Friends,
I've been peppering stories about the making of our film "Dean and Me," around here for years.
We chose "Dean and Me" as the working title for our film in tribute to Michael Moore and the similarity of our quest to finish my first feature length film and provide a valuable tool for our progressive arsenal.
The difference, of course, is that I wasn't out to "get" Howard Dean and what he stands for (greed in the case of Roger in "Roger and Me"). I was out to get integrity back into the White House before the traditional media decided for us that Dean was "un-electable."
I was out to get Howard Dean into the DNC so that the ATM machine worked for us for a change. I was out to get George W. Bush out of Washington before the establishment handed us a candidate that voters decided wasn't different enough from the status quo to get elected.
Well, I can relate with Michael Moore on a lot of things but I sure feel the pain he talks about in his diary today about GM.
Please, let me explain.
I know what it's like to have invested my entire life, and treasure, into something that's important because, like in "Roger and Me," the title character in "Dean and Me" isn't the focus. It's about those he inspired to change our country. It's about us!
Now I can relate to Michael Moore about his trip to Washington, D.C. and remembering what it's like to sleep on the floors of friends to try and get his first film done.
The difference for me I guess is that when I had to get the final scene for "Dean and Me" on President Obama's inauguration day, I slept in a fancy Georgetown Club--in a car in an underground parking lot under a building where other people were invited to an exclusive Obama Ball. I brushed my teeth with a cantine of water and trudged down to the mall to get what will be the opening scene of the film if we get to the point where we can finish the final cut.
I can relate to Michale Moore when he talks about those tough days trying to keep his dream and the dreams of others alive. We sold all 16 acres of our farmland to a developer to keep this film alive so that you too can see what it's like to be inside the DNC on election night.
Bye Bye Farm:
Here's what naniboujou (of our community) wrote in a comment after one of my pleas to you to help us wrap up the final cut and deliver it to you by Pre-Ordering the film:
"Did this show in Minneapolis at the film festival last year? If this is the movie I saw (with Ted Mondale in it), let me just say it was a delightful/inspiring movie. We loved it. If that's the movie...you will have a contribution. And be sure to add that it wasn't only my husband and I who thought the movie was inspiring. The entire Minneapolis crowd absolutely loved the movie. As you have implied, "Dean and Me" isn't just a story about one man and Howard Dean...it is a story about all of us who believe in and hope for a better America."
"To those of you who aren't sure whether you want to kick in on this venture--the movie is worth it just to see all the footage of Tucker Carlson! Trust me on this! I just kicked in $50.00. Looking forward to owning my own copy! Done!" --naniboujou
I emphasized her contribution pledge because here's someone from our community who saw the huge crowd at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival we had for a film that, technically, isn't even finished yet. Naniboujou paid for a ticket AND came back to donate to the cause of finishing it and owning it.
Our list of technical needs are at the Pre-order page. We have raised $550 towards the "save our stock footage" drive for the priority $1000 we need to raise to upgrade our studio production system.
You can view sample teaser clips on the homepage.
If you want to really get into the director's head about why he did this, read the first part in my continuing series at my blogspot.
Friends, we've been through a lot together over the years. There are many in D.C. who are trying to re-write our history. Let's not let them get away with it. Here's a way to make sure it doesn't happen.
For a $40 minimum, you'll entered into a raffle for a free week stay at a fancy hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Will you join this effort? Will we be able to give the DailyKos community a nice credit at the end of the film?
because--my wife and kids simply can't afford to carry this burden alone anymore. That's our reality.
Thanks. And have a nice day.
Sincerely,
Heath Eiden
director
Dean and Me: Roadshow of an American Primary