Can you imagine your city without its open spaces??

The Project

Heath Life is a film project that aims to celebrate the rich heritage of Londons Hampstead Heath and explore its role and resonance for Londoners today. The project has three interlinked strands, the creation of a 60 minute video portrait, a series of multimedia education workshops and an audio visual installation performed with live musicians.

The Film

I am using Indiegogo to help raise money for the film strand of the project. The film will be a 60-minute video portrait of the heritage and importance of this famous landmark. The Heaths changing Arcadian beauty filmed over a year period will frame some of the fascinating events that form the Heaths rich history. Personal stories will grow and blossom through some of the many characters who regularly come to play, swim, chat and walk in their citys extended back garden.

What
The starting point for the story will be the premise that just over 100 years ago the Heath was nearly lost to developers who had a contract to turn the area into expensive vast villas. Thankfully the land was saved by philanthropists who bought it and gave it to the public. Saving Hampstead Heath from the claws of the developers is seen as the first great environmental battle of British Society.

Todays Heaths calendar is rich with events and filming opportunities which form a portrait of life today. A striking microcosm of this amazing mix is the mens pond. This must be one of the only places in the world where a gay community and Orthodox Hasidic Jews happily share a changing area. The former use the ponds as a place to socialise, where the latter engage in the ponds salubriousness and purify before the Sabbath. It is an amazing example of Londons multiculturalism at work.

The Team
Heath Life already has a great production team on board. Musician, Jem Finer (from The Pogues amongst many other things) is going to make a composition that builds on sounds recorded on Hampstead Heath.
We are also talking to some famous comedians and celebrities who will be writing a poetic narration that will lead the viewer through the seasons of the year.
Eric Trometer is a fantastic director of photography and he is going to make it all look splendid.

The Dosh
The film side of this project will be independently funded and I am reaching out to people like you to become part of the film and help sponsor a season starting with winter 2011. There are some really wonderful gifts and perks lined up for funders which you can read more about on the right hand side of the screen.
If you cherish the open space in your city, love Hampstead Heath or are a believer in the importance of independent film then this is a project for you.

How These Funds Will Be Used

Up until now we have filmed on and off for around 10 months unfunded as well as set up the official Heath Life website at www.heathlife.co.uk Your money will go towards funding the filming costs of filming through the winter season 2011 / 2012 on Hampstaed Heath. The  funds will be used to pay towards travel, kit hire, stock, crew and original music composition. The money will also contribute to post production costs the edit, picture grade, sound mix.

More Info  - You can watch a 10 minute Heath Life taster film by clicking on the Gallery Page above.
To read more information about the film or to receive a full project outline go to: www.heathlife.co.uk or e-mail info@yeastculture.org