Fundraising letter for Shoes, a short feature produced by independent filmmaker Janelle McCuen.
Dear Friend of the Arts,Thank you for considering making a contribution toward the completion of my film, Shoes. As an independent filmmaker, I very much need the help of my friends and of local supporters of the arts.
Shoes is a short feature film about a young girl’s struggle to fit in at a new school. The movie presents an intimate child’s-eye view of how we see ourselves through others, and how a single item, in this case a pair of clunky welfare shoes, can come to stand for the greater dream of acceptance and self-worth. A labor of love four years in the making, Shoes was shot on locations in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, with a wonderful group of non-professional child actors.
What's the money for?
After a two-year post-production process slowed considerably by a lack of funds, Shoes now has all of its creative elements in place. The final technical work is underway, including the creation of special effects, laying down the final sound mix and printing the trial and release prints. Very soon, Shoes will be complete and ready to screen. The money we're raising now will go toward these production processes. I need your help to get Shoes out of the lab and out into the world!
Who will see Shoes?
I'll be submitting Shoes to a variety of local film festivals over the next two years, including the Mill Valley Film Festival, San Francisco’s Film Arts Foundation Festival and the San Francisco International. In fact, our first opportunity to screen occurs very soon. San Francisco State’s Film School is holding their annual Film Finals Festival on May 18. If chosen to represent the university, Shoes will tour with other short films to art theaters in San Francisco and Berkeley this summer. So you see that my need to fund final production is immediate.
In addition, I look forward to submitting Shoes to television stations with programming catering to young viewers. I plan to market and distribute Shoes to the elementary school and library circuits as well. Several elementary school educators have told me that Shoes would work well as a tool to help deal with the difficult issues of class-bias and prejudice in the classroom.
How to Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution
Shoes has been awarded a sponsorship grant by The Bay Area Video Coalition. Through their sponsorship, your contribution becomes tax deductible. To help me complete Shoes, please make your check payable to BAVC. In the memo portion of your check, write: Janelle McCuen, “Shoes.” (BAVC will keep 5 percent of the money contributed; the rest will go to the final production of Shoes.) Please send your check to BAVC, 2727 Mariposa Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA 94110.
If you include your email and mailing address, I will send you an invitation to our upcoming San Francisco Premiere Celebration and keep you informed about future screenings.
Once again, I thank you for supporting independent film and keeping the San Francisco art scene alive.
Sincerely,
Janelle McCuen
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