Is it true that «Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me»? Too many victims of bulllying prove otherwise. The wounds of emotional, mental and physical bullying can run very deep. Some make it through fine. Others have scars for life. Some are not able to live.
«A Room With No View» is an authentic short film that shows the hell bullying can lead to and hope of finding a way back to life again.
The film is based on true stories. In this vimeo video you meet one of the victims who inspired it most. Silje Marie Strandberg became sick for many years, but has managed to find her way back to a full life again. She is brave and strong enough to share her experiences in a naked and honest interview.
Watch it here: A Survivor of Bullying Speaks Out: Silje Marie Strandberg, who has inspired the short film «A Room With No View».
This interview is produced by Genesis Film – www.genesisfilm.no with the financial support of Filmkraft Rogaland.
«A Room With No View» – coming autumn 2012. Produced by Genesis Film. Visit us on Facebook for more information: www.facebook.com/Aroomwithnoview .
The film will be a complete English language version (no subtitles).
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A Room With No View (”Et rom uten utsikt”) – Update
During the months since I last wrote about this project our focus has been on writing the screenplay and finding the money to go into production.
The screenplay is a fictional story based on interviews and informal talks with people who have been bullied to the extent that it has made their lives difficult. Some have even become very sick as a result. We are inspired particularly by one woman who I interviewed indepth. This interview is filmed and I will be releasing a very short version of it in the not so distant future.
A few weeks ago the screenplay got the ”thumbs up” by dramaturg Kirsten Rask. I let out a sigh of relief when she approved of it. I am always open for suggestions and questions that challenge me as a writer, in order to improve what I write. This being said, I felt like I had written a screenplay that I was pretty satisfied with. Since Kirsten hadn’t read any of the previous drafts, I prepared myself to be sent back to the drawing board. Luckily she was happy with what she read.
The discussions with the directors, Inger Lene Stordrange and Skjalg Molvær, of how they plan to bring my words to life, have been very inspiring. I am very much looking forward to the result
We are scheduled to start shooting mid April. As of now we plan to shoot most of it in Kristiansand and Sveio. Solveig Arnesen has taken responsibility of hands-on director, so she is busy getting the crew and cast in place. The spots are filling up fast now. I am happily observing from the sidelines, as I continue to work towards financing.
Our strategy from the start was to try crowdfunding, applying to organizations who (hopefully) are not flooded by film projects and see this as a project along lines that they are concerned with and pre-selling/distribution.
The crowdfunding has mainly been powered by our Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/aroomwithnoview and www.facebook.com/etromutenutsikt and the homepage www.etromutenutsikt.com . Early on the English and Norwegian pages were equally focused on and we received funding both from Norway and abroad. At one point I decided to favor the Norwegian site for a while, yet planning to return to the English-language one at a later date. None of the pages have any ”wow”-factor as far as number of ”likes”, but between the two and the efforts we have made by sending out requests to companies, Lions clubs and organizations such as Mental Helse (Mental Health) has resulted in kr 35.000,-
There has also been some newspaper articles on the film and a portrett interview with Silje Marie Strandberg (mentioned above as the one I interviewed indepth), which has had an impact on some of these funds coming in.
I hope that when we post the interview extract, that it will inspire more people to donate. Her story is very moving and we hope our film will be, too. We will be posting it with English subtitles, since the film itself will be produced in both a Norwegian and an English version.
We have also received sizeable financial support from Utdanningsforbundet (Union of Education Norway).
We have also been working towards pre-sales/distribution. Yes, it is a short film (and no one has ever heard of one actually selling?) and yes, it is a film intended to have a high artistic level. One we aim at showing at film festivals. (At this point we are allowed to be optimistic, so I add: we aim at winning some prizes. Why not?) I have never seen any contradiction between creating something that holds high artistic standards and something that could have a large audience.
I am in this to make films, because I love films. I also have a driving passion for issues that matter. Most of what I have done reflects this. As does this project.
Due to the subject matter, we see that this film can have a large audience if distributed correctly. Nothing would make me happier than to see it reaching many people. Hopefully also creating a difference, even if it is for just one person.
