Prestige
Los Angeles, California | Radio & Podcasts
Drama, History
Haiti was the first Black republic to overthrow colonizers. Post-revolution, King Henri Christophe built an elaborate nobility system and appointed 100+ families to his new court. Our podcast follows this world of extravagance and influence and asks: how far would you go for prestige?
Prestige
Los Angeles, California | Radio & Podcasts
Drama, History
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $14,855 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
173 supporters | followers
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Haiti was the first Black republic to overthrow colonizers. Post-revolution, King Henri Christophe built an elaborate nobility system and appointed 100+ families to his new court. Our podcast follows this world of extravagance and influence and asks: how far would you go for prestige?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A multi-protagonist fictional podcast set in a post-revolutionary Haiti that asks the central question: how far will people go for prestige? Throughout the series, we will watch our characters compromise their morals and safety to gain control in the kingdom. Although the show has multiple protagonists, the driving arc is that of LÉONIE BIJOUX. A newcomer to this world of influence, Léo is unsure how she feels about it. But as Léo's wealth and status grows, she begins to sacrifice her principles in order to obtain a position as the royal clothier—a prestigious title where one faux pas can lead to execution.
Local seamstress Léonie Bijoux (19), is forced to work as a servant in order to settle a family debt. After moving into a local estate ran by the haughty Countess Perdue, she's quickly swept into a high-stakes world of illicit dealings, scheming social climbers, and romance. Our noble (if a bit self-righteous) heroine is more familiar with running experiments in her fabric dye lab than social etiquette and has trouble adjusting to her new life, adjacent to Haitian royalty. Throughout the series, we watch as Léonie tries to gain a coveted spot in the royal court without compromising her strong moral compass.
Our story starts in 1811 during the Regency era in the kingdom of Haiti. A tropical paradise with European architecture, imagine the Palace of Versailles with a crystal clear blue water oceanfront. Royal carriages strolling underneath palm trees, all built for and by Black royalty.
Our podcast creators, Al and Rae, are extremely passionate about telling this project. Al grew up in Haiti, learning about thr rich cultural history of the revolution and the kingdom of Henri Christophe. Rae unfortunately didn't know much about Haiti until she was an adult, but became fascinated by the Haitian revolution and it's aftermath.
Haiti was the first Black republic to overthrow colonizers. It was a stunning victory not only because of what it brought about, but also because of how it had happened. Slaves had transformed themselves first into skilled military leaders, then full-fledged citizens, and at last, royalty. King Henri Christophe built palaces, established a national currency and school system, and redistributed land. But he also used forced labor and created wealth inequality so vast that he incited civil war. Our show explores the cyclical nature of power and revolution. Many former revolutionaries adopt similar tactics as their oppressors to maintain power and become displaced themselves. In a post-revolutionary society how do the formally oppressed rule? Does power always corrupt? The show is a tug-of-war between opposing ideologies; those who want to adopt and expand the existing power structures and those who want to burn it all to the ground.
Although our podcast is set in 1813, our themes still resonate with audiences today. We're currently living in a time of widespread uncertainty, protests, massive social upheaval calls for wealth redistribution, police reform, and severe backlash to these progressive ideals. As such, we must think how we want to reshape the future, using models of the past to help us. Each character on our show has a specific point of view on the nature of power that we can learn from. It's also important for us to show historically accurate models of Black royalty.
Your generous support will help us create eight episodes for the first season of our podcast. Our budget will go toward recording, editing, mixing, sound design, music scoring, marketing and distribution. Telling the story with only audio will allow us to create a high-quality, fully immersive listening experience. We want to our audience to truly feel like they've been transported to the past as they listen to our show; the patois of hurried women as the barter in the local market, the clatter of horse hooves against fresh pavement as they pull a golden carriage. The world of fiction podcasts is still relatively new, with opportunity for creative flexibility in narrative storytelling. We've already written scripts for eight episodes. If we're able to get the project funded, our goal is to go into production immediately and be able to release the podcast in November 2022.
As the project is fully audio, most of the work can be done remotely, protecting our cast and crew from COVID-19. We only plan to record in person for two days, and those sessions can easily become remote if necessary. For in person recording days, we will adhere to social distancing standards and require all cast and crew to present a negative test within 48 hours of recording, regardless of vaccination status. Cast and crew will be required to wear masks when not actively recording.
If you'd like to support us but can't do it financially, that's okay… for real! You can follow the campaign on Seed&Spark! Once we hit 250 "followers," regardless of how many people pledge to donate us money, we'll be able to unlock creator discounts like free festival submissions and more. You can also follow @prestigepodcast on Instagram to support and share.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post-Production
Costs $5,975
We need to hire a sound designer, editor, composer & mixer to create an immersive experience.
