RI Director Richard Griffin Asks Fans to Help Fund New Film
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Although major celebrities like Zach Braff and Spike Lee have jumped on the crowd-sourcing bandwagon recently to fund personal projects, independent filmmakers have been utilizing this model for many years. Case in point: Providence filmmaker Richard Griffin.
As was true with his past projects, Griffin is once again turning to fans to fund his latest project titled Future Justice. Despite his busy schedule, the prolific director/producer took some time out to discuss his new film and why crowd-sourcing is so vital for the independent film community.
What was the inspiration behind Future Justice?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTI've always had a passion to direct a post-apocalyptic film since I first watched Escape from New York in the early 80s. When I was coming of age, those films were everywhere... and I must have watched every one of them at the local theater near where I grew up. I really fell in love with the Italian rip-offs of them as well–including After the Fall of New York, The Bronx Warriors, Escape 2000, and Yor: Hunter from the Future. I even directed a short 14-minute post-nuke film titled The Outpost on Super 8 when I was 15. Well, years later I thought it was about time to make one before I got too old to direct an action film!
What led you to seek crowd funding via Indie Go Go?
Well, that's a long story... but mostly because I work outside of the Hollywood system, I have to find other ways to raise the money to make these movies. Years ago it was much easier. The DVD / Home Video market was booming, but now with the death of video stores and the DVD market crashing, it's becoming increasing difficult. So, indie producers like myself use crowd sourcing to raise our budgets. It's the cyber version of “passing around a tin cup.” Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!
In a nutshell, what is the plot of Future Justice and why should people invest in the movie?
Future Justice is about the world's most dangerous criminal who is serving time on the prison planet of Titan. He is being flown back to Earth after a five year stay, to be tried and executed. But when he returns, along with five military police officers... they find that there's been a devastating war which has reduced the planet to rubble. They soon take refuge with a group of survivors in bomb shelter, but soon their peace is shattered when an outlaw gang tries to break into the shelter to loot their belongings. An epic battle for survival ensues as both groups discover that something much worse lies deep within the catacombs of the bomb shelter.
As for why should you donate to the movie? Well, first you get some really cool perks for donating. Like DVDs of the final movie, posters, props from the film, tickets to the premiere, and more. But mostly, you'll be helping a group of very talented actors and crew members make a movie they can all be proud of!
If funded by the Aug. 31 deadline, when will you start filming Future Justice and when can folks expect to see it?
Shooting will begin on the second weekend of September, and the movie will be premiered in Rhode Island very early in 2014.
Where do you expect to film Future Justice, and how much of the cast and crew will consist of Rhode Islanders?
Future Justice will be shot entirely in Rhode Island. I would say 70 percent of the cast is from Rhode Island, and the rest are from Massachusetts and Connecticut.
If you would like to help fund Future Justice visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/future-justice-a-sci-fi-action-film.
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