We have sent out invitations to all of Norway’s 400 + municipalities. The invitation has been sent to the political and bureaucratic leaders (majors, heads of administration, schooling etc), so it would get in the highest hands possible. They have been offered to show the film at all their schools for a period of 6 weeks this coming fall through netstreaming. For this they pay a small fee.
22 have accepted so far. About 40-50 have declined. Several have requested to see the film completed and others have told us to go directly to their schools. The rest have not yet answered. I will give them a little more time, before sending a polite reminder. There are still over 300 potential “yes”’s out there and until otherwise proven, the possibilities of these are still open.
I have several other strategies up my sleeves, but since I have not yet started them properly, I will wait to write about them here.
My attitude has been that many small amounts equal a substantial total. Not everyone has a lot to give, but if many give a little… It is the result that counts.
Lately we have begun sending in applications to the larger funds and will be doing the rounds on the film funds. I hope that some of them see the value of what we are doing, and by assessing the screenplay and director’s notes see that the film will be one they will be happy to put their money into.
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February 6 is the annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This year marks the 9th time the UN focuses on this issue by dedicating an annual day to raise awareness.
The World Health Organization estimates that 120-140 million girls and women have had their genitals mutilated. 2 – 3 million new victims join their ranks every year. I was so taken by this that I spent several years doing research to why this tradition is still alive in this day and age. The result was a handful of articles, meetings with people that have touched me deep in my soul and will live with me for as long as I breathe, and a short documentary that I directed. CNN picked it up only a few weeks after it was launched on a dedicated website and broadcasted it in October 2009.
«The Cut» can be downloaded for free on www.thecutdocumentary.org . Or streamed on Vimeo as below.
The Cut is a short documentary about Mary (14 years old) and Alice (early 20s) from Kenya. Both are affected by the traditional rite of passage into womanhood: genital cutting.
Mary and her community are preparing for her ceremonial cutting.
Alice is studying to be a social worker to work against female genital mutilation. As the first in her community to refuse the practice, she has paid a high price for her choice to break with tradition.
Alice tells of the different myths she encounters in the community around her, as to why circumcision is practiced. Mary, on the other hand, has no voice. She just goes through the preparations and rituals in silence.
Director: Linda May Kallestein
Photographer: Justo N. Casal
Editor: Trine Nordmark Børstad
Producer: Phantomfilm
-Broadcast on CNN in October 2009.
-Nominated as best documentary at WT Os International Film Festival 2009
-Shown at various film festivals
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A reader of my short blog yesterday about the pitching contest I have been invited to, wrote this comment: «These seems like a traditional “soldier-returns-home-with-problems-film”, with a woman instead of a man. What other things do you think this will bring to the table that we haven’t seen before?»
I had not disclosed more than two sentences about my film idea «Fallen», and already this question was posed. What is actually says is, «We’ve heard it before…». Yawn.
Mark Twain said, «I like a good story well told.» I could not agree more.
This summer I saw a remake of Jane Eyre. I read the book decades ago and since then have seen countless dramatizations of it. Even though I knew the story off by heart, I found myself wanting to cry out to on-the-screen Jane to warn her. To tell her not to run off after finding out the deep dark secret of the love of her life. I even cried a litte.
If the criteria for creative expression, be it literature or film, is something we haven’t seen before, most of all that we read or see on film is without value. The first dramatization of Jane Eyre should never have taken place. Because anyone who could bother to read, had «seen» it with their inner eyes, while reading the novel. Not to mention every single remake since the first dramatization.
Taking it one step further, perhaps Charlotte Brontë failed by even writing the novel, according to the standards of «what we haven’t seen before.»? The story is about two people in love who cannot have each other because of the conventions of society.
Where have I heard that one before? Hadn’t Shakespeare already exausted that topic to the t in Romeo and Juliet?
Look aside from every theatre that Romeo and Juliet has been staged on and all the films made of it, is the basic storyline of Romeo and Juliet packed in other novels and films? The first film I spotted in my bookcase of dvds in search of Romeo and Juliet-look-alikes was Pretty Woman. I gave up searching for more films after finding the first couple of dozen that actually were Romeo and Juliet rip offs.
Some of these films are «yawn» material for sure. Others absolutely not.
It is not that they show us something we haven’t seen before that sets them apart, it is about how the story is told.
