American Utopias

American Utopias is a documentary featuring five original and alternative communities in the United States.

Project visual American Utopias
Successful
118
Contributions
05/12/2016
End date
$CAD10.085
Out of $CAD8.500
118 %

American Utopias

<p> <strong>*** WE REACHED OUR FIRST GOAL - TOGETHER, LET'S GET TO 10 000$ ***</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>ENJOY OUR TEASER</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="230" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fplayer.vimeo.com%2Fvideo%2F184003374&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F184003374&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.vimeocdn.com%2Fvideo%2F594247187_1280.jpg&amp;key=ff2702755d9749cda571c6d6c2f3eb46&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=vimeo" width="540"></iframe></p> <p>  </p> <p> Our initial goal was accomplished within a month, so I suggest we work together and reach 10 000$. With two weeks to go, I definitely think we can do it. Every dollar will be invested in the film's distribution : submitting the film to festivals and distributing the film online. Help us to spread the word. :-)</p> <p>  </p> <p> A big thank you to everyone who has been involved in this campaign so far. You are responsible for its success.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>OUR GOAL</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> Our goal is to finish the postproduction and initiate the distribution of <em>American Utopias</em>, a movie on the topic of alternative and experimental communities in United States. The documentary aims to show how different people have conceived and created original, ecofriendly and sustainable homes. During the summer of 2014, we embarked on a three month journey through the USA and visited intentional communities, tiny house communities, urban laboratories, the Burning Man event and other creative and unique places.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>OUR JOURNEY</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Testcarte-1473819267" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/349481/testcarte-1473819267.png"></p> <p> <strong>WHO WE ARE</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Img_5974_lowres-1475165339" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/353926/IMG_5974_lowres-1475165339.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> Meet the team behind the vision - Partners in life and on the road, Geneviève and Max combine years of experience in the worlds of education and film to bring you this production. Geneviève managed sound recording and community communications and Max, the director, oversaw cinematography and editing of the film.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>THE FEATURED COMMUNITIES</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Boneyard Studios, a tiny house community in Washington D.C.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Boneyard-1473802194" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/349444/boneyard-1473802194.png"></p> <p>  </p> <p> Boneyard Studios, founded Spring 2012 in the District of Columbia, is a showcase of tiny houses on wheels with a mission to demonstrate creative urban infill, promote the benefits of tiny houses, support other tiny house builders, and model what a tiny house community could look like.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The Dacha Project, a modern homestead in Ithaca, New York</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Dacha-1473809888" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/349471/dacha-1473809888.png"></p> <p>  </p> <p> The Dacha Project, founded in 2008, is a do-it-yourself, egalitarian and educational homestead. The community is comprised of six friends and an extensive circle of supporters. Situated on 16 acres in Finger Lakes region of New York, The Dacha was originally built an off-the-grid, earth-bermed, solar-passive house, powered by active solar and a diesel generator converted to run on waste vegetable oil.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The Possibility Alliance, an electricity and petroleum free community in La Plata, Missouri</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Possibility-1473809922" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/349472/POSSIBILITY-1473809922.png"></p> <p>  </p> <p> The Possibility Alliance and the Still Waters Sanctuary is a service and educational center practicing and teaching simplicity, self-reliance, peace, gratitude, and community service.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Arcosanti, an urban laboratory in Arizona</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="50_arcosanti-1006-1476645414" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/358935/50_arcosanti-1006-1476645414.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> Arcosanti is a projected experimental town with a molten bronze bell casting business in Yavapai County, central Arizona, 70 mi (110 km) north of Phoenix. Its arcology concept was posited by the Italian-American architect, Paolo Soleri (1919–2013). He began construction in 1970, to demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth. Photo credit : Joshua Lieberman - <a href="http://www.joshualieberman.com" target="_blank">www.joshualieberman.com</a></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Burning Man, a creative event in Nevada.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Burningmankkbb-1476465797" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/358506/burningmankkbb-1476465797.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> Burning Man is an annual gathering that takes place at Black Rock City—a temporary community erected in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The event is described as an experiment in community and art, influenced by 10 main principles, including "radical" inclusion, self-reliance and self-expression, as well as community cooperation, gifting and decommodification, and leaving no trace. Photo credit : Jerome Choi.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>OUR PURPOSE</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> As a director, I aim to achieve three main goals. I would first like to tell the story of the people who have chosen to live in these communities. Secondly, I hope the documentary will serve as an effective medium to portray how these people have brought their ideas to life. Finally, I want to reflect and bring my viewers to reflect on the viability, the strengths and the weaknesses of each of these projects, so that we can all benefit from these contemporary “utopias”.</p> <p>  </p>

