CLARKSTON: Mother of Exiles
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Feature
Documentary
In the wake of trauma, three refugees & a former Klansman seek to re-establish their identities in a nation struggling with an identity crisis of its own. CLARKSTON follows the intimate journey of these unlikely companions connected by the most diverse square mile in America - Clarkston, GA.
CLARKSTON: Mother of Exiles
Atlanta, Georgia | Film Feature
Documentary
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,634 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
144 supporters | followers
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In the wake of trauma, three refugees & a former Klansman seek to re-establish their identities in a nation struggling with an identity crisis of its own. CLARKSTON follows the intimate journey of these unlikely companions connected by the most diverse square mile in America - Clarkston, GA.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mother of Exiles
(working title)
CLARKSTON has completed a year of principal photography. We are in our second month of edit and plan to release the film in early 2020! Production has been fully funded and post-production is almost there. With your help, we can cross the finish line!
Across the country and world, there is growing fear, animosity and hatred among people of different political beliefs, races, faiths, and cultures. But in Clarkston, Georgia - home to resettled refugees from across the globe representing over 150 ethnicities and all of the major world religions - we find a community of individuals who welcome the stranger and choose forgiveness over hatred. In Clarkston, wounds are healed and broken lives are rebuilt when service to community outranks service to oneself. Like any place, Clarkston is imperfect; however, in this town, where a former white supremacist and a former refugee of different faiths become friends, we find hope. The stakes are high—will the America of tomorrow resemble Clarkston, or will its wounds continue to grow and its divisions widen? CLARKSTON uses intimate and interwoven character-driven stories to show how this town and those who reflect its spirit can be a beacon of hope for America - the Mother of Exiles.
WHO’S IN THE FILM
Amina
Age: 90. Feels: 21. Speaks: Nine languages. Favorite Food: Okra. Nickname: Mama and/or Queen of Clarkston.
Bawi
Goal: Become a US Prosecutor. Origin country: Burma. Grade: 12th. Favorite Movie: Kung Fu Panda.
Chris
Duties: Father, husband, Veteran, Narcotic Anonymous leader. Number of tattoos: Too many to count. Favorite football team: Ohio State Buckeyes.
Heval
Former occupation: Dishwasher. Current occupation: Cardiologist. Ethnicity: Kurdish. Favorite moment in 2018: Marrying Kajin (also a former refugee, also a cardiologist)!
City of Clarkston
Mayor: Ted Terry (yes, Mayor Ted from “Queer Eye”)! Ethnicities Represented: Over 100. Size: 1.4 square miles. Population: 13,500.
We've come so far already and need your help crossing the finish line! If we raise $5,000 that will cover licensing amazing music for the film. Our first stretch goal of $11,000 total would also include $6,000 for the sound design in post-production to make sure all dialogue and noise sound perfect. And our second stretch goal for a total of $17,000 would fund the final $6,000 needed for color correction to make sure that every shot in the film looks as smooth and beautiful as possible! With your support, the rest of our edit budget will be funded! Then all that's left is our extra philanthropic raise to support our Impact & Education Campaign after the film comes out. Boom! Thanks!
Be sure to check out our Team Page to see the incredible team behind this project! We are all incredibly grateful for your support & hope you share this with your friends and family as well!
Upon release, CLARKSTON will have a dynamic impact and education campaign based on our hope that the reconciliation on display in Clarkston inspires a greater connection and understanding between all people.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Local Clarkston Song!
Costs $1,000
Help us pay local musicians in Clarkston to create a song for the film!
Refugee Song!
Costs $1,000
Help us buy a song written by refugee artists for the film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Hit Song!
