An overlooked classic by a great American writer, "Summer" is Edith Wharton's most romantic and unsparing novel. In the course of a year, a girl from the Berkshire backwoods discovers love, loss, and love again. The story presents the lushest opportunities for visual storytelling. The sharply observed characters of Charity - an energetic girl with nowhere to go, Royall - her dark, equally frustrated "father", and Lucius - a dreamy young architect from the city, come together in a romantic climax that Wharton called "the hot Ethan Frome".

"Summer" has been adapted for the theatre, television, and opera, but never as a film. 1930s Hollywood production plans were scrapped with the introduction of the Hays code. Carl Sprague's screenplay adaptation closely follows Wharton's story and has been enthusiastically received at readings in New York and at The Mount - Wharton's home in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Advances in digital photography will allow for an economical shoot, scheduled to start in Spring 2012. Locations have been identified in Western Massachusetts and casting has begun through Stephanie Klapper Casting in New York.

An overall production budget of one to two million is envisaged. Interest has already been expressed by leading producers and distributors. Your contribution will get the ball rolling. Pre-production funding is the most important and most difficult part of financing this kind of project. Funds received now will make all the difference in bringing this project to light.