BREAKING NEWS!!! The brilliant JEAN SMART will be joining Ed Asner to play the hooker!!!
WA HOOO!!! This is my dream cast!!! And thanks to all our backers so far - we're now on our STRETCH GOAL!!! I can't tell you how excited and grateful I am! Now let's do Ed and Jean proud!!!!
Help us meet our STRETCH GOAL and beyond!
With 5 DAYS TO GO, we're raising all important funds for post production, digital effects, festival entries, screenings, PR and promotion! The more we raise, the better exposure we can get for the film! Ed Asner's a legend and Jean Smart, his perfect match - they deserve nothing less than the best!
You can still help get Ed laid! Here's why we need you...
There are no shortage of "coming of age" films... Been there, done that. What we're making is a “coming of OLD age” film. Why? Because we all get old. And because passion doesn't have an expiration date. You're never to old to "go for it" in life.... and never too old to find love.
THE STORY
Ed Randall, an 85 year old college professor, has hired a hooker for his last hurrah. He’s frantically waiting for a call back from a cardiologist because he’s afraid taking Viagra will kill him. When the quirky older hooker shows up, he has to put off her advances. An intimate look at two lonely misfits who meet in a most unlikely circumstance - proving the last chapter of life can be a beginning - rather than the end.
WORKING WITH A LEGEND
I’ve known and worked with Ed Asner in tv and on stage for twenty-some years. At 85, he works more than most actors half his age! (He just rocked a guest-starring role on "The Good Wife.") He's known for everything from playing Lou Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and his own Lou Grant show, to Santa in "Elf" and the starring voice of Carl Fredrickson in the academy award nominated "Up." In our film, he plays a character, who - like himself - has decided to go for it. And that's just what I'm doing by making this film. I've wanted to direct my own work for a long time - and Ed's the dream actor every writer wishes they could work with. I spent years as a writer/producer for sitcoms, most notably "Designing Women," and met Ed while working on his show "Thunder Alley." He's been supportive of my work ever since. I'm now writing plays and screenplays. I actually started my career as a professional singer and still record and perform. Though I've written two short films, ("In Confidence" and "Waiting For Yvette" staring Wendie Malick), this, I'm proud to say, will be my first time as director.
I'm so stoked to be directing this legendary actor my first time out. What's even cooler - Ed was the inspiration for the film. He needed something to perform in February of 2014 for Vicki Abelson's "Women Who Write" luncheon in Los Angeles. He jokingly said “Write me an f'ing scene." This story is inspired by that jest - and my 93 year old mother's 93 year old boyfriend who went to see his cardiologist about a pill. We read the piece at that luncheon to great laughter and rousing applause. When Ed agreed to star in a film version, I adapted the screenplay.
Our executive producer Barbie Weisserman of PAPA Weeze, Inc. joined us a few months later when she was producing a musical I’d written in the Detroit area. Papa Weeze is a 501c3 arts funding group and we're the annual project they're supporting - making your donation tax deductible. They've already raised $7000, and we need you to help us raise the rest of our budget. We hope to hit our target of $18,000 - or more! So I hope you invite your friends, parents or grandparents to help us get this film made! I'm going for it - and I hope you'll join me!
WHAT ARE WE USING THE MONEY FOR?
You ever notice the credits at the end of a film? It's a seeming endless list of people! Thankfully, I have many talented friends who are doing AMAZING things for little or no money to make this happen. Our first Assistant Director, Hair and Makeup, Wardrobe, Editing, Still Photography, Graphics, Promo Video Shoot and Editor (Susan M. Ottalini rocked it, right?) are all friends... and they need to be paid. Production Sound, Post Production Sound, Cinematographer - not my friends... yet... and they really need to be paid. We need to rent a hotel room, make it look like Japan, do visual effects out a window and in a mirror, rent equipment and lights... Film creativity costs! The more we raise, the more options we'll have - a Kia film or a Lexus film? We'd like to give you a Lexus.
TELL ME ABOUT THE REWARDS.
I hope you'll enjoy our levels of giving - named like a rate card for our Hooker! We want to go out of our way to show our appreciation for your generosity. For a GLANCE - we offer an accessible amount for seniors who may be retired or on a fixed income.
For MAKING EYES, you get a download of the film. And a DVD including extras like a copy of this promo video with outtakes and pictures from the film shoot as well as from our senior picket line in the promo video.
At COPPING A FEEL, you get our awesome autographed poster! Here's an early version!
The photo was taken by my dear friend, award-winning photographer Johanna Siegmann. Ed's pose is priceless! It's a take-off of the poster from the iconic film, The Graduate, with Dustin Hoffman. We're trying to get rights to show the original poster in the film... which will also cost! The graphics were created by my amazingly talented friend Aris Kakkis who has been designing movie posters for Disney for years! And Ed will sign it - which makes it a collector's item!
(And if you're wondering whose leg it is - uh... it's mine!)
Our "I Helped Get Ed Laid" t-shirt is sure to be a conversation starter. And will make an awesome gift!
My favorite reward is 3RD BASE - the Associate Producer credit on the film. We're offering this level with an option - to make it a gift in honor of any senior in your life - parent, grandparent or friend. Both your names will be listed! And since you get all of the above with it, they'll have the DVD as a keepsake to show their friends!
For a HOME RUN, seven lucky people and their guest will have an intimate evening with Ed Asner, himself. You'll get to hang with a Hollywood icon - who won 7 Emmys - nominated for 16! And the only person EVER to win an Emmy for both drama and comedy for the same role - Lou Grant! And if you can't make it, we'll send you at personal video greeting from Ed!
And finally, TRUE LOVE - five lucky people will get to do a cameo in the film! Yes! Come be a part of the film making process! Hang with our stars. And have an experience you'll never forget!
CASTING
With plans to shoot this summer here in Los Angeles, we're reaching out to a name actress for the role of the hooker. All contributors will be kept in the loop. Whoever we cast, we'll ask to sign the poster as well. And we plan to run a second edition poster with our mystery actress on it.
HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?
Besides your donation, sending this link to your family and friends is the best way to help us make our goal. And by coming to the site and watching our video - you're already helping! We'll be doing weekly reminders - posting new videos and pictures on Facebook. My not-so-secret wish is that we go viral with the help of seniors! Let's show the world that getting older doesn't disqualify you from life! And like Ed says in our video, "You younger ones - pay it forward!"
Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Visit us on Instagram or on my website! deborahpearl.com or gettingedlaid.com And feel free to email me - deb@gettingedlaid.com - with ideas on how to spread the word!
Risks and challenges
Any creative project is a risk. That's what makes it kind of scary and exciting. Scheduling two working actors and a producer who will be flying in from Detroit (and also doing wardrobe) will have its challenges. Film is so collaborative... you count on a lot of people to hold their own in the creative mix. Actors contribute to the writer's vision, as does everyone from the cinematographer all the way to the set decorator. I get to navigate the creative options - which I love, but it can be challenging (and hair-pulling.) If we hit a snag, and something we're shooting doesn't work, we'll create something that does. In comedy, timing is king and editing is key. I have the advice and counsel of my awesomely talented friend Mike Matzdorff who will be editing. He knows funny - he edited the show "Monk" for years. And my sometime co-writer, the amazingly talented director, Thor Freudenthal, will be my go-to guru for any directing issues that come up. I'm swinging out there as a first time director - with a legendary actor and fabulous friends who have my back. I hope you'll become one of them. Let's do this together. Donate and join us - help get Ed laid! Thank you!
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Funding period
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