From Inspirational to "Wonderful"

The lovely and talented Jessica Webb continues to play iconic American moms.

After recently completing her scenes as Claire's mom Jennifer in Inspiration, Jessica has transitioned into the role of Mary Bailey, the wife of beloved everyman George Bailey in the Stoneham Theatre production of It's a Wonderful Life. The stage adaptation of Frank Capra's classic holiday film has been getting rave reviews... and our Jessica lights up the stage as she lit up the Inspiration set.

"Jessica Webb, in her Stoneham Theatre debut, offers a solid performance as George’s wife, Mary; hers is among the toughest roles to play in the show, as Donna Reed so encapsulated and defined the character in the 1946 film."

-North Shore Sunday review

The entire team at Inspiration and IS Films congratulates Jessica... and wishes a very Happy Holidays to all the friends and supporters who helped our film get its wings! And watch for updates as we move into post-production in 2009.

That's a Wrap!

Inspiration reached a major milestone last weekend as the team completed principal photography. The grueling three-day shoot included many of the key dramatic scenes, with numerous set-ups.

Thanks again to Grace, our talented lead whose star is quickly ascending, and to Jessica and Jonathan for their hard work and dedication in creating this special family. Major props to our tireless crew, who helped make the creative vision happen and who deserve some rest and serious fun. Sincere thanks to Jacob for allowing us to build the world of Inspiration within his own world. And to Hiroki Sugiyama for the beautiful photos.

A star-spangled clapboard slates a kitchen scene.

Grace Brakeman (Claire), Director Jackie Carr, and Jonathan Thomson (Jack) discuss the opening breakfast scene.

Jessica Webb (Jennifer) and Grace Brakeman (Claire) during the dinner table scene.

Director of Photography Jess Dunlap sets up a shot.

A view of Claire's bedroom scene through the monitor.

Jennifer discovers Claire's secret.

Next stop... the editing suite!

More Ink for Inspiration and IS Films

The Angels Behind a Student Project
Industry largesse plays a vital role in 'Inspiration'

Martin Zaharinov majors in directing narrative fiction at Emerson College, but don't underestimate the importance of his minor in leadership and management. Lately he's demonstrating plenty of that important filmmaking skill known as getting it made.

Zaharinov is founder and president of IS Films Inc., a nonprofit intended to help fund student films beyond the normal thesis projects. And he and the IS (Independent Student) team, which includes treasurer Elizabeth Daly and non-student board members Paul Turano and Glen Livolsi, have reeled in some serious bounty for their first production.

Inspiration, filming in and around the city this month, is a roughly 25-minute film with a cast of four, written by Michael Gray Beckett (Emerson '84) and directed by Jackie Carr (an Emerson senior). It's the kind of indie often shot on the most threadbare of shoestrings.

But Zaharinov and company have scored a ton of film-industry largesse to get Inspiration done right: the loan of a complete 35mm camera and equipment package from Panavision (worth low six figures to rent for a few weeks), a film stock grant from Kodak (worth perhaps $3,500), and processing from the FotoKem post-production company that Zaharinov said will probably be worth $30,000 or more.

All this is just the beginning, says Zaharinov, who is credited as executive producer and assistant director. He hopes IS Films will become a producing umbrella that will help many more students realize their filmmaking dreams.

Click here for complete story.

First Weekend Shoot... In the Can

The tireless Inspiration cast and crew wrapped up the first weekend of shooting this past Sunday. As usual, the film gods were watching over us and managed to limit the rain to Saturday night... so both outdoor shoot days were classic autumn in New England. (Whew!)

Thanks to Grace, Abi, Jonathan and Jessica for their patience, professionalism and high spirits doing take after take. And to the crew for an epic amount of work. And to Julie Haberstick for the photos.

And it all happens again next week! The magic of Inspiration continues...

Eat, Drink... and Support Inspiration!

On Wednesday, October 22, the California Pizza Kitchen in Boston's Theater District will donate 20% of sales to Inspiration! All you need to do is print the flyer below and show it to your server or cashier when you place your order. It's a deliciously easy way to help raise funds for an exciting film project.

If you've never tried CPK's outstanding pizzas, salads and sandwiches, October 22 is the perfect time. And if you already know how good CPK's food is, we know you'll be there with a fork in one hand and the Inspiration flyer in the other!

So print the flyer above and take it to the CPK in the CityPlace building at 127 Stuart Street this Wednesday for lunch, dinner, or take-out. Your taste buds will thank you... and we will too!

And a big thanks to California Pizza Kitchen for supporting Inspiration and independent film!!

An Inspirational Cast

After months of outreach, auditions and callbacks, we are excited and proud to introduce the stellar cast of Inspiration. They bring a broad range of acting experience to the project, including some iconic roles in American film and theater.




The cast includes (clockwise from top) Jonathan Thomson (Jack), Jessica Webb (Jennifer), Grace Brakeman (Claire) and Abi Jean-Baptiste (Audrey). They are fast becoming a little family and are busy with rehearsals as we prepare for the first day of shooting on October 24.

Check back for detailed profiles of our shining stars... and more exciting Inspiration news!

Inspiration Highlighted in Emerson Magazine

The October issue of Emerson College Today includes a feature article on Inspiration, IS Films and the student and alumni working to bring the film to life.



Students find 'Inspiration' in film and win major grants
by Christopher Hennessy

A film produced and directed by current Emerson students, with a screenplay penned by an alumnus, has won three major grants, including an equipment grant from Panavision's New Filmmaker Program with an estimated value of $500,000. The filmmakers have also fundraised more than $17,000 to support the production of the film.

The 35mm film, entitled Inspiration, is scheduled to begin shooting late this month and into November. The other grants the film has secured include a Kodak 35mm film stock grant and a Fotokem grant for post-production processing, dailies printing and answer printing.

Click for full article...

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 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...

Some Serious Equipment

Things are rolling apace now as Inspiration heads into the home stretch before the shoot. Casting is in its final stages, with callbacks set for this week. Watch for cast announcements coming soon!

We're also still a bit giddy over scoring the Panavision equipment grant. This generous 35mm camera package will really help the visuals match the artistry of the story. Click here for details on the complete package.

And of course, we're excited to be closing in on our fundraising goals. Major expenses will be coming up soon, so please help us make this E-Z goal of $1500! Visit the our Indie GoGo page and make your donation today... Make it your one good deed for the summer, and enter the fall with a clean conscience! Thanks for your unwavering support of Inspiration and indy film.

Here We GoGo Again!

Our first IndieGoGo fundraising challenge was such a huge success... we've decided to take a victory lap! As Inspiration moves into final casting, rehearsals, crew interviews and shooting, we need to nail down our budget.

So skip a gin and tonic or that order of fried clams and donate the savings to everyone's favorite indie film project... Inspiration! Just click on the IndieGoGo widget below... sign up if you're a newbie or sign-in if you're already on board... and click Contribute now! on our GoGo page.

Every dollar helps... and is welcome! Thanks for your ongoing support of independent film!

Inspiration Spotlight: Production Designer Rachel Moreau

What's your background and why do you want to work in film?
I was born and raised in suburban Pennsylvania about an hour outside of Philadelphia. With little to do and not much around, movies quickly became a source of everlasting joy. It wasn't until later that it occured to me that film was an actual industry. Movies as a job. Fantastic. Before that moment came I had been preparing for a career in the fine arts, but when it came time to pick a college and a major and a life -- I knew charcoal wasn't going to cut it. The best part about film for me is the world -- the setting, the costumes, the fantasy. That's why when learning about the different aspects of film, I was inherently drawn in the artistic direction -- to production design.

Explain what a production designer does and what they bring to a film.
The production designer is responsible for the visual look of the film. They head the art department, which includes sets, costumes, props, visual effects -- basically everything within the world of the script. They are there to ensure that the director's vision comes to life and is fully created for the screen. A production designer should have a strong sense of design, color theory, practical construction knowledge, and some art and architectural history background. Production design supports a film in the authenticity of the world, its character and story arcs, and ultimately the production designer brings a more style-driven approach to the collaboration.

