Don Parham

Melbourne
Film & Video

'Smithy' Doco ( Completion )

AU$24,680
of $50,000 targetyrs ago
Closed on 30th Nov 2014 at 2:51AM.
STOP PRESS: 1 December 2014
If you would still like to donate to the 'Smithy' doco project, please go to -
 www.parham-media.com
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THE  FILM - Synopsis

The 'Smithy' doco is a feature length, biographical film about a remarkable Australian, the Rev Dr John 'Bullfrog' Smith, who is probably best known as the founder of the Christian motorcycle club, God's Squad. His wife, Glena, says he got the 'bullfrog' nickname because "John was considered to be the loudest noise in the pond". He has been called 'John Wesley on a motorbike' but Smithy, as he is affectionately known, is more than this - he is a heady mix of old time religion and liberation theology! Part evangelist, part rabble-rouser, the larger than life Smithy is also an author, social anthropologist, media personality, social commentator, advocate for the poor and marginalised, blues music lover, theologian, motivational speaker, teacher, husband, grandfather ... and biker. It's time to tell his amazing story.


Smithy being the "loudest noise in the pond" at a bikie protest outside Parliament House


As a young man in the late 1960’s, Smithy agonised over the inability of the church to be culturally relevant and engaged with the important social and political issues of the day. So he reinvented himself and, in 1972, God’s Squad was born. In the twinkling of an eye, he went from straight-laced suburban preacher to sharing the stage at Hells Angels’ concerts to addressing a full hearing of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Smithy has been jailed and nearly executed in the Philippines for defending the rights of rural peasants, and has been an advocate for the marginalised peoples of Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua. He has spoken around the world, making friends of like-minded crusaders such as Bono and ex US President, Jimmy Carter. God’s Squad has also gone global with chapters now in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Germany, Ukraine, Netherlands and the USA.

Across four frenetic decades, Smithy set up several flourishing community churches with associated welfare arms; completed a doctorate focussing on cross-cultural studies, corporate culture and globalization; wrote five books; had three children … and now has seventeen grandchildren.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Smithy is human - there have been betrayals and splits in his working life, and troubles in his family life. As he says, “We’ve walked our children down some paths where they have had to pay a price for what we believe in.” But Smithy has never wavered from his original vision. “You need a faith to live by and a friend to stand by,” he says. “Like Jesus, who we follow, we are committed friends of the outcasts of this world.”

This warts and all film will tell the real story of the holy bullfrog, John Smith. It will challenge new generations of young people to embrace an authentic faith that makes a difference in their communities and in their world.

BONO ENDORSES THE FILM

“We’re trying to talk John Smith into doing a movie and we are very excited about that potential. It will appear as fiction but we know it’s fact – his life.”  Bono, U2

(See Bono and the Edge in the opening of the teaser video above.)

THE POZIBLE CAMPAIGNS

This time last year we ran the 1st Pozible Campaign which succeeded in getting the project off the ground, raising a little over a third ($55,543 AUD) of a production budget of $150,000 AUD**. We've set the same $50,000 AUD** target for this 2nd Pozible Campaign and, if we reach that target, it will enable us to finish the film.

The new official Release Date for the film is 1 July 2015.

This 2nd Pozible Campaign runs for 4 weeks during the month of November 2014.

Let's hope we exceed our $50,000 AUD** target again as this will push us closer to the goal of reaching the full production budget for the film of $150,000 AUD**. The contingencies we have in place for raising the remainder of the full $150,000 AUD** budget are (i) through future DVD/digital download sales, and (ii) through our ongoing corporate/church fundraising campaign which is being conducted via the Documentary Australia Foundation (see below for more info on the DAF campaign).


Smithy having a laugh during the interview we shot after the 1st Pozible Campaign


Please enjoy the new teaser video at the top of the page - it includes a lot of new footage we shot after the 1st Pozible Campaign, including excerpts from a long interview done with John before he started chemo treatment, as well as images and video footage from the large archive we've put together this year.

We ask you to get behind this campaign in any way you can. Some people were disappointed when they approached us after the 1st Pozible Campaign had closed so they now have another opportunity to come on board. We also want to emphasise to all our supporters who gave so generously to the last campaign that we are not asking you to give again. Just help us, if you can, to spread the word far and wide as we try to reach people we didn't reach last time. We thank you so much for your ongoing support.


Please also note that this 2nd Pozible Campaign, like the first, works on an 'all or nothing' principle - that is, if we don't raise the full target amount of $50,000 AUD**, we don't get anything. And unfortunately, if that happens, production work will have to stop while we explore other ways of raising the funds to complete the film.

But we remain optimistic - the finishing line is now in sight for this film about Smithy, a man who has been a blessing to so many.