Costs $3,000
Help us buy a hit song!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Erin Bernhardt, Producer & Director - Her first film, IMBA MEANS SING, was translated into 37 languages and aired on Netflix, Delta Studio, and all major VOD platforms
Din Blankenship, Co-Producer - Has lived in refugee camps and designed facilities for refugees living in these camps
Joseph East, Director of Photography - His first film, I WILL DANCE, played on PBS and toured in the NEA’s Southern Circuit
Danielle Bernstein, Editor - Has won dozens of film festival awards, CLARKSTON is her 4th feature documentary
Mohua Thakurta, Assistant Director - Learned filmmaking in Bollywood
Abdulkadir Mohamed, Clarkston Consultant and Production Assistant - Made his first film while living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya
Kato Dsenabulya, Clarkston Consultant and Production Assistant - CLARKSTON is Kato’s first film, he’s one of the many Clarkston residents and refugees we’re training and hiring on our crew
Executive Producers:
Emmanuel Jal - Former child soldier turned movie & music star and peace activist
Sabrina Merage - CLARKSTON is her first film to EP
Mary Beth Minnis - Also EPed Emmy-winning film TOWER
Pat Mitchell - EP on docs awarded 34 Emmy’s, five Peabody’s, two academy award nominations, Editorial director, TEDWomen & serves on the Sundance Institute, Participant Media, Skoll Foundation and Women’s Media Center boards
Mark Rogers and Mandi Hart of More Productions - Invested in WAITING FOR THE MIRACLE TO COME starring Willie Nelson and Martin Scorsese’s SILENCE
Stephen Nemeth - EPed Academy Award nominated WAR DANCE and is a multi-time Sundance winner
Brenda Robinson - Investor in Academy Award winner ICARUS and WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, the highest grossing biographical documentary of all time
Caroline Tucker - CLARKSTON is her first film to EP
Camera Operators:
Janey Fugate
Katie Hawkins
Zac Holben
Katrina Sorrento
Sarah Walker
Assistant Editors:
Janna Kay Swanson
Stephanie Zinnes
Field Audio Mixers:
Nikki Dengel
Ace Harney
Matt Schultz
Associate Producers:
Elise Conroy
Janey Fugate
Hallie Hartley
Alison Sheldon
Joanie Twersky
Still Photographers:
Lucy Brewer
Tomesha Faxio
Paige Gradishar
Kelley Sue Hardin
Julia Merrill
Pouya Ramezani
Production Assistants:
Dani Dutchi
Lizzy Kell
Francois Mub
Ronen Schechter
Henry Schunk
Monire Ramezani
Interns:
Clara Brown
Lydia Fiyori
Sarah Elizabeth Payne
Tiffany Turner
Hayley Solomon
Victoria Griffiths
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Mother of Exiles
(working title)
CLARKSTON has completed a year of principal photography. We are in our second month of edit and plan to release the film in early 2020! Production has been fully funded and post-production is almost there. With your help, we can cross the finish line!
Across the country and world, there is growing fear, animosity and hatred among people of different political beliefs, races, faiths, and cultures. But in Clarkston, Georgia - home to resettled refugees from across the globe representing over 150 ethnicities and all of the major world religions - we find a community of individuals who welcome the stranger and choose forgiveness over hatred. In Clarkston, wounds are healed and broken lives are rebuilt when service to community outranks service to oneself. Like any place, Clarkston is imperfect; however, in this town, where a former white supremacist and a former refugee of different faiths become friends, we find hope. The stakes are high—will the America of tomorrow resemble Clarkston, or will its wounds continue to grow and its divisions widen? CLARKSTON uses intimate and interwoven character-driven stories to show how this town and those who reflect its spirit can be a beacon of hope for America - the Mother of Exiles.
WHO’S IN THE FILM
Amina
Age: 90. Feels: 21. Speaks: Nine languages. Favorite Food: Okra. Nickname: Mama and/or Queen of Clarkston.
Bawi
Goal: Become a US Prosecutor. Origin country: Burma. Grade: 12th. Favorite Movie: Kung Fu Panda.
Chris
Duties: Father, husband, Veteran, Narcotic Anonymous leader. Number of tattoos: Too many to count. Favorite football team: Ohio State Buckeyes.
Heval
Former occupation: Dishwasher. Current occupation: Cardiologist. Ethnicity: Kurdish. Favorite moment in 2018: Marrying Kajin (also a former refugee, also a cardiologist)!
