My Side of School -- Indiegogo

* To view a longer version of the trailer, please click here: http://vimeo.com/26451732 *

Our Story

Ethnic Apartheid is a way of life for many in Bosnia. A group of school friends break the rules by hanging out together. How will this affect their futures?

'My Side of School' will be an observational documentary about the division between young and old in the small town of Stolac in Bosnia & Herzegovina. There is already division in Stolac - the population of Bosniaks (Muslim) and Croats (Catholic) has endured nationalist rule since the end of the war in the 90s, and local politics aims to keep the two groups apart.

Most young people do not mix with those from the other group, drinking coffee in their own cafes.

However Edvin, Nives and friends are unconventional in that they are a group from both backgrounds.

These characters find it hard to spend time together, especially during the week, as the school they all attend keeps the two ethnicities apart: Croats attend in the morning, and Bosniaks in the afternoon.

Separate sets of staff teach them their own languages and their own versions of history.

This division is clear in the open, but away from the public eye, it's a different story.

There is a hotel in the centre of town which has been decaying since it was burnt out during the war.

Nives and her friend Zora joke that it's now alive again - its dark rooms are the perfect place for clandestine, cross-ethnic teenage adventures.

If their parents knew they were romantically involved with Muslim boys, there would be hell to pay.

This feature-length observational documentary will follow these and other characters over 12 months, to provide a picture of young love, ambition versus apathy, and the conflict between religion, politics and identity in a country that is struggling to prepare itself for the future.

What We Plan to Do with the Money

We are currently seeking a co-production deal for the majority of the film's costs. However it is not a quick process, and the first shooting period for the film is time sensitive - the story must begin, and the characters be introduced when the new school year starts in September.

The $4000 we intend to raise through IndieGoGo would pay for travel, accommodation and equipment for this trip to Stolac, which would last approximately 2 weeks.

The crew setup would be the same as for our research trip - myself the director, Ross the camera operator, and Jelenko the fixer, with the potential of bringing a sound recrordist, as long as they agree to take a deferred payment.

Other Ways You Can Help

We would appreciate if you can spread the word about our campaign, and get the message out as widely as possible.

Retweet our stories and links to indiegogo page - http://igg.me/p/28379?a=146592&i=shlk

Click on "like it" via Facebook in the left corner of pitch.

Click on "Favourite" - a heart-shaped icon on the pitch.

Join our Facebook group here - http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Side-of-School...

Team on This Campaign:

Victoria Naumova
Co-Producer
Chris Bates
Director, Producer
Ross Domoney
Camera operator

1.00525 Complete

$4,021

Raised of $4,000 Goal

0 time left

Flexible Funding campaign

This campaign received all of the funds contributed on Fri Aug 19.

Perks

for your contribution

$5 Eyes meet over the school yard

For $5 (�3) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter.
$10 Pledge $10 or more

Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt THANK YOU on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director.
$30 Pledge $30 or more

Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. Also, as a THANK YOU on our website.
$50 Pledge $50 or more

Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. Also, as a THANK YOU on our website. A DVD copy of the film.
$100 Holding Hands

Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. A Thank You note on our website. A DVD copy of the film. A Thank You in the film's credits.
$200 First secret date

For $200 (�123) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. A Thank You note on our website. A DVD copy of the film. A Thank You in the film's credits. Thank You from the director on My Side of School postcard.
$350 First Kiss

For $350 (�215) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. A thank you on our website. A DVD copy of the film. A Thank You in the film's credits. Personal Thank You note from the director on a My Side of School postcard. An 8"x10" production still, signed by the director.
$500 Getting serious

For $500 (�307) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note of thanks from the director. A DVD copy of the film. Personal Thank You note from the director on a My Side of School postcard. An 8"x10" production still, signed by the director. Invitation to the film's Premiere, or to a screening/event of the film in your area, if you're not near London.
$750 (Don't) meet the parents

For $750 (�460) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. A Thank You note on our website. A DVD copy of the film. A personal video message from the director, emailed to you. An 8"x10" production still, signed by the director. Invitation to the film's Premiere, or to a screening/event of the film in your area, if you're not near London. Your name as ASSOCIATE PRODUCER in the film's credits.
$1,000 Ignoring the gossip

For $1000 (�615) you get: Access to all My Side of School updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter. Personal note from the director. A Thank You note on our website. A DVD copy of the film. A personal video message from the director, emailed to you. An 8"x10" production still, signed by the director. Invitation to the film's Premiere, or to a screening/event of the film in your area, if you're not near London. Your name as CO-PRODUCER in the film's credits.
$2,000 Changing history

For $2000 (�1030) you get: Access to all MSoS updates, and a heartfelt thank you on Facebook & Twitter and our website. A personal video message from the director, emailed to you. A DVD copy of the film. Thank You note from the director on a My Side of School postcard. An 8"x10" production still, signed by the director. Invitation to the film's Premiere, or to a screening of the film in your area, if you're not near London. Your name as PRODUCER in the film's credits.