Find Sarasota Films To Fund Before Festivals

Whether it's a movie at this week's or one created by an aspiring director they all have one thing in common — the need for cash to make that movie.

While a mix of independent and studio releases will be featured on the silver screen in Sarasota this week, let's take a look at two film projects in Sarasota that are raising funds via IndieGoGo.com to reach the masses. 

Project: Lay Me In The River

Goal: $10,000 and $1,000 (two campaigns)

Raised: $1,015 for $10,000 campaign and $440 for the $1,000 campaign

Days left: 18 days left for $10,000 campaign and 19 days for the other campaign

What it's about: Film takes place in the deep woods of Louisiana set in the mid '60s where the daughter of a Southern preacher finds out secrets about her mother's past and father's actions that alter her perspective on life.

But, wait, there's more, according to the snyopsis on IndieGoGo.com:

"After his wife, Danielle's, death Lyle finds that the River may have been God's way of punishing her for the sins she committed before being born again in Christ.  Upon finding a collection of photos and memorabilia in his wife's things, Lyle realizes that she may not have been the woman he thought he'd married.  In a search for redemption, Lyle tries to prevent the same sins from being committed by other women that remind him of Danielle." 

Who's Making The Film: Sophomores of the Ringling College of Art and Design are making their first project outside of film school. That includes: 

Ashley Bonn, Director/Writer
Ally Morton, Director/Writer
Emily Knight, Exec. Producer/Assistant Director
Aaron Kinsey, Production Designer/Producer
Natasha Thornton, Director of Photography
Andrew Halley, Editor
Additional crew: Alberto Vildosola, Katie Aucoin, Alain Grangé, Ellise Pizer

Why they need the money: The campaign page has a breakdown of where the $10,000 is going to, and $2,000 of it pays for travel/lodging as the team will travel to Shreveport, Louisiana from Florida to make the film. 

Cool Donation Perks: Donate $500 and you'll receive a signed piece of artwork used in concept design for the film as well as a signed DVD, signed movie poster and a listing in the credits.

Campaign site: For $10,000 campaign: www.indiegogo.com/LayRiver

For $1,000 campaign: www.indiegogo.com/laymeintheriver

Project: Signals

Goal: $4,000

Raised: $0

Days left: 60

What it's about: Short sci-fi comedy about two westernized aliens' stay on a dark satirical version of Earth. Check out a Not Suitable For Work clip of their pitch here.

Who's Making the Film: Jared Miller, Joe Carrasco and Sage Carrasco. They all live in Sarasota and Miller attends the Art Institute in Tampa and also sells knives for Cutco. They're known as Room Goons Productions and hope to have their own studio after college. 

Why they need the money: The production crew needs to remake alien masks to avoid copyright issues, needs to construct a werewolf costume, a prop UFO, classroom skeleton and a Dolly (one for movies, not the one used to move furniture).

Cool Donation Perks: Donate $20 or more and be entered to win a XBOX 360 plus a game of your choice. 

Campaign site: http://www.indiegogo.com/signalsuniverse  

E-mail saczcofilm@yahoo.com for more info and other ways to get involved.