Recording Studio Rental
Costs $1,950
We need to rent a studio with an audio engineer to record on state-of-the-art equipment.
Distribution
Costs $1,350
Distributing a podcast requires monthly web hosting and other maintenance fees.
Voice Actors
Costs $2,300
We have a large cast and need skilled actors to bring the story to life.
Catering
Costs $650
Keeping our cast and crew fed throughout the recording process is a must!
Marketing
Costs $1,850
We want to create targeted ads on other podcasts and social media to gain an audience.
Transportation
Costs $300
Transportation for cast & crew to and from recording studio.
Rehearsal Space
Costs $475
We need a space for cast table reads before recording.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Rae Benjamin | Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer
A history buff and political science major, Rae was hired as the writer’s assistant on season 1 of BRIDGERTON (Netflix), after submitting a writing sample about a free black family living in pre-civil war America. Rae has always believed that issues from the past are currently reflected in the present and strives to create content that is not only entertaining, but purposeful. Most recently, Rae was a staff writer on season 3 of THE WITCHER (Netflix). Rae is also the CEO and founder of In the Cut, a company that provides resources and training for BIPOC creatives interested in the film and tv industry. Her company has partnered with companies like Sundance, Final Draft, to produce educational events with writers, prodcuers, and directors from hit shows like ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC), INSECURE (HBO), and many more. She is passionate about increasing opportunities for underrepresented communites. For more info, visit inthecutla.org
A. Plancher | Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer
Al’Ikens was raised in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, just a 30-minute flight from where our story takes place. To this day, he still makes the pilgrimage to visit family, friends, and marvel at the kingdom’s ruins. His grandfather, a renowned Haitian Historian, taught him everything about the royal court. Epic stories found in textbooks and hidden historical events that are tailor-made for the screen. Al was the showrunner’s assistant on THE CHI (Showtime) and YELLOWSTONE (Paramount+). As a writer/director his short films have been screened at a variety of most notably winning HBO’s Short Film Competition. His latest short, TIFI is a current selection at the 2022 Pan African Film Festival and Toronto Black Film Festival.
Joseph Fuentes | Producer
Joseph has over a decade experience working in audio production and podcasting. He has engineered and produced a variety of content for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and ABC. As a podcast producer, his work has been featured in Time Magazine’s top 10 podcasts and Best of iTunes. He gravitates towards historical projects that can educate and entertain simultaneously. Prestige is the perfect embodiment of Joseph’s interests and he is thrilled to be part of the team.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A multi-protagonist fictional podcast set in a post-revolutionary Haiti that asks the central question: how far will people go for prestige? Throughout the series, we will watch our characters compromise their morals and safety to gain control in the kingdom. Although the show has multiple protagonists, the driving arc is that of LÉONIE BIJOUX. A newcomer to this world of influence, Léo is unsure how she feels about it. But as Léo's wealth and status grows, she begins to sacrifice her principles in order to obtain a position as the royal clothier—a prestigious title where one faux pas can lead to execution.
Local seamstress Léonie Bijoux (19), is forced to work as a servant in order to settle a family debt. After moving into a local estate ran by the haughty Countess Perdue, she's quickly swept into a high-stakes world of illicit dealings, scheming social climbers, and romance. Our noble (if a bit self-righteous) heroine is more familiar with running experiments in her fabric dye lab than social etiquette and has trouble adjusting to her new life, adjacent to Haitian royalty. Throughout the series, we watch as Léonie tries to gain a coveted spot in the royal court without compromising her strong moral compass.
Our story starts in 1811 during the Regency era in the kingdom of Haiti. A tropical paradise with European architecture, imagine the Palace of Versailles with a crystal clear blue water oceanfront. Royal carriages strolling underneath palm trees, all built for and by Black royalty.
Our podcast creators, Al and Rae, are extremely passionate about telling this project. Al grew up in Haiti, learning about thr rich cultural history of the revolution and the kingdom of Henri Christophe. Rae unfortunately didn't know much about Haiti until she was an adult, but became fascinated by the Haitian revolution and it's aftermath.
Haiti was the first Black republic to overthrow colonizers. It was a stunning victory not only because of what it brought about, but also because of how it had happened. Slaves had transformed themselves first into skilled military leaders, then full-fledged citizens, and at last, royalty. King Henri Christophe built palaces, established a national currency and school system, and redistributed land. But he also used forced labor and created wealth inequality so vast that he incited civil war. Our show explores the cyclical nature of power and revolution. Many former revolutionaries adopt similar tactics as their oppressors to maintain power and become displaced themselves. In a post-revolutionary society how do the formally oppressed rule? Does power always corrupt? The show is a tug-of-war between opposing ideologies; those who want to adopt and expand the existing power structures and those who want to burn it all to the ground.
