What is THE CAMPAIGN?

Heartbreaking and inspiring, THE CAMPAIGN is a human drama, following ordinary people compelled by a passionate belief in equality to go far beyond their everyday selves. They are caught in the political firestorm of one of the largest social issue campaigns the US has ever seen, the campaign to defeat California's Proposition 8 and to defend same-sex marriage. With exclusive access to the statewide headquarters of "No on 8," the story tracks Holli, Claudia, Richard, Anne, and Alison through emotional battles to protect their families, their rights, and their dignity.  They learn that participating in the political process transforms them, win or lose.

 

The passage of Prop 8 was a great shock to many, not only in California but across the nation and around the world.  Growing social acceptance and isolated legal gains have produced a sense that increased LGBT legal protection is imminent.  Yet at the time of the 2008 election, 31 states had voted against gay marriage at the ballot box. The story is much more complicated than a "Yes" or "No" vote. By reaching beyond the issues to follow strong characters, the film holds universal themes and appeal: the mixed emotions of family relationships, self-empowerment through activism, and the struggle in deciding how much of oneself to sacrifice for the cause.

 

Characters drive the story of THE CAMPAIGN, from their initial confidence that Prop 8 will be defeated, through their frustrating experiences of unfavorable polling numbers, through their heartbreaking 52% to 48% defeat on election night and the turmoil beyond. We see the lives of real people in the balance, not polished representatives. Although we think we know the outcome of the election, THE CAMPAIGN reveals the true consequences of Proposition 8 through the deeply compelling personal stories of those on the frontlines and privileged insight into a movement.

Why am I making this film?

I grew up in a segregated town in Mississippi, and growing up there meant thinking a lot about what it means to be part of a community and what pushes people apart.  My first film, Waking in Mississippi, was about race and community in that town. Although I grew up around politics, I largely avoided it as an adult.  Then Prop 8 hit the ballot in my new home state of California, and it threatened to take away my own right to marry.  I was suddenly motivated to do something. 

 

The moment I walked through the doors of the "No on Prop 8" headquarters to volunteer however, I knew I had instead walked into a film I had to make. The life in the room overwhelmed me.  I saw people spending their free time doing tedious and sometimes scary work, an incredible range of volunteers from homeless gay youth to elderly heterosexual grandparents, and an unspoken agreement to suspend cynicism and past experience long enough to just maybe make a difference.  It seemed that everyone walked in the door looking for a kind of community, and in that they became a microcosm of what connects us all. I was simply compelled to film.  I put all of my paid film work aside, gathered my resources and support, and got to work.

 

What's the status of the film?

THE CAMPAIGN is in post-production, and we're ready to edit our next cut!  Shooting began in June of 2008, and nearly all of the needed footage has been shot.  Thanks to the generous support of the San Francisco Foundation, Chicken and Egg Pictures, the Pacific Pioneer Fund, and many individual donors, we have shot 200 hours of footage and completed our first assembly cut. The next step is a Rough Cut, and you can help us get there!

The passage of Proposition 8 in what many considered our nation's most LGBT-friendly state was a wake up call to those who felt the LGBT rights movement was moving inevitably in one direction. It simply changed the conversation.  With up to 5 more bans on ballots next year, our goal is to complete THE CAMPAIGN and begin community engagement screenings in 2012, rolling out distribution and outreach prior to the election season.  To do that, we need your help to get back into the editing room immediately.

 

Why IndieGoGo? 

What we love about IndieGoGo is similar to why we're drawn to social justice movements:  It's grassroots funding, taking the process directly to YOU. 

 

•  If THE CAMPAIGN moves you, you decide how you want to help other people see it, too.
• THE CAMPAIGN is committed to community building, between activists and among neighbors.  We love that   IndieGoGo is a community of its own, and we are excited to keep the community informed as we get closer to completing the film. 
•   Last but not least, we really are fans of deadlines!  This ticking clock timeframe is a fine reminder of the urgent need for THE CAMPAIGN and this message for audiences during the election year. 
  

 

What will these funds go toward?

Your tax-deductible donations will go directly to editing and post-production on THE CAMPAIGN, minus IndieGoGo administrative fees. When we reach our goal, we will book our editor to keep going on the Rough Cut. 

 

If we don't reach our goal, the administrative fees go up a bit, and our editor won't have as much time to work.  So it is important that we reach our goal! 

 

If we go past our goal of $11,000 however, we send out a cosmic THANK YOU and keep pushing until our deadline.  Once the goal is reached, there's no penalty for racing right on past it.

 

How can I help?

In short, donate and spread the word!

 

If you like what you see, please donate to the film.  Your help through IndieGoGo is CRITICAL to helping us complete the film for Election season 2012.  Help us reach $11,000 and beyond, and we can book our editor to get started on the Rough Cut in JANUARY.  This is a crucial step in our goal to raise $50,000 to complete the Rough Cut. 

 

If THE CAMPAIGN moves you, you can also help by reaching out to your networks - your friends, family, and community - and tell them why you think they should tune in; you can connect with us on Facebook or Twitter; and you can stay engaged with us so that when the film is complete, we can together plan a community screening in YOUR town.

 

What are the perks all about?

From the beginning, our experience in making the film and our goal around completing it have been all about COMMUNITY BUILDING.  For that reason, all of the perks are centered around creating community -  enabling you to watch the film with other people and to get talking about what you see.  We're all in this together, and we're excited to see how far it will go!

 

How do I reach you if I want to find out more? 

We want to hear from you! You can learn more about the film on the website and on our Facebook page.  Please post comments and questions for us here on IndieGoGo, on our Facebook Page, and via email at info (at) thecampaigndocumentary (dot) com. 

 

 

Thank you for visiting our page and for taking a look at THE CAMPAIGN!