John sharing a joke during a break in the 2 day shoot of his new interview

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THE PRODUCTION TEAM

"Don Parham (is) recognised as one of this country's finest
makers of social documentaries."
Nicole Brady, THE AGE


Don Parham - Writer / Director / Producer
Website: www.parham-media.com

This 'Smithy' doco is being made by experienced documentary film-maker, Don Parham, in collaboration with video producer, Warwick Vincent. Don has, over the last 25 years, written, directed and produced an eclectic mix of films that have screened regularly on national television in Australia. Warwick shot nearly 20 hours of interview material with John in 2008 which is being used extensively in the film.


Warwick Vincent, Video Producer


The other team member is Associate Producer, Vic Campbell, who is also in charge of fund-raising, PR and marketing. Vic and Don Parham worked together early in Don's career on some music videos and docos about artists like Rod Boucher and Rosanna's Raiders. They teamed up again a couple of years ago to make the doco, 'Forgiven People', which screened on Channel 7 in 2013.


Vic Campbell, producer of 'Forgiven People' which screened on Channel 7

(See below for more detailed Bios of the team.)
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MORE about the PRODUCTION BUDGETS and FUNDING SOURCES

As we explained in our 1st Pozible Campaign a year ago, this ambitious project has an overall budget of $300,000 AUD** and is divided into 2 stages -

STAGE 1 - is for the production of a feature length (100 mins) documentary film for distribution on DVD and digital download. The production budget for this stage is $150,000 AUD** and fundraising for this stage is primarily via the Pozible and Documentary Australia Foundation campaigns.

STAGE 2 - is for the production of additional broadcast quality versions of the film for television. The production budget for this stage is an additional $150,000 AUD**, giving a total budget of $300,000 AUD** if the project completes both stages. Fundraising for this stage will primarily be via the global film and TV industry.

Please be clear that the 1st Pozible Campaign and this 2nd Pozible Campaign are raising funds for STAGE 1 of the project, that is, to produce a feature length (100 mins) documentary film for distribution on DVD and digital download. If this 2nd Pozible Campaign is successful, the film will get finished and released on DVD and digital download from 1 July 2015.


John and Glena during filming of John having tests at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute

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CHOOSING FROM MULTIPLE DONATION OPTIONS

There are actually 3 options for making a donation to the 'Smithy' project to help us ultimately reach the full $150,000 AUD** Stage 1 production budget -

(i) The first option is through this 2nd Pozible Campaign. We are encouraging most people to choose this method mainly because it will ensure the film gets finished and, as mentioned earlier, we need to reach the $50,000 AUD** target on this campaign or we don't get anything (which will cause a halt in the production).

(ii) The second option is through our ongoing corporate/church fundraising campaign via the Documentary Australia Foundation. Please note that larger donations to the 'Smithy' film project that require tax deductibility can be made via the Documentary Australia Foundation website. Just click here for details about the project and click here to make your donation.

(iii) The third option is by making a donation (not tax deductible), earmarked for the Smithy film, direct to the production company, Parham Media. This can be done via a dedicated PayPal 'Donate' button here (PayPal also accepts credit cards). The advantage of this option for making a donation is it avoids the fees (of up to 10%) associated with the Pozible and DAF campaigns so more of your donation ends up on the screen.



Glena tries her skills as make up artist on the set
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WHAT THE 1st POZIBLE CAMPAIGN
ACHIEVED

Here's how the funds raised in the successful 1st Pozible Campaign were used -

(i) A lot of new material filmed

This included a major new interview with John shot prior to him beginning chemo treatment. Extraordinarily candid and revealing comments were captured on diverse subjects including some that John has rarely spoken about publicly, such as some still painful reflections on the Truth and Lib split. Interviews were also shot with a range of other family, friends and colleagues including his wife, Glena, his daughters, Lyndal and Kathy, his son-in-law and colleague at Care and Communication Concern, Keith Waters, and long time friend, the muso, Sammy Horner.

Most of you probably know that Smithy is battling cancer - he has had 10 rounds of chemo treatment this year. So the Smithy story has had new twists and turns which we have tried to incorporate into the film. To this end, w
e've just completed a 3 day shoot at John's home which included new interviews with John and Glena plus some wonderful 'observational' footage of the sort rarely seen of Smithy - such as footage of him playing with his grandchildren and sharing quiet moments with Glena. Incredibly, we also filmed Smithy, in spite of his health issues, giving a talk at a theological college and holding court, as only he can, with a group of eager students!



Director, Don Parham, interviewing Smithy at the Wycliffe studio


(ii) Creation of a massive photographic and video archive

Since the 1st Pozible Campaign, video producer, Warwick Vincent, has done a huge amount of work putting together a vast photo and video archive. This has involved finding, sorting and digitising all the archival video footage and photos scattered around the country. Warwick has also made several trips down the coast to John and Glena's place where he has embarked on what might appropriately be called an archaeological dig - rummaging through box after box stored under the house - a process that has unearthed many treasures.

