Our Story
"Deep End" is a five minute, short dramatic film that has been accepted into the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative
Film 5 program in Nova Scotia, Canada
http://afcoop.ca/programs-and-training/film-5/. Through this program, we are able to develop and produce a short film on a limited budget. This is a fantastic opportunity for us as emerging filmmakers, and also for the program's trainees who will work alongside industry keys to further their knowledge of their chosen field.
Our story takes place over a day at a rural community pool. The protagonist, 13 year old Dane, has just learned that his older brother, whom he looks up to, is gay. Unable to reconcile the image he has of his brother with this new information, Dane spends the day struggling to understand the implications of his brother's coming out. The pressure is on when several local kids vandalize his brother's car and spread ugly rumors. Unsure what to do, and unwilling to be caught in the social fallout, Dane storms off in frustration. Away from the pool, in the quiet picnic area, he comes across his brother sharing an honest moment with his boyfriend. Now exposed to several sides of his conflict, Dane must decide whether to support his brother and become a social outcast, or side with his homophobic peers and sacrifice their relationship.
We're going to camera at the end of May 2011, shooting at The Lion's Park Community Pool in the Halifax Regional Municipality. We're shooting on 35mm film and transferring to digital media.
The Impact
The content of this project is very personal for for us. It's a story that I (the writer/director) have been carrying around for a long time and I feel that the emotional journey that the main character goes through is something that most people have experienced in one form or another. The difficulty of making a choice that goes against mainstream opinion, and the backlash of that choice, is something with which we are all familiar. In addition to showing a young adult grappling and overcoming these issues, we believe that it's important to show how thinking for yourself and owning your decisions impacts not only your life, but the people around you.
The message this film carries is especially relevant to young teens, but it is important for everyone.
What We Need & What You Get
Through the training program, we have access to donated services, gear, and a portion of our film stock. The majority of the crew and cast are donating their time. The cash budget we are given goes to location rental, food, transportation, small honorariums, film stock, all our promotional material, as well as any fees and miscellaneous costs that come up.
In order to complete our project, we're trying to raise $2650 in additional funds, which will be used to buy additional film stock and secure our location.
Film Stock - With additional film, we can grant our actors the freedom to explore their characters, and we will be able to take in more sides of our location, an integral part of building the summertime atmosphere central to Deep End.
Pool Location - To use a pool out of season as we are planning is a very large expense, but necessary to our project as Dane deals with issues of social pressures and identity in a communal setting.