Allocation of funds

<p> <img alt="Thermometre-1480973231" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/374894/thermometre-1480973231.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO ?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Color grading</strong> is the art of enhancing the colors of a motion picture so it can reach its full esthetic and poetic potential. For <em>American Utopias</em>, I want the colors to be vibrant and meaningful.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Sound editing</strong> and sound mixing is the art of creating an atmosphere where sound is as important as the images. I want the film to have an organic feeling where each community have a distinct sound identity.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>WHAT IF WE SURPASS OUR GOAL ?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> If we surpass our goal, all the money collected here will be invested in the distribution and the promotion of the movie. This money will help to cover festivals submission fees, printing posters, advertisement, etc.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Festival submission</strong> fees cost an average of 50 to 150 dollars per festival. If we reach our goal, we will be able to submit the film to at least ten festivals. </p> <p>  </p> <p> In order for the film to reach its public, we want to <strong>make it available online</strong> through different film platforms (vimeo, itunes, etc.). To do so, we have to submit a digital copy of the film to an aggregator, a company that specializes in delivering the film to multiple online platforms.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>HOW CAN WE HELP ?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Our goal is to reach 10 000$, therefore your contribution is really helpful to us and we are already more than grateful. You can also help by sharing the campaign page, the facebook page, the website page or the trailer. Every little action gets us closer to our goal.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Here's some links you can share with your friends :</p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/americanutopias" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/americanutopias</a></p> <p> <a href="http://www.americanutopias.com" target="_blank">www.americanutopias.com</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>MERCI, THANK YOU !</strong></p>

Rewards

$CAD10

  • 5 contributions
THE UTOPIAN THANK YOU + A big thank you + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website.

$CAD25

  • 31 contributions
THE UTOPIAN HD FILM + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website.

$CAD35

  • 13 contributions
THE UTOPIAN TRAVEL POSTCARD - A personal thank you postcard + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD50

  • 12 contributions
THE ECOJARZ - An EcoJarz, a reusable drink lid made of FDA approved high-grade silicone. This product is created by friends of The Dacha Project, a modern homestead featured in the film. + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD60

  • 7 contributions
THE UTOPIAN T-SHIRT - A screen printed t-shirt co-designed with artist Nicole E. Schlosser. + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD70

  • 2 contributions
UN POSTER UTOPIQUE - The poster of the movie, hand drawn by Italian illustrator Giordano Poloni + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD80

  • 7 contributions
THE UTOPIAN MAGAZINE - A 32 page magazine featuring travel stories and pictures of our three months road trip + A digital copy of the film + A spot on our contributor's list on American Utopias' website + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

Estimated delivery: January 2017

$CAD100

  • 17 contributions
THE UTOPIAN FILM CREDIT, PART ONE - A special thank you in the film's credits + A poster of the film, created by Italian illustrator Giordano Poloni + A digital copy of the film + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

Estimated delivery: January 2017

$CAD150

  • 12 contributions
THE UTOPIAN FILM CREDIT, PART TWO - A special thank you in the film's credits + A 32 page magazine featuring travel stories and pictures of our three months road trip + A poster of the film, created by Italian illustrator Giordano Poloni + A digital copy of the film + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD500

  • 1 contribution
THE UTOPIAN MEAL - A special invitation to have dinner at our place in Montreal. We will talk about our journey and the artistic process behind American Utopias. Geneviève and I will even cook you a typical American meal. And if you have not seen the movie yet, let's watch it together ! + A screen printed t-shirt co-designed with artist Nicole E. Schlosser + A poster of the film + A digital copy of the film + A poster of the film. + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

$CAD1.000

THE UTOPIAN PRODUCER CREDIT + THE UTOPIAN MEAL - A producer credit that will appear in the film's credit as well as on the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) page. + A special invitation to have dinner at our place in Montreal. We will talk about our journey and the artistic process behind American Utopias. Geneviève and I will even cook you a typical American meal. And if you have not seen the movie yet, let's watch it together ! + A digital copy of the film + A 32 page magazine featuring travel stories and pictures of our three months road trip + A poster of the film. + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.

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$CAD250

  • 4 contributions
THE UTOPIAN WORKSHOP - A one-day personal workshop in Montreal with American Utopias' director Maxime. You choose your medium (photo or video) and we get together to shoot in the morning and process/edit in the afternoon. We start from a subject that interests you and build something artistic and creative from that. + A digital copy of the film + An invitation to the film premiere in Montreal.