Creating the archive is the first huge task - now we have to sort out the copyright on this material before we can use any of it. Owners of the copyright have to be found and then licences need to be negotiated. This is a major item in our budget.


Warwick Vincent, with John and Glena on one of his visits for the photo/video archive


(iii) Doing a major first first cut of the film.

After directing the shoots that followed the 1st Pozible Campaign, Don Parham began work on a major first cut. Because of the mountain of material, it presented lots of challenges, but this long editing process is essential to find the right narrative arc for the film and to determine what else needs to be filmed. After a break of several months from the project while he went overseas and worked on other projects, Don has returned to the Smithy project for the recent shoot and to finish the first cut. From here the film will go through several more cuts and other post-production processes before it is finished (see below for more info about how the funds raised in this 2nd Pozible Campaign will be used to complete post-production of the film).


Director, Don Parham, with Smithy during the recent shoot at his home

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How The Funds Will Be Used

There is still a lot to be done to complete the film including -

* more research
* more interviews to be shot
* more filming of 'overlay' and other footage
* more editing
* composing/recording music
* audio mix/sweetening
* colour grade
* mastering
* DVD authoring and manufacture
* digital download set up
* marketing and distribution

As mentioned earlier, another important task is to sort out the copyright on the archival material. Owners of the copyright have to be found and then licences have to be negotiated. This is a major cost in our budget and, the reality is, the closer we get to reaching our full $150,000 AUD** budget, the more of this archival material we'll be able to use in the film.



We did a lot of filming at the God's Squad 40th celebration in 2012

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The Challenges


Director, Don Parham, interviewing John's daughter, Kathy

At the end of the day, with a story of this complexity, there is always more research to be done and interviews to be shot. A serious, ambitious film like this needs many more cuts before it's finished ... or, as we say in this industry, before it sings!

The bottom line is, if we just get across the line with this 2nd Pozible campaign and raise no further funds through our Documentary Australia Foundation campaign, we will be working with a budget that is around two thirds of our overall production budget of $150,000 AUD**.

Make no mistake, this will allow us to finish the film and get it ready for release via DVD and digital download on 1 July 2015. However, some compromises will need to be made (such as purchasing less archival footage) and some crew fees will need to be deferred until we make up the budget through DVD/digital download sales. This will present some cashflow challenges for us.

Ideally, through our different fundraising campaigns, we'll reach our full $150,000 AUD** budget before the film is 'locked off', that is, before final mastering. The closer we get to that figure, the better we'll be able to tell John's story.

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** Approximate Currency Conversions
$50,000 AUD = 28,000 GBP / 35,000 Euro / 44,000 USD
$150,000 AUD = 84,000 GBP / 105,000 Euro / 132,000 USD
$300,000 AUD = 165,000 GBP / 210,000 Euro / 264,000 USD

Level 8 Supporter

* Signed thank you letter from John Smith * Thank you credit on the film

10 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 7 Supporter

* Signed thank you letter from John Smith * Thank you credit on the film * Free online viewing of the film available for one week after the official film launch

16 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 6 Supporter

* Signed thank you letter from John Smith * Thank you credit on the film * Free 'Sneak Preview' online viewing of the film available for one week either side of the official film launch

13 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 5 Supporter

* Signed thank you letter from John Smith * Thank you credit on the film * Free 'Sneak Preview' online viewing of the film available for one week either side of the official film launch * DVD of 'Smithy' doco which will include many 'extras' such as extended interviews not shown in the main film

8 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 4 Supporter

Everything from the $250+ Reward plus: * 'Bronze Sponsor' credit on the film * 2 x VIP seats at the Melbourne launch of the film

5 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 3 Supporter

Everything from the $250+ Reward plus: * 'Silver Sponsor' credit on the film * 2 x VIP seats at the Melbourne launch of the film * Invite to a 'meet and greet' session with John Smith (subject to John's health) before the start of the launch, exclusively for 'Silver Sponsors'

1 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 2 Supporter

Everything from the $250+ Reward plus: * 'Gold Sponsor' credit on the film * 4 x VIP seats at the Melbourne launch of the film * Invite to a lunch with John and Glena Smith (subject to John's health) and the film-makers, exclusively for 'Gold Sponsors' (Melbourne only)

0 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15

Level 1 Supporter

Everything from the $250+ Reward plus: * Special credit on single screen at end of film - includes Company/Individual name + logo after the words - "This film could not have been made without the generous support of the following major sponsors" * 6 x VIP seats at the Melbourne launch of the film * A private dinner with John and Glena Smith (subject to John's health) for 'Major Sponsor' and guest (maximum of 3 sponsors and guests per dinner (Melbourne only)

0 chosen

Est. delivery is Jul 15