About this project
STARMIND CAST:
Gerard Marzilli: Eli Richmond
Matthew David McCallum: Dean Ballard/Starmind
Charlotte Gallagher: Casey Young
STARMIND CREW:
Tennyson E. Stead: Writer, Director
Katarina Garcia: Producer
STARMIND LINKS:
Budget
8 Sided Forum
Our actors are taking on the roles of filmmakers from Los Angeles, who luck into the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the experiences and the secrets of an alien visitor on film. As alterior motives and human limitations take their toll on their research (and their guest) the consequences for our world could be cataclysmic...
This is our first plunge into the improv documentary format - so The Starmind Record is a big experiment for us. Our battleplan is pretty simple here. On the one hand, we're keeping a dead-eye focus on some very powerful, very messy conflicts of interest. That's where the story cones from. Secondly, our success has always come from our love of genre, and our obsessive commitment to character. Our work is based on finding things out about these characters that nobody else would think to look for, and Starmind is all about stripping that principle down to it's core. We think you're going to like it.
Production-wise, the The Starmind Record reflects the reality of the situation. As per our budget, the actors themselves will be shooting the film on Flip HD. One camera will be set up as a tripod master, while the other is used by one of the characters. In this way, the actors can use the camera as a tool for action - using it to inquire, accuse, or intimidate the other actors in the scene. At the same time, our production will have the revealing benefit of an objective eye, pulled from the tripod master.
Our actors will be learning the fundamentals of cinematography and editing as part of our rehearsal process. Basic principles like the "line of action" will help to visually reinforce the power of the scene, and preserve the flow of the film in editing. Having an improvised production environment can lead to massive editing problems, and we plan to keep those risks as mitigated as possible by maintaining a structured shooting process.
In addition, rehearsals will revolve around the realities of paranormal phenomena. In this story, the characters experience things beyond the spectrum of normal human understanding. By anchoring those events in the experiential vocabulary of the actor, we credibly establish the conflict of the story without resorting to visual effects. Telling a story through improv is hard, when you have the right experiential tools. Without those tools, we'll be making dramatic mud.
Lastly, the rehearsal process will focus on the natural charisma and demeanor of the characters in the story. These characters create a world of drama and conflict for one another, even without the influence of an alien intelligence. These actors will be given the opportunity to get comfortable seeing and interacting with one another through that lens.
Once we get Starmind shot, our plan is to edit the documentary in short internet segments, to thrill and entertain our internet audience while we develop more production-heavy content. If we find we have the material to cut a feature film, we'd be delighted to share it at genre and film festivals - but first and foremost, this is for all the people who continue to support our work on the internet.
The Starmind Record is exactly the kind of fun, challenging material we thrive on. All the preparation and effort we put into the development of the "script" and the rehearsal process comes from the high risk of creative failure, which is precisely what lets us know we are the only people to tell this story. When we do, it's going to be unlike anything you've ever seen: entertaining, shocking, funny and terrifying. This is the kind of irresistibly compelling, totally exhausting project we can't help but obsess over, and we can't wait to share the results with you. So please, pledge your donation to The Starmind Record today!
For a look at our budget or our creative team, check the links above! We'd love to meet you, and you can join our forum by clicking here.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
14
Backers
$3,225
pledged of $2,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 8, 2011.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
With every contribution of at least $5, the cast and crew of The Starmind Record will send you an exclusive Starmind button as a token of your involvement, to wear proudly at all Starmind events and festivals.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
With every contribution of at least $20, the cast and director of The Starmind Record will send a signed copy of the completed project on DVD, accompanied by a personal message addressed to you.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
With every contribution of at least $50, the Starmind itself will exercise its authority and influence to vest a specific and unique star with your name or a name in your honor. An official certificate will be issued to you detailing the latitude and longitude of your star, and expressing the gratitude of the Starmind.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
With every contribution of at least $100, the Starmind will choose one of the millions of unnamed galaxies visible to the naked eye from Earth, and vest that galaxy with your name or a name in your honor. As with the $50 gift, you will be issued an official certificate with the location of your galaxy, as well as an expression of gratitude from the Starmind.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
With every contribution of at least $200, the cast and crew of The Starmind Record will record a personal message online, personally thanking you for your participation and help. This video will be placed on all major video sharing sites, and can be posted on your Facebook, Myspace, or other social media site.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
With every contribution of at least $500, the contributor will be named as a co-executive producer on every episode or release of The Starmind Record. Provided The Starmind Record is shown in film or media festivals, the contributor is entitled to join the cast and crew for one festival screening of The Starmind Record, as well as any afterparty, of the contributor's choosing.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
With every contribution of at least $1000, the contributor will be named as an executive producer on every episode or release of The Starmind Record. Provided The Starmind Record is shown in film or media festivals, the contributor is entitled to join the cast and crew for all festival screenings of The Starmind Record, as well as any afterparties.
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
With every contribution of at least $2000, the contributor will be named as a producer on every episode or release of The Starmind Record. In addition to festivals and industry events, the contributor is welcome to observe the cast, crew, and set of The Starmind Record. The producer will be given featured status on the 8 Sided Forum, and immortalized as a treasured supporter of the 8 Sided Ensemble's continued growth and success!
Project By
Connected as Tennyson Ewing Stead (706 friends)
From early youth, Tennyson busied himself with a future in space exploration... until his first real exposure to the sciences, when Master Stead's thorough distaste for mathematics interrupted his otherwise perfect plan to become the first grumpy artist to isolate himself on Mars. Undaunted, he began the long and arduous process of redirecting his academic attentions. Passing through careers in both theater and the neurosciences, Tennyson finally found his way into the lurid arms of the film industry. Today, Tennyson E. Stead writes, directs, and develops independent feature films and transmedia endeavors. (from http://www.imdb.me/tennysonestead)
