Fred: The Town Dog
Hi all! I hope everyone is well. I posted in GD awhile back but haven't been in the lounge for awhile. School, work, and city life has kept me busy! I wanted to share with you my senior thesis documentary film.
http://www.fredthetowndog.com/
In 1993 a dirty and disheveled dog walked into the tiny town of Rockford, Alabama, where he was nursed to health, cleaned, and adopted by the town, becoming “Fred” – the town dog. Fred is a film about a struggling small town and its adoption of a new friend, exploring his relationships and the effect he had on both individuals and the community as a whole. Fred is currently in pre-production and shooting is planned to take place in October of 2012.
This project is about a lot more than just a beloved pet. Rockford is a small town of only 400 residents located in Coosa County, Alabama, where it is the county seat. This quintessential southern town has suffered in recent years; many of the town’s shops have been forced to close, and meanwhile many of the town’s inhabitants have moved away in search of job opportunities. Through Fred and the time he shared with the people of Rockford, Alabama, we will gain insight into the individuals who cared for him while exploring the town’s narrative – specifically the narrative of an increasingly deserted area on the verge of becoming another southern ghost town. We will explore exactly what Fred meant to the individuals who cared for him and why they were so willing to care for a dog that showed up as nothing more than a dirty mutt.
I'm really passionate about this project. As a liberal southerner, I have a complex relationship to my native-Alabama. There are many wonderful things about the south while there are also very negative aspects to the south. Moving to New York, though, I've realized this could by said for most (if not all) places. This film is a way for me to explore my relationship with Alabama and share the culture that I love while also taking into account the realities of small town life.
But in order for this film to be made I have to raise the necessary funds first. Received funds would help cover the cost of transportation from New York City, where our crew is based, to Rockford, Alabama. This includes the cost of airfare and vehicle rental. It would also feed our crew and help cover the cost of equipment rentals. Please consider donating anything, even just a few bucks helps, and spread the link around to friends, family, facebook contacts, etc. Our facebook page is linked below as is the Indiegogo campaign. Thanks for all the support over the years and for taking the time to read this post!
http://www.facebook.com/FredTheTownDog
http://www.indiegogo.com/fredfilm
- Ava
= new reply since forum marked as read
Your Thesis film sounds wonderful. Good luck to you on it.
And yeah, I remember you as Droopy! 
The deadline is October 1st for funding.
I've wondered about you--how you've been doing--and am happy for the opportunity to support your film!
See you at Sundance!!!!
It's greatly appreciated! 
in Homeschooling Flamefest #8,425. 
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021128777#post67
So I'm using them instead of Kickstarter, that way the contributions are tax deductible thanks to fiscal sponsorship. It's also a small fee from Indiegogo thanks to the partnership.
Thanks everyone!
