About
"Be Here Now" – The Andy Whitfield Story
$302,810
5,265
There is Now Less Than 3 Hours to go of the Campaign
There is less than 3 hours left, until Monday, July 23 at 4:00 pm, to join the filmmaking team of this inspiring film. You may continue to follow our progress in the making of the film, all the way through when it is released on www.beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com.
We now have the added request from people from all over the world, that in addition to English, we make sure the finished film in Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Serbia, Holland, Turkey closed captioned and many, many more languages.
We set our goal as a conservative amount just to complete filming and edit the film because we wanted to make a humble approach to asking the public, fans and our supporters for help. Anything that we raise over that will go towards helping us fulfill our goal of distributing and marketing the documentary as widely as possible, internationally -- and now in as many languages as possible. This will include not only helping us get into high profile film festivals and worldwide distribution channels that include television, home video and hopefully movie theaters, but also making it available for cancer related organizations and groups around the world, to fulfill Andy’s wishes to inspire and help others to live in the here and now, while pushing to accelerate the pace of cancer research. We are more inspired than ever to make this film. Thank you again for the amazing support you are showing us. We cannot do it without you.
This story ran recently -- QA: "'Spartacus' star Andy Whitfield's wife making doc about his fight with cancer" http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/17/qa-partacus-star-andy-whitfield-widow-making-doc-about-his-fight-with-cancer
Our Project:
“Be Here Now” is an inspiring feature documentary and love story, about the overnight sensation, actor and international sex symbol Andy Whitfield, who put the same determination and dedication that he brought to his lead role in the hit television show, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” into fighting life threatening cancer.
This is Andy's story, but it also about having the courage to make your dreams come true, tackling your fears and living in the present, despite the potential outcome. This film is for anyone who has ever faced a challenge in their lives.
Andy Whitfield, in the prime of his life, had just realized his dream of becoming an international star, when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Before now, he and his eloquent and charismatic wife, Vashti, had combined their will power to make every success in their lives happen, including Andy’s transformation from an engineer into an actor and sex symbol. Overwhelmed when they heard that the best medical treatment the world had to offer would only give him a 25% chance for survival, they set their sites on beating cancer by making a promise in matching “Be Here Now” tattoos, to take Andy’s healing into their own hands and live life in the present, not in the shadows, every step of the way.
Not knowing what would happen, Andy invited a camera to follow him throughout his journey as he explores both medical and alternative healing option in Australia, New Zealand and India. This unprecedented access and his openness and honesty gives the audience an intimate look into his personal life, that is rarely shared, especially by a celebrity. It was Andy’s hope that by opening his story up to a documentary, he might help or inspire others facing similar challenges, while pushing to accelerate the pace of cancer research around the world.
What he did not anticipate was that the story would also capture his, and his family’s, determination, love, infectious humor and self-affirming attitudes. And, as everyone goes through their own transformations over the course of the film, “Be Here Now” transcends the subject of cancer and becomes a universal life-lesson about living fearlessly, going for your dreams, embracing each moment and living in the present – despite the potential outcome.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You may now get involved in the making of this inspiring documentary. Led by the Academy Award® Nominated and multiple award winning filmmaker, Lilibet Foster, a camera followed Andy and his family’s unfolding story, for over a year. Andy also filmed personal diaries and took photographs throughout his journey. Together with the support of Sam Maydew, producer, Andy’s manager and principal of talent management and production company, The Collective, who brought everyone together, we have been able to get the documentary to this point.
We now need your help to finish it. The money we raise on Kickstarter will fund the additional filming and editing needed to finish the film. For your contributions, you will not only be rewarded with amazing, limited edition and collector's item gifts, but you will be helping to make Andy’s wish come true – to help or inspire others – because we plan to distribute the completed film as widely as possible internationally.
Andy gave selflessly by letting a camera follow his personal journey, so let's give back by helping fulfill the legacy the wanted to leave behind.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T REACH OUR GOAL
Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. The way it works is that we have to meet our funding goal before the campaign expires – or we don’t get anything.
We can only finish this documentary with your help. You are as much a part of its creation as we are. The more people who participate, the more ability we will have to get Andy’s story out to as many people as possible.
So, help by donating and spreading the word to others. Share this link,“Like” us on Facebook, Twitter it, email this Kickstarter link to your friends, family, supporters, co-workers, fellow fans and anyone else.
Feel free to email Lilibet to ask us questions, get more information, and become involved in the making of Be Here Now on our beherenowfilm.com website: lilibet@beherenowfilm.com
***We have been asked when the documentary will be finished and you may now also sign up and stay in touch with us on our new website: beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com. Here I'll keep you updated every step of the way with the progress of the film.
