COLOURING BOOK PRODUCTIONS
Rochester, New York | Company
Documentary
Colouring Book Productions is committed to promoting stories that represent the full spectrum of societal diversity. To take our first documentary, also titled "Colouring Book," from our developmental pages to your screens, we need your help in the form of video production and editing equipment.
Green Light
This campaign raised $24,045 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
186 supporters | followers
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Colouring Book Productions is committed to promoting stories that represent the full spectrum of societal diversity. To take our first documentary, also titled "Colouring Book," from our developmental pages to your screens, we need your help in the form of video production and editing equipment.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
The one question that always had the worst crippling effect on my self-esteem as a grade school kid was: “What are you?”- as if I was not even a member of the human species. Every time my “race” was called into question I immediately feared the reaction to my answer. The confused faces and uncomfortable glances made me feel like an outsider everywhere. In the 1980s, it was pretty hard for me to socially adapt when I was the tallest child in every class, nervously shy, light-skinned with hazel eyes, had a curly bush of hair, and subconsciously tip-toed with big feet, a slim skeleton build and racially ambiguous facial features stemming from my mixed ethnicity: father (Afro-Trinidadian) and mother (Caucasian American). I never even felt like I resembled any of my own family members, and I definitely never looked like the white or black characters in my favorite Hollywood movies and television sitcoms.
Movie theaters became a soothing shelter from all of this awkward anxiety and social scrutiny. I was able to observe new worlds and root for other “underdogs” like E.T. and Edward Scissorhands without being judged, because obviously the people on screen can’t criticize the audience. But the lack of diversity and overabundance of stereotypes felt foreign to me, and outside of my colourful worldview. Steven Spielberg made me fall in love with movies and Spike Lee made me feel like, as a person of color, I could actually make movies too. Especially after getting Spike’s Do the Right Thingproduction journal book for Christmas, and briefly meeting him in person on his Malcolm X publicity tour. The viewfinder of my parents’ camcorder became the window into my imagination. Making movies became “the dream” – it felt like all of my artistic interests (writing, music, animation, fashion) all mixed into one. But in my neighbourhood, it remained just a dream, being that I was the only weird kid that actually knew the names of movie directors and wanted to read library books for fun about how Star Wars was made with “toy spaceships.”
I lived 3000 miles away from Hollywood and the only “entertainment stars” living in Rochester New York were the local news anchors. Unfortunately, my desires were never considered realistic and vanished during my young adulthood. Most of my friends were making music, and writing hip hop songs allowed us to immediately express the daily dilemmas we felt and provided an outlet to be heard. No expensive cameras, 16mm film and developing lab costs to consider – just a pad, a pen and studio time. But after years of working “reliable jobs,” I realised I would never feel true fulfillment by just living to work, instead of working to live.
The decision to go back to college later in life and complete my B.A. degree in Film Production after many years of practical employment was not overwhelming at all – it felt like “freedom.” I didn’t mind sacrificing my disposable income and submerging myself completely into visual storytelling. I had experienced a lifetime worth of stories that were boiling inside me, waiting to be expressed. Following college and industry internships, whatever way, shape or form that I was able to write for a living felt like a “win” to me. But as any creative writer knows first hand, supporting yourself through your way with words most often requires an employer or clients that want to use you to tell their stories. After years of being hired for copywriting, short film scripts, public service announcements and online articles, that relentless urge to tell my own stories crept back up into my soul, shaking me to “wake up” and become my authentic self.
I’m incredibly thankful for the rise of social media and the fall of prices for video production equipment. Now the tools exist to give my own stories the “green light” and fill the void with the underrepresented characters and concepts I longed for when I was growing up. I no longer feel alone or strange, because I have finally connected with a community of unique and talented cinema lovers like myself, inspiring and supporting each other. Working with a team to build Colouring Book Productions is literally the resurrection of a childhood dream that I have lived my entire life to pursue. Now when people ask me, “What Are You?” my answer will be STORYTELLER.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Camera Kit with Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens
Costs $4,000
This camera will give our documentaries and web series content quality and quick mobility.
Redrock Micro microFollowFocus Video Camera Bundle
Costs $760
We are focused on storytelling. Our images need to be focused as well.
