Dear Ele-Friends and Supporters,

Welcome to "The Eyes of Thailand" Documentary, and our IndieGoGo "I AM AN ELE-FRIEND" Campaign.  With your support we will Premiere the film in the spring of 2012!

 

ABOUT THE FILM - "The Eyes of Thailand"

D.V.A. Productions, in Association with Indiewood Pictures, is currently producing the powerful and award-winning documentary "The Eyes of Thailand". After losing their legs from stepping on a landmine, two elephant survivors are given a second chance to walk again.  "The Eyes of Thailand" is a touching and eye-opening story of sacrifice and perseverance against all odds to make a positive difference in the lives of other.   The Film is Directed and Produced by Windy Borman and Produced by award-winning producer Tim VandeSteeg. Currently, the film is in post-production and on schedule to be completed in February.

 

NEWS - Exciting and Shocking!                     

Update: "The Eyes of Thailand" has been awarded the "ACE Film Grant" from the Humane Society of the United States, which is a great honor and gives us a national platform to continue to build the exposure and awareness for the film and the story!   "The Eyes of Thailand is an inspiring and unique documentary that will open up hearts and minds about the amazing veterinary work being performed at the Asian Elephant hospital." --Jonny Vasic, Program Director of The Humane Society of the United States' ACE Program

Shocking News: FAE Elephant Hospital is having financial hardships and may have to close in 2012, which is why we have developed a two-phase Approach to help them.

• Phase One: We will help ease FAE's immediate needs by donating 15% of all donations received in this IndieGoGo campaign directly to the FAE Elephant Hospital.
• Phase Two: We will donate a portion of the Film's profits to FAE to ensure that they will be around to help Asian Elephants for decades to come.
  

 

OUR STORY - The Filmmakers

Director/Producer Windy Borman of DVA Productions

Windy first met Soraida Salwala at the FAE Elephant Hospital in 2007. She was profoundly moved by her story, beginning as a young girl with an early love for elephants and continuing with her passionate and brave actions to save the species from hardship, abuse and extinction. Ignited by admiration for Soraida, and poised to delve deeper into the threats against the Asian Elephants' and Soraida's quest to save them, "The Eyes of Thailand" documentary began to take shape. Windy filmed "The Eyes of Thailand" for over three years and through dedication, persistence, passion--and the support of Ele-Friends like you--she has been able to get the film to this point.

As an independent filmmaker, Windy has produced and directed promotional videos, films and documentaries, including producing "The 'D' Word: Understanding Dyslexia", which will premiere at Sundance in January 2012.

 

"The anniversary of Motala taking her first steps on a prosthesis is bittersweet; it shows us how far we've come and how far we still need to go to protect elephants and all species from landmines." --Windy Borman, Director/Producer, "The Eyes of Thailand"

 

Producer Tim VandeSteeg of Indiewood Pictures

Tim is an award-winning filmmaker. He joined "The Eyes of Thailand" in beginning of 2010 after the success of his award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary "My Run", narrated by Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton.

 

"The Eyes of Thailand is a story that embodies heart, courage and compassion to make a real difference and improve the lives of others, no matter whatever obstacles stand in your way. That is why I am proud to say that I'm a producer of this film and I will not stop pushing until the film becomes what it is destined to be: successful." --Tim VandeSteeg, Producer of "The Eyes of Thailand"

 

THE IMPACT - Making a Difference

Our BIG Goals: Our social and environmental goals for "The Eyes of Thailand" Film are to:

• Educate and inspire viewers to protect Asian Elephants,
• Support FAE's Elephant Hospital as they continue save elephants' lives and give them a second chance to walk again, and
• Encourage all governments to ban the use of landmines

 

Our Hope: Our ultimate hope is to convey the added sense of urgency for people and organizations worldwide to pressure Thailand to change its laws to protect the dwindling number of Asian Elephants. If nothing is done, the species will become extinct within the next 50 years, producing devastating effects on the environment, as well as the social and cultural structure of the country.

OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL - How Your Contribution Will Help

After 4 years of dedication, persistence, resilience and hard work, we are sprinting towards the finishing line--but we need your help.  The film needs $17,500 to cover the next phase of Post-production expenses.  Reaching our goal on IndieGoGo will enable us to fly over another crucial fence towards the Film's completion. So even if we meet our goal here, please keep donating, the additional funds will be allocated towards the remaining Post-production costs and Film Festival submission fees and publicity, so that we can bring the film to a film festival near YOU!  

 

Your money will go towards:

1. Funding the editing and composing the original musical score.
2. Creating motion graphics and the animation within the film.
3. Licensing selected archival footage and other production expenses that add up.

 

WHAT YOU GET - Perks and Gratitude!

For your donation, you get: our eternal gratitude, a truly inspiring film that will empower us all to make a difference, and the lasting knowledge that you enabled us to complete our documentary!

 

Additionally, please check out our wonderful "Perks" to see what you'd like to receive, and click on the Contribute Now button in the green box on the Upper Right.

 

*** Notes: All donations are tax-deductible through the Film's fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society and IndieGoGo uses a secure donation page to protect your information. If you'd prefer to send us a check, please contact us and we'll send you the address.  However, we'd prefer you Contribute Now in the green box, so we can reach our goal on this Site.  Thank you!

 

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP - Suggest and Share

Be a part of the movement and help build awareness and the spread the word for "The Eyes of Thailand".

 

*Step #1: Join our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/eyesofthailand and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/eyesofthailand  

 

*Step #2: Suggest and Share "The Eyes of Thailand" page with your friends.

 

*Step #3: Suggest and Share our Indiegogo Campaign with your friends and family.