Much like any other movie, even student film projects need money to pay actors, rent equipment and feed the cast and crew.
Students in Ohio University’s MDIA 4719 course are now working to raise money for their project “Climbing to the Window” by holding a fundraiser show at the Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St. Garage rock bands Weird Science and Nightstalker, singer-songwriter JJ Reed and ska-punk band Nuddist Monks will take the stage to help raise money for the film.
“Climbing to the Window will be a short film adapted from the Dave Eggers short story Climbing to the Window, Pretending to Dance,” said P.J. McConnell, director of the film and junior studying video production.
It’s part of a year-long class called Advanced Narrative Production, although everyone in the class refers to it as MDIA 419 because of the class’ identification number. The movie is one of three films being made in the class.
“It’s kind of an unconventional story about a young man and his friend, and just kind of dealing with the weird parts of life,” McConnell said.
The weird parts can be dark, as the story follows the young man, Eddie Fish, driving to meet a friend who has attempted suicide for the sixth time, and takes place over the span of a day, he explained.
“In many ways it is about the main character’s inability to communicate,” McConnell said.
Fall Semester and an early part of Spring Semester are devoted to pre-production, including casting, editing the script and storyboarding said Sam Golemboski, producer for the film.
“Every year we always have the challenge of how are we going to fund (this),” said Golemboski, a senior studying video production. “We do the grilled cheese on the street, we do all the restaurants. I like (the rock show) because it’s unique.”
Chris Croft, a digital imaging technician for the movie, booked the show at The Union and said for a previous show they were able to raise more than $200. Fundraising shows like this one help bring exposure to the project, he added.
In addition to the fundraising, they also have an Indiegogo page that includes rewards for donating, including DVDs, posters and T-shirts for different donation levels.
“It really puts the name there and draws attention to the project, even if they don’t donate that day,” Croft said. “We’ll make sure they know about the Indiegogo and all that and know what we’re doing.”
@drussell23
ds834910@ohiou.edu
This article originally ran in print under the headline "Stage set for concert to raise funds for film adaptation of Eggers’ short story"
