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One hundred years ago, a rogue Freudian psychologist named André Breton and his wild posse of artists that included Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo, Man Ray and others, launched a "revolution of the mind" called "Surrealism." This revolution, which started as an exercise in exploring the unconscious mind, became a cultural phenomenon, thanks to a young entrepreneur named Peggy Guggenheim.
The story of these artists reacting to a world that no longer makes sense feels as fresh today as it ever has. That is why I am making a film that will tell the story of the surrealist movement if it were to happen today, with these famous artists as millennial creators on social media, reacting to a chaotic world. I have pitched this story to several networks and studios they thought it was "too out there" for viewers. I think they are wrong and I want you to help me prove them so. A donation, however small, to "The Surrealists" is a vote for celebrating these great artists and telling their fascinating story in a very modern way, while drawing important parallels between our world and theirs.
FILM TEASER
Here's what we have managed to scrape together so far!
Unfortunately, this is pretty much it and we need a little more $$$ to film the actual scenes in between these moments!
Main Characters
Salvador Dalí
The rockstar of the movement, Salvador Dalí uses and masters nearly every digital platform to market his talents and promote his brand. Starting with his viral youtube show (kind of like Pee Wee’s Playhouse if David Lynch directed it) Dalí goes on to become the kind of superstar whose fame rests in his ability to keep his fans guessing what his next move will be. He paints with his own excrement, shoots a music video inside a shark tank, fakes his own death, anything to get the hit count up!
PEGGY GUGGENHIEM
Peggy Guggenheim is the cut throat, business-minded, media mogul who puts The Surrealists on the map when she discovers them, exposes them to the world on her blog ("The Guggenheim Post"), and brings them a flood of commercial opportunities. Her role as the groups "brand ambassador" but her at direct odds with its idealist leader, André Breton and ultimately creates a schism within the group. Peggy's modern sensibilities and fluid sexuality make her as groundbreaking a woman today as she was one hundred years ago.
André Breton
André Breton is the solemn, anal and pretentious leader of this revolution of nonsense. Though his goal is global anarchy, Breton wishes to achieve it with spreadsheets and homework assignments. This conflict builds as corners are cut and pledges of anti-materialism go up in flames in the way of fame and fortune. Actor Casey Jost describes his character as "Steve Jobs, if he were the dictator of a book club".
René Magritte
René Magritte is the debonair and introspective member of the group. While his graffiti paintings, AR videos, and fashion label are immensely popular, Magritte himself likes to stay out of the limelight, covering his face in public with a bandanna that bears his signature apple logo. Magritte is not, however, without indulgences. His mysterious style and French accent render him pretty irresistible with the ladies. Kind of like if Bansky and Daft Punk had a baby!
Max Ernst
Max Ernst is the cuddly yet clumsy voice of white male ‘wokeness’. He escaped Germany’s intolerant society to join the free-thinking surrealists. Though constantly putting his foot in his mouth while trying to prove it, Max is also the very supportive feminist boyfriend of Peggy Guggenheim. The couple's meeting at a safari-themed orgy led to their first collaboration: a human-to-animal face-swapping app.
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo is in this world, as in real life, the queen of cool. Having built a massive instagram following for her artful selfies, food art, fashion, and short films, she never seems shocked or shaken by her popularity. Instead, she quietly judges her peers and effortlessly outperforms them, with a blunt in hand. Her only gripe is the way her own genius is often overshadowed by those who wish to objectify her beauty.
Here's actress Lauren Ireland on playing Peggy Guggenheim:
Here's Salvador Dalí hosting a cooking show!
And here's actor Casey Jost talking about playing Surrealism founder André Breton:
Risks and challenges
This is an ambitious production with many high concept visual elements. As you can see from the teaser, we have already begun work on this on our own dime, but are hoping to get a boost from donors to finish this thing off properly. Once completed, we hope this short film could help The Surrealists become a TV show or feature film!
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Funding period
- (30 days)