Love is universal. It can be told in a story as a cliché or it can be told in a way that makes our hearts break or makes us believe in love again.
Boiled down, most stories have been told before. Another example besides boy-meets-girl, is the Hero’s Journey. Need I list any films that are about the Hero out to save the world and on his quest also has an inner journey?
Again, what sets them apart are not what we haven’t seen before (because we have pretty much seen it all and this has been the case since the ancient world), but how it is told.
I guess that is why we already as children love to hear the same stories over and over again.
As long as a story tells us a little of who we are and is well told, it makes an impact.
Back to «Fallen», which is not even written yet and the first critical voice is happy to join the arena. I have a basic storyline in place. A character I am developing. These are my road maps, but I might end up taking a completely different route than the one I have defined for myself today. In part, because I trust the creative process which all of a sudden can lead to magic. In part, because I am allowing myself time to do proper research. I spend hours listening to veterans tell their stories. Mind you, after a while, the stories blend into each other. They are basically the same, with small individual nuances. If I follow the train of thought of my critic I should just tell them, «Heard it before. What can you bring to the table that I have not?» Yawn.
Believe me, that is the furtherst reaction I have when faced with real people and their stories. Yes, I have heard it before. That doesn’t mean I am indifferent. I am deeply moved. And I leave each meeting a little different person.
My aim for «Fallen» as for all my stories is a good story, well told. I trust that this is what will move the audience at a deep emotional level, because it tells us a little about who we are as humans.
If I manage that, I doubt very much that people seeing the film will yawn at having seen it before.
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Movies on War (www.moviesonwar.no) is a new film festival. Not surprizingly dedicated to movies on war. It starts on Thursday. Saturday there is a pitching contest, which I am headed for.
Some while ago the festival posted a contest: submit a synopis or film idea on the topic war and conflict. The best ideas would be invited to be pitched for a jury during the Movies on War festival. I had been thinking for quite some time about an idea to a film about a female soldiar returning home. Not all the causalities of war are those who do not make it home alive. Some return, yet with not much life left in them.
I have enough projects on my desk now. A new «bread job» that is very demanding, made me hesitate about writing the synopsis. After giving it some thought, I started some serious research. I met some veterans, and could no longer harbor any doubt. I have a great story that needs to be told. Also, all of my other projects are far more developed. It was time for me to start my next project. So I submitted my one page synopsis.
The film idea has the working title «Fallen». I am going to write this screenplay, regardless of what happens next Saturday. I am just grateful for the push for me to start the process now, and of course, to be among those invited to pitch.
During the course of the coming months, I will be meeting more veterans who have agreed to talk to me.
Be prepared to hear more about «Fallen». At least if you follow this blog.
Fingers crossed for next Saturday!
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«Shadows of a Midsummer’s Night» that I co-wrote with director Stian Einar Forgaard, is one of 10 Norwegian movies (3 features and 7 shorts), that is accepted to the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF).
This festival is the only children’s festival that is Oscar qualifying. The seven Norwegian shorts screened at the CICFF in the end of October has a chance at an Oscar nomination. A long shot, I’m sure, but fun all the same.
The CICFF is the largest film festival in the world that is dedicated to children’s films with 25.000 visitors annually. What I especially like about the festival is that there is a program for underprivileged children in the Chicago-area who get to go see these movies for free.
This will be the first international screening for our film. Apparently this film festival is often the first step towards other important festivals in the USA, especially for shorts. Perhaps there can be more US festivals in the future?
«Shadows» and the other films from Norway are a part of the International program and compete for a number of awards.
It’s fun seeing the film come to life and following from the sidelines as the film is screened in different venues.
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Producer’s Hat: A Room With No View, Part 2
(part 1: http://lindamay.montages.no/2011/08/19/producers-hat-part-1/ )
During the month that has past since I wrote the part 1, I have to admit I have been a little sidetracked working in my bread job. The hard reality of this business, as many know, is that the income from it fluxuates. Since I started a new job, my focus on producing and writing has been constricted to a minimum.
All the same, there is a little progress to be reported.
