainment) starring David Duchovney, Ty Burrell and Vera Farmiga. Recently wrapped projects include “Imogene” starring Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening and Matt Dillon; and “What Maisie Knew” based on the Henry James Novella of the same name and starring Julianne Moore and Alexander Skaarsgard. 

QUINCY PERKINS

Award winning Director Quincy Perkins has shot all over the world. Working on Curious Case of Benjamin Button in Ireland and Mexico, to Master and Commander in Ecuador, to Once in Ireland. He was nominated for a New Generation Cinematographers Award through ASC and his last documentary “Underwater” won Best Florida Documentary. His short films have been seen on HBO, IFC, Travel Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has worked for National Geographic Magazine and Television and is fluent in Spanish.

ROMI BURIANOVA

Originally from Czech Republic, photographer Romi Burianova has lived and worked in the US for more than 9 years. Romi studied fashion design school and has been fortunate to travel all over the world capturing moments with her camera. She has shot weddings, personal projects, high-fashion photography and underwater photography. Her photography has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine and Vogue Italia.

WHY ARE WE RAISING FUNDS HERE?

"Everywhere I travel, this idea resonates with people as a worthwhile documentary that is a truly human story."

                                                             -Quincy Perkins

The goal of this Kickstarter campaign is to raise enough money to send us down to Peru and capture a feature length documentary about the "Little Firemen".

 Due to the fact we'll traveling to unknown parts and filming with expensive cameras, we will be incurring costs normally not seen by documentaries. These costs include everything from equipment rental of cameras, plane tickets, security, housing, transportation, and food.  Not surprisingly these numbers quickly add up.  This is why we need your help.

INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR QUINCY PERKINS ON COMCAST: