Hi Kossacks. I'm writing today about helping a filmmaker whom I grew up with. Yesterday I received a note in the mail that
Paul Yates is finishing up his directing fellowship at the American Film Institute (
AFI) and is about to embark on his Masters Thesis. He asked me for my help, and I, in turn, am asking you all.
As he wrote, "this is potentially the most important step of my life as a filmmaker."
This diary will reveal far more personal information about myself than I had ever intended, but it's my sacrifice. I'll admit, I grew up in Darien, CT.
[Back from showering]
I became pretty good friends with Paul when we were in the same class in elementary school. My first memory of him is in 2nd grade when he took his mother's maiden name and became Paul Yates, and not Sanchez. High School was pretty rough for him, his mother died of alcoholism when he was 15 and he finished school while living on the streets.
In High School, I followed the path of conformity and became a deadhead, Paul was a non-conformist and hung out in A/V. He glued his mohawk into spikes. He endured the jocks who constantly ragged on him and his friends. Paul's story is the real human experience, one of beating adversity. He didn't just reconcile his resentment for his father who abandoned the family decades ago - he filmed the uncomfortable reunion. That's Paul.
He has made a few films, as well as music videos for REM, The Dandy Warhols, and his high school friend Moby. It's perhaps his friendship with Moby for which Paul is best known, having sold the musician's soul on eBay after he reneged on a copyright for Paul's last film, Alien Sex Party.
Onion Underwater is Paul's thesis film project. You can download a .pdf of the script. Please consider donating to the project - if you are willing to pay $10 per person to see a first run movie these days, how about spending that same money as a producer? Personally, I'd pay $100 to see this film be made, and that's how I'm justifying my contribution. I hope that some well-heeled readers who love the arts will read my diary and will want to be a part of this project. I'm also hoping that a ton of you ignore the $50 suggested amount and flood his donation link with $2, $3, and $5 contributions.
Thanks
Them