“One In A Million” Project Description

What is the film about?

“One In A Million” is about the filmmaker’s family - and their learning curve, reality shift to, and understanding of, their daughter, Lucy, and her autism spectrum disorder, specifically Asperger’s syndrome. While including some expert opinions, it is mostly about this chapter of Lucy’s life, which began before her diagnosis in January 2007, and continues to this day.

What will it look like?

While there will be some sit-down static interviews, and footage of other parents and experts, it will mostly consist of run and gun documentary footage of Lucy, her parents, her relatives, her teachers, her therapists, and her classmates – and Lucy’s interaction with each of those different social environments. It will also include footage shot directly from Lucy’s perspective.

How will you do it?

The film will be shot on HD1080i/P-24F/P for 90% of the footage, using both the Canon XH-A1, and Canon HV20, with which Lucy will be using to shoot her own footage to add to the film. The remaining 10% of the film will come from archival 24P video footage, photos, and documents. The film will be deliverable not only in 1080P/24P High Definition, such as Blu-Ray disc, but any format sized below that as well, including SD-DVD, streaming, and iPod/iPhone video, as examples.

Where did the idea come from?

As parents of a pre school age daughter with a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, we noticed as stunning lack of available information on the subject. Therefore as a filmmaker, I am seeking to fill that void, to add one more voice to the tapestry of the discussion on autism spectrum disorders. My desire is also to counterbalance to those documentaries on the subject that seek to rely solely on shock value, and instead make a movie that focuses on hope.

Why should you be the one to make it?

I am an experienced professional documentarian, having shot behind the scenes, for two years, on Richard Linklater’s animated film of Philip K. Dick’s, “A Scanner Darkly”. At the same time, I filmed and animated my own feature length rotoscoped documentary “Doolittle Raiders”, about the events surrounding the 2004 election, including well before, and the aftermath. My plans for “One In A Million” are to screen the film in 1080P/24P High Definition, with great sound, encoded in Dolby Digital. The film will have a wall-to-wall soundtrack that will hopefully eliminate the need for a narration track, as I believe in immersive documentary storytelling.

Who will see it?

The first target audience will be those who are in our shoes, having a pre school daughter with Asperger’s, but little in the way of information to go on. Next expansion of that subset is the autism community at large; including parents, and those with autism spectrum disorders themselves. Next expansion is anyone with professional interest in the subject, including doctors, therapists, pharmaceutical companies, teachers - including professors, politicians, and activists. A further expansion is to the world community at large, it is an aim of mine to contribute to the tapestry of the larger discussion on autism spectrum disorders, and it is my intention to educate, entertain, and enlighten – in that order.

How will they see it?

The film will be toured across the country, and screened in 1080P / Dolby Digital, at non-theatrical locations (coffeehouses, bars, rooftops, art galleries, larger conference rooms, etc.) in conjunction with Autism Awareness Month, April 2009 - before, through, and after the month - with the intention of covering much of the continental United States, in person, to be available for Q & A. The film will also be sold online, in a variety of formats, including DVD, downloadable/streaming, and eventually on Blu-Ray Disc, along with merchandise (T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers, Posters). At each of the tour locations, viewers will be able to securely order, on-demand, DVD copies of the film, and/or tour merchandise, via online sales available at the site.

How will you finance it?

It will be financed through a combination of in-kind donations, including my own company, Rembrandt Machine, in the way of gear, donation of payment for time spent, and most of all, through the financial kindness of “Aspie Angels” – those who with their money are making it possible for this powerful message to reach it’s full potential. So far “Aspie Angels” have raised $30K for the film. At minimum, $35K more is needed to see it through to completion, including advertising, marketing, and overall distribution. Any surplus raised above $35K will be used for more distribution budget, and small salaries for a skeleton staff.

Why should I fund it?

You should consider being an “Aspie Angel” if you support the notion of spreading the message about autism spectrum disorders, through a film about a pre-school girl with Asperger’s Syndrome – which aims to educate, entertain, and enlighten. Any level of financial participation makes you eligible to be an “Aspie Angel” – from small gifts, to large gifts, to monthly subscriptions.

How will the funds be used?

The funds will be used in three ways – the largest amount of funds will be used toward the cash needs for distribution ($28,500), and the remainder of the 35K will be put towards a 10% completion contingency fund ($6,500).