Cyber bullying short looks at brand integration
The creators of the short film Red Dot, which deals with the issue of cyber bullying in schools, are looking for completion funding and a brand that could help them expand the story into other platforms.
“At this stage the major creative decisions have been made, but it could be possible to have a youth-focussed brand that fits the core values of the film; there are always levels of connection that could be mutually beneficial and relevant to a project,” producer Tracey Savage told Encore.
Red Dot is a short drama about 15 year old Liv (Katelyn Campbell) who is taken by the world of punk and tattoos. She’s a quirky heroine who is constantly brutalised by girls at her school for being outside the norm.
Savage says that while the film is a stand-alone piece, there are plans to expand the theme and develop it into a series.
The film has a social conscience, but can that initial objective be reconciled with brand integration? According to Savage, it depends on which way those connections are made and what the desired outcomes are for those involved.
“If it becomes a conflict of interest or a question of compromising creative integrity certainly not, but connections and associations are the way things get done, it’s a reality.
“So long as you maintain your core values, do your research, and find the links that make sense and align with your message why wouldn’t you? Everything that get’s made has a series of partnerships in whichever shape or form they come. Our final and ultimate partnership will be with Red Dot’s audience,” said Savage.
To create the $100,000 short, Savage and writer/director Pauline Findlay went online and appealed for support from those who are concerned about the issue of cyber bullying in schools.
Using a dedicated website for their film and creating a Facebook campaign, they raised 20 percent of their cash budget and 80 percent value in kind for the shoot from supporters around the world wishing to help support local artists, musicians and filmmakers.
They are now looking for attachments to support post-production funding to finish the film, the fine cut, sound design, grade and master finishing line, which is being undertaken by Sydney post-production house Chaotic Pictures, who are also supporting the project.
“It will cost us $20,000 to mix, grade, master and market. In an ideal world an additional $50,000 to pay everyone who has worked on this would be nice, but at this point we aim for career progression, which is often more valuable in the long run. You have to think about cross country running not short sprints,” explained Savage.
“Funding body facilitation is a good vehicle for some filmmakers but we have managed to come this far without it. We’ve had no choice but to be resourceful,” she added.
There is already a short film in existence that is about cyber bullying. It’s called “Best Enemies”.
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