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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
(4) Comments
I don’t think that our AS should be paying for something that won’t help our student body. The film dept has their own money and ways of getting it. We need to be putting that kind of money into things that will help out everyone. I know it is for a good cause but if it’s so good there should be other ways to have it payed for than through student funds.
M
Thursday, February 28, 2008
A senator recently came and knocked on my door to tell me that AS had thousands of extra dollars at the end of every year. If this is the case, why NOT give to a film like this? The Biola film department has incredible (and relatively untapped) potential to change huge numbers of lives. If a film like this made it in the independent film festival circuit (and it sounds like it could) it would not only draw attention to Biola, but it would also be a start for many talented young filmmakers to make quality films while representing Christ. What an incredible opportunity for AS and for Biola! I hope that the ones making this decision will keep this in mind.
J
Thursday, February 28, 2008
I’m totally okay with AS giving funds to help finance this movie. Domestic Violence Awareness is someting that I am very passionate about. To say that we shouldn’t give funds for this film because it won’t directly benefit our student body is ignorant. As a Christian community we should be more concerned with helping others. I also believe that this film could motivate more people to get involved with helping victims of domestic violence-how can you say no to that? Plus the recognition that it could possibly get at film festivals would be great for the film department and Biola.
I will actually be quite upset if AS doesn’t give them the funds. I’d rather the money be spent on this project than a ping-pong table or decorative plants.
Jessica
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Much has been said about this film’s stance on Domestic Violence and the impact that it will have. After reading the many drafts of the screen play I couldn’t agree more. I would, however, like to address how supporting this particular project will help the film department as a whole. For those who are not familiar with the film program, I feel it would be wise to take a moment and attempt to explain exactly how and to what degree such a film be beneficial for the hundreds of students involved in the film community on campus. Making high quality student films requires more than just skill and money. It also requires a significant amount of pre-established notoriety. Every project requires a certain amount of favors and, as you might imagine, the fine people of LA are not jumping to hand them out to random unestablished college students. It is fairly easy for any student to make movies here on campus. Facility services are accommodating, campus safety is understanding and nearly everybody and their roommate wants their 15 seconds of fame in front of the camera. Step outside into the real world, however, and everything becomes drastically more difficult. If you have not pre-established yourself as a talented filmmaker, hardly anyone is willing to take a risk on you. More so than the rest of the world (which is saying something), the people of Hollywood are extremely focused on what their support will achieve for them personally. As M mentioned above, “The film department has its own way of getting money.” Well M is right, we do. However, every student from Chapman, USC, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, LA Film Institute and now even APU are all trying to reign in favors (i.e money) from the exact same sources. How then will a company choose who to give their money to? It will go to the students who have the best looking resume. And when it comes to student films, it is not necessarily the resume of the student but rather the resume of their institution that holds the most sway. In layman’s terms, which ever student comes from the college that has the most “street credit” will be taken most seriously. In my recent experience as a casting director I had a lot of opportunities while talking with actors and agents to test the waters to see what Biola’s “street credit” is like. I found that most agencies had never heard of us and in those cases I was rarely given the time of day. (translation- no access to actors) The few actors who had heard of us, however, were very excited to work with us again. To a VERY small scale Biola has begun to build a reputation of being very solid, professional filmmakers with a wonderful easy-to-wok-with disposition on set. One actor even told me that he would much rather work with us than the “arrogant [brats] over at USC.” This is great news. It means that Biola students are representing themselves will in the community and have been scratching and clawing their way into good standings with the community. The issue is that we are such a small school, that we have not been able to create films that gain the attention of the secular film community at large. ROSEVILLE has the potential to do this. With the right funding this film has the possibility to be seen on a national level, spreading the good name of Biola everywhere with it. It the end, funding this film will achieve much more than simply supporting what will become a emotionally riveting film on domestic violence. The effects of its success will echo much farther down the road as future film students reap the “street credit” that this film will provide. While AS may be worried about setting a precedent that they will always support student films, (something that they cannot obviously do) this is the time to make an exception. Of all the films that Biola is making, this is the project that will cause the most ripple effects that will not only improve the chances of success for the current student filmmakers but will also have benefits trickling down to the many future classes of Biolans to come.
Andru
Monday, March 03, 2008