The Stage Is Set...

The world of Inspiration is quickly coming together as we head toward our upcoming shoot in October/November. Permitting for the outdoor shoots is nearly complete. And the team recently selected an ideal location for the indoor shoot! Behold the domain of Claire and Jennifer and Jack...

For more images of this beautiful space... you'll just have to come see the film! Watch for the premiere early next year. And check back soon for updates on our amazing cast!

It's Official...

...Inspiration is definitely the coolest, most visionary and exciting independent short film project on the Eastern Seaboard. Probably in the United States. And possibly in the world.

Oh... and more official news. IS Films, the production organization behind Inspiration, has formally been granted 501(c)3 status as a nonprofit. This sets the stage for additional IS Films media projects and educational opportunities for students and aspiring filmmakers. It also assures that all donations to Inspiration are tax deductible.

We have only two days remaining on our IndieGoGo fundraising challenge! Please visit our project page and make your official tax deductible donation now!

Thanks for your support... and be sure to watch for more exciting news from Inspiration and IS Films.

Four Days to GoGo... $1000 and Counting

Inspiration has crossed the $1,000 mark in our challenge to raise $1,500 on IndieGoGo. The last week has seen a huge uptick in contributions, and we thank everyone for their support.

But time is quickly running out. We need to raise that last $500 in the next four days. So skip a few mocha-lattes and donate $10 to Inspiration on our IndieGoGo project page. If you can donate more, you can help us reach the target even faster.

This will complete fundraising for Inspiration as activity ramps up. Technical crew positions have been filled and rehearsals have begun. It's an exciting time... but we still need your help for that last $500. Spread the word, share the wealth, and help bring Inspiration to life!

Heading for the $1500 Home Stretch

We’ve passed the halfway mark in our latest IndieGoGo fundraising challenge. But we only have one week left to raise the last $1500 as we head into production. The entire Inspiration team has sent out letters to all our contacts asking them to each donate ten dollars. Higher donations are more than welcome… but if each person contributes just ten bucks we can easily hit the target next week.

So visit our IndieGoGo page right now and make that donation. Quick. Before you forget.

And spread the word to friends, family, the neighbors, your old sorority sisters, that woman you’ve been trading glances with at Starbucks, the guy who cuts the lawn, your mechanic, that weird lady who sells plastic roses out of her old Chevy by the overpass…

Tell everyone to visit the Inspiration project page at IndieGoGo and drop ten dollars on a film that’s sure to be a winner.

Thanks, as always, for supporting Inspiration. It’s been an amazing ride so far… and the best is yet to come!

P.S. And be sure to watch this space for updates on our incredible cast! We are positively Inspired!

Inspiration Spotlight: Executive Producer Martin Zaharinov

What's your background and why do you want to work in film?
I have always had a passion for cinema and films. My father comes from a TV and journalism background. He used to anchor for the news in Bulgaria back in the early 90s and I always enjoyed seeing him on TV and envisioned myself being in his place one day. When the time came for applying to college I asked myself “What do I love to do most in this world?” After a year of deliberation, I decided to apply to film schools. Once I got to Emerson, I quickly realized that I love this school and that filmmaking is what truly makes me happy. I believe it’s what I was always meant to do.

Why did you choose Inspiration to be your first major production?
Inspiration, at a first glance, touched me on a personal level. I could relate to the story in a deep emotional sense, for reasons that I will keep to myself. Upon a second read I found that I really liked the characters, enjoyed the interactions between them, and was drawn into the story. As I was rereading the script, prior to my meeting with the writer, I found myself “watching” the film, seeing the scenes come to life in my mind. I really enjoyed it and I was actively looking for a major project to take on. I knew from the beginning that this will be an enormous challenge and that it will be either all or nothing, and when dealing with absolutes I said to myself: Yes, this is manageable and I can do it!

