We are shooting this film for two days on December 7th and 8th of 2013. The idea will be that we will go forth in whatever manner we can based on our fundraising at that time, which will end a few days after we wrap. This gives you all a unique opportunity to actually be a part of the outcome by contributing in real time in response to activity on set, all through the platform of Seed&Spark. But that's not to say wait to donate! On the contrary, know that every donation increases our ability to make a better film, and the more we have going in, the more resources will be available on the day. 

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:

I come from a performing background,  having been an actor for over twenty years in Canada and the United States.  I am very excited to be making my directorial debut with CLAUDETTE.

Over the past few years I have been thrilled to have  the opportunity to work on more independent features than I have in the past. It has been a refreshing departure from the mainstream work that has often defined my career. I have found a different passion being a part of story telling that comes from this type of grass roots collaboration.

CLAUDETTE is a concise example of how a moment can change everything in your life, and how the decisions that you make in each moment can have a neverending effect on what becomes of you. Claudette walks out of the story having made decisions that will certainly follow her wherever she goes, it's not our place to judge her decisions, but rather to go through the moments that led her to make the decisions she makes. The clarity of Alexander Cendese's script, the underlying tidal wave of tension that lies beneath its simple dialogue, is what attracts me to the telling of Claudette's story. 

I hope to bring our audience on a dark and exciting journey that teaches them a little bit about Claudette, and maybe even a little bit about the dark side of themselves as well.

- Gabrielle Miller

WRITERS STATEMENT:

"Don't know what I can say about Claudette that wouldn't come back to haunt me, finally had to give her up about the time she began to want me, but I know God has mercy on them who are slandered and humiliated, I'd a-done anything for that woman if she didn't make me feel so obligated. What can I say about Claudette ? Ain't seen her since January, she could be respectably married or running a whorehouse in Buenos Aires."

-Bob Dylan, The Groom's Still Waiting at the Alter

I wrote CLAUDETTE after hearing a line in the Bob Dylan song, 'The Groom's Still Waiting at the Alter.' To be honest it is a song I know well, and a line I have mused over many times, but the motion of the long train ride from New York to Toronto,  and the aide of the fall leaves along the Hudson river, seemed to spurr a creative development.

I wrote CLAUDETTE for Gabrielle Miller to direct. She is one of the most talented actors I have ever known and having been closely involved with her over the last few years has led me to understand her deep desire to approach story telling from a new perspective. We both share an innate interest in telling stories specifically about women who do extraordinary things. Without painting Claudette's actions one way or the other, it can certainly be said that she is a surprising woman.

I wrote CLAUDETTE because I want to continure to generate independent content for our community. That community being the rising tide of film makers of my generation who have toiled to tell their stories on their own terms in lieu of waiting for the phone to ring. This will be my second attempt at crowd source funding for a project of mine, my first attempt having been a success, and I seek to do it again because I again find myself with a project that best exemplifies the spirit of storytelling through film. 

-Alexander Cendese