FEATURE: "Amber" - A Kickstarter Promotion for an Action/Drama about Human Trafficking

L

lakestreetfilms

New member
"Amber" - A Kickstarter Promotion for an Action/Drama about Human Trafficking

We could use your support in creating our feature film "Amber." Check out the trailer:




“Amber” is an ACTION/DRAMA about a Man who follows a truck described in an Amber Alert. He stumbles into a Human Trafficking Ring and has to rely on strangers to help him save the kid. It’s an intense, gritty action film, but its also a film about courage; about ordinary people making extraordinary choices to do what’s right.


In the United States, a child is missing or kidnapped every 40 seconds. That’s over 2,100 children per day. In 2011, over 800,000 children were reported missing. When a child is abducted, the first 3 hours are the most crucial in getting the child back safely. Law enforcement immediately launches a widespread search for the missing child. Amber Alerts are vital in the race to save that child.


Please help us make our Goal!


Deadline: September 2nd, 2012 at 11:59pm.


Kickstarter Link:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lakestreetfilms/the-amber-project


Check out our YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Lakestreetfilm?feature=mhee


Amber (Estimated )Budget Breakdown:


All numbers are estimated for a 15 day shoot schedule.


Production Equipment:


Production Insurance - 5000
Permits - 3000
RED Scarlet Production Package - 5000
Zeiss Prime Lenses Set - 3000
SteadyCam Operator (for 7 days) - 7000
Jib Arm (7 days) - 1000
Shoulder mount - 600
Varizoom Vest - 400
Lighting Package - 3000
Audio Equipment - 500
Misc. Equipment - 3000


Total = $30,500


Crew:


Line Producer - 5000
DP - 3750
Asst. Cameraman - 2250
Asst. Director - 3000
Gaffer - 2250
Grip - 2250
Audio Recordist - 2250
PA - 1500


Total = $22,250


Actors - 15000
Locations - 5000
Casting - 2000
Props & Vehicles - 5000
Wardrobe, Set Dress & Makeup - 5000
Food - 5000
Music - 2000
VFX - 5000
Final Color - 2000


Total = $46,000




Estimated Total Production Cost = $99,750


I will be supplying most of the audio recording equipment as well as doing the Video Editing and Audio Foley and Mixing myself. I have an extensive background in Audio Recording and Engineering.


If I'm lucky enough to obtain more than my goal, I would use the additional funds to first rent another RED Scarlet package and necessary crew. This would allow me to get more coverage while shooting. I would also invest into better Actors and locations which would ultimately raise the films production value.


I will also be adding $10-15,000 of my own funds for misc expenses related to the full creation of this film.


Thank you for taking the time to review my project. If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact me.


- Christopher Miles
lakestreetfilms@gmail.com


For more information go to:


www.lakestreetfilms.com
www.facebook.com/OfficialLakeStreetFilms
www.twitter.com/LakeStreetFilms
 
Hello Lakestreet! Welcome to the forums!

I think this is a great idea for a film and you've obviously put in quite a lot of work into putting it forth professionally. I also love how open you are about the specific expenses of the film. It's rare for a film to be so transparent with these costs.

I do have a few concerns I would like to offer.

First of all, your trailer is REALLY long. 2 minutes too long. I get you were trying to represent the story well, but there is frankly a lot of fluff in there. You would have been better served to do less footage and really focus on production value.

Which brings me to my other point. You are asking for a LOT of money. Now you obviously already have some backers and have raised ~$2,500, but that is only 2% of your budget, which means if the numbers hold, you will end up needing ~1500 backers for this to be funded. I don't know if you have experience with Kickstarter, but that is a rather large number of people, especially when you consider that, frankly, the production value of your trailer is somewhat lacking. Perhaps you can make up for this shortfall by really pushing the reality of child abduction, but I feel that will only get you so far. In the end people want to support a really great film, not just a good message.

What i'm trying to say is that I really wish you had asked for much less money, maybe $30k-$50k. It would have obviously made the production more tight and you would have needed to fundraise elsewhere, but you have to be realistic in these things.

It is of course possible that I have no clue what i'm talking about and you will reach your goal. I certainly hope I am wrong because I do want you to make your film, I think it has a lot of potential.


Oh and by the way, you had better have a REALLY good excuse in the film as to why the cops don't get involved, because people will eat your film alive and dismiss it immediately if that question is not answered well.

Sorry if I come across as mean, I really do wish you the best of luck with the kickstarter and the film!
 
jghenderson said:
Hello Lakestreet! Welcome to the forums!

I think this is a great idea for a film and you've obviously put in quite a lot of work into putting it forth professionally. I also love how open you are about the specific expenses of the film. It's rare for a film to be so transparent with these costs.

I do have a few concerns I would like to offer.

First of all, your trailer is REALLY long. 2 minutes too long. I get you were trying to represent the story well, but there is frankly a lot of fluff in there. You would have been better served to do less footage and really focus on production value.

Which brings me to my other point. You are asking for a LOT of money. Now you obviously already have some backers and have raised ~$2,500, but that is only 2% of your budget, which means if the numbers hold, you will end up needing ~1500 backers for this to be funded. I don't know if you have experience with Kickstarter, but that is a rather large number of people, especially when you consider that, frankly, the production value of your trailer is somewhat lacking. Perhaps you can make up for this shortfall by really pushing the reality of child abduction, but I feel that will only get you so far. In the end people want to support a really great film, not just a good message.