As I mentioned earlier, as producer, there are two tasks I feel are essential for the success of this project. The first and most crucial is, of course, securing financing to start production. When it comes to the second – distribution – there is a choice of either postponing dealing with this until the film is in (post)production OR to consider it to be the other side of the financing coin. I choose the latter.
Not only do I need the finances to be in order to make the film a reality, I feel it is equally important to get it to an audience. An audience larger than that of the festival circuit. Actually, distribution may also be the route to financing the production itself.
My strategy for financing is closely related to distribution. For now, there are two main routes I am following:
1) Crowd funding
2) Pre-sales of screening
Crowd Funding
We have initiated a «Donation Race» where we are searching for 1000 individuals who can donate kr 50 (or more) and 200 companies who can donate kr 500 (or more). If we manage to find these and they donate on the nose, we are only less than half way of our budget.
Up until now, a handful of people have donated. The minority has donated the kr 50, most donate more. (I am happy to accept the 50-kroner notes. A thousand of them equals 50.000…) And as of today, one company has donated the kr 500. (To check out how we are doing and what the donation race has brought in so far, check out: http://www.wix.com/lindamayk/a-room-with-no-view – look at the «Donation Race» tab. I usually update every Monday, so the donations are probably higher than what is on the site.) Donations trickle in on a regular basis.
We are using social media, but also word-of-mouth. I am working on some flyers that our supporters can use to spread around, both paper copies and e-versions that can posted on social media or sent via e-mails. (A copy of one of them in Norwegian is posted below.)
As a part of the crowd funding strategy, I have sent invitations to numerous local clubs that work with issues concerning mental health and also clubs such as Lions and Rotary. The first invitation I sent out during the summer came back with a «yes» and a nice donation. All the other invitations have been sent out this past week, so it is too early to tell how they will do. Many of these clubs only have monthly meetings, so it might take a couple of months before we hear back from most of them.
Since bullying is a central topic, I am also trying to find companies that sell products or services towards children and families. It might be of interest for them to take a stand against bullying. Again, these invitations have just been sent out, so it is too early to see if they will be coming back with any donations. As far as I am concerned, it’s worth a shot. I am only asking for a small amount, so I am hoping that it will seem so low that they feel it acceptable to chip in.
Pre-sales
Earlier this year, the Norwegian government sent an invitation to all the mayors in all the municipalities to sign a Manifest Against Bullying. A little over 280 have signed it. Some of these municipalities take this seriously and have programs and strategies in place, while others have signed it without giving much thought on how to put it in action.
Every one of these municipalities has now received a personal invitation via their mayors and administrative leaders and those in charge, both politically and administrative for schools from us. The invitation is to screeen the film in all their schools around the World Day for Mental Health in October 2012 and they are requested a small fee to do so. A small fee for them, but it could be a substantial part of our production cost.
It has taken the better time of this past month (in between the bread job hours) to get the information on who to send these invitations/applications to. So far 8 have replied. Five have said no (four due to financial reasons) and three have said yes! (Those who blame the financial situation will be getting new invitations as soon as we hit the fresh budget year in 2012….) I am now eagerly awaiting the reply from the rest 270-and-some who are probably reviewing this as we speak.
When the municipalities say yes, I send a press release to their local newspapers, so they receive positive feedback for their commitment in combatting bullying.
AND I have send press releases, information on the film AND an invitation to all the 250 plus plus local newspapers across Norway. I have informed them about the government’s Manifest Against Bullying and requested that they check if their muncipality has joined in. I have also suggested they follow up on what is being done where. As well as inviting them to participate in our Donation Race and invite their local businesses to take a stand. The first article was online a few days ago: http://www.fosna-folket.no/incoming/article1273768.ece (If there are articles in paper versions without a net-copy, I have no way of knowing what is covered where….)
I am hoping that keeping the press involved will be a positive factor for the entire cause.
There are other pre-sale strategies on my list, but since I have barely scraped the surface of them, I will tell more about these when I have set the wheels in motion.
In total, we have about 10% of what we need to cover the budget costs, once our working credits are deducted. So there still is a way to go. I have also a number of applications for support being reviewed by the more «common» support channels, as well as a few that normally do not fund film productions. It is all worth a shot. I am also going to invite a few companies to support us beyond the Donation Race as a role of sponsor.