Redrock Micro microMatteBox Deluxe Bundle
Costs $875
The same way our eyes need protection when light is glaring into them - the camera lens does too.
Redrock Micro microShoulderMount Deluxe Bundle:
Costs $620
Sometimes the camera will need to leave the comfort of the tripod for some adventure.
Zoom H6 Handy Recorder and Case Kit
Costs $500
The mic on video cameras are cool for home movies...only. We need to record sound separately.
1 Rode NTG-3 Shotgun Mic, 2 Sennheiser MKE1 Lavalier Mics, 1 Rode Blimp, 3 Mic Windshields, 2 Lav Cl
Costs $2,150
2 lavalier mics to clip onto interviewees and the shotgun mic is for larger sound situations.
ikan IFB576-A Featherweight Dual Color 3-Light Kit with V-Mount Battery Plates
Costs $1,750
As they say, cinematography is equivalent to "painting with light." We have to see it to believe it.
Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and 546B Tripod System with Carrying Bag
Costs $625
If the camera is too shaky, a dramatic moment is ruined. If the camera falls, the camera is ruined.
Steadicam Merlin 2 Camera Stabilizing System with Arm and Vest
Costs $1,075
For smooth shots through doorways, hallways & all ways that the camera operator can fit through.
Sekonic Litemaster Light Meter, Color Checker, Gray Card, Reflectors,
Costs $825
To keep colors and brightness/darkness accurate, we need to measure & control the light spilling in.
K-Tek KEG-150CCR Avalon Series Graphite Boompole
Costs $625
When we need to record audio from a long distance away.
SmallHD AC7 OLED On-Camera Monitor
Costs $975
We can properly frame our shots without having to squint our eyes to see what the camera sees.
Lenses: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens and Canon EF 50mm f/1.4L USM Lens
Costs $1,075
Crisp and clear footage will help bring clarity to our characters.
Libec Slider Tripod Kit
Costs $775
The Libec ALLEX S KIT with Tripod, Head, and Slider consists of the ALLEX T, ALLEX H, and ALLEX S, and allows you to slide, pan, and tilt your camera elevated on a tripod.
C-Stands, Clapperboard, Sandbags, XLR cables
Costs $900
C-stands/sandbags keep lighting gear stable. XLR cables keep power surging. Clapboard for shot info.
iMac Computer + Software
Costs $6,425
We need a high-powered computer and appropriate software dedicated to editing our movies.
2 SanDisk 256GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Memory Cards
Costs $1,220
Our footage gets recorded on these precious memory cards. Full HD video eats up GBs...quickly.
Redrock Micro ultraCage Black Professional Series for DSLR Camera
Costs $625
This camera camera will allow us to lock down camera accessories for extended power and flexibility.
Equipment Insurance and Errors & Omissions Insurance
Costs $3,000
This valuable equipment needs protection. Our documentary will need protection from lawsuits.
G-Technology® Hard Drive ($1200)
Costs $1,200
G-Technology® is the gold standard for storage solutions specifically designed for content creators. We’ll get a storage grant from them when we get the Green Light!
Share this update!
About This Team
Jason Cuthbert: Co-founder, Writer and Director for Colouring Book Productions
Jason is an American copywriter, screenwriter and independent filmmaker with a B.A in Film Studies from Hunter College at The City University of New York. Jason has worked as an intern in the television production division of WXXI, a PBS affiliate TV station, and was also selected by The American Pavilion to engage in an internship at the 2005 internationally renown Cannes Film Festival.
During his time with RCTV Channel 15 (Rochester, New York) as a scriptwriter and assistant teacher to high school students in the Summer of Opportunities TV production program, Jason was awarded with both the prestigious Telly Award and the ACM Hometown Media Award for his short teen drama script “Pink Triangle” (2012). Jason has also worked as a freelance scriptwriter for Baden Street Settlement, successfully delivering PSA scripts that were produced and launched in market. As a professional writer, Jason continues to work as a copywriter, researcher and proofreader to Launchmark, independent clients, as well as a frequent blog contributor to the online film community of GoIntoTheStory.com.
