SHORT FILM TREATMENT
We are seeking completion funding for “Heart Swell” to transform it into a 45-minute short film format.
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This transformation will enhance our project’s exposure, increasing its chances of recouping the monies invested to date. Statistical data indicates that short films gain greater exposure and are more likely to be sold upon entering the festival circuit compared to feature format entries.
Additionally, short films are more likely to receive additional grants and state funding from the state of Hawaii, where we are currently submitting “Heart Swell” for the inaugural Hawaii RFP grant. This grant provides funding for short film projects from registered Hawaiian-based production companies, such as Make Believe, with awards ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, as determined by the state board overseeing this project.
Although “Heart Swell” still has a “producer holding” contract with Foundation Media expiring at the end of February, we are permitted to pursue external completion funding through other sources.
Should the project be released, we retain full control over its intellectual property and are free to distribute it through various channels.
As previously mentioned, Little Chris has achieved remarkable success through his Instagram feed. He has set a record-breaking wave size of 64 feet and is officially the youngest African American to catch a wave of that magnitude at Peahi. This accomplishment has garnered the attention of potential sponsors seeking to elevate him to the level of Kai Lenny in the surfing world.
We are currently filming new interviews with Chris, who will share his experiences and the extensive training he underwent to achieve this extraordinary feat.
We believe we have sufficient footage outside of securing additional funding to return to New Orleans to film some of the origin story with his family, detailing how he and his father arrived at the shores of Maui and the story of his remarkable will and determination in becoming such an accomplished surfer and exemplary young man in such a short period of time.
Not only has your and Tom’s generous support through SHACC contributed to his remarkable trajectory, but it has instilled in him the unwavering confidence to push his boundaries even further, as he aspires to one day travel to Nazaré and ride the legendary giants that exist there. We at Make Believe continue to provide him and his family with our unwavering support by offering our jet ski and equipment for training, connecting him with the appropriate safety team members to ensure his well-being, and funding this endeavor through our own means and connections. We are committed to “paying it forward” with other projects we sold, such as “Into the Black,” a six-episode Season 1 pick up by VICE television and Discovery preparing for principle photography in Maui, commencing pre-production in September of this year.
We are seeking completion funding in the amount of $50,000 to provide us with the necessary budget to conclude principal photography in New Orleans.
Additionally, this funding will cover post-production expenses, including the assembly of all footage, editing, and sound mixing. We will also allocate a portion of this funding to acquire the rights for an original soundtrack composed by local Hawaiian artists who have generously offered their talents and music to elevate this project to new heights.
Furthermore, this funding will assist in submitting the film to the film festivals we have already secured for consideration in the following year.
As we say, “all sails catch the wind,” or in our case, the wave. Therefore, any consideration you would lend to this project’s success would be graciously accepted and rewarded with its triumph.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Aloha nui loa,
Nick & Jeffrey
And the entire Davis family
