Help ‘Icarus’ fly

ATTEMPTING to replicate the success of crowd-funding as a means to finance films, Namibian filmmaker Perivi Katjavivi hopes to fund his latest project, ‘Icarus’, by asking the public to take part in the ‘Help Icarus Fly’ campaign.

‘Icarus’ is a contemporary African take on the ancient Greek myth of Icarus. It follows a boy in a rural Namibian village who dreams of flying. A decade later his ambition has steered him to the big city, where he finds himself flirting with crime and descending into the underworld. With flight school proving to be a difficult conquest and survival an everyday struggle, a lucrative heist presents itself and offers the potential to help him soar upward or fall even deeper.

Crowd funding is a new phenomenon that has taken film and other mediums by storm, it is based on the basic premise that ownership and incentive is placed in the hands of the people. This is as opposed to relying on the Hollywood studio system for funding.

Since online platforms like IndieGoGo and Kickstarter began, it has changed the way films are financed. These sites allow filmmakers to setup a page that describes their project and offers rewards and incentives to public donors. The process has proved to be so successful that established filmmakers and actors like Spike Lee, Zach Braff and Don Cheadle have all had a go and funded their projects through these revolutionary sites. Fans of the hit TV series ‘Veronica Mars’ were so determined to see a film version of their show that they funded it themselves through a crowd funding initiative.

‘Icarus’ is set to be Namibia’s first crowd funding campaign. “We cannot make it without you. We have raised some money, but as part of our financial plan it is essential for us to raise a large part of the production costs through the community,” Katjavivi said.

All funds raised will go into the actual production of the film, which was written and will be directed by Katjavivi who has extensive experience in the Namibian film industry, both as a filmmaker and as the head of Old Location Films, which has serviced and produced commercials for the top corporate clients in Namibia. His short films have played at Cannes, Durban and other festivals. In 2010 he was awarded the Best Director award at the Namibia Film and Theatre awards.

Ronald James, from Old Location Films is on board to help produce and manage the production. He has has been the production manager on several commercial shoots and has had the honour of being Namibia’s only official lighting gaffer.

Popular music producer Tshuutheni Emvula aka Becoming Phill is the executive producer of the film and has been behind the project’s viral campaign, creative design and music scoring. The project also has the support of experienced producer Pedro Mendoza and his New Mission Films as well as the backing of music superstars The Dogg and Gazza who will both be contributing new music to the film and taking up supporting roles in the feature. Iranian American musician Malkovich will also be lending his music skills to the project’s soundtrack and will offer his PR services through his company Dunn Deal PR.

Headlining the film is the multi-talented award winning filmmaker Joel Haikali who is starring in the lead role and the leading lady is theatre veteran Senga Brockerhoff.

To make the film a reality, visit the following sites to make a small contribution to the project: www.icarusfilmproject.com; www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-icarus-film-project; www.facebook.com/icarusmovieproject and www.twitter.com/icarusMovie

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