The Trailer!
Trailer en español --- Trailer em português --- Trailer in Deutsch
The Project
The idea for this project arose at the beginning of 2014 as members of the Schoenstatt Movement throughout the world prepared for their 100-year anniversary celebration in Germany and Rome. Schoenstatt is a Catholic group that began in Germany and that focuses on living out one's faith in everyday life.
This is a chance to really show the beauty of the Schoenstatt spirituality and how it helps you strive to be a saint in your everyday life, offering your life as a gift for God and the world.
In this documentary, you will get a look into how the faith is being lived all throughout the world within the Schoenstatt family. Following individuals from five different countries, they will share their own experience of Schoenstatt and take us through the 100-year celebration so that we can live it through their eyes. You will see the Catholic faith lived in their different cultures, states of life, and through social challenges.
It's an opportunity for those in the movement to be inspired by the mission they already claim as their own, for Catholics to see a new way of living the faith in modern times, and for the world to see the great contributions the Schoenstatt movement and Catholic Church are making in the world, hopefully breaking the stereotype of a tired and outdated church.
The Event
In October 2014, the Schoenstatt movement celebrated its 100th anniversary with a two-week celebration taking place in Germany and Rome. But it was much more than a party. It was an expression of gratitude to God for what the last hundred years of the movement has been, and a passing of the torch and mission for what the next hundred years will be.
The Cast
No story can be told (at least not interestingly!) without having the faces and people to bring it to life. In this film, we will follow the lives of individuals from five different countries where Schoenstatt has made a substantial difference in both the life of the Church and in society.
We are going to share in this journey with:
- A couple from Chile who experienced how the Schoenstatt spirituality transformed their family life and wants to share that gift with other couples.
- A German young man who led a torch relay from Italy to Germany in commemoration of this 100 year anniversary, bringing together thousands of people throughout the world.
- A young girl from Brazil who strives to heroically live out her faith in her everyday life.
- A priest from Burundi who strives to sow peace and reconciliation in a war-torn society, and bring dignity to the lives of orphans and the homeless.
- A sister from the United States who dedicates her life to forming the next generation of leaders for the Church and society.
Through the eyes of these characters, we will see how the Catholic faith transforms lives and changes the world for the better.
Meet the Filmmakers
Directors Alex and Mark were introduced to the Schoenstatt movement while studying at the University of Texas at Austin. There they found a community striving to be the best version of themselves and were slowly transformed as they learned how to tangibly incorporate the Schoenstatt spirituality into their everyday lives. After a whirlwind of life experiences post college graduation, they both found themselves going down the path of filmmaking with hopes to share their ideals in an engaging way through the craft. They have worked three years in the film industry, taking on feature films, TV shows, and documentaries.
Executive Producer Sean Schiavolin's introduction to Schoenstatt was a pilgrimage to Germany in 2000. He is a life-long filmmaker who is currently directing the Humanum film series that was commissioned by the Vatican.
As active members of the movement in Austin, Texas, Schoenstatt has become a huge part of their lives, and they are excited to share it in a new way through this project!
Distribution of Funds
Here is how we will use the funds we raise:
Since we are passionate about the topic, we are willing to donate a good deal of our time and skills to make this project a reality. But to give you an idea of how a project like this would compare to hire people at full industry rates, or even lower "Friend Rates", check out the chart below. You'll see we are asking one-quarter the industry rates!
Become a Part of This!
We want to present this project on October 18 of this year, one year after the 100-year anniversary of the Schoenstatt Movement.
We cannot finish this film without your pledge! Your contribution not only gets us one step closer to making this movie, but it will also help build an audience for this types of films, which is a huge step for the Catholic Church to continue to be present and alive in our modern times.
Whether you are in the Schoenstatt movement, you are a Christian who wants to see more inspiring media, or you simply want to help out aspiring filmmakers, you can help to make this happen.
Any donation amount is appreciated, and you aren't limited to just the reward amounts. Also, anything over $37,000 will help to make this a more professional movie, so don't stop at the minimum! Check out the rewards on the right when you donate, and please share this campaign with your friends and family! It may be the most fruitful contribution you can make.
Your contribution will make the difference between this project remaining only a great idea, or...creating a film that excites people all over the world to give their best and BECOME their best!
Risks and challenges
We have already filmed the 100-year celebration in Germany and Rome, but as with any documentary, the story is revealed through the lives of the characters. One challenge will be compiling the footage that fully tells the story of our characters, which may include some additional filming. That would mean more time and expenses, and could possibly push our delivery date back. We believe we can finish by October, but we need to be aware of this possibility.
Another challenge is going to be the translations. We are going to do subtitles in 5 different languages (English, Germany, Spanish, Portuguese, and French), so that will be a large chunk of time. We want it to be accessible all over the world, so we will put in the extra effort to make it a gift for all!
As long as we have your support, we will finish this documentary that will inspire life within the Church and action for a new world.
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Funding period
- (28 days)