Dear Friend - A Short Film
A$5,473
of $3,800 targetyrs ago
Successful on 11th Dec 2014 at 12:00AM.
Partly fact, mostly fiction, "Dear Friend" is a short film that will take you on a journey from Africa to Australia down a road of trust, betrayal, and imagination that eventually leads to an unexpected friendship.
A few years ago I received a scam email from Mr Adams Bello, a bank worker from Africa. The subject line read; "Dear Friend," and for whatever reason, instead of deleting it, I started reading. It wasn’t your usual scam email, it had charm and the writer had spent a long time crafting a beautiful and elaborate story.
What if Adams Bello was actually a real person? Would there really be anyone out there who might believe his story? And what if the person who did, was not someone you’d ever expect to be fooled by a scam email?
It’s the words from that email that not only inspired our script, but have also become the narration of the 12 minute short film we hope to make with your help.
If you want to help out straight away, jump in and an download some social media stuff and spread the word about our Pozible page!
Change your Facebook profile picture, your background or even your LinkedIn picture, everything you'll need is right here:
Social Media Friend Kit : )
A few years ago I received a scam email from Mr Adams Bello, a bank worker from Africa. The subject line read; "Dear Friend," and for whatever reason, instead of deleting it, I started reading. It wasn’t your usual scam email, it had charm and the writer had spent a long time crafting a beautiful and elaborate story.
What if Adams Bello was actually a real person? Would there really be anyone out there who might believe his story? And what if the person who did, was not someone you’d ever expect to be fooled by a scam email?
It’s the words from that email that not only inspired our script, but have also become the narration of the 12 minute short film we hope to make with your help.
Synopsis
Adams Bello works for a corrupt African bank that have been pillaging the continent of its rich natural resources and syphoning the profits into tax free offshore accounts. With the help of corrupt politicians, their criminal activities have gone unpunished.
Tired of seeing the wealth being drained from his country, Adams decides to take action. He steals 20 million dollars back off the bank, and makes a pledge to return it to the people of Africa, and bring all those involved to justice.
But there's a catch - he can't access the money from inside Africa and needs help from someone on the outside. So he emails half the world with the promise that anyone who buys him a plane ticket to safer shores will share in the profits he's stolen.
12 year old Oliver lives in Australia with his single mum Karen. They live in an old rental, and she works two jobs. Without a father around, and a mum who’s always working, he’s grown into a resourceful kid, spending most of his time getting lost in his imagination.
With a natural fascination with Africa and a taste for adventure he doesn’t hesitate to help Adams once he’s stumbles across his email. Although they could do with the money, Oliver is not sucked in by the idea of becoming a millionaire, and is instead looking for friendship.
He’ll do anything to help him, even if it means handing over his mum’s credit card details so he can buy flights to Australia. Adams promises to repay the debt once he arrives, but will this African Robin Hood turn out to be a friend or a fraud?
The answer will shatter Oliver’s idea of trust, yet it will ultimately throw him down a course to true friendship - as long as his mum doesn’t find out about his plans to help Adams.
Tired of seeing the wealth being drained from his country, Adams decides to take action. He steals 20 million dollars back off the bank, and makes a pledge to return it to the people of Africa, and bring all those involved to justice.
But there's a catch - he can't access the money from inside Africa and needs help from someone on the outside. So he emails half the world with the promise that anyone who buys him a plane ticket to safer shores will share in the profits he's stolen.
12 year old Oliver lives in Australia with his single mum Karen. They live in an old rental, and she works two jobs. Without a father around, and a mum who’s always working, he’s grown into a resourceful kid, spending most of his time getting lost in his imagination.
With a natural fascination with Africa and a taste for adventure he doesn’t hesitate to help Adams once he’s stumbles across his email. Although they could do with the money, Oliver is not sucked in by the idea of becoming a millionaire, and is instead looking for friendship.
He’ll do anything to help him, even if it means handing over his mum’s credit card details so he can buy flights to Australia. Adams promises to repay the debt once he arrives, but will this African Robin Hood turn out to be a friend or a fraud?