Thank you to the cast and crew of "Spartacus" for supporting us at Comic-Con:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-spartacus-season-3-liam-mcintyre-349314
http://collider.com/comic-con-spartacus/180231/
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE REWARDS:
First edition, "Be Here Now" leather cuff custom made with the beautiful craftsmanship of BedStu.com.
The special first edition necklace with two dog tags inspired by the one Andy is wearing in the documentary made with cleanfunpromo.com.
Amazing items from ours and Andy’s favorite motorcycle store where we shot a scene in the documentary, the world famous Deus Ex Machina http://deuscustoms.com/ in Sydney, Australia and Venice, California.
Limited edition print of Andy and Jai Courtney, signed by Jai who is in the documentary (this is a low resolution version but the print you will get will of course be full resolution):
See this video that describes the prize -- A Telephone Call with Jai Courtney:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUTEtjfmvS4&feature=plcp
Limited edition never before released print from the film, of Andy's inspirational Be Here Now tattoo (this is low resloution - your print will of course be full resolution):
Limited edition print of Andy from his family's treasured personal collection (this is low resolution version -- but print you will get will of course be full resolution):
Limited edition of never before seen portraits of Andy Whitfield taken by his dear friend, the famous fashion photographer Georges Antoni (same thing -- yours will be beautiful and full resolution):
A photographic tribute book made in memory of Andy and his role in Spartacus.
A photographic tribute book made in memory of Andy and his role in Spartacus.
**If you would like to contribute to this campaign and want to donate any prizes back to the campaign, feel free to let us by sending us an email on Kickstarter.
GET INVOLVED & JOIN US TO FOLLOW THE FILM'S PROGRESS ON:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BeHereNowFilm
http://www.facebook.com/BeHereNowfilm
Follow us on Twitter: Follow @BeHereNowFilm1
Follow Vashti's blog: http://www.maybemcqueen.com/
Andy stars with Freddie W in "Time Crisis" Thank you to our friends at the FreddieW Channel for supporting the campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKogQf9ooR8&feature=colike
Lilibet's Twitter: Follow @magnifi7
MORE LINKS AND VIDEOS: Andy stars in action movie spoof, "Time Crisis," with FreddieW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKogQf9ooR8
PRESS:
Documentary About Andy Whitfield’s Final Days Reaches Out To Fans For Funding Deadline Hollywood By NELLIE ANDREEVA
http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/andy-whitfield-documentary-final-days-funding-be-here-now-spartacus/
Widow of Spartacus star Andy Whitfield reveals the story of his cancer http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2163627/Andy-Whitfield-Widow-Spartacus-star-actor-reveals-heartache-death-cancer.html#ixzz1ylQ2KPSS
Inside Spartacus Star Andy Whitfield's Brave Final Fight Against Cancer Mike Fleeman http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20606566,00.html
Actor Andy Whitfield who starred in Spartacus: Blood and Sand filmed documentary about his life
Andy Whitfield documentary 'Be Here Now' seeks fans' help to finish the film Entertainment Weekly http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/06/09/andy-whitfield-documentary-be-here-now-seeks-fans-help-to-finish-the-film/
Andy Whitfield Documentary Be Here Now Seeks Donations from Fans http://www.tvguide.com/News/Andy-Whitfield-Documentary-Be-Here-Now-1048713.aspx
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/andy-whitfield-documentary-now-seeks-donations-fans-230200129.html
Film documenting ‘Spartacus’ star Andy Whitfield’s cancer battle needs funds http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/film-documenting-spartacus-star-andy-whitfields-cancer-battle-needs-funds/2012/06/26/gJQAYfMG4V_blog.html
Andy Whitfield Documentary Be Here Now Seeks Donations from Fans
"Be Here Now, il ricordo di Whitfield" http://www.vanityfair.it/show/tv/2012/07/19/spartacus-ultimo-episodio-andy-whitfield-be-here-now
Andy Whitfield Documentary ‘Be Here Now’ Needs Help by Jason Tabrys
http://nerdbastards.com/2012/06/10/andy-whitfield-documentary-be-here-now-needs-help/
Filmmaker appeals for donations to complete Andy Whitfield documentary http://www.hollywood.com/news/Filmmaker_appeals_for_donations_to_complete_Andy_Whitfield_documentary/30427418
E! News Andy Whitfield / “Be Here Now” Story appeared on E! TV News on Monday, June 11 @ 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 12 @ 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Watch the Trailer for the Late Andy Whitfield's "Be Here Now" http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/watch-the-trailer-for-the-late-andy-whitfields-be-here-now-2012116
Funds sought to finish film about Spartacus star’s cancer battle
http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/features/people/7468-funds-sought-to-finish-film-about-spartacus-stars-cancer-battle#ixzz1yAKn9JwO
“The last role of “Spartacus” Star in BILD http://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/tv/andy-whitfield/filmteam-begleitet-schauspieler-in-den-tod-24657392.bild.html
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Funding period
- (45 days)