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ABOUT
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One man speaks for thousands whose voices were silenced. He risks all for justice and refuses to be poisoned by hate. He dreams of his country as “one single and sacred nationality.” James Cameron is the only known survivor of a lynching. Fruit of the Tree is his story. On a sweltering August night in 1930, 15,000 adults and children gather in the small Indiana town of Marion to witness the savage lynching of three black teenagers. The mob memorializes the occasion in the world’s ... (read more)
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ABOUT
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One man speaks for thousands whose voices were silenced. He risks all for justice and refuses to be poisoned by hate. He dreams of his country as “one single and sacred nationality.” James Cameron is the only known survivor of a lynching. Fruit of the Tree is his story.
On a sweltering August night in 1930, 15,000 adults and children gather in the small Indiana town of Marion to witness the savage lynching of three black teenagers. The mob memorializes the occasion in the world’s most renowned lynching photo. Miraculously, with the noose already around his neck, James is saved.
The lynching haunts both the survivor and Marion. Most townspeople – white and black – try to bury the “incident.” In contrast, Cameron spends his life in a dogged one-man campaign to face history. He tells his story to any who will listen, writes a gripping memoir, and creates a museum about America’s black holocaust. To do so he must defeat the anger and hatred within himself and society.
James refuses to behave like a victim. He settles his young family only 30 miles from Marion and returns there repeatedly to research his book. He even tries to put his museum in the very jail from which he was dragged to the tree. Finally, near the end of his life, he and Marion’s residents reach a deeply meaningful reconciliation.
The film moves between his extraordinary adult life and the events of the youth that shaped it: a joyride gone wrong, a murder, an alleged rape, and the loving guidance of his mother, a black cellmate and a white sheriff.
This is an American story, populated by heroes and scoundrels on both sides of the color line. Fruit of the Tree is also a timely tale. Millions of Americans fervently expressed their hope for change by electing our first black president. Now Cameron’s inspiring story offers us a way to move beyond our tragic past – through remembrance and repair to racial healing.
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WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT DIFFERENT
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This is a timely moment to explore a taboo subject in American history. We have, for the first time, an African American president who dares to speak about racial healing and unity. The noose events in Jena and some 200 other places, the mistreatment of Hurricane Katrina's victims and survivors, and the many ongoing racial controversies (like immigration and affirmative action) have revealed the need for our country to find a way to become, in Dr. James Cameron's words, "one single and sacred nationality."
Through three staged readings for different audiences, we have found that there is a genuine hunger for racial reconciliation. This intriguing, entertaining and inspiring screenplay has proven itself capable of holding audiences on the edge their seats and stimulating blacks and whites to discuss the complex issues that haunt our past and threaten our future.
The screenplay has won 5 awards thus far in national and international competitions. (See Announcements below)
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ALSO FIND THIS PROJECT ON
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| VIP PERKS |
| $25 or more = Sower of Seeds |
| Get your own Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 3 Claimed |
| $50 or more = Fruit Fertilizer |
| Invitation to the Fruit Wrap Party with the actors + Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 9 Claimed |
| $125 or more = Fruit Cultivator |
| Invitation to be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get a Fruit of the Tree poster, and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 0 Claimed |
| $250 or more = Fruit Harvester |
| Invitation to Visit the Set and/or be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get Fruit of the Tree poster SIGNED BY A STAR! and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 5 Claimed |
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| HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED |
| 1) travel to meet with potential coproducers & A-list cast; and,
2) complete development of our website.
Any amount you can contribute will be well-used and much appreciated. Thank you! |
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dr.fran referred someone
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(6 months ago)
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tdyer commented
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(8 months ago)
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Good luck on your quest. It’s nice to meet some local film enthusiasts. |
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dr.fran invited friends
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(11 months ago)
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dr.fran posted an announcement
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(1 year ago)
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AWARDS & CRITICAL ACCLAIM
for the Screenplay
Selected Participant 2007 – Tribeca Film Festival All-Access Program
Best Screenplay 2008 – University Film and Video Association
Finalist 2008 – Independent Film Project (IFP) Market
Quarter-Finalist 2008 – Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Finalist 2009 – Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays
“This is a fantastic script. Fantastic. It is compelling, very well written indeed – a story that needs to be told. This script is crying for A-List talent to sign on.
The visuals are stunning, the characters well explored and developed. Cameron’s fascinating. The story is heartfelt, touching, dramatic, epic. I WANT TO SEE THIS FILM.”
Ken Miyamoto, President
Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum
Script Analyst/Script “Doctor” (Screenplayas.com)
“Love the spiritual element in Dr. Cameron’s story. There is a “Holy Through-Line” in this story and an indictment of and celebration of humanity. Human nature is very troubling. We need constant challenge and correction, and high expectation. That comes through this story.”
Doug Jackson, VP & Head of Script Development
Organization of Black Screenwriters
“Fruit of the Tree is simply one of the most important and positive American stories I have come across in years. It tells the vital story of James Cameron, a man who used a horrific childhood experience at the hands of racism as a catalyst to dedicate his life to helping Americans understand and move beyond racism in our society. Fruit of the Tree engages and empowers the audience with important history, the human drama of everyday life and ultimately great, transformative storytelling.
