1.19.2010

Moving along by going back...

This morning I started perusing the notes from the script meeting I had early last month with my mentor/producer up in Boston. I instantly got jazzed again and am going a-hunting for more visuals today. I began assembling footage as a new project on my desktop editor this weekend, and seeing the elephant and kiddies and pix was enough to energize me a lot.

I will be shooting another pint-sized reader for the Roger movie today, and am really looking forward to it! It's time to put the casting call in NEFilm.com and nail down the audition details in Cranston.

If anyone has historic stills of Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, or .wav files of kids laughing and playing outdoors or images of turn of the century (19th to 20th century, that is) circus posters and would be willing to have them be part of the Roger Movie, please contact me at tapit@care2.com!

Thanks!

1.14.2010

Coming to a station near you...

The interview that we taped on NCTV (channel 18,RI Cox cable station) is in the can and will be airing in Rhode Island soon. I saw it yesterday and though I wished I looked a little jazzier, I was pleased. I made a couple of gaffs, but that's to be expected on a program without notes, so I hope I'll be forgiven for those. I will also post dates and times as soon as I get them from the station manager.

Otherwise the project continues apace. Fundraising is temporarily stalled at the kickstarter site
(http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/862186635/elephants-in-rhode-island-needs-archival-footage),
mainly due to the fact that many people don't have amazon accounts and aren't that eager to start any. If that's the case with you, please contact me and we can make an alternative arrangement for your support. So far, I've had donations from the US, Russia, and Israel. And for everyone who has helped out so far, my deepest thanks! We may be seeing the new footage before long. When I receive it, I'll make sure everyone gets to share in it ASAP. If you happen to think of anyone who may be interested in getting a credit on this film, please feel free to forward them the link or even post it on your facebook, twitter, etc. account.
(End of solicitation.)

Happy New Year...

1.10.2010

A perfect ten

Moving right along on the Roger project, I shot the first of the children reading one of the poems written to that lucky elephant. The camera loved this kid! She was ultimately photogenic and will do really well in the picture. She read well, and we'll get her up to speed the next time when we shoot for real- in costumes!

I feel the energy really flowing these days and continue hunting down what I need to do to get the project done.

1.08.2010

Be a sponsor!

I just learned about a great new microfunding site that could help bring the elephants to life! It's called kickstarter.com and they make it possible for people to sign on to independent projects that need some cash infusion.

So the Elephants now have a funding home. Check it out at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/862186635/elephants-in-rhode-island-needs-archival-footage

And feel free to pass the info around to your friends, neighbors, rich uncles, etc.

With great thanks....

1.07.2010

New Year

After a too-long absence I'm back on track with the doc. It's been a fascinating time and I'm eager to make real progress again so that soon the stories will be playing in a theater near you!

Since the last post on this blog, I've-
1) given talks around the state about the project,
2) located more historic footage that's related to the Roger the Baby Elephant Story,
3) written a rough draft of Elephants in Rhode Island; the Book,
4) worked with my producer in Boston on restructuring the project.
5) made a short film, "The Elephant's Dream", from a children's book written by Eclipse Neilson about how she got involved in advocating for Fanny's release in Pawtucket. The film was shown in the Southern New England Independent Film Festival in September.
6) done more research on elephants in Rhode Island, including the death of Targa the Elephant in Providence in 1987.

So here's how Elephants in Rhode Island looks today.
I have most of the footage I need, though I want to get some more cover shots.
The project will be released in four parts- three short films (Betty in Chepachet, Roger the Baby Elephant, and Fanny in Pawtucket), and then a full length film incorporating the shorter ones with additional footage, including the future of elepahnts at Roger Williams Park Zoo, at the end as a full length feature.

I'm now beginning to film some young actors for the Roger Episode, which will probably be the first piece to be released. The first shooting is taking place this weekend, and I'm arranging with the Artist's Exchange in Cranston to hold the rest of the auditions there.

So that's the latest from here. More will come regularly for all of you who've been so patient. Thanks for being here!