Let's get this movie started!! Fund raising for UNLV film makers featuring Popovich!

If everything goes their way, on November 25th, Jerry and Mike Thompson will have a budget in place to make their second feature film. Las Vegas natives educated at UNLV’s film school, the Thompson brothers have a long list of award-winning short and feature length films that have screened all over the world.  All of these projects were funded out of pocket. The filmmaking duo is now hoping to raise the entire budget for their latest venture, “The Popovich Pet Theater and the Voice of the Fabled American West,” via the website kickstarter.com.

According to the website, “Kickstarter.com is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors ... [and] is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands.”

Jerry and Mike Thompson have been working with legendary performer Gregory Popovich for years on a variety of creative projects for TV and the timing felt right to take their collaboration to the next level.  “We’ve worked so closely with Gregory over the years, and we started talking about how great it would be to write a feature for him to star in. Writing something around his stage persona has been really fun and plays so well to his Keaton and Chaplain antics. So we’re excited to have a way to get a project like this funded.”

The Thompson brothers aren’t strangers to independent film and enjoyed a strong premiere with “Thor at the Bus Stop,” which showed in festivals and theaters around the world. “Kickstarter wasn’t around when we were working on ‘Thor,’ so the prospect of being able to reach out to our fan base and essentially pre-sell access to the final film is very motivating.  We can see the finish line right from the start and it keeps us going,” said Jerry.

Most independent artists struggle to find time for their own creative endeavors, due to the difficult fundraising environment during the last 10 years for off-beat projects. Kickstarter has proven to be a successful medium to solve that problem with hundreds of millions of dollars raised for hundreds of thousands of projects.

Funds raised on Kickstarter, will allow Jerry and Mike to hire a crew for the three week shoot, something they weren’t able to do with “Thor.” “We called in a lot of favors on ‘Thor.’ With this project, we made a decision up front that we weren’t going to do that again.  With ‘Thor at the Bus Stop,’ we could shoot on weekends and everyone donated their time.  Gregory has taken time off his performing and touring schedule for the film, so we pretty much have to devote every day to shooting.  That’s too much to ask of our friends.  We own our equipment, so really it’s just personnel during production, food and props that we need to account for.” The money would also allow the team to produce original music, special effects & titles, language transcriptions, cover legal fees, as well as the process of combining all of these elements for the final edit.

Despite an army of fans, both Jerry and Mike recognize the challenge ahead. “We only have two weeks left to get this thing funded or it isn’t happening. Let’s just say neither of us is getting a whole lot of shut-eye and we need all the help we can get,” said Mike. With 25k to go, it seems like an uphill battle, but one they’re prepared to weather.

The Thompson brothers’ The Popovich Pet Theater...” Kickstarter project runs through FRIDAY NOV 25th, 2:00AM EST. If the goal isn’t met by the end of the run, no funds change hands. Those interested in supporting the project, should visit http://kck.st/nDC5dvto learn more.

For more information, contact Jerry Thompson at 702-812-4467 or at jerry@lightforgestudios.com

Kickstarter Link:  http://www.popovichmovie.com/ 

About “The Popovich Pet Theater and the Voice of the Fabled American West” Feature Film:

Popovich is a fifth generation circus performer living in a junkyard in Las Vegas with his two best friends, Rex and Sebastian, a dog and a cat respectively. Because he loves animals, his junkyard has become a haven for strays in the neighborhood. But when his angry neighbor reports him to Animal Control, Popovich and his animal friends are forced to raise money through a series of schemes to save the animals.

Each of the film’s 15 cats and 10 dogs were once strays that were rescued from animal shelters.

About Jerry and Mike Thompson:

Jerry and Mike Thompson are independent filmmakers located in Las Vegas, NV. They have made dozens of award winning short films and music videos. “The Popovich Pet Theater and the Voice of the Fabled American West” will be their second feature length film. Their first feature film, “Thor at the Bus Stop,” played in film festivals all over the world.