Coming from the production and creative team behind the accomplished and transcendent independent film Gettin’ Grown, Fruit of the Tree is positioned to be made into an entertaining and enlightening film that will move audiences of every age.
I sincerely hope that as many Americans as possible will have the chance to one day come to understand this man’s life and wisdom through Fruit of the Tree.”
Jonathan Jackson, Artistic Director
Milwaukee Film
(formerly Milwaukee International Film Festival) |
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dr.fran posted an announcement
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(1 year ago)
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PRODUCTION ASS’TS NEEDED:
Fruit of the Tree, a feature film being developed in Milwaukee by the good folks who brought you Gettin’ Grown, needs volunteer or school credit interns and production assistants.
Fruit’s script has won numerous national and international awards, and we are now in the process of developing financing and attaching well-known actors.
What you get from us:
1) learn a lot about making a $10-12.5 million movie,
2) hang out with some fun and upbeat people who are serious about filmmaking and developing our creative community and economy,
3) receive college credit (if this can be arranged),
4) carry on the legacy of Dr. James Cameron, unsung civil rights hero, racial healer, and the protagonist of this incredible true drama, and of course,
5) screen credit and resume-building.
What you can contribute:
1) Website architect(s)/programmer(s) familiar with design but especially knowledgeable about Flash, html, and Fireworks, to join our website team.
2) Office Ass’t: Need to know email programs, Word, Excel, and mail merge to send out mailings by email and snail mail; typing and some filing; phone calling; meeting minute-taking & distribution – on behalf of our overwhelmed producer.
3) Fund Developer: Need to have plenty of chutzpah and genuinely warm, friendly attitude, comfortable in asking for contributions/collaborations and flexible in thinking about types of partnerships. Reach out to local & national corporate, educational, civil rights, religious, and other potential sponsors for our website; develop and maintain these relationships and feed info back to creative team. Help in development of unique grassroots fundraising and distribution strategies.
Your commitment:
Contribute 4-12 hr/wk. Work mostly at home. Attend some of the biweekly Creative Team meetings.
Check us and our films out at:
http://www.indiegogo.com/fruitofthetree (video, team bios, synopsis, etc)
http://www.gettingrown.com (trailer, etc. on full production site)
Contact me at 414-433-4726 (production office) or 414-445-7500 (cell).
Thanks for considering working with us,
Dr. Fran Kaplan
Writer / Producer
Fruit of the Tree Productions LLC |
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dr.fran invited friends
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(1 year ago)
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| VIP PERKS |
| $25 or more = Sower of Seeds |
| Get your own Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 3 Claimed |
| $50 or more = Fruit Fertilizer |
| Invitation to the Fruit Wrap Party with the actors + Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 9 Claimed |
| $125 or more = Fruit Cultivator |
| Invitation to be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get a Fruit of the Tree poster, and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 0 Claimed |
| $250 or more = Fruit Harvester |
| Invitation to Visit the Set and/or be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get Fruit of the Tree poster SIGNED BY A STAR! and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 5 Claimed |
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| HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED |
| 1) travel to meet with potential coproducers & A-list cast; and,
2) complete development of our website.
Any amount you can contribute will be well-used and much appreciated. Thank you! |
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| VIP PERKS |
| $25 or more = Sower of Seeds |
| Get your own Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 3 Claimed |
| $50 or more = Fruit Fertilizer |
| Invitation to the Fruit Wrap Party with the actors + Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 9 Claimed |
| $125 or more = Fruit Cultivator |
| Invitation to be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get a Fruit of the Tree poster, and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 0 Claimed |
| $250 or more = Fruit Harvester |
| Invitation to Visit the Set and/or be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get Fruit of the Tree poster SIGNED BY A STAR! and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 5 Claimed |
|
|
| HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED |
| 1) travel to meet with potential coproducers & A-list cast; and,
2) complete development of our website.
Any amount you can contribute will be well-used and much appreciated. Thank you! |
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| Lynching in Marion IN, 1930 (Cameron's buddies beaten and hung before Cameron was brought to the tree. This was a "spectacle lynching" with over 15,000 people streaming into small town Marion from all over Indiana to attend and -- apparently -- enjoy.)
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| Gettin' Grown dvd box cover (Own "Grown"! Now in stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Blockbusters) and at online retailers (ex. Amazon.com, bn.com).)
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| Fruit of the Tree movie poster (key art for development stage (by Anthony Ferraro))
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| VIP PERKS |
| $25 or more = Sower of Seeds |
| Get your own Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 3 Claimed |
| $50 or more = Fruit Fertilizer |
| Invitation to the Fruit Wrap Party with the actors + Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 9 Claimed |
| $125 or more = Fruit Cultivator |
| Invitation to be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get a Fruit of the Tree poster, and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 0 Claimed |
| $250 or more = Fruit Harvester |
| Invitation to Visit the Set and/or be An Extra, attend the Wrap Party with the actors, get Fruit of the Tree poster SIGNED BY A STAR! and a Fruit of the Tree dvd when released |
| 5 Claimed |
|
|
| HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED |
| 1) travel to meet with potential coproducers & A-list cast; and,
2) complete development of our website.
Any amount you can contribute will be well-used and much appreciated. Thank you! |
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