February 12, 2012

Grassroots Moviemaker: We Are Here!

Anna’s Journey: Hope Amidst the Hand-wringing

by Timothy Rhys | Published February 6, 2009

Not many events, not even economic catastrophe, can hold a candle to war as way of putting things in perspective. As I write this, one very determined young actress just emailed me that the plane she’s been riding halfway across the world—from the Republic of Georgia to the island of Manhattan—has just touched down. She is, and I quote, “…excited, confused, and jetlagged, but most of all euphoric. OMG! OMG! I am here!” That is one happy teenager, and she has finally chased her moviemaking dreams all the way to the U.S.A.

If you’ve read this blog previously you may recall a poignant entry from Anna, the lead actress on our upcoming indie feature, Rufus Rex. Anna, an accomplished 17-year-old based in Tbilisi, Georgia, was deeply affected by the Russian invasion of her country last summer and wrote from her heart about what it was like to hear the fighter jets every night and try to sleep in her outer clothes as her family fully expected to have to flee at any moment.

When Russia finally retreated, Georgia’s infrastructure was damaged and its state agencies in chaos. Anna’s subsequent immigration difficulties, combined with the economic earthquake that shook financial markets in late 2008, was the perfect storm that caused our investors to pull out and forced us to delay production on Rufus.

If you’re a moviemaker with a project you’re looking to finance right now or you recently saw your “locked in” investors get cold feet, you know how familiar some of this sounds. In fact, in the 16 years since I launched MovieMaker, this is the most challenging environment I’ve seen for indie moviemakers… which is saying something, because raising money for independent movies was never easy.

But I digress. What is one of the most unique parts of our Rufus Rex development tale is the inspiration my team has found in Anna’s journey.

I just got another email from her. It reads, in part:

“We landed on the US land and I was inexplicably astonished to experience the warmest welcome from the foreign country. When I showed them talent visas and told them the reason of my visit, they all wished me luck and accepted me with smiling faces. And when I finally stepped out of the airport and breathed in the fresh, cold air of New York, a lump got stuck in my throat and it got too hard for me to talk. My friend met us at the airport and took us home. In the car I burst into tears from outburst of lots of emotions, which were bottled in me all these months since August (plus 32 hours of no sleep, due to the flight, strengthened the pathetic, ridiculous sobbing). I could not believe that the thing I have been dreaming since my childhood, got fulfilled… I am in the Big Apple, looking forward for my first US feature film, a lead role in a wonderful movie with a wonderful director who fought with us during all these months and thanks to whom I am where I am right now!!!”

We have some good leads on replacing our investors and the new plan is to shoot a few scenes very soon and the bulk of the movie in October. That seems like a long way off, but I know from experience that it will be here shockingly soon. Our principal crew members say they’re going to stick with us and I know at least one cast member will be raring to go with all the enthusiasm of a 17-year-old who has already mastered that vital lesson in the art of living called “perspective.” But even if another perfect storm hits and our little movie takes another 10 years to get off the ground, I’m at peace that something very good has come of this process already. To paraphrase our always eloquent Georgian star, “We are here!” And that is what matters most.

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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT

Comment by güvenlik sistemleri on 2/11/09 at 4:33 pm

very nice. thank you…

Comment by Film School on 2/11/09 at 5:30 pm

what a great post tim! we see these people everyday through at our school. filmmakers and actors from all over the world dream of coming to NYC or Hollywood. Perspective is everything...keep sharing yours. Love your posts.

Comment by Jessie on 2/12/09 at 10:46 am

wow, that’s intense. I agree, the harder times get the more the important things present themselves.

Comment by Casey Walker on 2/12/09 at 8:32 pm

I do know the trials and tribulations of financing an indie and I’ve got to say I received a lift in spirits from your elequent and inspiring post. It is becomming harder for true indies to get made and no matter what route one takes, staying the course can be the most difficult part. I applaud your perseverance and positive attitude and I do hope you find new investors and go to camera in October.

Cheers
Casey
http://www.mymilliondollarmovie.com