As an adaptation of "In the Cart" by Anton Chekhov with an all-new setting in 1910s Appalachia, THE SCHOOL MISTRESS follows Maria VanDan, the titular schoolmistress, on a trip to town with her grandfather to collect her meager pay. Maria is miserable and secretly detests her dull, respectable life until her neighbor, Mr. Hanes, a rich, alcoholic bachelor, crosses her path. Maria is taken aback by Mr. Hanes's forward nature but entranced by this man she considers a kindred spirit and is forced to decide between breaking with politesse to pursue him or upholding her role as a respectable schoolmistress.

The visual style of the film will make use of natural lighting, muted colors, and long sweeping shots to capture the beauty of the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains that serve as the backdrop for THE SCHOOL MISTRESS.

The cinematography will be crisp and elegant, with careful attention paid to the composition of each shot, evocative of films like ELVIRA MADIGAN (1967, Dir. Bo Widerberg) and DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978, Dir. Terrence Malick) while referencing painters like Edward Hopper and Charles Courtney Curran. Overall, the visual style of the film will be isolating and dreamlike, bringing to life the mood of Chekhov’s original story in a gorgeous Southern locale.

Anton Chekhov's short story "In the Cart" is considered a classic work of literature that continues to be read and studied for its universal themes and timeless depiction of the human condition. In the story, Chekhov explores poverty, social inequality, and the struggle for dignity and self-respect, which are all relevant and relatable to audiences today.

We need your support to make this film a reality. Your financial contribution will help us cover the costs of production, including wardrobe, camera equipment rentals, and other essential expenses. Our talented crew is committed to bringing this enduring story to life with sensitivity and authenticity, shooting entirely on location in North Georgia.

We can't do this without you, so please consider making a contribution to our campaign today. Together, we can bring the moving story of "In the Cart" to a new audience in a fresh and exciting way.

In order to bring together the best minds to collaborate and capture the stunning Appalachian landscapes for this story, we are aiming to raise a total of $10,000 for THE SCHOOL MISTRESS.

The majority of the budget will cover production expenses like location permits, equipment rental, and catering for cast and crew. We also have a large stake in the budget dedicated to costumes so we can acquire period-appropriate wardrobes for our amazing cast members. Every dollar you pledge will count toward our budget.

My name is Alex Richard Thomas and I am a Film MFA candidate at the University of Georgia. I am a director who focuses on films that reexamine the past with a Southern slant. Coming from a theatrical background, Anton Chekhov is one of my favorite playwrights. While trying to improve myself as a screenwriter in a Master's program, I poured over his plays and short stories and was struck by how his timely themes resonated with my experiences in the American South.

My goal in directing this piece is to bring Chekhov’s timeless ideas and characters to life in a way that connects with contemporary audiences, highlighting the depths of emotion that Chekhov so beautifully captures in his writing. In setting the film in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I hope to add a new layer of depth and relevancy that will reinforce Chekhov's source material, showing the similarities between 1890s Russia and the American South of the 1910s. 

The rich history and culture of Appalachia, which I grew up around, will provide a unique and evocative backdrop for the project, allowing us to explore the themes of change, tradition, and responsibility in a new and exciting way, and to examine how these forces shape the lives of the characters in the film. Together, we can craft a powerful and moving piece that will leave audiences thinking long after the credits roll.

While we run this crowdfunding campaign, our team continues to work tirelessly to bring this film to life. Through the end of February, we will be locking the cast and crew, acquiring permits for locations, rehearsing and holding wardrobe fittings for the cast, and having countless meetings for the crew... The list goes on and on!

March is when we plan to move into physical production. We want to capture the sprouting greenery and warm sunlight of the Georgia spring, which will look beautiful on film. After a four-day shoot, we will move into postproduction/editing. From there, the film will be submitted to festivals around the world.

Thank you so much for following along with our campaign. Please help us spread the word by tagging @theschoolmistressfilm and sharing the example post below on social media:

Join us in supporting the upcoming UGA thesis film "The School Mistress", an Appalachian drama based on Anton Chekhov's "In The Cart". Follow @theschoolmistressfilm and click the link below to find out how you can help bring this story to life! https://seedandspark.com/fund/theschoolmistress