About this project
"Where We Begin" a Narrative Dance Film - Music by MONO
$35,246
385
We reached our goal - so NOW WHAT? YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT to help director's CREDIT CARD DEBT!! Our next goal $38,500!! ...welcome to the indie filmmaking world...
Where We Begin is a non-dialogue narrative dance short film collaboration between award-winning filmmaker, Mitsuyo Miyazaki and the internationally renowned post-rock instrumental band, MONO.
Click here or below image for multi language translation. 日本語での詳細はこちらか、以下のイメージををクリックして下さい。
Check out the sneak preview of our Behind The Scene video!
A Thank you message from the director to the supporters :)
Introducing the cast members!
Some of our behind the scene videos...
PLEDGE UPDATES!
- Anyone who pledged more than$35 will be credited as supporter in the final film credit!
- You will receive the incentives that can be sent electronically, and tickets to MONO concert by mid-December 2014.
- Final film will be delivered once the film premieres at major festivals. (In order to be qualified for major festivals, we will not be able to share the film until our premiere - Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding!)
STORY
Where we Begin is about a woman who is near her end, remembering life. It's a story of young lovers separated by war, not able to be reunited, and the memories that would hold her together. In her last breaths, she receives a visit from her lover's spirit and is carried into her new life never to be separated from true love again. Through dance movements, we shed light on the many faces of love and life, the pressures we place upon ourselves, and those that others place onto us. “Where We Begin” is a story of courage, perseverance and the strength to endure all other obstacles.
Please visit our website /Facebook page for more information about our team and updates!
CONCEPT
The story was inspired from the experience Mitsuyo had when her grandmother had passed away. Experiencing her grandmother pass into the afterlife in a very symbolic way and her inability to write something so powerful led her to creating this dance narrative. She knew that this message was larger than words and she would have to find a medium that could express it.
Nearly 16 years after from her grandmother’s death and over 3 years of searching for the music, Mitsuyo was introduced to MONO, a renowned Japanese post-rock instrumental band. After working with them closely as a photographer for their new album The Last Dawn and Rays of Darkness, she began creating what is now known as "Where We Begin” the film.
Making a film is difficult, but when you have chemistry and kindness present everyday, as we did, the potential moves beyond expectations.We are all very proud of what we created together and look forward to begin sharing the film with the rest of the world.
Thank you for your time and however you choose to generate for this story. Reading our words alone is a gift of your time and we appreciate you!
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP?
Where We Begin is an independently funded project. We shot the film in Southern Utah, with a crew made up of volunteers, experienced dancers and an ensemble cast. We are now in need of additional funding to help us complete the film and guide us through post-production. Here is a list of some of the things your contributions will be helping to pay for:
- Pick up shoot
- Editing supplies.
- Sound mixing and mastering
- Visual effects
- HD deliverables of the film onto DCP, HDCAM, DigiBeta, BluRay and DVD
- Film festival submission fees and submission materials
- Necessary promotional costs (Flyers, posters and marketing designs)
- Re-payment of Transportation of equipment, cast and crew from Los Angeles to Utah.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MITSUYO
Originally from Osaka, Japan, Mitsuyo is a writer-director and cinematographer with professional background as an actor, dancer, singer and photographer. Her directorial debut short film Tsuyako (2011, 24min Japan/USA) went on to screen at over 100 film festivals worldwide, winning 43 awards and 3 nominations including the DGA Award for the Best Female Student Filmmaker, Grand Jury Prizes at Academy Award qualified festivals, Future Filmmaker's Award and Audience Award at Palm Springs International Short Fest, and Best Screenplay and Best Short Film at the Social World Film Festival in Italy. In 2013, she was chosen as one of the 5 directors from around the world to write and direct a short film for The Weinstein Company and Lexus International. Her Action/Animated short film A Better Tomorrow (2013, Fantasy/Adventure, 13 min) was the first time in collaboration with award-winning animation director Koji Morimoto. The film was premiered in the 2013 Festival de Cannes. Her works have been shown around the globe at film festivals, television programs, mobile platforms, exhibitions, EXPOs and universities where she often gives lectures to prospective students. She believes in the power of visual communication that changes society and the minds of people.
