Roseville Film- NOT PASSED
26 February 2008
MEMORANDUM FOR A.S. SENIOR VP / SENATE FROM: Peter Borrud – Writer, Director, and Executive Producer Amanda Sauerlender – Producer Matthew Jones – Co-Executive Producer
SUBJECT: ROSEVILLE Funding
1. Proposal: We are proposing to make a short film called “Roseville,” that is co-financed by AS.
Based on a true story, ROSEVILLE is about a guy who goes running late at night and on his drive home he picks up a girl that is running for her life. He finds out the girl has been locked in trunk and that he needs to get her to safety.
Approximately 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner in the United States every year. ROSEVILLE is a tragic story that addresses several of the issues surrounding domestic violence. Therefore, it would be advantageous for AS to fund this project, because it would not only affect Biola students who know little about the issue, but also affect people that have dealt with the issue first-hand.
The Film
The event in the story happened to the Director two years ago. It is a very personal story for him and is an event we feel that God put in his life to tell as a story through the medium of film. We want the film to explore the issue of domestic violence in a suburban community, but also ask the question: “what does it mean to truly help someone in need?” In the end of the film, the main character thinks he has failed, because he didn’t directly save the woman from her problems. However, he realizes that he did help her, because he showed he cared for her. Though not directly a “Christian film,” we feel that this is a Christian message. It is the small things that we do for other people, the things they’re not expecting, that show we love them. It is the type of message Jesus taught by showing us how to love and serve each other, like washing the disciples feet.
Who is the director?
Peter Borrud is a senior film student at Biola University and the writer/director of ROSEVILLE. Peter has worked on two features films, including a documentary in the Dominican Republic, and over fifteen short films. Peter also directed a short film about a shopping cart two years ago that won best picture, drama, and cinematography at Biola’s Film Festival. The Film went on to screen at Sundance in 2006. Now Peter is focused on making his next big project.
Peter is also the President of Guerilla Film Society club (for two years running). GFS is quite active on campus by having numerous discussions and film screenings on a weekly basis. Guerilla has brought in speakers from independent filmmakers to known people like Tony Hale (Arrested Development). Moreover, several of the students in the Guerilla Film Society are working on Peter’s film ROSEVILLE.
Furthermore, Peter collaborated as a cinematographer with Matthew Jones, the award-winning director of CHOICES. Last year, the film was proposed to AS to address the issues surrounding abortion. The film would then premiere at Biola. AS generously donated $2,500 to the project last spring and as a result CHOICES was made. Since then, the film appeared in a full-page article in the Fall 2007 Biola Connections Magazine. and it just so happens that it is premiering this week during Abortion Awareness Week. This is all thanks to AS and their donation.
Without the donation from AS, the film CHOICES would never have been made and people at Biola would never have been able to see it. Furthermore, Peter gained an invaluable experience during the making of that film, which also encouraged him to pursue telling his own story about a different, yet equally important issue. CHOICES will be screening at 8 and 9pm in Sutherland on Friday, Feb 29th if you would like to see an example of what you supported last year.
Domestic Violence Facts
- Nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
- Every 9 seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S.
- Domestic Violence is the single major cause of injury to women, more than muggings and car accidents combined.
- Domestic Violence occurs in 60% of marriages and is the most underreported crime.
Why AS?
This year, we want to dream big and create a film that will not only entertain, not only be professional, but also move people emotionally. We are tired of the typical student films that do not have a significant voice at Biola, but instead we aspire to craft something that is powerful enough to change people’s lives, on campus and outside the bubble. And we heard that this year, AS wanted us to come with big ideas and so this is our big idea.
Distribution Plan
Domestic violence is a pretty serious issue, yet it is something that Biola students can address. When the film is complete in the fall, we propose to have a weeklong awareness week on domestic violence. We would give out flyers and pamphlets, bring in speakers, and partner with Social Justice Ministry and churches like Rock Harbor. The purpose would be to raise awareness and to show Biola students how to help people that are stuck in abusive relationships. This will all lead up to the premiere of ROSEVILLE.
Moreover, when completed we will send the film to roughly thirty film festivals: including Tribeca, Angelus Awards, and the Sundance Film Festival. Few people have heard of Biola and it’s film department, especially in the main festival circuit. This would give Biola a chance to have a voice and to be known as a competitor with other universities like USC, UCLA, Chapman, and Azusa Pacific. In the final phase of distribution, we would enter the film into the Student Academy Awards and seek short film distribution through iTunes. Through all of these different forms of distribution, AS would be given recognition in the credits.
2. Amount Requested: We request AS for $5,000.
Currently, our total budget for the film is $25,000. The director has committed to donate his own money by at least matching what AS gives. The shoot is slated to take place over seven days, with camera, lighting, and audio rentals costing over $15,000. The other half is for food, transportation, location permits, film festival submissions, post-production, make-up, props, Second Unit, rain, music licensing, etc. All of these things are needed to do this film professionally and to give the story justice.
3. Problems with Status Quo:
An average thesis film at USC costs $30-50,000. An average budget for a Biola production is from $1,000-$10,000. The film department at Biola is unable to offer funds to film students except in making it through a “Biola Film Class.” ROSEVILLE was actually selected as a Biola Film, but we chose to do it independently in order to hand pick a talented crew and to have the ability to strive for something better. A class environment for making a film is not always conducive to making a quality piece.
However, this also requires that funds be attained outside the film department. Lisa Swain, the chair of the film department, told us that each new film student brings in only $200 into the department. Each time a light bulb is broken in a film light, they need to bring in another student to pay for it. This means that our tuition does not cover any costs for our filmmaking. Film is a very expensive major and therefore the department cannot finance our projects.
We are however, trying our best to raise money through other sources. Currently, we are seeking to ask family and friends, approach investors for support, and even write letters to companies for money or for sponsorship. Though we will attain some funds this way, we will not come close to our budget if we simply rely on these sources. Short films generally are not profitable for individuals seeking to benefit financially, and so it is difficult to interest outside sources of investment.4. Miscellaneous:
The film has already entered into its casting phase of pre-production. Shooting is set to begin in middle of April. We plan on finishing the film in August in order to submit in time for Sundance. A premiere would best be suited at Biola in September or October. We truly believe that this story is worth telling, that Biola students would want to see a well-made film on an important topic, and that a film like this can bring about change in people’s lives. We greatly appreciate your consideration for funding this film.
Thank you,
Peter Borrud
Writer, Director, Executive ProducerAmanda Sauerlender
ProducerMatthew Jones Co-Executive Producer