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Update #6: Hillman Curtis
Dear Contributors to The Happy Film,
Many of you will have heard the very sad news: Hillman Curtis, our wonderful friend and co-director, passed away. He was a fantastic man, a wonderful creative and a true friend. We will miss him like crazy.
His work, direction and passion was an integral part of our film, both as a director and as an editor. Before he left us, we were all very aware of the contradictions created by the fact that the illness would afford him only a very limited time to stay with us and simultaneously being tightly involved with The Happy Film.
He wanted to work on The Happy Film. Even when he was very sick, he really wanted to stay involved in it. When his goal was to just be alive this summer, even then he did not want to sit on a beach somewhere; he preferred to edit one more sequence. He feared complacency. He thought it important to constantly question the work, stay involved and stay engaged. He never became cynical. He remained humble. He was quiet and careful and thoughtful about the work.
There are a lot of words that come to mind when describing Hillman. And of course, in the world we partly live in, in the branding world, we always made fun of briefs containing a whole list of brand attributes that the website or the logo or whatever was supposed to communicate. If we'd have to design a logo for Hillman, and could only use one word to describe him, it would be "gentle".
Hillman was a gentle man.
We will continue to work on this film.
Many warm greetings,
Stefan Sagmeister, Ben Nabors & Ben Wolf
Update #5: The Happy Film Winter Update
For backers only,
Posted on February 6
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Update #4: A few more production stills
Hello Backers --
Included are a few more production stills from The Happy Film.
Late Sunday night we reached our fundraising goal, and pledges still continue to come in. We're very grateful for all the support and we look forward to keeping you involved through the process.
Thank you!
- The Happy Film Team
Update #3: Production Stills from The Happy Film
We wanted to share some production stills from past shoots in Bali, New York, and the University of Virginia with our backers. We hope you enjoy them, and we'll post more soon.
8 days to go and only $4,000 away from our pledge goal! Thanks for all the support!
- The Happy Film Team
Update #2: That lavishly designed USB drive we mentioned...
We've been hard at work on the USB drive design for the $50 pledge level and wanted to share this preliminary sketch with you. It should fit in nicely with the rest of your USB drive film collection.
10 days to go until our campaign comes to an end. We're over half way there. Please help spread the word!
- The Happy Film Team
661
Backers
$55,336
pledged of $50,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on October 16, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A digital download of the film when it’s released on video
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
You will receive a Sagmeister-designed limited edition poster (1 in a set of 3) + the digital download
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Stefan will call you out-of-the-blue and cheer you up. This award is transferable.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
You'll get the completed Happy Film on a specially (and lavishly) designed flash drive when it’s released on video + the poster
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
A Hillman Curtis and Stefan Sagmeister signed limited edition poster (1 in a set of 3) + the flash drive film
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
You will receive the full set of 3 limited edition posters, all signed by both co-directors, + flash drive film
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Stefan will pick you up on the North East corner of Tompkins Square Park (New York City) in a 1968 Firebird Convertible (it's a rental!) and you'll drive through Manhattan in the rain playing his 10 favorite songs. In case it does not rain he'll bring a water gun. You will be dropped off at a random street corner and he will speed away.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
You will be invited to Stefan's apartment in New York City, for an evening of fancy sausages and Austrian beer, receive a signed copy of "Things I've Learned in my Life" + the set of posters and flash drive film (transportation and accommodation not provided)
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
In addition to evening above, you or your company will receive Associate Producer credit in the post-roll of the film, a tremendous amount of gratitude + the set of posters and the flash drive film
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You'll attend a therapy session with Stefan and full camera crew. These sessions can get pretty intense. At some point during the session, we will turn to you and ask for your input.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You will receive 2 tickets to a private VIP screening of the film in New York City + all of the above (travel and accommodations not included)
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
All of the above + lunch for 4 with Stefan and/or Hillman in NYC. You pick cuisine and we pick the restaurant and cover the check (we have good taste)
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
A half-day branding workshop and lunch with Stefan and Hillman in New York City (travel and accommodations not provided)
Pledge $7,500 or more Pledge $7,500 or more
Stefan will come (or fly – in the US) to wherever you are and give a talk on Design and Happiness + all of the above. If out of the US, send us a mail and we’ll work it out hello@thehappyfilm.org.
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The Happy Film is a feature-length documentary (in production) in which graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister undergoes a series of self-experiments outlined by popular psychology to test once and for all if it’s possible for a person to have a meaningful impact on their own happiness.
There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct.There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living.
My sympathies - our loss.
Wow, I'm floored by this news. A great inspiration to me over many, many years. I hope to make the NY event to celebrate DHC's beautiful work and life.