About this project
Why make a movie and tour it?
I believe people should tell stories they are passionate about. Have you ever had a story you were just dying to tell, that you couldn't stop thinking about? This is mine. I've worked on several screenplays in the past decade, and this is one that I just keep coming back to. It is a story about street crime, about music, but mostly about fathers and sons, and was inspired by my own relationship with my father.
I believe making a good movie isn't good enough anymore. Touring the movie sets us apart from a flooded marketplace, gives audiences incentive to come out to the theatre when they might be inclined to watch the movie at home, and most importantly, provides a unique, memorable experience for the audiences who do come to the theatre.
How will the tour work?
We plan to take the movie on a nationwide tour with a live band directly after our film festival world premiere. As an audience member, you'll get a booklet with your ticket and, when you arrive in the theatre, a live band will be playing in front of the screen. The booklet contains the film's credits, behind-the-scenes photos, a statement from the director and more. When the lights go down and the movie begins, the band remains, playing Motown-style R&B songs at intervals throughout the film, the music accompanying the action onscreen.
When the lights come back on, the filmmakers will come out for a Q&A with the audience, and there will be a merchandising table in the theatre lobby with physical copies of the film, copies of the soundtrack, and more.
Concurrent with this limited-run tour at art-house theatres, we plan to have a day-and-date video-on-demand release.
What is the movie about?
LOGLINE: Two generations of small-time Chicago muggers try to escape their lives of crime through R&B music.
"The Stick-Up Kid" is James Francis Flynn’s second feature film. The original script by Flynn is a 2006 Sundance Film Festival Labs semi-finalist that revolves around Montgomery “Mo” Greene, a mugger in Chicago who discovers his late father's old saxophone in a pawn shop window and must find the money to get it back. In a parallel storyline, we see flashbacks to a young Mo with his father, who teaches him a life of crime, but whose dream is to become a famous saxophone player.
Who will be involved?
The main character, Montgomery "Mo" Greene, will be played by Jon Dominic, who played the lead in Flynn's debut film, "Eastern College".
Mo's father, Johnny B. Greene, will be played by John Mossman, a local Chicago actor and theatre owner.
We plan to approach several bands to provide the film's soundtrack and tour, including:
* Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
* JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
* Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves
* Lee Fields & The Expressions
* Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Where will the money go?
The money we raise through Kickstarter will be one slice of a bigger pie, which also includes: private equity investments, tax credits, in-kind donations, and sponsorship/product placement.
$25,000 goes a long way. It could be used to hire great actors, buy cool props, or contribute to the tour.
Note: the film won't be made until funding is completed from all the sources.
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a new way to grow community support and participation in creative endeavors, powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method. Personally, I want to use it to present a project I'm enthusiastic about so I can do something I love. And in return, I want to provide a unique experience for audiences and an incentive for them to come to the theatre.
Is it really all-or-nothing?
Yes it is! Every Kickstarter project must be fully funded before its time expires or no money changes hands. This prevents a situation where filmmakers collect part of the budget without having enough to responsibly make the movie. And it is a great way for us to discover if there is true support for this movie before "greenlighting it" and putting it into production.
How can I participate?
Just click the green “Back This Project” button in the upper right-hand corner. You will be asked to input your amount and select a reward. From there, you will go through the Amazon checkout process. You must finish the Amazon checkout process for your pledge to be recorded.
Then, spread the word about the project on your social networks. In particular, we'd love for you to write and tell us why you decided to donate.
Thank you so much for your help in bringing this story to life!
(Special thanks to Jenny Montgomery for the profile picture, and Zak Forsman for liberally cribbed text.)
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding period
- (30 days)