Charlie cherishes his entertaining grandfather Poppy who, from a train station platform, creates magical moments. Over a span of 20 years, however, Charlie struggles to keep the magic alive by providing the entertainment when his beloved Poppy no longer has the strength.
Charlie cherishes his entertaining grandfather Poppy who, from a train station platform, creates magical moments. Over a span of 20 years, however, Charlie struggles to keep the magic alive by providing the entertainment when his beloved Poppy no longer has the strength.
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Story
About The Project
ABOUT CHARLIE & POPPY: When my oldest son was a toddler, my father-in-law (Pop-Pop) would pick him up from preschool in his red truck. With happy meals in hand, conductor hats on their heads, and train whistles in their pockets, the two of them would sit at the train station and wave to the conductor when the train pulled into the station. It was the highlight of my son’s 3-year old existence, and I feel quite certain it also topped my father-in-law’s list. When we moved five hours away from Pop-Pop's town, this ritual came to an end. My son is now 21 and my father-in-law is in his early 80s. I wrote Charlie and Poppy one morning when I was imagining how this ritual would have carried on if the two of them had continued to live just a mile apart.
I must admit, I cried when I wrote this script. I lost my own grandfather a few years ago and, despite the fact that I always knew I would probably live to experience the loss of my grandparents, in my heart I thought they would live forever. My grandmother (now 90) is going to live forever. I am sure that everyone who has ever loved a grandparent feels or has felt the same way. It is an extraordinary kind of love! Charlie & Poppy captures the magic that only comes from time spent with a grandparent.
ABOUT ME: I am a 43-year old emerging female film director who, after directing theatre for nearly 20 years, decided to return to school to study film at the age of 40. Charlie & Poppy is the third short I have written and directed in the past three years. While studying film at Fitchburg State University, I fell in love with screenwriting. I am currently enrolled in the MFA program: Writing for Stage and Screen at New Hampshire Institute of Art, where I continue to explore the art of storytelling.
The total budget for Charlie & Poppy is $10,000. Your contribution demonstrates your support for independent filmmaking and female filmmakers. Thank you for joining me on this journey and for supporting Charlie & Poppy. Jennifer Potts, Writer & Director
Our Cast
Warren Hammack, PoppyWarren began his professional acting career playing “Job” in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of The Book of Job in 1962. In the fifty plus years since he has shared the stage with many talented actors including four Academy Award winners: Jon Voight, Burl Ives, Jose Ferrer, and Peggy Wood. He has made numerous appearances on network television as well as K.E.T., the Kentucky public television network. Warren is the founding artistic/producing director of Horse Cave Theatre in Kentucky where he produced over one hundred and thirty plays in twenty five years. He has directed over seventy-five major productions in theatres from Dallas, Texas to Norwich, England including eleven world premieres. Since “retiring” from Horse Cave, Warren has acted and directed in theatres from Arkansas to Maine, including several seasons with the Peterborough Players. In 1995 Warren was awarded the Kentucky Governor’s Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. He now resides in Nelson, New Hampshire with his actor/director/writer wife, Pamela White.
Will Bouvier, Charlie
Will grew up in Groton, MA and now resides in Shirley, MA with his wife, Amanda, and their two young children. Will attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has been working in both film and theatre since. Will played the role of Henry in the feature Film Black Rock with Kate Bosworth, Katie Aselton, and Lake Bell (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhB7jTVxKPo). Locally, Will has been on stage at Wellsley Summer Theatre, Cornerstone Performing Arts Center, and, most recently, played the lead role in Jennifer Potts' short film, Home.
Incentives
$5
WHISTLE: Donate $5 and make some noise! Charlie and Poppy will whistle a big shout out to you on Twitter!$10
CABOOSE: Donate $10 and Charlie & Poppy will send a a big shout out to you and your Caboose on Facebook and Twitter!
$20
PASSENGER TRAIN: All aboard! Come join us on the set in North Conway, NH on November 1 and spend either the morning or afternoon with us while also being a part of the film! For $20, you will play the role of a train passenger in the film. Snacks will be provided. Every child under the age of 14 must have one "passenger train" adult accompany them.
Claimed: 0 of 30
$25
SUBWAY: The subway gets us to work! Donate $25 and Charlie & Poppy will send a a big shout out to you on Facebook and Twitter and send you a digital copy of the film when it is released.
$50
FREIGHT TRAIN: Freight trains keep this campaign rolling! This freight train is carrying a shout out on social media, a digital copy of the film when it is released, and a movie poster to adorn your walls!
Claimed: 0 of 100
$75
STEAM ENGINE: This powerful engine does not go unnoticed! You steam engines will receive a movie poster, a digital copy of the poster when it is released, and a thank you selfie by the director on Facebook.
Claimed: 0 of 75
$100
BULLET TRAIN: Bullet trains help us reach our destination quickly and, in return for that speed, we will give you a THANK YOU CREDIT at the end of the film, a digital copy of the movie when it is released, a movie poster, and a video thank you sung by director on Facebook.
Claimed: 0 of 50
$250
SCENIC RAILROAD: This scenic railroad will include a THANK YOU CREDIT at the end of the film and on IMDb, a digital copy of the movie when it is released, a video thank you dance from the director on Facebook, a movie poster, and a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is completed.
Claimed: 0 of 20
$500
TRAIN ENGINEER (Co-Executive Producer Credit): Thank you for keep our train moving! You will be CREDITED AS A CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER on the film and on IMDb! In addition, you will get a special invite to the private pre-screening party at the director's home, a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is complete, and a digital file of the finished movie and a poster signed by our cast and crew!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
TRAIN CONDUCTOR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT): You're getting all the bells and whistles with this award! For $1,000 you will be CREDITED AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER on the film and on IMDb! In addition, you will be invited to come watch the action on set, get a special invite to the private pre-screening party at the director's home, have a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is complete, and receive a digital file of the finished movie and a poster signed by our cast and crew!