The answer will shatter Oliver’s idea of trust, yet it will ultimately throw him down a course to true friendship - as long as his mum doesn’t find out about his plans to help Adams.
What will this film be like?
The beauty of this film is that the first 70% will be narrated by Adams Bello, so as Oliver reads his email, we hear Adams telling his story. And yes... this dialogue is more or less word for word from the original scam email that inspired the script.
Some of the influences we're looking to draw on is the beautifully designed and colourful "Nacho Libre," the charm of the French classic "Amélie" and the character casting of the lead in New Zealand's "BOY" .
This is a "buddy film", a story about loneliness and the risks we’ll take for friendship. It’s also about fear; the fear the internet, fear of our loved-ones being scammed, and the online relationships children can develop without us knowing.
And it also explores that moment in our childhood when you know you’ve made a huge mistake, and how difficult it can be to tell your parents the truth.
Some of the influences we're looking to draw on is the beautifully designed and colourful "Nacho Libre," the charm of the French classic "Amélie" and the character casting of the lead in New Zealand's "BOY" .
This is a "buddy film", a story about loneliness and the risks we’ll take for friendship. It’s also about fear; the fear the internet, fear of our loved-ones being scammed, and the online relationships children can develop without us knowing.
And it also explores that moment in our childhood when you know you’ve made a huge mistake, and how difficult it can be to tell your parents the truth.
Want to get involved?
If you're interested in contributing in ways other than money, we'd love to chat, because there's lots of stuff on our to-do list. Do you have an amazing bohemian looking kitchen we could use for our set? a spare bedroom for our character Oliver? happen to know an amazing African funk band based in Melbourne? Or are you interested in crewing on this film and helping make this thing get to the screen?
If yes, then send us an email :
[email protected]
If yes, then send us an email :
[email protected]
Cast & Crew
Keep an eye out for new additions to our cast & crew:
Writer / Director - Stefan Raabe
Producer - Nick Venn
Writer / Director - Stefan Raabe
Producer - Nick Venn
pozible credits
Pozible video by - Stefan Raabe
Music by The Putbacks "I'm Lost"
Key Frame illustrations by Peter Petrovic
Music by The Putbacks "I'm Lost"
Key Frame illustrations by Peter Petrovic
Download our Social Media Friend Kit!
If you want to help out straight away, jump in and an download some social media stuff and spread the word about our Pozible page!
Change your Facebook profile picture, your background or even your LinkedIn picture, everything you'll need is right here:
Social Media Friend Kit : )
Make friends with us on Facebook - hit that like button!
How The Funds Will Be Used
Any funds we raise will only go into the expenses of producing the film.
Over the last few years we’ve been able to put a portion of our budget in place, approximately $2,000. We have access to a camera, and some equipment that will help us cut down on hire costs, as well as some post-production capabilities that we can take care of, like editing.
The director and producer are working on this un-paid, we do however need to pay and feed the professional crew who'll be working on it.
So with a little help from our supporters, we know we can make a great film that you'll not only get to watch and enjoy, but you’ll also be part of the film’s journey from script to screen.
Here's an overview of where costs will most likely be allocated:
10% - Casting agent fees, permits, insurance
20% - Hire costs for lenses, lights, sound equipment
50% - Production: crew fees, food, travel/fuel costs
20% - Post-production: sound mix, colour grade
Over the last few years we’ve been able to put a portion of our budget in place, approximately $2,000. We have access to a camera, and some equipment that will help us cut down on hire costs, as well as some post-production capabilities that we can take care of, like editing.
The director and producer are working on this un-paid, we do however need to pay and feed the professional crew who'll be working on it.
So with a little help from our supporters, we know we can make a great film that you'll not only get to watch and enjoy, but you’ll also be part of the film’s journey from script to screen.
