Macro-Memoir Fundraising Letter

Dear friends,

I am writing to you to ask for your assistance in the making of films.
I have devoted the majority of my life to film-making and music for film.
We moved to Los Angeles 3 years ago when it looked like my work as a soundtrack composer was on the rise. The past 3 years have been difficult, as the music field has become extremely competitive and noisy. This fund-raising appeal is an attempt to jumpstart the film-making track I have been on.

I recently took part in a competitive application to make a short film with Christine Vachon's Killer Films through massify.com. They chose a film project by a young woman about a transgender teen, which had an extremely well written script. The process was an excellent exercise in preparing film materials, from script and pitch video to budget. They imagined a 10 minute short to cost about $25,000 to produce. I'm aiming to fundraise towards the same goal and to produce one of the shorts I am working on or begin a feature project.

This letter is intended to reach those of you who love the cinema and films and might enjoy some participation in getting films made. I am speaking to those of you for whom the request or invitation would not be intrusive, assumptive or a burden. I'm also not asking for something with nothing in return.

If this might interest you, please read the accompanying posts and consider contributing to my film-making fund. Gifts of 100$ will receive a dvd compilation of my films from the past 20 years. Gifts of 250$ and over will receive a 6 dvd set of almost all my films collected together. All gifts will receive recognition through thanks in credits of the film the donation was used towards and you will be kept informed of that. Anyone wishing to support my filmmaking at a higher level is welcome to contact me at oein@mac.com to discuss that.

I began studying film because I thought it was a medium that could create international understanding and make the world a better place. I think all art and literature have the potential to do that. I am still working towards that goal, even as the world becomes more and more complex with each day. There is all the more need for good communication.

Please view my artist website, under construction:
www.owenotoole.com
My best wishes and thanks.
Owen O'Toole
Monrovia, CA

History of Owen as Filmmaker

Here is a timeline of some of the peaks and valleys in my film-making life.

Summer 1981-- Animation class with Flip Johnson at Boston Museum School.
1982-- Purchase of Beaulieu super8 camera for semester in Barcelona.
1983-- First films completed, including Pisa and WR Theme (self-portrait in Harvard Stadium). Meets Jeff Plansker and begins 2-projector performances.
1984-- X-country trip with Jake Dillon in 1967 VW bug. Performance screening in Olympia, WA (with Bruce Baillie) of "O'Merica" travelog.
1985-- Completes film "Frames for Frampton", first dedication to Hollis Frampton. Somerville Arts Council grant for "Sonnet Lumiere", collected early s8 films.
1986-- Boston Film/Video Foundation grant for 2 channel video/film "The Siberian Tigers". Also screen "Hammerhead" regularly in Boston area.
1988-- The Filmers Almanac year, collecting 1 roll films from 125 filmmakers internationally. 2nd project dedicated to/inspired by Hollis Frampton.
1989-91-- Almanac screened across Europe, Canada and the US (also screened at NYMoMA as part of Big As Life series in 1996).
1989-- Co-creates "The Flamethrowers" with German film groups Alte Kinder (including Matthias Mueller) and Schmelzdahin (including Jurgen Reble). Flamethrowers shown around the world in Goethe Institute "German Experimental Film of the 1990's" program.
1989-92-- Moves from Mass to Portland, Maine. Various short films completed, screenings at Raffles Cafe and The Tree Cafe.
Winter 1992-3-- 63 days and nights in Russia. Video document: "They Have Poisoned The Drinking Water".
1993-- Moves to Northern California. Begins longform super8 film to be called "As If It Were Your Own".
1995-- Forms film-sound group Wet Gate with Peter Conheim and Steve Dye. Wet Gate does numerous 16mm projector performances over 10 years and are guests at international film festivals (Taos, Olympia WA, Montreal Film Pop, Rotterdam, etc).
1998-- Films TV pilot/short film Jalopy Hour in New Orleans with Jeff Plansker.
2005-- Co-creates short film "The Lion Still Has Wings" with Jeff Plansker.
2006-- Moves to Los Angeles.
2008-- Jalopy Hour completed.