Claimed: 0 of 2
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
WHISTLE: Donate $5 and make some noise! Charlie and Poppy will whistle a big shout out to you on Twitter!$10
CABOOSE: Donate $10 and Charlie & Poppy will send a a big shout out to you and your Caboose on Facebook and Twitter!
$20
PASSENGER TRAIN: All aboard! Come join us on the set in North Conway, NH on November 1 and spend either the morning or afternoon with us while also being a part of the film! For $20, you will play the role of a train passenger in the film. Snacks will be provided. Every child under the age of 14 must have one "passenger train" adult accompany them.
Claimed: 0 of 30
$25
SUBWAY: The subway gets us to work! Donate $25 and Charlie & Poppy will send a a big shout out to you on Facebook and Twitter and send you a digital copy of the film when it is released.
$50
FREIGHT TRAIN: Freight trains keep this campaign rolling! This freight train is carrying a shout out on social media, a digital copy of the film when it is released, and a movie poster to adorn your walls!
Claimed: 0 of 100
$75
STEAM ENGINE: This powerful engine does not go unnoticed! You steam engines will receive a movie poster, a digital copy of the poster when it is released, and a thank you selfie by the director on Facebook.
Claimed: 0 of 75
$100
BULLET TRAIN: Bullet trains help us reach our destination quickly and, in return for that speed, we will give you a THANK YOU CREDIT at the end of the film, a digital copy of the movie when it is released, a movie poster, and a video thank you sung by director on Facebook.
Claimed: 0 of 50
$250
SCENIC RAILROAD: This scenic railroad will include a THANK YOU CREDIT at the end of the film and on IMDb, a digital copy of the movie when it is released, a video thank you dance from the director on Facebook, a movie poster, and a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is completed.
Claimed: 0 of 20
$500
TRAIN ENGINEER (Co-Executive Producer Credit): Thank you for keep our train moving! You will be CREDITED AS A CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER on the film and on IMDb! In addition, you will get a special invite to the private pre-screening party at the director's home, a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is complete, and a digital file of the finished movie and a poster signed by our cast and crew!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,000
TRAIN CONDUCTOR (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT): You're getting all the bells and whistles with this award! For $1,000 you will be CREDITED AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER on the film and on IMDb! In addition, you will be invited to come watch the action on set, get a special invite to the private pre-screening party at the director's home, have a reserved seat at the private screening when the film is complete, and receive a digital file of the finished movie and a poster signed by our cast and crew!
Claimed: 0 of 2
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Jennifer Potts
Director
Jennifer Potts, a screenplay writer, theatre and film director, and producer, proves that life does not need to slow down when you get to the middle. Jennifer graduated from Drew University in 1992 with a BA in theatre arts. Jennifer founded and ran Cornerstone Performing Arts Center in Fitchburg, MA, where she oversaw a small non-equity theatre company and directed multiple productions every year. In 2012, at 41 years of age, Jennifer returned to school to study film/video production at Fitchburg State University, where she wrote and directed two short films and was awarded 2014 Film Student of the Year. Jennifer is now working toward an MFA in writing for the stage and screen at the New Hampshire Institute of Art and plans to continue producing and directing at least one film every year.
Mary Baker
Producer
Mary Baker is a Boston-based filmmaker who has worked in both narrative and documentary production. Her work has been screened at festivals across the country, including Cleveland International Film Festival, Tallgrass Film Festival, and New Filmmakers Showcase Los Angeles. Mary is an associate professor in the Communications Media Department at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA. She previously worked in Los Angeles in television production at NBC Studios and 20th Century Fox Television.
Devin Lyons
Director of Photography
Devin Lyons graduated from Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, with a bachelor's degree, specializing in film and video production. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works full time as a camera prep technician in the film and television industry. Devin has been the cinematographer for more than 10 short films and has professional experience in the camera department for reality, commercial, and broadcast television. He is excited to team up with Jennifer Potts for a second time and to be filming again in his native New England.
Alex Cameron
Gaffer
By the time Alex graduated from high school in FL, he had already won first place at the Palm Beach International Film Festival in the short film/commercial category and recieved the Sarah Fuller Scholarship his senior year for his dedication to the art of filmmaking. He was then accepted to the Florida State University Film School, where he learned the art of storytelling and cinematography and studied with Amy Vincent A.S.C. At school, Alex shot and directed several short films and documentaries that have since screened worldwide. One of these films, Raising the Titanic, screened at several international film festivals, including the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival this past summer. Alex lives in LA, where he works as a freelance assistant cameraman, gaffer, and cinematographer. When he is not working on set, he is likely hiking the trails and looking for his next inspiration.
Ian Buchanan
Key Grip / Jib Operator
Ian Buchanan is a New England-based camera operator and grip who, during the past three years, has worked in the industry in a variety of projects ranging from reality TV to narrative films. He has crewed on many local projects, including Breaking Boston and Wicked Tuna. Ian seeks to bring his skill set and sense of humor to this upcoming production and looks forward to being part of another New England film.
Charles Roberts
Editor
Charles Roberts is an editor and author of several textbooks on post-production. He is a film production professor at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA, where he teaches film and broadcast post-production. He earned an MFA in video production from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. During his less-than-copious free time, he is a freelance editor, camera operator, and video editing systems consultant.
Haley McHatton
Makeup
Haley McHatton is from Saugus, MA and will be graduating from Fitchburg State University in December 2014. She has worked in many different aspects of film production including set makeup. She looks forward to the opportunity to work on Charlie & Poppy and is excited to see the end result! -
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