New Perk Launch for just 5$ contribution: appleseeds Production Diary

That's right, for just 5$ you can have full access to our exclusive production diary site!  A full production diary, from prep to post and beyond! All contributors will get exclusive access to videos, pictures, interviews and more.

click here to sign up and remember to check out the other perks and help us rock this production:
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Scout for Johnny Hi-Fi's Music Video: Politician

Here's a short taste of why production diaries are cool. Example here: The music video Politician I directed for the awesome band JOHNNY HI-FI! The music video was produced by Stephanie Watanabe and crewed by some of the most talented people I've had the pleasure to share a set with.

PREP STAGE LOCATION SCOUTS: Personally, one of my favorite times in production because it's all about possibility at that stage. How does this location fit the vision? Or does it expand what you have on the page? Locations are almost always the last element to be locked in any production. It's really important that you know why you are choosing a location and what it represents in your tale.

Check out some of our early location scout pics below and then watch the music video. See how awesome Johnny Hi-Fi is and also see how we transformed the locations for our story. Can you guess what book we pay homage to? 

about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

Pictures worth a million internalized words: The Things That Make Us Uncomfortable

Go Daddy: would this mean the same thing if it was a man?

Read this blog and just had to re-post it. Sometimes we let ideas and images slip by because we are so used to being bombarded with them. They become part of our "socialized unconscious." It's clear a dialogue about how women are represented in all forms of media is needed now more than ever. Sex sells, we know that. But how about some equal time for women to count for more than just a pretty face and a perfect body. Every image counts. 

Excerpt from May 22nd Blog at Feministing.com by ehammers 

"We have innate reactions to minority groups. We have innate reactions to things that we feel are unjust or wrong. We feel personally affected, and people begin to argue. People begin to lose control and fight, people begin to start wars and create violence. I’m not just talking about women right now. “Women’s issues” are not one type of “issue”. “Issues” do not need to have a negative connotation at all. What about “IDEAS”? Ideas have a positive connotation. Spreading ideas is the answer. How do we begin to do that? How do we begin to start watching the television and working towards making advertising NOT controversial? Coming up with ideas together. Instead of FIGHTING the ad agencies and turning it into a war about “Women’s Issues”, what about starting a conversation?"


Continue reading: www.feministing.com



about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.
 

Contributing Artist Spotlight: Photographer Raphael Coffey

Raphael Coffey

Awesome photographer Raphael Coffey contributes both his time and his art to help us with our Indiegogo campaign for the short film "appleseeds."

We are so lucky to have Raphael as part of our team. Besides being one of the most genuine people you will every meet, his pictures are amazing. "He is just able to catch the spirit of each moment in his pictures. There are some people that just have that eye... they are in sync with the subject. I just love his work and I couldn't be happier to have him on set for this film." - Robyn Dettman, Director and Producer of appleseeds.

Raphael does it all with style and grace: portraits, company web shots, brochures, news (MSNBC and NBC.) Please check out his website at: http://www.raphaelcoffey.com




about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

House Republicans Exclude LGBT Victims from Violence Against Women Act

From May 16, 2012

Washington – The Human Rights Campaign is condemning a highly partisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, where GOP lawmakers just passed a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Unlike the bipartisan and LGBT-inclusive Senate version, the House bill fails to address discrimination faced by LGBT victims of domestic violence.  The bill passed 222-205, with 23 Republicans opposing it.

Reauthorizing VAWA need not have been a partisan fight.  Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) wanted to offer an amendment to the bill that would have increased protections for LGBT victims, but the House Republican leadership blocked her from even offering the amendment.

“Today, House Republicans put partisan politics above the well-being of victims of domestic abuse,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It is unfortunate – though not surprising – that some lawmakers refuse to acknowledge the basic dignity and respect LGBT domestic violence victims deserve. These lawmakers are leaving victims out in the cold with nowhere to turn for help, and attempting to further stigmatize many of the stereotypes associated with domestic abuse. We urge lawmakers to work together in conference so that VAWA is inclusive of all victims of domestic abuse.”

Continue reading: http://www.hrc.org



about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits to follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

How does Cannes 2012 reflect the representation of women in film and media?

In a letter published last week in Le Monde newspaper, a group of feminists backed by a French actress and two female directors complained about the sexual imbalance.

"Don't allow young women to think that they might one day have the gall to direct films and to go up the steps of the Palais except on the arms of a prince charming," they wrote, referring to the red carpet entrance to the main cinema in Cannes.