City of Clarkston
Mayor: Ted Terry (yes, Mayor Ted from “Queer Eye”)! Ethnicities Represented: Over 100. Size: 1.4 square miles. Population: 13,500.
We've come so far already and need your help crossing the finish line! If we raise $5,000 that will cover licensing amazing music for the film. Our first stretch goal of $11,000 total would also include $6,000 for the sound design in post-production to make sure all dialogue and noise sound perfect. And our second stretch goal for a total of $17,000 would fund the final $6,000 needed for color correction to make sure that every shot in the film looks as smooth and beautiful as possible! With your support, the rest of our edit budget will be funded! Then all that's left is our extra philanthropic raise to support our Impact & Education Campaign after the film comes out. Boom! Thanks!
Be sure to check out our Team Page to see the incredible team behind this project! We are all incredibly grateful for your support & hope you share this with your friends and family as well!
Upon release, CLARKSTON will have a dynamic impact and education campaign based on our hope that the reconciliation on display in Clarkston inspires a greater connection and understanding between all people.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Local Clarkston Song!
Costs $1,000
Help us pay local musicians in Clarkston to create a song for the film!
Refugee Song!
Costs $1,000
Help us buy a song written by refugee artists for the film!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Hit Song!
Costs $3,000
Help us buy a hit song!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Erin Bernhardt, Producer & Director - Her first film, IMBA MEANS SING, was translated into 37 languages and aired on Netflix, Delta Studio, and all major VOD platforms
Din Blankenship, Co-Producer - Has lived in refugee camps and designed facilities for refugees living in these camps
Joseph East, Director of Photography - His first film, I WILL DANCE, played on PBS and toured in the NEA’s Southern Circuit
Danielle Bernstein, Editor - Has won dozens of film festival awards, CLARKSTON is her 4th feature documentary
Mohua Thakurta, Assistant Director - Learned filmmaking in Bollywood
Abdulkadir Mohamed, Clarkston Consultant and Production Assistant - Made his first film while living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya
Kato Dsenabulya, Clarkston Consultant and Production Assistant - CLARKSTON is Kato’s first film, he’s one of the many Clarkston residents and refugees we’re training and hiring on our crew
Executive Producers:
Emmanuel Jal - Former child soldier turned movie & music star and peace activist
Sabrina Merage - CLARKSTON is her first film to EP
Mary Beth Minnis - Also EPed Emmy-winning film TOWER
Pat Mitchell - EP on docs awarded 34 Emmy’s, five Peabody’s, two academy award nominations, Editorial director, TEDWomen & serves on the Sundance Institute, Participant Media, Skoll Foundation and Women’s Media Center boards
Mark Rogers and Mandi Hart of More Productions - Invested in WAITING FOR THE MIRACLE TO COME starring Willie Nelson and Martin Scorsese’s SILENCE
Stephen Nemeth - EPed Academy Award nominated WAR DANCE and is a multi-time Sundance winner
Brenda Robinson - Investor in Academy Award winner ICARUS and WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, the highest grossing biographical documentary of all time
Caroline Tucker - CLARKSTON is her first film to EP
Camera Operators:
Janey Fugate
Katie Hawkins
Zac Holben
Katrina Sorrento
Sarah Walker
Assistant Editors:
Janna Kay Swanson
Stephanie Zinnes
Field Audio Mixers:
Nikki Dengel
Ace Harney
Matt Schultz
Associate Producers:
Elise Conroy
Janey Fugate
Hallie Hartley
Alison Sheldon
Joanie Twersky
Still Photographers:
Lucy Brewer
Tomesha Faxio
Paige Gradishar
Kelley Sue Hardin
Julia Merrill
Pouya Ramezani
Production Assistants:
Dani Dutchi
Lizzy Kell
Francois Mub
Ronen Schechter
Henry Schunk
Monire Ramezani
Interns:
Clara Brown
Lydia Fiyori
Sarah Elizabeth Payne
Tiffany Turner
Hayley Solomon
Victoria Griffiths