Here's an overview of where costs will most likely be allocated:
10% - Casting agent fees, permits, insurance
20% - Hire costs for lenses, lights, sound equipment
50% - Production: crew fees, food, travel/fuel costs
20% - Post-production: sound mix, colour grade
The Challenges
Actors:
This film will only be as good as the actors we’re able to find. That's why some of our budget will be spent in pre-production as we hire a casting agent to help with our search. We’re also hoping to find a local African band who'll be featured extras and for their music to be used in the film.
Sets & Locations:
Our biggest creative challenge is to re-create the look of Africa somewhere close to Melbourne. Several commercials and films have been able to achieve this, and with a bit of scouting we’re confident we can find the right backdrop.
Permits:
Some locations, including Melbourne Airport and Luna Park, will require permission for us to film in, and although our intentions are only to make a short film, sometimes gaining approval isn’t always straight forward and can come with strict conditions.
Pen Pal Friends <3
We’ll write to you every week with production updates and behind the scenes stills from the shoot, and your name will appear in the credits of our film! + PLUS + - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
5 chosen
Est. delivery is Jan 15
ONLINE FRIENDS!
You’ll be sent a private link to the finished film, so you can watch it online during a selected weekend in 2015! You’ll also be able to leave comments and questions for the director to answer about the making of the film. + PLUS + - Your name in the film’s credits - Weekly production updates - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Jun 15
THE FRIENDS ZONE
A real life DVD you can keep forever and ever, and you can let your friends borrow! + PLUS + - Access to the private online screening, with Q&A - Your name in the film’s credits - Weekly production updates - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
7 chosen
Est. delivery is Jun 15
REAL-LIFE FRIENDS : )
Reserve your ticket to our private screening for all the cast, crew and supporters, which will be held in Melbourne 2015… we finally get to meet you in real life! + PLUS + - 1 x DVD copy - Your name in the film’s credits - Weekly production updates - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
8 chosen / 92 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15
FRIEND STEALER >:0
Steal a prop from the set after the shoot! These will be limited to 10, choice of props goes in order of pledges made, there will be plenty of cool things to steal... + PLUS + - 1 x invite to the private screening in Melbourne - 1 x DVD copy - Your name in the film’s credits - Weekly production updates - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
5 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15
BEST FRIENDS
Hand drawn by a professional storyboard artist, each concept key frame has been drawn in colour on A4 paper in amazing detail. - These are one-off originals limited to 9 - To see what's still available, copy & paste this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1zh28xg2ar2bdxv/1.jpg?dl=0 + PLUS + - 2 x invites to the private screening in Melbourne - 1 x DVD copy - Your name in the film’s credits - Weekly production updates - You’ll be added to our “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on our Facebook page
8 chosen / 1 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15
Adams in the savannah
MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS A specially reserved concept drawing of Adams in Africa, which we will offer to frame for you. - Sneak previews of the film as we edit - 2 x tickets to the private screening in Melbourne for you and a friend - 2 x DVDs - 1 x behind the scenes production scrap book + PLUS + - Your name in the credits - Weekly production updates - Your name added to the “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on Facebook *Ships to AUSTRALIA only
0 chosen / 1 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15
Oliver at the airport
MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS A specially reserved concept drawing of Oliver and Adams, which we will offer to frame for you. - Sneak previews of the film as we edit - Steal a prop from the set - 2 x tickets to the private screening in Melbourne for you and a friend - 2 x DVDs - 1 x behind the scenes production scrap book + PLUS + - Your name in the credits - Weekly production updates - Your name added to the “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on Facebook *Ships to AUSTRALIA only
1 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15
Oliver & Adams Luna Park
MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS A specially reserved concept drawing of Oliver and Adams, which we will offer to frame for you. - Sneak previews of the film as we edit - Steal a prop from the set - 2 x tickets to the private screening in Melbourne for you and a friend - 2 x DVDs - 1 x behind the scenes production scrap book + PLUS + - Your name in the credits - Weekly production updates - Your name added to the “Dear Friend Thank You Wall” on Facebook *Ships to AUSTRALIA only
1 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Jun 15