Francesca D’Amico: Co-founder, Producer and Researcher for Colouring Book Productions
Francesca is a Canadian historian, researcher, educator, grant writer and arts curator currently researching popular culture, race and social justice movements. A published academic, Francesca is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in history, and is a research assistant at the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migrations of African Peoples where she recently completed her tenure as the producer of Performing Diaspora, a 2012 initiative intended to work with pioneering musicians to document in video and text the history of urban music in Canada.
Francesca brings to the Colouring Book team a wealth of grant writing and sponsorship request experience, and has successfully been awarded monies by the state level Canadian government, universities, and private investors. Francesca is also a frequently invited public history speaker and writer who has contributed extensively to Canadian college radio, ActiveHistory.ca, Manifesto Community Projects, and her ongoing project Learning Through Hip Hop, an arts-based curriculum workshop for youth.
James Cuthbert: Marketing Specialist for Colouring Book Productions
James is an American brand manager at The Coca Cola Company where he oversees the development of the Sprite brand. With an MBA in brand management and entrepreneurship from the University of Rochester (William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration) and a B.S in business management from Penn State University, James has previous experience first as an associate marketing manager at General Mills, where among his many other duties, he oversaw the multicultural marketing of food products, followed by his time at the Kellogg Company as associate brand manager.
James has also done significant work in the area of growth, strategy and education through his employment with KIPP Philadelphia Schools. A Consortium Fellowship recipient, James brings a wealth of business knowledge in the areas of marketing strategy, multi-media platform advertising, product innovation and development, brand management and architecture, forecasting and cross-functional team leadership.
Jessica Molina-Cuthbert: Lead Researcher for Colouring Book Productions
Jessica is an American sociologist, researcher and educator currently studying the intersection of racial and ethnic discrimination and American penal system practices. The recipient of the prestigious Bill Gates and Melinda Gates Millennium scholarship, Jessica is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in sociology (with a minor in policy analysis) at the University of Minnesota and has a B.A in Criminology from the University of Miami.
Jessica has served as research assistant for a series of research projects at the University of Minnesota, particularly in the areas of race, gender, youth, discrimination and social justice. Jessica has extensive college-level teaching and mentoring experience as a former Ronald E. McNair program advisor. Jessica is also skilled in quantitative research methods. She brings extensive knowledge in the areas of social justice and discrimination, youth, education and mentorship, and human behavior, and possesses research skills in hierarchical linear models, data coding expertise, and survey and oral interview collecting.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
The one question that always had the worst crippling effect on my self-esteem as a grade school kid was: “What are you?”- as if I was not even a member of the human species. Every time my “race” was called into question I immediately feared the reaction to my answer. The confused faces and uncomfortable glances made me feel like an outsider everywhere. In the 1980s, it was pretty hard for me to socially adapt when I was the tallest child in every class, nervously shy, light-skinned with hazel eyes, had a curly bush of hair, and subconsciously tip-toed with big feet, a slim skeleton build and racially ambiguous facial features stemming from my mixed ethnicity: father (Afro-Trinidadian) and mother (Caucasian American). I never even felt like I resembled any of my own family members, and I definitely never looked like the white or black characters in my favorite Hollywood movies and television sitcoms.
Movie theaters became a soothing shelter from all of this awkward anxiety and social scrutiny. I was able to observe new worlds and root for other “underdogs” like E.T. and Edward Scissorhands without being judged, because obviously the people on screen can’t criticize the audience. But the lack of diversity and overabundance of stereotypes felt foreign to me, and outside of my colourful worldview. Steven Spielberg made me fall in love with movies and Spike Lee made me feel like, as a person of color, I could actually make movies too. Especially after getting Spike’s Do the Right Thingproduction journal book for Christmas, and briefly meeting him in person on his Malcolm X publicity tour. The viewfinder of my parents’ camcorder became the window into my imagination. Making movies became “the dream” – it felt like all of my artistic interests (writing, music, animation, fashion) all mixed into one. But in my neighbourhood, it remained just a dream, being that I was the only weird kid that actually knew the names of movie directors and wanted to read library books for fun about how Star Wars was made with “toy spaceships.”