Why did you want to do production design for Inspiration?
Inspiration is a wonderful opportunity to create the personal spaces of characters whom I feel I know and care about. The people in this story are themselves studiers and makers of art. Their environment is unique in that everything around them is literally up for grabs... for inspiration : ) The world each of them creates is both highly personal and also highly visual. It's exciting to play with color and texture and the personal styles of each character. It's also fun to think of how Claire would put her room together -- nothing is more sacred to a 10 year old girl than her bedroom. The story is so thoughtful in its portrayal of these relationships that it pushes the design to be equally expressive.

What would be your dream film or story to design for?
The most exciting films to design for are ones that take the audience out of their ordinary environment. Period pieces, epics, fantasy worlds -- things that are stylized in such a way that you can really let your imagination run wild. Needlees to say my dream story for the perfect production design situation would probably involve a change in scenery.

The Finish Line Is In Sight...

Inspiration is closing in on $4000 in donations... but we have only three days left in our IndieGoGo fundraising challenge!

We need $1200 more. Help us reach the magic number of $5000 so we can bring a magical film to theaters and festivals across America and around the world!

Every dollar counts!! Please visit IndieGoGo today and make a donation to Inspiration.

If it's your first donation, make a big splash in the pool!

If you've already donated, that calls for an encore!

The price of gas has dropped 7 cents in the past week... pass those savings along to Inspiration!

Kodak and Panavision have provided major grants for Inspiration. They love us...

Show us some more love. Make your donation. By Friday. IndieGoGo.

As always, thanks for supporting independent film!

Panavision Comes Through!!

We received the exciting news last week that Inspiration has been granted a Panavision 35mm GOLD Film Equipment Grant! The package includes 10 prime-lenses, 6 super-speed lenses, 20 Filters and Flex Fills... and a $325,000 custom-made Panaflex Film Camera!!! That's a grand total of $500,000 of professional equipment to help make a beautiful film.

The Panavision grant program is extremely competitive. Kudos and stratospheric high-fives to our Executive Producer Martin for putting the grant application together and having the faith and fortitude to go for it. He truly is... Captain Inspiration!!!


We do need to pay shipping costs from LA to Boston for the equipment, so be sure to make a donation to IndieGoGo this week. We still have a long road ahead to the $5000 finish line on Friday. But luck and karma are on our side. Help make Inspiration a success and donate today!

$1500 and Counting...

Inspiration has reached the $1500 mark for our IndieGoGo fundraising challenge! It's an impressive milestone, but we have just over a week to go to hit our $5,000 target.

That's $3,500 in eight days.

Can we do it?

Yes we can!

PBS raises gobs of cash every quarter by airing endless reruns of Riverdance and breaking in every 15 minutes with celebrities who wax poetic about the joy of donating to public television.

Inspiration will spare you the step-dancing... but we do have our own celebrity super-hero endorser...

Captain Inspiration says..

"Make your donation now at IndieGoGo and keep the world safe for independent filmmaking!"

Every dollar counts! Donate to Inspiration today!

First $1000 in the GoGo Pot

Inspiration passed a crucial milestone this week as we crossed that $1000 barrier for our IndieGoGo fundraising challenge. Now we only need to raise another $4000... but we only have two weeks left!!

Click any IndieGoGo link or the widget at right and make your donation today! Our fat cat donors are waiting in the wings to help us make some big jumps toward our goal... but we still need your help! Every donation large and small moves us closer to the $5000 total and to making a great film. So...

1. Give up a few Frappucinos (It's bathing suit weather... Do you really need those extra calories?)

2. Empty out that change jar (There's gotta be 15 bucks in there, at least, right?)

3. Cash in those bottles and cans (That pile in the garage has been bugging you for weeks. You know it has.)

4. Skip the Volkswagen-size nacho platter at Applebee's next Friday. (For rationale, see #1 above.)

5. Shake down the Tooth Fairy (Honestly, the kids will just spend that money on candy and start rotting those fresh new molars.)

... and donate the extra cash to Inspiration. Every dollar counts and is appreciated!

Send along your inspired ideas for raking up loose dollars to support independent filmmaking. And watch for our first donor thank-you list this weekend. Make sure your name is on the next one!