Thomas Chapin, Night Bird Song documentary film

Hello everyone, 

It's been six months of work on the film. My success at online fundraising at Kickstarer.com in March launched us into a period of great productivity that would have been otherwise impossible. A major report on my progress follows.So many great things have happened for the THOMAS CHAPIN, NIGHT BIRD SONG project, and are going to happen. I want you to be among the first to know.

AWESOME SUCCESS AT KICKSTARTER.COM 

What a huge milestone in March when we raised $51,552 for the film in 45 days, thanks to 224 backers! Many thanks to lead contributor Michael Dorf, who was Thomas Chapin's first promoter and who showcased him and his trio in downtown New York City's famed Knitting Factory. Still a music promoter, he's also famous for his restaurant and music theater, City Winery. He backed the film with a $10,000 challenge for everyone else to follow suit. Many did indeed, and we accomplished our goal by deadline.

Great Finds in the Duke University archives

With that Kickstarter boost, many things became possible. For starters, a trip down to Washington DC and North Carolina to finish up research for the film and to gather much needed archival footage and photographs of Thomas. That week, I found all kinds of treasures in the Thomas Chapin archives at Duke University that will enrich the storytelling.

July Started the 1st Phase of Filming

With a professional crew, we captured 20 storytellers and a live concert on beautiful hi-definition footage, shot in Hartford, CT, Manhattan and Brooklyn. New York cinematographer, Hugh Walsh, with an extraordinary eye and a gift for lighting is helping me tell the Thomas Chapin story with beauty and intimacy.  Here are some of our moments of filming in July.

Hollywood editor on board! A new trailer is in the works!  

The biggest news is an established editor from Los Angeles is cutting the new, professional fundraising trailer. It will be about 6 mins. long and will contain some of the new, recently shot HD film footage and exciting, never-seen-before archival footage of Thomas's performances from over the years.

After looking over the early material I sent him, editor Bill Woolery was psyched! He declared I had a great story to telland said he wanted to help me. He said he loved the story, he loved Thomas, and thought the footage from July was GORGEOUS!! He is slated to finish the new trailer this month. Then I will have a powerful tool to convince big foundations and other funders to back our compelling film and its production.

A Prestigious Support Letter from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

 

I am very honored to have received as our first letter of support, an endorsement from the esteemed international jazz organization, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz based in Washington DC. 

The letter in part reads:

"It is extremely important that this film be created for people of all ages, and not just for Thomas Chapin and his legacy. This film will highlight an individual who was seminal and strategic to the development and growth of the music of his day --a courageous man who is remembered by thousands of fans around the world.Castillo's documentary will elevate an essential figure in the jazz history books by comprehensively examining how and what he created and, in the process, will uplift our spirits and enhance the past, present,and future of music."

WHAT'S NEXT?

Moving forward

Film projects are very expensive to make. This is my 10th; I know.

 Here's what it's going to take to keep going forward toward my goal of completing the film at the end of 2014.

On Oct. 26, I'll leave NYC where I have been working on the film since May. I will return to my home base in Hawaii for a critical period of fundraising and more development time to plot out the film's important and critical storytelling structure. A development grant was submitted in August, and I am now waiting to hear. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. So the ball is already rolling for this new fundraising phase. 

 

My fundraising strategies will include writing and sending more grants to potential funders and ...

gathering more letters of support. 

continuing to raise awareness about the film by sharing the new trailer on Facebook, with bloggers and on youtube for mass, effective digital exposure.

additionally, I will be editing a 20 min. segment of the film using the July shoot footage for BIG funders who will want to see a large chunk of the film-in-progress. Their BIG money can help with finishing the film.    

Key to these strategies is the hiring of a grant writer/consultant with a great success record. As soon as the new fundraising trailer is done, she'll be hearing from me!  

I SEE YOU IN THE FILM'S CREDITS! 

Join our Team

It can takes years to make a film. I've been working the Thomas Chapin film since Dec. 2011, andit is my dream to finish in late 2014 or early 2015. I've come this far -- which has been an amazing and rewarding road. AND it will take a lot to continue. Money, yes. But most of all it requires a team. People who stand behind you and believe in what you are doing. People who come alongside to help. Let me invite you to join the Team, if you haven't already.

