A New Westminster resident is seeking sponsors for her first foray into filmmaking since graduating from film school.
Janelle Miguel, who graduated from the Vancouver Film School in January, is developing a short film, Lucy Redd. She's reaching out to the New Westminster community to help make the film, which is a followup to Autumn, a short film she made in film school.
"We are looking for any local business to sponsor the film, either by making a monetary contribution or by providing inkind services to help with food, props or product," said a press release. "What you get is a community supporting the local arts, an opportunity to get your logo and company's name in the film credits, on the movie's website and at various fundraising events that we are holding for the film."
While the cast and crew are donating their time to the project, the funds would cover costs associated with equipment, film insurance and rental of a heritage house in New Westminster. Two sponsors have already committed to the project.
"Nobody is being paid. It is a no-budget," Miguel said. "The main things we are paying for is technical, the food."
A two-year resident of the Royal City, Miguel would like to see the film shot in New Westminster and has found a location that's perfect. Lucy Redd will be filmed in August.
"The house is beautiful," she said of a home she's had reviewed by others involved in the film. "They said the place is perfect. Now it's speaking to them and seeing what is a reasonable rate."
Miguel is on a mission to raise about $10,000 to help cover costs associated with making Lucy Redd. Local Leo winners Julia and Peter Benson will act in Lucy Redd, which was written by Leo-nominated writer Erin Buhr and will be shot by Leo-winning cinematographer Pieter Stathis.
"We want to have it totally compete by October because we are aiming for all of the film noir festivals, Sundance and the Leos, hopefully," she said. "They wouldn't have come on board if they didn't like the concept."
A press release states that the goal is to create a film that will not only entertain the audience but also satisfy movie enthusiasts with its cinematic style, creative direction and talented actors.
"Lucy Redd, 26, is a wife in the 1950s. She's obedient and loving, but finds her love challenged when her husband, Walter Redd, 30, becomes interested in another woman," said a synopsis of the short film. "Can love save her marriage? She is determined that it will."
Miguel, a native of Toronto, moved west to pursue a career in the film industry. She's done some work as a production assistant but is currently focusing all of her efforts of bringing her film to life.
"I have to make it happen," she said.
For more information contact Janelle Miguel at [email protected] or at 778-789-6635.