We are definitely on an inspiring path and I am convinced that we will go in production with the complete budget covered. There is no reason not be optimistic.
Here is the one flyer (this is the Facebook version of it):
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I just returned from an inspiring weekend at The Norwegian Film Festival 2011. One highlight was briefly getting to know Hollywood screenwriter and producer James V. Hart (who has worked with directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and written movies like Sahara, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Contact, Dracula, Hook). Another high was finding out that «Shadows of a Midsummer Night» that I co-wrote with director Stian Forgaard is one of five Norwegian short films in the offical program!
I have to admit, I am a bit proud of that last high. Too bad I left too early to see it in the cinema coming this Wednesday. Still. Fun to know that this film is going places!
http://www.filmweb.no/filmfestivalen/incoming/article423477.ece?language=english&secName=Norwegian+Shorts&year=2011
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Producer’s Hat: A Room With No View
Some time ago, director Inger Lene Stordrange, whom I had worked with on short film earlier (“Gnist” /”Spark” – see previous blog), approached me with an idea she had for a short. I ended not only agreeing to write the script, I took upon myself to produce it as well. Genesis Film agreed to be the production company.
(I have previously written about “A Room With No View” in a blog earlier, so please scroll backwards to find out more about the story line.)
All films communicate something. Some have a message that is clearer than others, and sometimes this message happens to be one others are also trying to convey. Or a message that others empathize with. Others, meaning private individuals and organizations.
When this is the case, the possibilities for funding and distribution widen somewhat.
Financing a film, whether it is a short or a feature, is a heavy task. Yes, we have all the usual film financing channels, but the pressure on them has only increased these past years. And even if you succeed in getting a straw in their pockets, it rarely is enough to cover the entire party. Work credits and pulling in favors (or adding to the I-O-U list of favors to return in future) only goes so far.
Anyone trying to make a movie knows this.
Finding investors can be difficult enough for feature films, which in Norway has proven to be a risky venture, and is almost impossible for short film production. How many short films actually make any money?
Anyone ever hear of this ever happening?
Awards, yes. But an actual income?
Another issue is that short films rarely reach a large audience. I have heard from several filmmakers (only directors, I think) that they don’t care if their films reach an audience and that they only make films for themselves. I do believe there should be room for films that are for a narrow audience, but the clue here is that it is still an audience. Besides, who says that good quality films only appeal to a few? Why shouldn’t good, artistic films also be commercial successes? Or at least able to reach many people?
Personally, I want the films I make to be seen by many. That does not mean I am willing to sell out.
And if I can end up with a plus in my bank account at the end of the day, I don’t see why I should feel guilty about that. I have already used all my savings on earlier film projects and worked countless hours for free on almost everyone of them. At some point this will not be able to continue. Besides, if one film makes money, it would be channeled in to another project to get the next one going.
“A Room With No View” has several key elements that caught my attention to make me want to put on my Producer’s Hat. It has a strong visual potential and a strong story to convey, that I trust director Inger Lene Stordrange to be able to do a wonderful job on.
Two important topics in the film are bullying and mental illness. Both of these topics make it possible to think outside the box for financing and distribution. I have started to see that these can be two sides of the same coin.
Research turned up astounding numbers regarding bullying and mental illness:
-In a recent survey done in Norwegian schools, 30,000 pupils claim to be victims of harassment and bullying.
-About 1 in 5 will some time in their life experience a moderate to serious mental illness, so approximately 1 million of Norway’s population.
-900,000 persons in Norway have a close relative who has a mental illness.
These numbers are huge, considering that Norway only has a population of 5 million! If we compare to other countries around the world, the ratio is about the same. These issues affect a lot of people.
Bullying doesn’t always end up in mental illness and mental illness does not always start because of bullying. In our story, how ever, it does. Our film touches on both, and depending on what they are interested in, it appeals to a large amount of people.
Often issues on harassment/bullying and mental illness are taboo. People may speak about having cancer and other physical diseases, but rarely about mental illness. Bullying is also something that is misunderstood. Many adults don’t understand how painful it is for the victim and view it as innocent teasing that children always do.
On the surface.
