indiegogo.com

The Indiegogo Community is already racing to help tornado victims in Oklahoma.
148713

Jake & Jasper: A Ferret Tale

A young boy struggling with the death of his mother finds solace with a ferret named Jasper.

Film – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Funding Goal EXCEEDED!  

Connor Stanhope and Falcor the Ferret say THANK YOU!




-- ANOTHER CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT --

Andrew Jackson has just been cast as "James Tyler", Jake's father.  This is major.  Soap fans may remember him as Dr. Stephen Hamill on All My Children.  Be sure to check out his long list of credits on his IMDB page.  What a great cast!




-- CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT --

I am so excited to announce that veteran actor Blu Mankuma has joined the cast of Jake & Jasper: A Ferret Tale!  Blu Mankuma has signed on to play the principal of Jake's school. Mankuma has an extensive list of acting credits going back to the late 1970s that includes The X-Files, Smallville, 21 Jump Street, MacGyver, Stargate Infinity and the film 2012.




****BIG NEWS**** CRASH TEST DUMMIES TO CONTRIBUTE SONG!




Grammy award nominated, and Juno award winning group the Crash Test Dummies are contributing a song to Jake & Jasper: A Ferret Tale!  The track "Songbird" is a perfect match for the tone and feel of this movie and I am grateful to lead singer Brad Roberts and the rest of the Dummies for giving me permission to use it!  You can listen to the song on their official website at http://www.crashtestdummies.com!

Paris Hilton says "Hi Jasper the Ferret!" during a live chat!  She also told us that she would for sure watch a movie about a ferret.  Thanks Paris!


The Story

"Jake & Jasper: A Ferret Tale" is a short film about a young boy named Jake (Connor Stanhope, "Smallville") who finds solace in the friendship he develops with a pet ferret after the death of his mother.

Who We Are

The film is written by Alison Parker & David B. Beleznay, two filmmakers from Vancouver, BC, Canada.  Alison Parker will direct, and Brendan Uegama is the Director of Photography.

Full Synopsis

Struggling to cope with the recent death of his mother, young Jake Tyler retreats from his family and the world at large. After being involved in a violent fight with some older boys at school, he winds up in the principals office with his father who is told that Jake might benefit from professional help. Unfortunately, Jake's father has been unable to help himself through the loss of his wife. When not neglecting his son and daughter as a result, he's furious with them. Jesse (Jake's sister) is so fed up with her selfish father that she moves out of the house but not without leaving her pet ferret, Jasper, to keep her brother company.

Jake & Jasper become fast friends as the two develop a strong bond. Yet just as this companionship seems on the verge of prying Jake from his shell, his father threatens to take Jasper away. With the thought of losing his best pal, Jake decides to run away from home and the two get lost in a nearby forest. Then when darkness falls Jake & Jasper not only lose each other in the woods, they nearly lose their lives.


Why I'm Making This Film - a Message from Director Alison Parker:

I decided to make the film "Jake & Jasper: A Ferret Tale" for a few reasons.  One, I have always been a fan of films that show the bond between animals and humans.  There is something so magical about finding love and understanding from a creature that you can't even speak to.  Two, ferrets have always been portrayed in a negative way in the media.  They are often shown as being aggressive, dangerous, and sometimes even being used as a weapon.  This is really ridiculous and has to stop.  I don't want everyone to go out and start buying ferrets without researching the proper care and responsibility it takes to own one - only to change the perception people have of what ferrets are.  This film will share with the world the joy a ferret can bring to a family, in a story that will surely warm your heart.  


What We Need & What You Get

A good portion of this film actually takes place in a forest, after Jake runs away from home with his ferret Jasper.  In the forest they will encounter a variety of animals, making it a magical and almost fairy-tale (or ferret-tale) like experience for them both.  When night falls, however, the forest will become a scary place, especially after Jake is separated from Jasper.  Alone and afraid, Jake will have to fend for himself in the wild - or will Jasper show up and save the day?

But guess what?  Getting animals into a film is very expensive!  I originally had quite an elaborate wish list, including baby cougars, bears, etc.  When I found out it could cost $12,000 a day for a bear, I was shocked.  Okay, forget the bear! Therefore, I have narrowed down my wish list, to the following:

Skunk - $1000
Raccoon - $1000
Rabbit - $400
Fawn - $4500
Black Wolf - $1000
Owl - $1000
Bats - $1000
Frogs - $100

(The above rates include the cost of the animal wranglers)

Regardless of how much money we raise, this film will get made.  I'm paying for it out of my own pocket and using largely my own equipment.  It will be shot on the Red MX Camera.  We begin filming in August.  Any money raised will go directly to filling our forest scenes with animals.  The more money we raise, the more animals we can have.  The more animals we have, the more magical and special it will be.  

Please help make this dream a reality.  On the right, you will see different levels of donations you can make.  Each level has its own unique 'perk'.  We are giving away things like DVD's, autographed posters, and the chance to have your name listed in the end credits under "Special Thanks" or even "Executive Producer". 



Follow Jake & Jasper on Twitter

http://twitter.com/#!/jake_and_jasper


Jake & Jasper Official Facebook Page (We give away prizes here!!!)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jake-Jasper-A-Ferret-Tale/178763242181186?ref=ts


How to Contact Us

You can email me the director Alison Parker at contact@alisonparker.ca


Other Ways You Can Help

Can't afford to donate?  That's okay, I understand.  You can still help this film out by sharing this campaign.  Please post it on your Facebook, Twitter, etc.  You never know who might see it and want to lend to hand.

Created By: