Check this out! An Interview with Filmmaker Ann Marie Bryan

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Welcome to our Kickstarter page! Thank you for stopping by to check out a project that is very dear to my heart.  

THE STORY

The Double Life of Zhane Rain, based in New York, is a psychodrama and surreal story about a hard-of-hearing teenager who juggles with family, peers and culture conflicts, while in search of her own sexual and identity freedom, and self-realization.

Zhane Rain is an intense and carefree high school senior with three generations of both hearing and Deaf family members who unravels family secrets behind the traumatic brain injury that caused her deafness.

This thought-provoking psychodrama explores family relationships, teen issues and coping with adversity. Its messages resonate with a much broader audience, and families of any make-up can relate to issues they face in their lives. It also promotes social consciousness and raises awareness of deaf culture within an African-American Culture and society's tolerance of difference.

The writer of the film has a goal to address the issues of acceptance and respect that everyone can understands and connects, as well as eradicate ignorance that we face in this society. This film will leave a deep imprint on anyone heart; something that the writer is sure almost anyone who's raised a family can deeply resonates and relate to deeply.

We're ready to make a movie about the first ever DEAF AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY DRAMA for the silver screen! Time for a revolution. The movie industry needs to see new players!

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                                    Deafersity in Film!

Give yourself a little tour by checking out some images of our staged reading and brief video clip. We produced it for the purpose of developing the screenplay. We hope you help us turn it into a movie! We will be auditioning new actors this fall! Send in your acting headshot to jadefilms@gmail.com. Thank you! 

Read FILM THREAT review about filmmaker, Jade written by Phil Hall.  

"Ann Marie "Jade" Bryan is promoting her new work as "the first ever feature film about deaf black culture." Indeed, it is startling to see a new drama with a deaf central character. ("Children of a Lesser God" came out nearly a quarter-century ago) and it is equally rare to find someone other than Tyler Perry making a contemporary film with African Americans as the romantic leads." 

My first born feature film - IF YOU COULD HEAR MY OWN TUNE, 2011

Like the project on Facebook, follow the project on Twitter, and Youtube channel for the weekly blog  and exclusive updates!! This project can be backed anywhere around the world. 

WHAT WE'RE DOING

Simply put, we’re raising money! We're raising a portion of $100,000 from Kickstarter for our independent movie! We plan to produce a high production value feature film.   We set our goal as a conservative amount just to be safe. We encourage our backers to continue supporting us until we reach our budget goal in time for the film to enter into production stage in February 2013. So, if you're a new backer contemplating a pledge, please come aboard. And if you're already a backer or a returning backer, well hold onto your hat, because it's full steam ahead! Please join us in bringing this story to the screen. Your support will help our production team meet our goal! Every pledge lifts the quality of the movie and we gratefully appreciate your support! Note: All donations to The Double Life of Zhane Rain are tax-deductible.

WHO'S INVOLVED? 

A passion project from the very beginning, our team consists of diverse and talented storytellers, who all strongly believe in the story. We are working toward getting A-list stars attached who are deaf and hearing to the project. 

Writer/Director, Ann Marie "Jade" Bryan is a filmmaker with a hearing loss, living and working in Manhattan. She has been producing and directing films for 20 years. You can learn more about her by clicking on the link or reading her bio at the bottom right of this page.

KEY ACTORS

Jubil Khan, a Native of Philadelphia, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance from Temple University. To pursue her acting career, Jubil desires to gain experience through acting opportunities by participating in TV and Film.  She has obtained some experience as an Extra in, “Taking of the Pelham 123”, “Duplicity”, “Baby Mama Drama”, “Men In Black III,” “Law & Order” and many others. In 2000, she had a brief speaking role in an independent film, “If You Can Hear My own Tune.” Jubil participated in a thrilling play, “Fetes de la Nuit,” which was honored a Drama Desk Award in 2010. This year, she took on a principal role in a stage reading of a screenplay, “The Double Life of Zhane Rain,” which gives her a hand on opportunity to take on a challenging leading role. She is honored that she will be cast for a main role as I’mani in an upcoming feature film, “The Double Life of Zhane Rain.”   

Reb Grant is a performer and an actor who graduated from CUNY Lehman College with BA in History and Theatre. He began his studies at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) where he began performing. Such performances at RIT are, “A Soldier’s Play,” “Tales of the Clubroom” and “The Laughing Stock.” Ryan was the first Deaf actor to debut in a leading role at a CUNY production: “Medea” at Lehman College. Other Lehman credits include “The Misanthrope,” “The Price of Silence” and the film, “Sunny.” He was trained by accomplished actress, Marilyn Sokol and recently participated with director, Alexandria Wailes of “Odyssey” in Senses Askew Company’s “Act Without Words.” I am very proud to be part of this unique project by Jade is making her own vision a reality. I am looking forward to work with her and rest of casts!

As we continue to look for key production personnel, producers, more new and emerging talents, and cinematographer as well as investors, we will keep you updated. Please do come back and visit us.

WHAT WILL YOUR FUNDS GO TOWARDS?

Your funds will go towards getting our film in the can—pre-production (casting, location scouts, creative preparation) through production (the actual shooting of the film) and postproduction.

OUR PRODUCTION PLAN 

September 2012 - Audition for film & staged/table reading

October/December 2012: Research - 8 weeks 

January-February 2013: Prep - 6 weeks

February 2013: Production Shoot - 60 Days (Over 16 weeks - ends in May 2013) 

June 2013: Wrap - 2 weeks 

Post: 24 weeks

Movie Release date: 2014

Below is a list of items that we are raising funds to cover.

• Cast
• Production Crew/ Personnel
• Camera Equipment (RED SCARLET)
• Lighting Equipment
• Sound Equipment
• Music
• Craft Services
• Wardrobe
• Production Design
• Locations
• Makeup/Hairdressing
• Acting class for Deaf new actors
• Interpreters' fee
• Catering
• Travel/Lodging
• Insurance/Permits
• Legal/Rights
• Production Office
• Transportation
• ASL Masters
• Storyboard Artist
• Post-Production
• Publicity/Marketing Costs

YOUR INVESTMENT

Passionate people make all the difference with something like this and every single person's contribution will make a difference. One of the main reasons we decided to use Kickstarter was because we loved the idea that our campaign, like our film project, will be a collaborative effort by people who truly care about this film. Your help and support will be invaluable to us on this journey.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE FILM

Once we wrap up postproduction, a couple of things will happen. First, we'll be submitting to both domestic and international film festivals for early 2014 screenings. Then, we will tour with the film and host private screenings to people within the Deaf and Sign Language community. This will help us build an audience. 

A LITTLE BRIEF HERSTORY

"The Double Life of Zhane Rain" is an expansion from a short film, "Cutting The Edge of a Free Bird" which the writer/director worked on while studying film at NYU.  Check it out for yourself. (Film is shot in 16mm and is converted to B/W) In addition, in 1991, Oprah donated $1000 to support it. (See attached letter) 

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T REACH OUT GOAL

If we don't raise our goal, we don't get anything.  Donors pledge the amounts, but don't actually pay until the goal is reached and the funding deadline has passed.  We want to avoid this so please spread the word.  Everything helps! When we meet our goal we will begin filming and finish the editing so that we can send you the DVD's and merchandise as soon as possible.  

SOCIAL MEDIA SITES: