About this project
$75,243
270
***A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROFITS FROM THIS FILM WILL GO TOWARDS THE NORM VAN LIER SCHOLARSHIP FUND AS WELL AS THE NON-VIOLENCE LEGACY FUND, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FUNDING THE EDUCATION AND SAFETY OF AT-RISK CHICAGO KIDS.
DESCRIPTION
During the winter and spring of 2011, filmmakers shot in homes, schools, gyms and parks all over Chicago as top high school seniors from the West side of Chicago prepared to face off against their rivals from the South side. It was the first-ever annual Chicago United Hoops Classic all-star game. The game was about neighborhood pride, it was about community history; most importantly, it was about stopping the violence in Chicago.
Chitown aims to show the deep history of Chicago basketball through the lives of the different high-school seniors and coaches representing the West and South Sides. Preparing for a game that’s sure to go down in the annals of Chicago sport, we watch two teams of all-star seniors get ready to leave their neighborhoods behind for college, and witness the talent and commitment of those who’ve come back home. From heartbreaking stories of tragedy to inspiring stories of perseverance and triumph, the people of South and West-side Chicago will tell their stories in a way they’ve never been told before.
This is a film about basketball, and it’s also a film about life: a portrait of a community struggling to define itself, struggling to find alternatives to violence and coming together over the game that makes them strong.
WHY NOW?
Right now, at every level, Chicago players are dominating. Derrick Rose, only a few years after graduating from Simeon high school on the South Side, is now the number one player in the world. Anthony Davis who hails from the South Side, is the number one college player in the country. And Jabari Parker, currently playing for Simeon High School, is the number one high school player across the United States.
Meanwhile, in Chicago’s homes and on its streets, gang-related violence is steadily rising. On a recent weekend in 2012, 49 people were shot in Chicago, with ten deaths over two days. Groups like Purpose Over Pain support friends and neighbors who have lost their children, working to create a community organized around mutual respect and pride.
Right now, Chicago is recognized nationally as the birthplace of incredible talent, and as the home of unthinkable violence. But the story of basketball in Chicago’s high schools and on its public courts, the story of how neighborhoods come together over the game and organize against the violence in their communities, is not yet being told.
USE OF FUNDS
We need to raise $75,000 in two months to pay for editing costs. We need to raise an additional $200,000 overall to prepare the film for its release in late 2012/early 2013.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT CHITOWN:
Make a pledge today via Kickstarter. Any contribution, no matter how small or large, will make a difference. And all contributions will be rewarded! Please check out the donation tiers to your right to find the level and gift that’s right for you!
Spread the word by telling your friends, family and social networks about our film and this Kickstarter campaign. Please send the URL of this page with a heartfelt endorsement to everyone you know! "Like" and Share the link on Facebook, Twitter, by email or blog. Encourage people to follow us. We can be found online here:
If you have other ideas how to help please contact us!
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! http://www.facebook.com/chitownthemovie
CHECK OUT THE CHICAGO UNITED HOOPS CLASSIC WEBSITE! http://chiunitedhoopsclassic.com/
FAQ
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Kickstarter is an awesome organization that helps projects like ours raise necessary funding. It works on "all or nothing" basis, i.e. if we don't raise our funding goal by our deadline no money changes hands. For more info, check out: http://www.kickstarter.com/
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Click the "Back This Project" button in the upper right hand corner. You'll input your pledge amount, choose a reward, and then check out through Amazon.
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What won't it be used for?! Our Kickstarter campaign is meant primarily to fund the post-production on the film, but there is so much more required to get to the finish line. Our costs include everything from music and archive licensing to cool graphics to film festival submission fees. All funds donated will go directly to the film: licensing, publicity, legal, etc.
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We keep all the money raised before the deadline. 75K is our primary goal, but in the end, we figure we'll need an additional 200k to really make this film a success.
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Of course! Just sign in to Kickstarter. Go to our campaign page, click the "Manage Your Donation" button. From there, you can enter a new amount and choose a new reward.
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Everything from DVDs to T-shirts to posters to trips to Chicago. Check out the full list on the right hand side of your screen.
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We're aiming to premiere the film in late 2012/early 2013. Stay tuned for more info on that!
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After our Kickstarter campaign ends, we'll begin sending out the rewards. You'll get a message from us requesting details on where to send, sizes if you ordered t-shirts, etc. Shipping costs included in pledge amount.
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If we don't reach our fund raising goal by the deadline, no money changes hands and no rewards are sent out.
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You can contact Nick Budabin directly athttp://mailto:Nick@chitownthemovie.com/
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Unfortunately not. Kickstarter only allows credit card payments through Amazon. If you need more info feel free to contact Josh at http://mailto:Josh@chitownthemovie.com/.
Support this project
Funding period
- (60 days)