Independently funded documentary to examine the power and responsibility of world media.

“How to Build a School in Haiti is a feature documentary about two Americans who set out to build a school in rural Haiti. The film is a political, historical and social examination of Haiti through the microcosm of the school’s construction.”

And so begins a great idea for a story. True to the spirit of the independent film industry and the 21st century tools that we have at our disposal, Director/Producer Jack C. Newell turned to Kickstarter to help fund his project. Kickstarter is a crowd funding website for creative projects, and has grown to become a proven path and an important part of the film production business.

Inspiration for ‘How To Build A School In Haiti’ came from hearing a podcast on NPR’s Planet Money. The story intrigued Newell, who then set up his own project of documenting the disappointing story and what happens once the world’s media turned their cameras off.

Donations start from a minimum of one dollar, and incentives range from a rather tidy ‘special thanks in the credits’ for $20, all the way up to ‘Producer Credit, a DVD copy of the film and a personally cooked dinner’ for a generous $1000 sponsorship.

Funding received through Kickstarter will be applied to the production stage of the film; covering travel expenses, immunizations, and translation services.

After reaching the original modest goal of $1500 in the first month, Newell has expanded the project to help cover other production costs and future travel expenses to follow through with the project. The new goal is a little over $6800, and with five days to go, just $169 away! As the campaign says “now that the urgency to hit that $1,500 goal is gone why would anyone give? Well, for the same reason you would give in the first place, because you believe in the project.”

Check out the fundraising video below, and head to kickstarter.com/projects/jackcnewell/how-to-build-a-school-in-haiti-a-documentary for more info or to make a donation.

About Jack C. Newell

(Director/Writer/Producer)
Other feature credits include recent feature film ‘Close Quarters’ and several other award winning short films. His films have screened across the United States and abroad, including the 2007 and 2010 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, Chicago International Film Festival, Friars Club Comedy Film Festival, LA Shorts Festival, Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, and the Indianapolis International Film Festival. jackcnewell.com

IMPORTANT NOTE
Fundraising for this documentary is different than fundraising for the building of the actual school. If you want to donate to the Haiti School Project, please go to their website and make a donation – haitischoolproject.org/

by Lee Jarvis.

I recently came across this teaser video by a chap named Liam Leahy, and found discovered that it is part of an online fundraising competition of sorts, emphasising creative fundraising ideas and other unique forms of charity donation. The proposal is that upon receiving funding, the filmakers will be able to continue with The 5th Tower, and also, profit and fundraising from the finished film will directly benefit the subjects and their community.

Life in Rome’s Gypsy camp “Tor di Quinto” (The 5th Tower) is a balance of independence from broader society, and survival. A universe of its own, and in the camp only family is the measure of wealth…and heritage is the fabric of identity.

Sisters Maria & Silvana Gorgevic have chosen very different paths. Maria, a mother of 6 (and minding 2 of her brothers daughters) is an amazingly articulate former “cat burglar”, now just off 2 years under house arrest (she was confined to her shack in the first shooting session). Illiterate, and with no formal education, she looks into her future with new found optimism, and a conquering spirit. In February of 2009 she will be free to start fresh, and undergo the quest for “normal” work. Life in the camp is hard, but Maria dreams of making her way into a home with electricity and water someday.

I thought it was a great video, and would love to see a full version, so I hoghly recommend that you go to http://www.givemeaning.com/proposal/romadocumentary and Cote for this project to receive further funding and attain completion!

Lee Jarvis.