THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THIS TREMENDOUS RESULT

WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU WHO CONTRIBUTED AND SPREAD THE WORD

WE HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE CAMPAIGN FOR 30 DAYS ... 

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK AND FORWARD TO ANYONE ELSE YOU THINK MIGHT HELP US GET CLOSER TO OUR GOAL

RENO & THE ROMANCE OF DIVORCE --- PART 2

                http://www.indiegogo.com/Reno-The-Romance-of-Di...

Update, December 3, 2011 � Thank you to the 23 contributors who, in 6 short days, met our Phase #1 goal to match a $6,000 grant from Nevada Humanities.

The fundraising MUST CONTINUE, however, to reach our Phase #2 goal:  $100K production budget.

The more money we raise now, the easier it will be to get large grants from other foundations. That's how it works. Every dollar counts � large and small.

We are ready to make this major documentary -- the first about divorce in America.

Here�s how you can be involved:

-       MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF ANY AMOUNT. See the list of �Perks� to the right.

 

-       Click LIKE. The more clicks (see above for this and the following links), the better chance to be a �Featured Campaign� on Indiegogo.com.

 

-       Click TWEET, EMBED or EMAIL to share this campaign.

 

-       Click COMMENT. Do you have a personal story from the Reno divorce era? Or a comment you�d like to share about this project?. We'd like to hear from you.

Our Story

Reno & The Romance of Divorce reveals the untold story of how a band of State Legislators, a handful of lawyers and a few savvy ranch and hotel owners inadvertently helped shape our understanding of marriage, family, and our concept of female identity.

 

From the turn of the century until the 1960s, Nevada provided a haven for those seeking to end a marriage. A short waiting period and the most lenient divorce laws in America combined to draw men and women from across the nation to Nevada, and most often to Reno. While thousands of men flocked to the Washoe County Courthouse, the greatest impact of Nevada�s divorce laws was on women. Unlike almost any other state in the nation, Nevada�s laws judged women as equal partners in the marriage contract.

 

Social critics decried the lenient morals behind Nevada�s divorce boom. Other�s mocked the notion of fickle women racing to the state to dump their boorish husbands. Reality provided a stark contrast. If they had jobs, women were openly discriminated against in the workplace. In a marriage, women were seen as second-class partners, something more akin to the property of the husband in legal matters. A wife�s signature would often not be accepted on a contract. Domestic abuse was widespread, tolerated and considered a husband�s right. Even worse, a husband could abandon his family without much fear of legal consequence.

 

Nevada�s divorce trade played a vital role in leveling the balance of power in marriages in the United States.

 

The divorce trade also created a unique culture around Reno, Nevada. Even the name of the city became shorthand for divorce. Men and women would head there to get �Reno-vated� or to take �the Reno Cure.� During the height of the divorce boom, Reno boasted the highest percentage of lawyers of any city in the U.S.

 

From cab drivers to ranch hands to hotel owners and judges, the economy of Reno survived the Great Depression on the back of the divorce trade. 

The Impact

To date, there has not been a major documentary produced that looks at the direct impact of changing divorce laws on the rights of women in the U.S. and the effect on the American family in the twentieth century. Reno & The Romance of Divorce tells the story of one small American city�s place in the nation�s history and also contributes to a greater understanding of family, class and female empowerment in our society.

 

From historians to those whose lives were shaped by the divorce trade in Reno, we will reveal this nearly forgotten chapter in American history.

 

We have partnered with KNPB (PBS) as our sponsoring broadcaster and plan to exhibit this film in festivals, on campuses and via PBS affiliates. 

What We Need 

We have just been awarded an important grant from Nevada Humanities and we are looking to raise VITAL matching funds to meet initial production costs. These costs are:

* production costs for a Reno Nevada shoot with the key interviews which includes camera & sound, production assistance, gear rental and accommodations. 

* travel for crew to Reno from Los Angeles

Some of these interviewees may not be around much longer to tell their stories. It is imperative that we film with them as soon as possible so that we don't lose their valuable experiences from a rare period in history. 

Any additional funds will go toward further production costs. Our fiscal sponsor is the San Francisco Film Society (a 501 c3 non-profit organization). All donations are tax deductible. 

What You Get

You can be part of the preservation of a little known period of U.S. history by donating and helping us reach our goal. There are perks for each level of donation. If you want to challenge others to make a contribution on behalf of the film. 

Other Ways You Can Help

RENO & THE ROMANCE OF DIVORCE - email this campaign to friends, family, coworkers and filmmakers.