Although our podcast is set in 1813, our themes still resonate with audiences today. We're currently living in a time of widespread uncertainty, protests, massive social upheaval calls for wealth redistribution, police reform, and severe backlash to these progressive ideals. As such, we must think how we want to reshape the future, using models of the past to help us. Each character on our show has a specific point of view on the nature of power that we can learn from. It's also important for us to show historically accurate models of Black royalty.
Your generous support will help us create eight episodes for the first season of our podcast. Our budget will go toward recording, editing, mixing, sound design, music scoring, marketing and distribution. Telling the story with only audio will allow us to create a high-quality, fully immersive listening experience. We want to our audience to truly feel like they've been transported to the past as they listen to our show; the patois of hurried women as the barter in the local market, the clatter of horse hooves against fresh pavement as they pull a golden carriage. The world of fiction podcasts is still relatively new, with opportunity for creative flexibility in narrative storytelling. We've already written scripts for eight episodes. If we're able to get the project funded, our goal is to go into production immediately and be able to release the podcast in November 2022.
As the project is fully audio, most of the work can be done remotely, protecting our cast and crew from COVID-19. We only plan to record in person for two days, and those sessions can easily become remote if necessary. For in person recording days, we will adhere to social distancing standards and require all cast and crew to present a negative test within 48 hours of recording, regardless of vaccination status. Cast and crew will be required to wear masks when not actively recording.
If you'd like to support us but can't do it financially, that's okay… for real! You can follow the campaign on Seed&Spark! Once we hit 250 "followers," regardless of how many people pledge to donate us money, we'll be able to unlock creator discounts like free festival submissions and more. You can also follow @prestigepodcast on Instagram to support and share.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post-Production
Costs $5,975
We need to hire a sound designer, editor, composer & mixer to create an immersive experience.
Recording Studio Rental
Costs $1,950
We need to rent a studio with an audio engineer to record on state-of-the-art equipment.
Distribution
Costs $1,350
Distributing a podcast requires monthly web hosting and other maintenance fees.
Voice Actors
Costs $2,300
We have a large cast and need skilled actors to bring the story to life.
Catering
Costs $650
Keeping our cast and crew fed throughout the recording process is a must!
Marketing
Costs $1,850
We want to create targeted ads on other podcasts and social media to gain an audience.
Transportation
Costs $300
Transportation for cast & crew to and from recording studio.
Rehearsal Space
Costs $475
We need a space for cast table reads before recording.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Rae Benjamin | Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer
A history buff and political science major, Rae was hired as the writer’s assistant on season 1 of BRIDGERTON (Netflix), after submitting a writing sample about a free black family living in pre-civil war America. Rae has always believed that issues from the past are currently reflected in the present and strives to create content that is not only entertaining, but purposeful. Most recently, Rae was a staff writer on season 3 of THE WITCHER (Netflix). Rae is also the CEO and founder of In the Cut, a company that provides resources and training for BIPOC creatives interested in the film and tv industry. Her company has partnered with companies like Sundance, Final Draft, to produce educational events with writers, prodcuers, and directors from hit shows like ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC), INSECURE (HBO), and many more. She is passionate about increasing opportunities for underrepresented communites. For more info, visit inthecutla.org
A. Plancher | Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer
Al’Ikens was raised in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, just a 30-minute flight from where our story takes place. To this day, he still makes the pilgrimage to visit family, friends, and marvel at the kingdom’s ruins. His grandfather, a renowned Haitian Historian, taught him everything about the royal court. Epic stories found in textbooks and hidden historical events that are tailor-made for the screen. Al was the showrunner’s assistant on THE CHI (Showtime) and YELLOWSTONE (Paramount+). As a writer/director his short films have been screened at a variety of most notably winning HBO’s Short Film Competition. His latest short, TIFI is a current selection at the 2022 Pan African Film Festival and Toronto Black Film Festival.
Joseph Fuentes | Producer
Joseph has over a decade experience working in audio production and podcasting. He has engineered and produced a variety of content for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and ABC. As a podcast producer, his work has been featured in Time Magazine’s top 10 podcasts and Best of iTunes. He gravitates towards historical projects that can educate and entertain simultaneously. Prestige is the perfect embodiment of Joseph’s interests and he is thrilled to be part of the team.