We’ve been having some interesting conversations with potential production partners – producers and production companies. Typically, they are looking for flashy, genre films like action, thrillers, horror, and such. These junk-food sorts of films are what sell streaming memberships. Quality no longer seems to matter.

But Reclaiming Estanislao is a quality drama, based on a deep and disturbing true story. So far, there doesn’t seem to be much demand for these sorts of films.

We are watching for opportunities and continue to reach out to potential production partners. If you know of any who are bucking the trend toward trash films, please email their link or contact info to our Executive Producer, Sue Knaup sue{at}onestreet.org.

We’ve accomplished a lot lately. The script is completed and our researchers are ready for fine tuning. The budget is baselined at $1.2million, though we are prepared for an increase if we can attract well-known actors, especially those with a passion for environmental stories. We’re also back on track with our fundraising efforts.

So now it’s time to build our production team. We’re looking for a producer and/or production company with a track record of meaningful narrative feature films, especially with an environmental theme. While documentary producers could be helpful, our ideal producer will have worked with scripted films and actors on similar projects.

If this sounds like you or you can recommend a producer or production company, please contact:

Sue Knaup

Executive Producer & Writer

Reclaiming Estanislao

sue{at}onestreet.org

Our director search landed us a refreshing new visionary. Art Arutyunyan values making films with dramatic storylines that also deliver meaningful messages, which is why he is so enthralled with Reclaiming Estanislao. His films often use natural settings to enhance their depth, so he’s going to have a lot of fun with this one.

Sue and Art have already begun working on script refinements to bring out the human struggle and triumph for the Stanislaus River all the more. Art’s fresh view of the story has caught some new opportunities. We’ll carefully enhance and trim, keeping the characters and storyline the same as the tension draws viewers in to root for the river.

We’re back on track and once again enjoying the process of bringing this film to life. Once we’ve updated and refined our materials we’ll return to building our production team and reaching out to major funders to help us achieve pre-production. In the meantime, even small donations will help cover current costs and recharge our momentum. Find ways to donate on our Support the Film page. Thanks to all of our donors who have gotten us this far!

Find Art’s bio on The Film page to learn about his background and other films. And join us in welcoming Art to the Reclaiming Estanislao team!

Our job announcement received quite a few applicants, but only a handful who showed interest in the story of the Stanislaus River. This made the winnowing easy.

This week, Eric and Sue have begun the selection process. We hope to introduce our new director soon.

We've opened our search for our next director. If you know a director who would be a good fit, please forward this to them.

Candidates must:

* have previous success directing narrative feature films;

* have experience working in social impact entertainment, specifically films with a positive change message; and

* demonstrate a sincere loyalty to caring for people and our planet, which is the heart of Reclaiming Estanislao.

In addition, these would be helpful:

* Worked with nonprofits and/or activists.

* Participated in efforts to protect the environment.

Compensation: market rate

Please send intro letter and resume to:

Sue Knaup
Executive Producer & Writer 
Reclaiming Estanislao
sue{at}onestreet.org

Exactly one year after our elated announcement that we’d found our ideal director, we lost him. David Goodall died suddenly of aggressive cancer on September 27. We are still shocked by this horrific news.

As Director of Reclaiming Estanislao, he brought a visionary spark that illuminates the human struggle within scenes as the characters fight to save their beloved river. His expertise in filmmaking was augmented by his experience as an activist for social change, so he personally understood the depth of the struggle the film is meant to capture. His contributions have lifted the film project and will live on through the film’s release. We are so grateful to have had this brief collaboration with this very special man.

We are currently adjusting our plans and will open our search for a new director this fall. David set a high standard that is hard to imagine replacing. Because of David, our job description will require not only experience in directing narrative feature films, but a deep loyalty to caring for people and our planet, which is the heart of Reclaiming Estanislao.

Over the past five months our team has been laser focused on two important tasks for our film - completing the script and creating our pitch deck. These two documents are necessary for connecting with major contributors, investors, and perhaps even stars. In order to reach our minimum funding target to begin filming, we are going to need such heavy hitters. 

This past week, we did the final spit shine on the pitch deck, weaving in the vision of our director as well as visual references from other, similar films. Our eight characters are outlined and our synopsis is edited as short and concise as we could get it. 

Find the pitch deck posted on The Film page. Please forward that link to others who might like to see an easy overview of the vision for this film and contribute to its success.

Smaller donations are vital at this point as we begin the long haul toward connecting with major contributors. Such donations are the reason we have made it this far for the film. This five-month detour away from fundraising has diminished our funds available for upcoming tasks, so we would very much appreciate any help you can offer. Please find the three ways to donate, including a tax-deductible option, on our Support the Film page.

Thanks to all who have helped us reach this point!

Our current donors have enabled great progress for Reclaiming Estanislao as we prepare for pre-production. I’ve been working with the film’s producer and director to refine the script for filming, sort out locations, and interview for cinematographer and other key crew. But we still need to raise the $120,000 needed for pre-production. 

So, to give this next step a fun twist, we’re offering a signed limited edition movie poster for film donors and sponsors of $1,000 or more. We’re calling you the Lead Film Funders Circle as you will lead the film into production, just like a lead raft. Imagine, just 120 donors of $1,000 would get us there. Or 60 of $2,000, or only 24 of $5,000… Once we reach $120,000, the number of posters to print will match the number of donors and sponsors of $1,000 or more who took us to the goal.

The poster will show the seven main characters in action and will honor the Lead Film Funders Circle. The seven main characters will sign the poster – both actors and real – plus myself, our director, and our producer. These posters will be true collectors’ items.

Please join the Lead Film Funders Circle by contributing at least $1,000 and take pride in launching this film. If you have already contributed, you can add the funding needed to reach $1,000. Find the three ways to contribute, including a tax-deductible option, on the Support the Film page on the film’s website.

Thank you!

Sue

Thanks to contributions so far, we’ve made lots of progress for the film over the past month. Working with our brilliant director, David Goodall, I’ve begun to refine the script for production as he and our producer, Eric Michael Kochmer, interview cinematographers and other key crew members.

Now I must return to the film fundraising. If you know any potential sponsors who might like to tap the benefits of early sponsorship, please forward this information to them. Also, all donations are very welcome, either through GoFundMe or the Support the Film page on the film’s website.

I am preparing the sponsor banner for the film’s website. Sponsors will be prominently displayed on both the Home and Support the Film pages.

The top-level sponsorship includes product placement in the film, but if coming in at a lower level would work better for them at this point, we can always increase their sponsorship later on. That might work well if they decide later to add benefits like custom marketing and even product placement.

For now, as an example, at just $5,000 I can include their logo and link in the website sponsor banner and highlight their sponsorship in the press release.

At $10,000 we could add their marketing materials at the filming events and secure their spot in the special thanks film credits. Sponsor benefits are posted on the Support the Film page of the website.

If you do find a potential sponsor, they can make their contribution using the method that fits their needs:

• For tax deduction, pay through our fiscal sponsor, The Film Collaborative (some fees will apply).
• To ensure their entire contribution goes toward the film, send a check along with the sponsorship form posted on the Support the Film page.
• To pay using a credit card, use the Donate button on the film’s website: ReclaimingEstanislaotheFilm.com

All donations – through GoFundMe or the methods listed above – are greatly appreciated and are going directly to the current expenses to keep the film on track toward production.

And contributing through our fiscal sponsor (link above) is a great opportunity for your year-end tax deductions.

If you know others who might like to sponsor the film or donate with a year-end tax-deductible donation, please forward this on to them.

Thanks so much for your help and for your continued support of Reclaiming Estanislao!

Sue

After a worldwide search for an experienced director who also understands the depth of Reclaiming Estanislao, we have found him! David Goodall resides in Scotland, but his 40 years of making social impact films have left their mark on both sides of the pond. He has won industry awards for Best Director in both Los Angeles and New York, and Best International Film (LA). His films have won awards at festivals in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Ireland, and Wales, and awards for excellence at the prestigious Depth of Field Awards and the Los Angeles Olympus Awards.

When he’s not directing films, David mentors new filmmakers, actors, and artists, often in underserved communities. He facilitates discussions on police engagement, domestic violence, medical ethics, and community issues. He has created mentoring projects with young people, addiction recovery programs, and one of the UK’s first Cerebral Palsy theatre groups.

His skill as a mentor is reflected in the actors in his films. Watch the emotion and camera work in his director’s reel: https://vimeo.com/349009986

This sort of nurturing is exactly what Reclaiming Estanislao needs from its director. Plus David is enchanted by the story as shown in his quote regarding his attachment to this film project:

"Sue has conceived a work of astounding depth and breadth. The story had me hooked from the outset, and with every passing reading and discussion, I get dragged deeper and deeper into it and the bind tightens! While ostensibly a tale of restoring the sweeping majesty of an awe-inspiring piece of natural beauty, Reclaiming Estanislao unfolds a human story; a moving narrative of love and determination, greed and despair, and ultimately of resilience and hope.”

We are delighted to welcome David to the Reclaiming Estanislao team. He is already digging into the screenplay with Sue to find more clarity and emotion. He is also working with Eric, our Producer, to assess and interview potential cinematographers and other key crew members.

This great news intensifies the urgency to raise the funds needed for the film, including keeping David with this project. He is currently donating his time, but will have to be paid by the end of November and the start of pre-production. Please donate if you can. You’ll find several options on our Support the Film page. Please also forward that link to others who might like to help.

For now, join us in welcoming David to the project!

UPDATE Sept. 27: Ideal director found! Please see the next News item.

We’re making fast progress through our film development. Fundraising will launch in September (keep a lookout). The screenplay will soon be refined through readings. And we’re bringing in helpers for all aspects of the film. Now is the time to lock in our director so they can help with refinement and preparing for filming in spring 2023. If you know a director who would be a good fit, please forward this to them.

Candidates must:

• have previous success directing narrative feature films
• have experience working in social impact entertainment, specifically films with a positive change message.

In addition, these would be helpful:

• worked with nonprofits and/or activists
• participated in efforts to protect the environment

Compensation: market rate

Please send intro letter and resume to:

Sue Knaup

Executive Producer & Writer Reclaiming Estanislao

sue{at}onestreet.org

The film collective, We Make Movies, based in Los Angeles, has joined our team as our production company. They bring a wide variety of experience in all sorts of filmmaking, including films for social good. Their extensive networks will help us build the rest of our team. Eric Michael Kochmer, their VP of Content and a longtime producer, is now our project's producer. We look forward to working with them to create a beautiful film.