A new crowd-funding service developed to help independent Canadian documentary filmmakers build their audiences and raise support for projects in development has been launched by Hot Docs.
It’s called Doc Ignite, and the first film it will support is called HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE, a unique time-travel documentary directed by Jay Cheel, and produced by Primitive Entertainment.
Having received support from the Shaw Media-Hot Docs Development Fund, the production team now needs to off-set production costs. For the next 45 days, HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE will campaign through Doc Ignite with the goal of raising $25,000, to fund the use of costumes, props, locations and actors.
“Doc Ignite gives audiences the incredible chance to take an active role in the production process,” Elizabeth Radshaw, Hot Docs Forum and Market Director, described. “It is thrilling to connect audiences to directors at an early stage and provide support for fantastic projects like HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE.”
A genre-bending, real-life-science-fiction mystery, HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE will explore time travel and the story of Internet phenomenon John Titor, a self-professed time traveller from the year 2036 who was sent to 1975 to retrieve an IBM 5100 computer. On the return trip, Titor made an unauthorized stop in the year 2000 for “personal reasons,” where he connected with his family and two-year-old self, and shared information about the future with an online group of time travel enthusiasts.
“The John Titor story has been retold many times, but I’ve never been totally satisfied,” explained director Jay Cheel. “I want to tell this story in the most cinematic, engaging and entertaining fashion possible, and I’m looking for help to make it happen.”
Although many think his tale is a hoax, there are those who strongly believe that he was actually from the future. HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE will tell the John Titor story through interviews with physicists, time travel experts and his loyal followers, as well as through detailed re-enactments of his original Internet posts.
Through the Doc Ignite crowd-funding service, those interested in supporting HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE can learn about the project, follow Jay’s progress through frequent blog and video posts, and pledge support in exchange for incentives. Depending on the level of financial support, those who pledge will receive incentives ranging from copies of the final film and time travel fund certificates, to tickets to the film’s premiere and a custom, time travel lamp art piece.
Doc Ignite projects will be curated by Hot Docs industry experts. Filmmakers interested in submitting projects for consideration are able to do so through the Doc Ignite site.
The first six projects featured on Doc Ignite will receive an additional boost: Toronto’s Open Roof Films, presenters of the popular summer outdoor film and music series Open Roof Festival, has generously ignited each campaign with a $1000 prize.
Doc Ignite was made possible by the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Telefilm Canada, the City of Toronto, and the Toronto Community Foundation.
Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market, will present its 19th annual edition from April 26 – May 6, 2012. In partnership with Blue Ice Film, Hot Docs operates the recently acquired Bloor Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, set to re-open this year.
For more Mediacaster Magazine coverage related to this story, please see:
Docs are Hot Again as Online Funding, TV Calling, Festival Screenings Announced
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/docs-are-hot-again-as-online-funding-tv-calling-festival-screenings-announced/1000868550/
Hot Docs, Blue Ice Team up on Revitalized Bloor Cinema
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/hot-docs-blue-ice-team-up-on-revitalized-bloor-cinema/1000505437/
HDoutdoor Delivers Hot Docs Up on the Roof
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/hdoutdoor-delivers-hot-docs-up-on-the-roof/1000409256/