Please visit www.MitsuyoMiyazaki.com for more information.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MONO
MONO is a Japanese instrumental rock band, created in Tokyo back in 1999. The band's style of music is influenced by the genres of experimental rock and shoegazing, as well as, classical and by noise and minimalism.
Those lucky enough to have attended one of their live performances, know they are intensely captivating. Within the rage of distortion and bombardment of feedback, you are likely to experience sadness and beauty, light and darkness, chaos and peace, happiness and melancholy. It is MONO’s ability to combine, intertwine and swing back and forth from two such opposite extremes to create an emotional phantasmagoria that makes this band’s music worthy of a beautiful film created by a highly imaginative and visionary director and filmmaking team.
Please visit www.MonoOfJapan.com for more information.
INCENTIVES
We'd like to give back what we can for all your help in making this film a reality. We’ve partnered with MONO to give you an array of rewards to choose from at different pledge levels. Below is the detailed information on some of the items:
- MONO's Signed gifts - CDs, T-shirt & MONO Artist Photo
- Director's Signed gifts - DVDs, Movie Posters, MONO Artist Photo (in the back) & Production Photo book.
- A concert ticket from MONO's world tour in the year of 2015 - Concert will held in Europe, North America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and more to come. You let us know which show you'd like to go to, and we will put you on the guest list. Please note that we only accept 5 guests per venue - first come first serve of which one you can attend. Latest tour information available on MONO's Website
- Meet and greet with the band - after the show, you will be guided backstage to meet the band. Please be courteous with their schedule.
- Supporters who pledge $100 and up - may choose to receive physical copies of the DVD/CD or Digital download/streaming links.
- You can select one of the artist photos from the list below:
Risks and challenges
Hi! My name is Peter Maestrey and I am one of the producer's on "Where We Begin". In a moment I am going to give you the story about how this project became a reality, but first I will acknowledge that the main risk and also the challenge with this project has always been the budget. We knew going into it we would have just enough to complete the film, but not finish it. Finishing funds would be requested once we had something edited to show our supporters and share how far we have come. We also wanted to invest in ourselves before we would ask others to invest in us.
Considering how close to the heart this story was for Mitsuyo and how incredibly committed she was to completing it, we pressed forward knowing and began our search for the appropriate locations. Our first obstacle was finding locations that complimented our story, which takes place in the early 1900's. Through the support of the Utah Film Commission and the local businesses and the City of Commerce from Cedar city, we were able to create the perfect settings to compliment the size and scope of this film. With pictures now in hand to show where and how this film would take shape, we continued onto our next step, finding the crew and the vendors that would join us on this journey.
But before that, Mitsuyo gave me all her credit cards and we divided them up and strategized on the use of each one. Yes, you heard it correctly, she took a chance and put it all on the line with her very own credit cards. When doing a project this size and with someone's credit on the line, there is a couple of things to consider. We had to have enough cash to pay the minimum balance on the credit cards for at least two months after principle photography was complete. That is how long it would take to get the film to where we can ask for support and show you the contributor what we have accomplished thus far. And, being honest with each and every person about the commitment it will take to enter and exit each of these amazing locations.
Immediately, with the help of many locals within Cedar City, Utah we began making requests. Local food vendors donated coffee, food or discounts on meals. Students came out to volunteer with their time and resources in building sets and props. Vendors of equipment came from Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Vegas to contribute to our arsenal of equipment needed to convey this EPIC size storytelling. We were off and running and filming our movie in no time.
We completed Principal photography and went straight to work on the edit of our first few versions of the film. Which brings us to right now. This film has a rough cut that merits the support to be completed. We also had a complication with the weather, and we have to reshoot some of the scenes.
In order to finish this film and continue to market it, we are asking for funding to fulfill on those tasks. What we are asking for does not cover everything, but it is a fair chance at completing the film in time to invest in ourselves once again by way of winning prizes in festivals.
This story. This Crew. This project. It has taken a village to get us to where we are today, but it will take a city to get this story shared with the rest of the world. You, are our city. So please follow us at www.facebook.com/wherewebeginfilm and see the thousands of photos that show our struggle and commitment getting here. Watch our videos and like them, if you do, and share in what we had to endure to capture what we did. I look forward to meeting you at a festival or showcase in the very near future. Thank you.
-Peter Maestrey
Producer
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Funding period
- (30 days)