A Jewish filmmaker's journey to uncover the mystery of an escaped Nazi who fell in love with a chimpanzee on a remote Brazilian island. Read more
A Jewish filmmaker's journey to uncover the mystery of an escaped Nazi who fell in love with a chimpanzee on a remote Brazilian island.
About this project
Welcome to the Kickstarter campaign for Man of the Monkey! Thanks for stopping by.
My name is David Romberg and I am directing my first feature-length documentary titled Man of the Monkey. My team and I have been working on this film for over 3 years and we are almost there, but we need your help. This is an amazing story that needs to be told and shared with the world. With your help, our dream of getting this story to the big screen will be one step closer to becoming a reality.
Check out the synopsis below and become a part of our project!
ABOUT THE FILM
Imagine the fantastical daydreams that a nine-year-old boy must have had after listening to his father tell him the tale of Man of the Monkey:
“There is a scary man living in isolation with a female chimpanzee as his wife, somewhere here on the island where we live.”
This boy wondered, was Man of the Monkey a monster who would attack anyone that came near him or was he a wild adventurer like Tarzan? As one could imagine, this story remained with the boy throughout his childhood as he was puzzled by many unanswered questions.
That young boy is now filmmaker David Romberg. The mystery of this story takes David back to his childhood home in the mountainous rainforest of Ilha Grande, Brazil, in order to search for Man of the Monkey. On this journey, David, whose family is of Jewish descent, shockingly discovers that Man of the Monkey is an escaped Nazi. He also comes to find out that the island, which was a refuge for the filmmaker’s father after fleeing political persecution in Argentina during the 1970s, was paradoxically home to a prison for Brazilian political dissidents during that same time period.
In this personal documentary, strange parallels emerge between the people, places, and stories of Ilha Grande. David’s unique journey retraces the tracks that brought his father and Man of the Monkey to the same remote island in search of sanctuary. The film confronts David’s childhood fantasies with complex realities that are more fascinating than frightening, and contrasts the power of myth with the intricacies of reality.
HOW WE WILL USE THE FUNDS WE RAISE
Making a documentary is an expensive process that doesn't end once the footage is captured. With the funds raised during this campaign, we will be able to start working on the Post-production process, more specifically:
- Take one final trip to Ilha Grande to capture some footage for the final scenes of the film
- Hire an editor who will be working full-time on this project for the next 4 to 6 months
- Obtain translations for over 40 hours of spoken footage
- Prepare the Sound Design and Color Correction for the roughly 90-minute finished product
EXCITING NEWS - ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!!!
Your donation is tax deductible! Man of the Monkey is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions in support of Man of the Monkey are payable to IDA and are tax deductible, less the value of any goods or services received, as allowed by law. The value of goods and services being offered is noted under each donation level. If you would like to deduct the entire donation you have the option to simply decline the reward at check out.
EXCITING REWARDS (T-Shirt and Osvaldo Romberg Original Artwork)
We are pleased to add two photos, the first of the t-shirt that is available at the $35 and $50 Levels:
and for all levels over $1,000 here is the one of a kind work of Osvaldo Romberg:
HOW KICKSTARTER WORKS
Kickstarter is a tool for the creative world to gather the help and support needed for their projects. Kickstarter’s platform allows filmmakers like us to share our project with the unlimited Internet community. We create a profile, set a fundraising goal and a time frame to meet it, and offer the rewards/incentives.
However, Kickstarter is an ALL OR NOTHING proposition. This is where you come in. That means we NEED to meet our goal of $25,000. If we raise even a dollar short of our goal, we lose it all, and everything is refunded.
CAN WE RAISE MORE THAN OUR GOAL?
OF COURSE! Kickstarter allows us to raise as much money as is given before the deadline. This means more ability for us to meet our final goals we set for Post-Production, yet in a shorter timeframe. All the help and support we get will be greatly appreciated!!!
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Rewards
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Pledge $4 or more
16 backers
A sincere “thank you” for supporting Man of the Monkey. We will include your name on our website (http://manofthemonkey.com) under the “Thanks for Your Support” page. (Fully tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $15 or more
11 backers
The official Man of the Monkey postcard with a handwritten “thank you” note that will be postmarked from Ilha Grande, Brazil- the remote island that was the setting for our film, in addition to a website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $5 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $25 or more
35 backers
A high definition (HD) digital download of the completed film, plus our Ilha Grande postcard and a website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $10 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $35 or more
20 backers
The official Man of the Monkey T-Shirt, color jungle green, available in Men’s or Women’s sizes and styles, plus an HD film download, Ilha Grande postcard and a website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $15 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $50 or more
21 backers
A DVD Copy of the film, signed by Director David Romberg, plus our Man of the Monkey T-Shirt, Ilha Grande postcard and a website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $15 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $75 or more
0 backers
The official Man of the Monkey film poster, signed by Director David Romberg, plus a signed DVD film copy, Ilha Grande postcard and website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $10 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $100 or more
9 backers
The official Man of the Monkey soundtrack which includes original tracks composed by international musicians for the film, in addition to the natural sounds of the ocean and jungle that were recorded exclusively for the film, plus a signed film poster, a signed DVD film copy, Ilha Grande postcard and website thank you. (Any amount in excess of $25 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $250 or more
2 backers
A very big “thank you” mention in the Man of the Monkey film credits, in addition to a set of 5 limited edition photographs from the film production (your choice from a series, suitable for framing), plus the film soundtrack, a signed poster, and DVD film copy. (Any amount in excess of $35 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $500 or more
2 backers
Two tickets to the official Man of the Monkey premiere screening (your choice of East or West Coast), plus a film credit thank you, film production photograph set, the film soundtrack, a signed poster, and DVD film copy. (Travel costs not included, any amount in excess of $75 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,000 or more
2 backers Limited (13 left of 15)
A limited edition print from internationally known artist and film character, Osvaldo Romberg, that was inspired by and specially created for the film, plus two tickets to your choice of the East or West coast premiere screening, and a film credit thank you. (Travel costs not included, any amount in excess of $75 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
A VIP Film Festival Package for two, which includes dinner with and being special guests of, Director David Romberg and Producer Bob Girvin at the film’s TBD festival premiere, plus a limited edition print from Osvaldo Romberg, along with a film credit thank you. (Travel costs not included, any amount in excess of $250 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (3 left of 3)
Man of the Monkey Executive Producer credit in the film, plus a limited edition print from Osvaldo Romberg, and a VIP Film Festival Package for two. (Travel costs not included, any amount in excess of $250 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $10,000
1 backer Limited (1 left of 2)
A one-of-a-kind opportunity to be the special guest of Man of the Monkey Director David Romberg on Ilha Grande. He will guide you around the island taking you locations from the film and showing you the beauty of this unique place. (Contact him to make arrangements, travel costs not included). In addition, you will receive Executive Producer credit in the film, a limited edition print from Osvaldo Romberg, and a VIP Film Festival Package. (Travel costs not included, any amount in excess of $250 you contribute is tax-deductible)
Estimated delivery:
Funding period
- (35 days)