I lived 3000 miles away from Hollywood and the only “entertainment stars” living in Rochester New York were the local news anchors. Unfortunately, my desires were never considered realistic and vanished during my young adulthood. Most of my friends were making music, and writing hip hop songs allowed us to immediately express the daily dilemmas we felt and provided an outlet to be heard. No expensive cameras, 16mm film and developing lab costs to consider – just a pad, a pen and studio time. But after years of working “reliable jobs,” I realised I would never feel true fulfillment by just living to work, instead of working to live.
The decision to go back to college later in life and complete my B.A. degree in Film Production after many years of practical employment was not overwhelming at all – it felt like “freedom.” I didn’t mind sacrificing my disposable income and submerging myself completely into visual storytelling. I had experienced a lifetime worth of stories that were boiling inside me, waiting to be expressed. Following college and industry internships, whatever way, shape or form that I was able to write for a living felt like a “win” to me. But as any creative writer knows first hand, supporting yourself through your way with words most often requires an employer or clients that want to use you to tell their stories. After years of being hired for copywriting, short film scripts, public service announcements and online articles, that relentless urge to tell my own stories crept back up into my soul, shaking me to “wake up” and become my authentic self.
I’m incredibly thankful for the rise of social media and the fall of prices for video production equipment. Now the tools exist to give my own stories the “green light” and fill the void with the underrepresented characters and concepts I longed for when I was growing up. I no longer feel alone or strange, because I have finally connected with a community of unique and talented cinema lovers like myself, inspiring and supporting each other. Working with a team to build Colouring Book Productions is literally the resurrection of a childhood dream that I have lived my entire life to pursue. Now when people ask me, “What Are You?” my answer will be STORYTELLER.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Camera Kit with Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens
Costs $4,000
This camera will give our documentaries and web series content quality and quick mobility.
Redrock Micro microFollowFocus Video Camera Bundle
Costs $760
We are focused on storytelling. Our images need to be focused as well.
Redrock Micro microMatteBox Deluxe Bundle
Costs $875
The same way our eyes need protection when light is glaring into them - the camera lens does too.
Redrock Micro microShoulderMount Deluxe Bundle:
Costs $620
Sometimes the camera will need to leave the comfort of the tripod for some adventure.
Zoom H6 Handy Recorder and Case Kit
Costs $500
The mic on video cameras are cool for home movies...only. We need to record sound separately.
1 Rode NTG-3 Shotgun Mic, 2 Sennheiser MKE1 Lavalier Mics, 1 Rode Blimp, 3 Mic Windshields, 2 Lav Cl
Costs $2,150
2 lavalier mics to clip onto interviewees and the shotgun mic is for larger sound situations.
ikan IFB576-A Featherweight Dual Color 3-Light Kit with V-Mount Battery Plates
Costs $1,750
As they say, cinematography is equivalent to "painting with light." We have to see it to believe it.
Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and 546B Tripod System with Carrying Bag
Costs $625
If the camera is too shaky, a dramatic moment is ruined. If the camera falls, the camera is ruined.
Steadicam Merlin 2 Camera Stabilizing System with Arm and Vest
Costs $1,075
For smooth shots through doorways, hallways & all ways that the camera operator can fit through.
Sekonic Litemaster Light Meter, Color Checker, Gray Card, Reflectors,
Costs $825
To keep colors and brightness/darkness accurate, we need to measure & control the light spilling in.
K-Tek KEG-150CCR Avalon Series Graphite Boompole
Costs $625
When we need to record audio from a long distance away.
SmallHD AC7 OLED On-Camera Monitor
Costs $975
We can properly frame our shots without having to squint our eyes to see what the camera sees.
Lenses: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens and Canon EF 50mm f/1.4L USM Lens
Costs $1,075
Crisp and clear footage will help bring clarity to our characters.
Libec Slider Tripod Kit
Costs $775
The Libec ALLEX S KIT with Tripod, Head, and Slider consists of the ALLEX T, ALLEX H, and ALLEX S, and allows you to slide, pan, and tilt your camera elevated on a tripod.
C-Stands, Clapperboard, Sandbags, XLR cables
Costs $900
C-stands/sandbags keep lighting gear stable. XLR cables keep power surging. Clapboard for shot info.
iMac Computer + Software
Costs $6,425
We need a high-powered computer and appropriate software dedicated to editing our movies.
