STAY WITH ME is a drama about mental illness, and how vital advocates are to those who suffer from it. We think the film will inspire discussion about mental illness, assist current and future advocates, create community, and help people in dealing with life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
STAY WITH ME is a drama about mental illness, and how vital advocates are to those who suffer from it. We think the film will inspire discussion about mental illness, assist current and future advocates, create community, and help people in dealing with life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Story
Mission Statement
STAY WITH ME passes the Bechdel Test, and has primarily female characters. Our producers include a non-binary man, Asian-American woman and trans man. Our DP and editor are both female, & our DP and Production Designer are Latinx. Our below-the-line crew also had 5 Asian-American & 7 Latinx members.About The Project
Hello! First off, thank you for even considering supporting a crowdfunding campaign in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that you, and your family and friends, are safe and healthy right now, and that you're thinking of your mental health. These are unusually stressful times - we hope you're taking time for yourself when you need to. We're glad you've taken some time to learn more about us.
We're a group of filmmakers from California and Arkansas, working to finish a feature film that was shot in summer 2019. The film's called STAY WITH ME, and it's being made by these two:
The tall, bald one is Marty Lang, the director, producer and co-writer. The other one, giving the thumbs up, is Leaf Maiman, producer and co-writer. They met as screenwriting students at California State University, Northridge (actually, Leaf was Marty's intern in the school's script library) and they came up with an idea for a movie that would help explore grief, and the struggle of helping someone you're close to, who has a mental illness. Marty and Leaf worked on the script for about a year, and once they were happy with it, they started bringing other filmmakers together to help make it.
Who's on the team?
The camerawoman is Natalia Moscoso, and she's a genius. Marty and Leaf had heard amazing things about her when she was at CSUN, so they contacted her, and she decided to come on board. And that suave looking dude with the glasses? That's Jermey Pair, our first assistant director. Marty and Leaf knew him from CSUN, too, and he jumped on board to help us run an efficient shoot. (You should know that Jermey is also an incredible rapper; check out https://soundcloud.com/frankyola. Just trust us. You're welcome.)
They also found two incredible actresses to play best friends Katie and Maya. Lara Fox (in the red shirt), and Addison Turner (with the red hair) went to the acting school at Chapman University, where Marty used to work, and they came on board after meeting with Marty and Leaf. Marty also mined Chapman for another vital crew member, producer Sarah de Leon (who's on the computer below, next to Addison):
Marty and Leaf also found another Chapman acting graduate to play Gavin, Katie's new boyfriend, an actor and musician named James Neal, who Marty is working with in the picture below. (He's another musical virtuoso. Check out www.youngmanneal.com, and prepare to be sonically blown away.)
What's the campaign for?
We're running this campaign to raise money for the post-production of the film. That includes:
Picture Editing
Sound Editing/Mixing
Composing
Visual Effects
Color Correction
LLC fees and taxes
Deliverables
Electronic Press Kit
We also have a team of students at the University of Central Arkansas to help us, too. Why is that? Because Marty is a film professor there, and he's teaching the first-ever semester-long media crowdfunding class ever at a U.S. university.
Like, ever. It's never been done before.
Marty's students will be running all the logistical elements of the campaign, and they'll be learning all about how to build an audience, and how to manage a campaign. (And they won't be responsible for raising a dime of what we're asking for. That's all on Marty, Adam and the filmmaking team.) The class will get a taste of what it's like to run a campaign, without the pressure of having to reach any financial goals.
Marty's brought some heavy hitters in the world of independent film into this class. Emily Best, the CEO of Seed&Spark, hosted a Creative Sustainability Summit at UCA on March 1 (along with writer/director Jeff Nichols and actor/filmmaker Mark Duplass!), and she stopped by to talk with his class the next day. Stage 32 CEO RB Botto also wrote a book about crowdsourcing for indie film - and that's the book they're using for the course.
Would you join us?
Marty, Leaf and the STAY WITH ME team are trying to get a film out into the world that stresses the importance of mental health advocacy, and they're working with film students from three colleges in two states to get it done. Would you like to become a part of it? Join our team! And feel the love. :)
(Right. That's Matt. Our executive producer.)
Incentives
$1
Social Media Thanks!
We'll give you a social media shout out (once you let us know where we can find you online), sending you thanks from the SWM team!
$15
Marty's Last Movie!
Marty's last short film is a four minute drama called REDRESS, and it's played at film festivals in Mexico, Iran, the United Kingdom and around the United States. One of the actresses in it is also a regular on a new HBO Max TV series! Back at this level, and we'll send you a digital copy of the film!
$25
Watch Stay With Me!
Once the film is finished, we'll send you a link to check it out, before the rest of the world sees it! (Plus you'll get Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$50
Behind the Scenes!
Check out a professionally-produced behind the scenes video of our shoot! Meet our cast and crew, and see how we were able to shoot a feature-length movie in one house, without the owners killing us! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$75
The Production Evolution Pack!