I believe everyone wants to be part of something important and worthy.

Before the Kickstarter money came in, we kept moving forward because of angel donors and contributors who believed in what I was doing, who believed this film was worthy of their support. Convinced that Thomas Chapin's remarkable story had to be told, that he indeed was significant force in jazz history, they gave early and generously with gifts totaling a phenomenal $16,000.These believers helped keep the project afloat and brought it to its next phase of funding at Kickstarter.com. We need the same kind of help now to get us to the next step.

 

The Will to see this film made is growing stronger every day.

The momentum keeps building. And I believe it will continue. Are you with us?

As our need to keep moving forward continues, I invite you to join us. I welcome your gifts and contributions to this project and any help you can give us to find more contributors. 

Know of someone who likes to contribute to great causes? Please let them know of my effort. Forward this email to them and share my progress. Invite them to join the Team. 

Know of jazz fans, documentary film fans, or other possibly interested persons who don't know about my film? Send them to my website where they can view my film trailer atwww.thomaschapinfilm.com. Invite them to the Team.

Know of any resource persons that could help? a graphics person? a web person? a publicist?  a free-lance writer? an angel investor? They'll thank you for the invite.  

The Team Has Been Growing

Not just donors but contributors of all kinds. A big shout out to those who have volunteered and given their time and talent. Among them, Dian and Bob Rowan who helped out with scanning photos and documents at the Duke U archives. Kennedy Moore and AskaNewYorker.com who helped publicize the Kickstarter campaign. Ted Chapin who hosted a reception in Manhattan and a showing of the film's trailer. Real Artways in Hartford, CT for the reception space where I met Thomas's long-time fans and showed my first trailer. Greg Laxer who volunteered as a production assistant during the July shoots. Sonny and Kathryn Izon who hosted me in Washington DC. Shelby Fischer who reviewed the grant sent out in August and secured the support letter from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Robert Middleton who coached me on PR and communications. Abby Londonfor important connections in jazz .And most of all my sister Terri Chapin, who has generously shared her home in New York City with me.  

Already on the Team because you've given?

Consider sending another gift. We're in need of a Round Two of filming interviews and locations. Price tag? $20,000-plus. Can you help again? Stay with us, strive with us. Together we can do it! 

 

We welcome all help and any contributions, big and small. 

Tax-deductible donations are being received by Akasha Inc., a nonprofit organization furthering music education and the musical legacy of Thomas Chapin. It's easy to donate with a credit card. Simply go to www.thomaschapin.com/donate

 

Want to send a check or a U.S. money order? Make it out to "Akasha Inc." 

And send to: Akasha Inc. P. O. Box 721032, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 USA

 

To thank you for a gift of over $100, we will send you Thomas Chapin's last 3-CD set released in December 2012. Reviewers are raving, saying more music from Thomas is great news!

The Short of It 

Here's the film summary. I keep it before me. 

When the world lost jazz artist Thomas Chapin in 1998 at the age of 40, a musical legend might have been relegated just to the footnotes of history. But today, an intimate documentary, NIGHT BIRD SONG, will explore his life and celebrate his unique and phenomenal contributions to the world of jazz through the memories and stories of those who knew him and want the world to know him.

UPCOMING:  Celebrating Thomas Chapin with a Jazz Concert and Film Fundraiser 

A concert and fundraising party will be held in at City Winery in New York City on January 20, 2014. Hosted by NY impresario Michael Dorf, the $10,000 film backer at Kickstarter, Michael wants to keep moving this film project forward. I am so grateful for his commitment to help make it happen. There are more storytellers that still need filming. There are locations where Thomas played that I need to film. This jazz fundraiser will be a big boost to the next phase of our filmaking. MORE DETAILS TO COME.     

 

Thanks for scrolling all the way down for all this great news!  

There was so much to share! So much Great Progress to be thankful for.   

 

With warm regards, Stephanie  

P.S. I'd love to hear from you! 

castillosj@aol.com

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