2 SanDisk 256GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Memory Cards
Costs $1,220
Our footage gets recorded on these precious memory cards. Full HD video eats up GBs...quickly.
Redrock Micro ultraCage Black Professional Series for DSLR Camera
Costs $625
This camera camera will allow us to lock down camera accessories for extended power and flexibility.
Equipment Insurance and Errors & Omissions Insurance
Costs $3,000
This valuable equipment needs protection. Our documentary will need protection from lawsuits.
G-Technology® Hard Drive ($1200)
Costs $1,200
G-Technology® is the gold standard for storage solutions specifically designed for content creators. We’ll get a storage grant from them when we get the Green Light!
Share this update!
About This Team
Jason Cuthbert: Co-founder, Writer and Director for Colouring Book Productions
Jason is an American copywriter, screenwriter and independent filmmaker with a B.A in Film Studies from Hunter College at The City University of New York. Jason has worked as an intern in the television production division of WXXI, a PBS affiliate TV station, and was also selected by The American Pavilion to engage in an internship at the 2005 internationally renown Cannes Film Festival.
During his time with RCTV Channel 15 (Rochester, New York) as a scriptwriter and assistant teacher to high school students in the Summer of Opportunities TV production program, Jason was awarded with both the prestigious Telly Award and the ACM Hometown Media Award for his short teen drama script “Pink Triangle” (2012). Jason has also worked as a freelance scriptwriter for Baden Street Settlement, successfully delivering PSA scripts that were produced and launched in market. As a professional writer, Jason continues to work as a copywriter, researcher and proofreader to Launchmark, independent clients, as well as a frequent blog contributor to the online film community of GoIntoTheStory.com.
Francesca D’Amico: Co-founder, Producer and Researcher for Colouring Book Productions
Francesca is a Canadian historian, researcher, educator, grant writer and arts curator currently researching popular culture, race and social justice movements. A published academic, Francesca is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in history, and is a research assistant at the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migrations of African Peoples where she recently completed her tenure as the producer of Performing Diaspora, a 2012 initiative intended to work with pioneering musicians to document in video and text the history of urban music in Canada.
Francesca brings to the Colouring Book team a wealth of grant writing and sponsorship request experience, and has successfully been awarded monies by the state level Canadian government, universities, and private investors. Francesca is also a frequently invited public history speaker and writer who has contributed extensively to Canadian college radio, ActiveHistory.ca, Manifesto Community Projects, and her ongoing project Learning Through Hip Hop, an arts-based curriculum workshop for youth.
James Cuthbert: Marketing Specialist for Colouring Book Productions
James is an American brand manager at The Coca Cola Company where he oversees the development of the Sprite brand. With an MBA in brand management and entrepreneurship from the University of Rochester (William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration) and a B.S in business management from Penn State University, James has previous experience first as an associate marketing manager at General Mills, where among his many other duties, he oversaw the multicultural marketing of food products, followed by his time at the Kellogg Company as associate brand manager.
James has also done significant work in the area of growth, strategy and education through his employment with KIPP Philadelphia Schools. A Consortium Fellowship recipient, James brings a wealth of business knowledge in the areas of marketing strategy, multi-media platform advertising, product innovation and development, brand management and architecture, forecasting and cross-functional team leadership.
Jessica Molina-Cuthbert: Lead Researcher for Colouring Book Productions
Jessica is an American sociologist, researcher and educator currently studying the intersection of racial and ethnic discrimination and American penal system practices. The recipient of the prestigious Bill Gates and Melinda Gates Millennium scholarship, Jessica is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in sociology (with a minor in policy analysis) at the University of Minnesota and has a B.A in Criminology from the University of Miami.
Jessica has served as research assistant for a series of research projects at the University of Minnesota, particularly in the areas of race, gender, youth, discrimination and social justice. Jessica has extensive college-level teaching and mentoring experience as a former Ronald E. McNair program advisor. Jessica is also skilled in quantitative research methods. She brings extensive knowledge in the areas of social justice and discrimination, youth, education and mentorship, and human behavior, and possesses research skills in hierarchical linear models, data coding expertise, and survey and oral interview collecting.