Are you a film fanatic who loves to see how films are put together? Back at this level, and we'll send you a PDF of our shooting script, and a video interview with director Marty Lang, co-writer/producer Leaf Maiman, and producers Sarah De Leon and Matthew Giovannucci, explaining the process of how the film evolved from script to screen! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$100
Master Class!
Interested in making movies? Marty Lang, our writer/director/producer, is also a film professor at the University of Central Arkansas. Contribute at this level, and Marty will spend an hour with you over Skype or FaceTime, and talk with you about whatever filmmaking topics you'd like to learn more about! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$150
Your Own Rap Song!
Have you ever dreamt of having your life memorialized in hip-hop? Our Assistant Director, Jermey Pair, is also a rapper who goes by the name Frank Yola. Back at this level, and fill out a questionnaire about you, and Frank will write and perform a personalized rap, just for you! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$150
Roasting From the Commish!
Have a friend you (lovingly) poke fun at? Want to get a laugh at your own expense? Contribute at this level, and Scott Maiman, writer/producer Leaf Maiman's father, will create a one minute roast video, based on the picture and questionnaire you provide. Scott was the host of the sports vlog "Dish with the Commish" on Youtube, and loves to get people laughing. These roast videos will be hilarious and SFW. (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$300
Voice Role in the Film!
Want to have your voice memorialized for all time? Want to start a career in voiceover work? Contribute at this level and we'll record you - and put that recording in the movie! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie - with your voice in it! - our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Sold Out!
$1,000
Associate Producer!
Ever want to see your name on the big screen? Pledge at this level, and we'll make you an Associate Producer in the finished film! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Claimed: 3 of 5
$3,000
Executive Producer!
Want something cool to talk about at parties? Won the lottery and want to buy something really cool? Contribute at this level and we'll make you an Executive Producer in the finished film! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Claimed: 1 of 5
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$1
Social Media Thanks!
We'll give you a social media shout out (once you let us know where we can find you online), sending you thanks from the SWM team!
$15
Marty's Last Movie!
Marty's last short film is a four minute drama called REDRESS, and it's played at film festivals in Mexico, Iran, the United Kingdom and around the United States. One of the actresses in it is also a regular on a new HBO Max TV series! Back at this level, and we'll send you a digital copy of the film!
$25
Watch Stay With Me!
Once the film is finished, we'll send you a link to check it out, before the rest of the world sees it! (Plus you'll get Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$50
Behind the Scenes!
Check out a professionally-produced behind the scenes video of our shoot! Meet our cast and crew, and see how we were able to shoot a feature-length movie in one house, without the owners killing us! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$75
The Production Evolution Pack!
Are you a film fanatic who loves to see how films are put together? Back at this level, and we'll send you a PDF of our shooting script, and a video interview with director Marty Lang, co-writer/producer Leaf Maiman, and producers Sarah De Leon and Matthew Giovannucci, explaining the process of how the film evolved from script to screen! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$100
Master Class!
Interested in making movies? Marty Lang, our writer/director/producer, is also a film professor at the University of Central Arkansas. Contribute at this level, and Marty will spend an hour with you over Skype or FaceTime, and talk with you about whatever filmmaking topics you'd like to learn more about! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$150
Your Own Rap Song!
Have you ever dreamt of having your life memorialized in hip-hop? Our Assistant Director, Jermey Pair, is also a rapper who goes by the name Frank Yola. Back at this level, and fill out a questionnaire about you, and Frank will write and perform a personalized rap, just for you! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$150
Roasting From the Commish!
Have a friend you (lovingly) poke fun at? Want to get a laugh at your own expense? Contribute at this level, and Scott Maiman, writer/producer Leaf Maiman's father, will create a one minute roast video, based on the picture and questionnaire you provide. Scott was the host of the sports vlog "Dish with the Commish" on Youtube, and loves to get people laughing. These roast videos will be hilarious and SFW. (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
$300
Voice Role in the Film!
Want to have your voice memorialized for all time? Want to start a career in voiceover work? Contribute at this level and we'll record you - and put that recording in the movie! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie - with your voice in it! - our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Sold Out!
$1,000
Associate Producer!
Ever want to see your name on the big screen? Pledge at this level, and we'll make you an Associate Producer in the finished film! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Claimed: 3 of 5
$3,000
Executive Producer!
Want something cool to talk about at parties? Won the lottery and want to buy something really cool? Contribute at this level and we'll make you an Executive Producer in the finished film! (Plus you'll get a link to stream the movie, our behind the scenes video, and Marty's last movie REDRESS!)
Claimed: 1 of 5
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
This is our team. They're the best. They're all going to be professional filmmakers (if they're not already - and a bunch of them are).
We're beyond lucky to have worked with them.
We've also got a class of crowdfunding students at the University of Central Arkansas, and many of them are working on a campaign for the first time with us. They're listed as "Campaign Support." Say hello to them - many of them will be crowdfunding themselves once the class is done!
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Media
Videos
Images
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Community
Supporters
Followers