Lately I have spoken to many people who know the truth about how devastating and difficult it is to live with these and on top of it, the additional pain that comes from the stigma and ignorance of people around them. After creating a Facebook page about the film, I have received mails from all over the world from people telling me similar experiences.
“A Room With No View” has the potential to reach many people and this should be a way for us to find ways to fund it.
Right before the summer vacation, I started trying out crowd funding as one strategy. I didn’t put much effort into it, something I will be doing in the near future. I did the same as “everyone” is doing these days – started Facebook pages (English: www.facebook.com/aroomwithnoview , Norwegian: www.facebook.com/Etromutenutsikt) . I also made homepages for the film (English: http://www.wix.com/lindamayk/a-room-with-no-view , Norwegian: http://www.wix.com/lindamayk/et-rom-uten-utsikt ). There was also an article about it in Rogalandsavis in July.
Between the two Facebook pages there are currently only about 100 followers. This is something I plan on trying to increase using various strategies.
For now, the few people (many whom I do not know) who have heard of the film have already donated over kr 8.000. That’s not much, but a whole lot more than when I wrote about funding earlier.
My goal is to get 1000 people to give kr 50 or more and 200 companies to donate kr 500 and more. This would give kr 150.000 as a minimum, if we reach this goal. Very few have donated kr 50. Most give a bit (some a lot) more.
In addition to using social media, I am working on flyers people can circulate, either on paper or by e-mail. Not everyone is on Facebook and we must not forget this. Of course, in order to get this started, I am depending on friends and family to help me, as well as those of everyone else involved. It will be interesting to see how far this gets us.
Everyone who donates by paypal and those who donate by bank and send us their e-mail address, are added to our mailing list. I will be keeping them updated about the project, so they feel involved. I have a few ideas of how to thank them properly, in addition to a personal thank you mail they all get after donating, but I will get back to that.
There are other strategies I have started working on, which tie funding and distribution. I will tell more about that when I put my Producer’s Hat back on next week.
For now, I am off to the Norwegian Film Festival for the weekend. :)
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The short film I am currently working on is entitled «A Room With No View«.
The film’s main female character has a long history as a psychiatric patient since her early teen year. Already as a child she was a victim of bullying and mocking, and this continued into her teens. Her self image became distorted and was expressed through eating disorders and by her cutting herself.
We meet her wandering aimlessly along a road where she is totally lost in her confusion. She is picked up by the police who commit her yet another time to a closed psychiatric ward. She feels she is trapped in a room with no view.
The turning point is in an unexpected meeting of two souls. A woman working as a cleaner in the hospital shows the kindness and compassion she needs at the right moment. This meeting becomes the final piece in her puzzle that moves her to a room with a view towards her healing.
We have a story to tell, but we also aim at depicting a visual impression of what it is like to be mentally ill and how the turning point towards recovery can be.
Currently we are focusing on financing the project and expect to be using pretty much the rest of 2011 to secure sufficient enough funds to go into production early next year. My roles are producer and writer, so I am heavly into working on the financial part these days. I have some thoughts on the script and am discussing it with director Inger Lene Stordrange. The story is inspired by the true life experiences of Silje Marie Strandberg (who will be assisting Inger Lene as director), so some of this summer will also be spent interviewing as research for the screenplay.
The topics addressed in this film are quite serious. I just read that 30.000 school children in Norway alone have reported that they have been bullied. A Swedish study has shown that a seriously bullied person costs the government in the range of millions of kroner. Society pays a high price in treatment, welfare etc. The highest price, of course, being carried by the individual who is a victim.
Late last week I created a few pages on Facebook about the film: (In English: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Room-With-No-View/182242131832270?sk=info and in Norwegian https://www.facebook.com/pages/Et-rom-uten-utsikt/183041585082528?sk=info – please feel free to «like» us on one or both!). At the moment there is less than a crowd of people liking the pages, but it seems that it is important for some of them who already are. I have recieved mails and phone calls from all corners of the planet from people who know this reality to be true and who are very happy that we are focusing on these important issues.
We have also started a campaign trying out crowd funding as one way of reaching our goal of funding this project. I will write more about this in a later blog. In the mean time, check out the homepage to the film A Room With No View (which also explains about the crowd funding, here called Donation Race and has posted an update on how much funding is already in place in form of donations.)
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