November 2013

Frozen Marbles


Hi Friends!

A year ago, I began collaborating with my partner, David, and a writer, Karen Moore (she wrote the very awesome BravoFACT short, Your Place or Mine), to come up with a film project we could all work on together. Karen went away and wrote Frozen Marbles: a quirky, funny, brave little film about two sisters who reunite to remember someone they’ve lost. It is a beautiful character study on the impact of loss on a family, and how we each deal grief in our own way. I will be playing one of the sisters, Jade.

On a personal note, two weeks ago – in the middle of developing the campaign for this film – I lost my grandmother. Somehow, even when you anticipate something may happen soon, you are never quite ready or prepared. I couldn’t help but feel strange about the timing.  I experienced very personally and deeply exactly what this film is about. Grief is something that touches all of us, is so human and universal, yet rarely discussed and understood. There is so much strangeness – even awkwardness – in trying to be there for someone who has lost someone. What can you possibly say? How can anything make it better? It is a difficult thing for any of us to articulate, and in the middle of a time where we all unite over a shared loss, so often tensions arise as our ways of coping conflict. We reveal so much of ourselves. If there is any reason to create a film – or any art for that matter – it is to help us better understand those experiences and each other.

I also believe in this project not only because I’ve been by its side since its inception, but because I know the people involved are some of the most passionate, hardworking, determined, gifted filmmakers around. Many are at the beginning of their careers, and we are proud to give them the spotlight. 

So here’s the challenge. Making movies is expensive! Who knew? We have spent the year applying for grants and working to raise money on our own, and have now reached out through crowdfunding to help us go all the way. If you can take a moment to view the campaign, and share with a social network or two, you might be my best friend.

AND: Just as I was ready to publish this, we found out that Frozen Marbles is now featured on IndieReign’s Project of the Week competition! The winner receives $100 from IndieReign, and tons of exposure around the web. So exciting! Please take a moment and VOTE for us here: http://blog.indiereign.com/project-week-will-it-be-life-itself-shepherd-2154-cutter-or-frozen-marbles/

Check out our nifty campaign tracker device!

And our campaign video!

Please share your thoughts with me & spread the love around. Hippie style. 

xo
Jess

UPDATE: You can now view Frozen Marbles here!