Explain what the executive producer does on a film.
The Student Executive Producer is the spearhead of any student-produced film. He/she (or they…it is recommended to have at least a couple of Execs) are the people who essentially put the film together from A to Z – the beacon for the rest of the crew to rally around. The EP handles all business issues, assigns responsibilities, and secures the finances for the film. The EP has final say and veto power of any and all decisions on a student-produced film, and is in charge of the entire team.

What are your goals for Inspiration?
Since I started this project, I have been quite vocal about how great I want to make this film, how good of an experience it will be, and how many grants we will be entrusted with. The naysayers rolled their eyes about us getting a Kodak grant. Or Panavision. Or Fotokem. But we got all three. Ninety percent of the things that I set out to do are taking place, and I must admit that I’ve been talking up Sundance since Day 1…

Tell us your five favorite films and why.
I'll give you more than five, since I rank a lot of them equally, but will keep the descriptions brief, deal?

1. The Fountain — I can write a book on why.
2. Beautiful Mind — Great performances, great story, great cast, great team, great interpretation, great mind. I can watch this over and over again, and I think it has one of the best film titles out there.

3. Shawshank Redemption — Amazing! The story is beautiful, the telling of it is even better. Morgan Freeman has always been great in everything he commits to. I don't think that I have ever seen a movie that has drawn me deeper into the world it depicts than Shawshank. By the time the movie is over I don't ever want to leave nor can I ever tell the passage of time when watching this film.

4. Forrest Gump — One of the greatest acting performances of all time. Tom Hanks is spectacular and magic always flows when he works with Zemeckis. Like Shawshank, Gump draws me into a world of running, war, shrimp, ping-pong, and drama that I don't want to leave once the credits roll.

5. Lord of the Rings (Return) — When have you enjoyed yourself more at the movies! Best entertainment ever!

6. The Prestige — Amazing story and cinematography! Nolan kicks ass directing this one. The twist is amazing and the film has one of the best plot structures I have ever seen! Plus I have always had a soft spot for and a fascination with magic!

7. Love Actually — Everyone needs a bit of lovin’…

8. Leon —Loved it as a kid and I couldn't get enough of it! Really hard to come by, but a great movie.

9. Seven Chances - Buster Keaton. Hilarious!

10. The Matrix - FUN!!!

And many more. All film majors have 50 Top Five movies. It just depends on the time of night you ask them the question!

Inspiration Awarded Fotokem Grant

Inspiration continues to receive recognition and support even before we shoot the first frame. We were recently awarded the Fotokem Student Filmmaker Grant. This competitive post-production grant covers the cost of film processing, print dailies, and answer printing and is valued at $10,000. The grant assures that the project will be able to transition seamlessly into post-production work as we get ready to ride the film festival train in 2009!

Kudos to our EP Martin for pulling together another solid grant application. The Fotokem grant is another feather in our cap, which includes the Kodak film stock grant and the Panavision equipment grant. The strength of the project and the production and creative team have helped earn this industry support... and with the addition of our talented cast, to be finalized next week, Inspiration is on target for further accolades.

But we still need to complete our pre-production fundraising. Visit our IndieGoGo page and make a donation of ten dollars or more. The clock is running... Help us reach that final $1500 finish line. Spread the good word about Inspiration, and thanks for supporting independent filmmaking.

Tick, Tick... Ten

The days are ticking down as Inspiration gets closer to our shoot dates later this fall. Time is also ticking on fundraising, as we approach our final target budget figure.

So... we are asking everyone to donate 10 dollars to our IndieGoGo fund drive. We have 16 days to reach our $1500 target, which will complete fundraising for the film. (Whew!)

Ten dollars. Such a small amount. A drop in the bucket. Yet many drops will add up to big success. Larger donations are certainly welcome, but 10 dollars is fine. Just spread the word and watch as those 10s add up to 100s and then 1000s... or 1500, to be precise. Thanks for your continuing support!

And watch this space in the days and weeks to come for the latest Inspiration news, and lots of it. The Fotokem grant, final cast selections, more profiles, crew interviews, more press... it's all good.

But first... go to our IndieGoGo page and make a quick 10 dollar donation. Tick... tick... tick...