What i'm trying to say is that I really wish you had asked for much less money, maybe $30k-$50k. It would have obviously made the production more tight and you would have needed to fundraise elsewhere, but you have to be realistic in these things.

It is of course possible that I have no clue what i'm talking about and you will reach your goal. I certainly hope I am wrong because I do want you to make your film, I think it has a lot of potential.


Oh and by the way, you had better have a REALLY good excuse in the film as to why the cops don't get involved, because people will eat your film alive and dismiss it immediately if that question is not answered well.

Sorry if I come across as mean, I really do wish you the best of luck with the kickstarter and the film!
Click to expand...

Hey Jghenderson,

Thanks for replying to my posting. I like to know what people think about my work...

I've heard from both sides of the fence on this one... Some say its too long, others love it. My point in creating the trailer in this fashion was to leave you with a strong impression of the story. I felt a 2 minute trailer wouldn't express the story fully enough to remain on people's minds.

I'm aware I'm asking for a lot of money, which is why I made every effort to represent the film as best as I could with the money I had. I didn't feel I could expect people to give me money if I put out a half-ass effort to present the project. What can I say, I'm a dreamer...

I may not make my budget, but I won't quit either. I will learn from this regardless.

And I don't know, maybe you can help me with this. I have a hard time knowing exactly what people are referring to when they say "production value." The term itself isn't that descriptive. Are you to mean, better actors, locations, camera equip? If so, I understand you, but those things also cost money, which leaves me back at my goal.

BTW, I have a great idea on why the story develops the way it does. But you can't fit it all in the trailer! (esp not 2 minutes!)

Again, thanks for taking time to hit me up.

- Christopher Miles
 
Christopher,

Welcome to the board and congrats on trying to get something off the ground! While watching the trailer lots of questions came up like why doesn't he call the cops? Would a bunch of people beat a guy up when he says he is trying to rescue a kid, would a bunch of guys just stand in the front of the house with guns, wouldn't they want to be inside? Looks like it is somewhere near LA so it isn't totally lawless. I imagine traffickers would want to be more low key.

100K is a lot of money, there is guy named Kholi who is trying to do a $10K movie challenge on this board. Search for his thread, you can see what the guys are talking about to make a quality film on a low budget. I think production value is thrown around a lot but basically it comes down to - did it look good. I get it is a trailer, did you shoot it on a scarlet? or a DSLR? Did you do any color correction? It looked like DSLR to me. The trailer doesn't didn't create any excitement or tension for me or draw me in. DSLR is fine but when you want that kind of money it needs to look more like what you would be using the money for.

Also, seems like there is a lot of fighting are you going to hire a stunt coordinator? Are those guns going to be real (need an armorer look for Doc Bernard on this board).

It seems like the crew is light as in maybe you need more people? I hear a lot of films have crews of 20 sometimes. No makeup person, no wardrobe person, no scripty on your crew? Do you really need a casting director/services? I think 1 PA will not be enough. But maybe you film with a small tight crew.

I am totally supportive of people's desires to go and make their films. The questions are just to help. I find questions are often more useful than kudos. Here is a good article on likelihood of funding on kickstarter. Gives you some metrics. http://gigaom.com/2012/06/28/analyzing-kickstarter-what-succeeds-by-how-much-and-how-often/

I liked your making of Amber video better than your trailer. Your authenticity comes through. You seem like a very genuine person. Oftentimes to be successful at Kickstarter you just need to know a lot of people or have a following.

I spent about 20 mins looking through your kickstarter and your website. Though my comments may seem harsh, I put in the time to help. I hope that comes through, because I don't wanna seem like a total a**hole.

Best of luck!
 
Last edited:
I like the concept of the story, but the execution is clunky. The ADR never fit. All of the screams were almost comical because they were mistimed. A minute of credits is the kiss of death in my opinion. After about 1.5 minutes I started to scrub through the trailer because you lost my interest.

I'd collect all the feedback you can get and make a major revision to the project. You only get one chance to make a first impression and it says everything about your filmmaking ability.
 
Hey prexdealer,

Thanks for taking time to review my project...

I'm glad you have a lot of questions when it comes to the trailer. I feel a trailer should leave you with questions about the story as well as a feel for what the story is about and, hopefully, excitement for the film. I have answers for all of the questions posed by the trailer, but the answers are in the screeenplay and will be in the film. I can't give you all the information in the trailer and I don't think it would be a good trailer if it didn't leave you with some questions about the story...

As for if it entertains you, that's up to you. I tried my best...

The trailer was shot using a combination of the RED camera and Canon 5D. No color treatment for the trailer.

I will have a fight choreographer for the film, as well as other positions for film (wardrobe stylist, scripty, etc.) This was a general, estimated breakdown of where the costs will go. I will have people willing to donate their time and talents for the film. I didn't feel it necessary to add every person involved in the making of the film.

I'm glad you liked my Amber project video, and my personality. But I was hoping you would like the trailer more...

Thanks for checking it out,

Christopher Miles
 
Snazzy,

I'll look into the ADR but I don't notice the issue. (Maybe the vid is still loading, causing the delay?)

Thanks for the critique...

- Christopher Miles
 
I was intrigued by the description. I think it's a strong concept. But I lost interest after watching the trailer. I think people are more likely to donate to something they would like to watch themselves. I agree with the previous poster about the lack of production value. Based on image quality and acting, this isn't something I could see myself sitting through for 90 minutes or more.

This isn't meant to be an insult so I hope you don't take it as such. You have an strong concept. I just think the execution needs some work. I wish you the best and I hope you achieve your goals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top