"We will be better able to assess female representation at this year's festival after seeing some of the anticipated competition films, including "Rust and Bone" (with Marion Cotillard), "On the Road" (with Kristen Stewart), "Lawless" (with Jessica Chastain) and "In Another Country" (with Isabelle Huppert).

"It may turn out that the 'female auteur' presence in Cannes this year is the prolific international actress."

Continue reading: www.uk.reuters.com 


about Duendefilms West production of appleseeds: 

Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits that will follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

Geena Davis talks about gender imbalance in film and media

Had the great experience to see Geena Davis announce her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
two years ago. I was just coming out of 2 months of radiation treatment and was lucky enough to have my future as a Breast Cancer Survivor in front of me. She inspired me so much at that talk and made me think what I could do with my passion for storytelling... how I can become part of the change I want to see.

Ms. Davis is  funny, articulate and fiercely intelligent. She has started the very important dialogue of gender balance in representation in film and media. Here she speaks with The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Blumenstein in reference to the "Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the U.S. Economy" report.



video courtesy of The Wall Street Journal


Please visit our indiegogo page to find out how we are trying to make a difference both in our short film and the screening/benefits that will follow to raise money and awareness around issues of domestic violence and gender representation in film and media.

Casting Update: Alexis Boozer joins the cast for short film "appleseeds."

Hazar!!

So very excited to announce that Alexis Boozer is heading our cast for our short film appleseeds.

Alexis Boozer

I first met Alexis when we were shooting the second season of the web series We Have To Stop Now.
Working with her was such a great experience and I was so impressed with her work that I immediately thought about her for the lead role in this film.

We need an actress able to convey a very complex range of emotions with very few lines. We need to see her struggle, strength and her fear, through every glance and movement. Alexis was able to convey a really rich, complex character in just a few minutes of screen time in the web series, so I can't wait to see what she does with this role.

As a director, I couldn't be happier that she can join us in this film and also be part of the screening/benefits we plan for the fall of 2012. We are using this film as a centerpiece for panel discussions with female leaders in the entertainment industry to explore the representation of women and girls in film and media. We are very happy that Alexis will join those thought leaders and help raise money and awareness for women at risk, domestic violence and abused children.

Alexis also stars in the award-winning series, Leap Year.  Check this out the show's second season premiere on HULU premiere on June 18th. The First season is available now on HuluPlus here.
The show has garnered all sorts of awards including Winner of NATPE 2012 Digital Luminary Award and Winner of 2012 Silver Telly Award: Best Comedy. Alexis was nominated for 2012 IAWTV Award Best Female Performance (Comedy). Don't miss this show!

 - RDettman

Join our team and support us at indiegogo here.
Check out Alexis's facebook page here.
Check out her website here.

Study finds that females are more likely to be put in sexual, violent scenes

Really interesting study on the representation of females in film and media. Every role sends a message to young girls and teens. Every image tells a strong story: what story are we trying to tell with these numbers? How can we change this trend in the film industry?

 Journal of Adolescent Health - April 2012

"Women continue to be under-represented in film overall and twice as likely as males to be seen in sexually explicit or violent scenes, according to a new study from the Annenburg Public Policy Center. The report analyzed 855 top box-office movies from 1950 to 2006, with co-author Dan Romer noting surprise at "the same representation of women today as was prevalent in the 1950s. With women increasingly playing major roles in all walks of life, Hollywood appears to remain in the mindset of a much earlier era."

Continue reading: jahonline.org

Join Duendefilms West and their campaign for 'appleseeds" the film. All proceeds from screenings donated to local and national organizations to stop domestic violence.
Check us out at www.indiegogo.com/appleseeds

Launch Day!

LAUNCH DAY, everybody! We’ve got 45 days to raise $15,000. That’s 150 people giving a hundred bucks apiece. Or 750 people giving twenty bucks apiece. Or 3,000 people giving five bucks apiece.

The only problem? I don’t know 3,000 people.

Neither does Robyn. We counted.

That’s where you come in, gentle reader. We’re not popular, but YOU are. Look at you! So suave and sophisticated. The life of every party. The envy of silvery debutants and European royalty alike!

(That color looks fabulous on you, by the way.)

Once you’ve finished perusing our IndieGoGo page and selecting the perk you’d like to invest in, share your thrill with the world. Put it on your facebook, tweet about it on twitter, link to it on your blog and talk about it really loudly while you’re sitting through the Avengers previews.

Keep coming back for updates! Robyn and I will be posting pictures and updates.

If we hit $5,000 by the end of the weekend, I’ll post a special video wherein I’ll reveal a dreadful, dark secret.

Or I’ll show you how to draw an ostrich. It depends on the weather.

-ashley