Back this Crowdfunding "Dessert" in Verkami

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

Dessert is a fiction short film, with a duration of about 15 minutes. We like to create fiction to talk about what we perceive in daily life, to create characters and situations where all of you can feel related in one way or the other.

The main character of the story is Sara, a 70 year-old lady who lives on her own in the countryside and goes to the city for a family lunch. The invitation feels kind of random; it's not common anymore. And she may not like what she is going to find out...

The genre is suspense. We want to explore how the passing of time affects the communication and trust within a family. At the same time, making the audience accomplice of what happens to the protagonist plays in what we want to tell. That's why we also want you to be accomplices of this project through this crowdfunding.

Five characters accompany Sara in the short film. Her brother, two daughters, a grandson and a caregiver. The casting was made last winter and we have already began the rehearsals after a first reading of the script.

From left to right and from top to bottom: Luisa Merelas, Cristina Fuentes, Javier Gálego, Antía Costas, Tito Refoxo and Cristina Moreira

Some of their work:

Luisa Merelas: Elisa y Marcela, Cocaine Coast, Juana de Vega, Matalobos...

Cristina Fuentes: Cocaine Coast, Serramoura, Pazo de Familia, Urxencia Cero...

Javier Gálego: Serramoura, Cocaine Coast, El punto frío, Unauthorized living...

Antía Costas: Cocaine Coast, Prevenidos, Ave y Nada... Cocreated Moito Morro Teatro.

Tito Refoxo: Lobos e cordeiros, Viradeira, Serramoura, El punto frío...

Cristina Moreira: creator and director of the performing arts festival Fóra do Mapa (Ferrol). She has a role in Quien a hierro mata.

AND WHO ARE YOU?

Roberto Alvite (left) and Javier Gálego (right).

I'm Roberto Alvite and last year created along with my associate Javier Gálego a production company that deals with social issues: Melgo Cinema. He is a businessman; I am a social man. We are both actors too (nevertheless, Javier plays one of the characters in Dessert). He's over 55; I've just reached 30 (yay). We believe that through the understanding and mixing of our differences, our perspectives about our lives and careers, we can work to do some good for our world.

So we chose filmmaking that deals with social issues. We aim all our projects to shed some light on realities of day-to-day, specially some that under our point of view don't receive enough attention. Anyway, the goal is to increase critical thinking, always letting the audience forge their own opinions about what they see. To sum up, we see cinema as much more than entertainment.

Last year we shot The three falls of Maria Santiso, another short film, a comedy-drama about women in the Galician rural. If you are curious to know more about the project, and see what we achieved (set photos, trailer, etc.) visit www.vascaermaria.gal Besides, you can check its evolution through our social networks, which we list down below. Or click on this video and meet the team before, during and after the shooting (subtitles available clicking on "CC"):

THE TEAM IS...?

We value short filming as an indispensable media in the industry, and we want to take good care of it as much as we can, in a professional way. That's why we surround ourselves of people who blend experience and talent:

Executive producer, writer and director – Roberto Alvite

Producer and location manager – Javier Gálego

First assistant director – Andrés Alonso

Script – Cristina Lago

Second assistant director – Fernando Couto

Storyboard designer – Sonia Mª Corral

Unit production manager – Xabier Eirís

Production assistant – Soraya Vilela

Production assistant – Alicia Rodríguez

Director of photography – Iago Vilarinho

Second assistant camera – Pedro Vilas

Gaffer – Abel Lemos

Editor – Xaime Miranda

Colorist – Leticia T. Blanco

Sound design – Javi Pato (La Panificadora Estudios)

Art director – Laura Pena

Costume designer – Laura Iglesias

Costume assistant– Sara Barcia

Key hair and make-up stylist – Manuel Graña Candal

Hair and make-up assistant – Leticia Gundín

Still photographer – Nuria Rey y Juanpa Ameneiros

Making of – Lara Capeáns (Drum&Roll Studios)

Graphic design – Iago Vilarinho

Besides, a few more people will join us the closer the shooting gets.

OH, YEAH, THE SHOOTING. DO TELL.

Where?

In a flat of the city of A Coruña and in exterior locatiosn from the Culleredo Council (only 5-10 minutes away on car).

When?

Around the third week of May, in three shooting days (for 15 minutes).

Format?

Color, digital, 2K.

Language?

Galician mainly, although a couple of the characters speak Spanish as well. We live in a bilingual community and we also want to show that reality, which may persist naturally within the family.

AHA. AND THEN?

Editing will be finished no later than June 20. Afterwards color correction and sound postproduction will be made. In September we'll consider the postproduction finished and the distribution will start aiming for a premiere in 2020.

We are aware that it may seem like a lot of time, but we really want to take care of each step without undermining our other projects, for instance The three falls of Maria Santiso. The wait will be worth it :) Watch it! This doesn't mean that you'll have to wait that long in order to get the rewards. Keep reading!

While postproduction advances, so will the promotion. For example, we'll constantly upload new photos with the team working on our social networks and on the website. We don't want to miss any week.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY?

Thanks to your implication we can cover:

Rents of camera and lightning equipment.
Image and sound postproduction.
Eventualities (can't avoid them).
The distribution (festival fees, advertising, travelling expenses, etc.) throughout Galicia, Spain, Europa and the whole world.

OK, OK, OK. BUT WHAT ARE YOU UP TO NOW?

We've got the script, the storyboard, the preliminary technical script, the locations and a shooting preplan. We've done the first script reading with the cast and have started the rehearsals. On the other hand, we don't stop working on preproduction staff, such as financing, or promotion, and taking the team to the locations to check several aspects (lightning, sound, art, etc.) We've also started shooting the making of, which should be great to cover all aspects of the short film: preproduction, shooting and postproduction. Soon the website will be ready, and here we are, launching this campaign.

Photo by Nuria Rey during the first rehearsal.

In conclusion, we work on the project everyday. Crowdfunding is just another part of it.

AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THE REWARDS?

You'll see that we have a number of rewards available depending of your contribution.

Please, bear in mind that the delivery of those rewards will be gradual; that is, we must organize ourselves and follow a certain order. The estimated delivery date is as follows:

1) The link to watch the film: in October. We'll notify the date in advance.

2) The still: in July, as soon as color correction is complete.

3) The storyboard preview in PDF: in June.

4) The première invitation: in January 2020. We want it to be the trigger for Dessert's year.

5) The video dedication: from June.

6) The poster: from September. Although by April we'll have a provisional design, until we're done with the end credits and all the sponsors (while in postproduction we still try to get some support) we won't make the final design; hence, the wait.

7) The micro-story: in July.

8) A meeting with the producers: from June. Still, please, bear in mind that it may take some time to schedule.

9) The "tarta de la abuela": from June.

10) The illustrator options: from June.

11) Company logos and associate producer credit:

On the website, as soon as possible when the campaign is finished, we talk and get the logo.

On social network, when we see a good moment to publicize all the contributing entities. We are sorry not to say anything more specific, but we don't want to say a date just for the sake of saying it. It depends!

On the opening or closing credits of the film, when we are done with the postproduction (September).

On the poster, when it's complete (September).

On the press kit, as soon as it's available (autumn).

DOUBTS

What happens if you don't reach the target? Do I lose my money?

No. You don't lose anything and neither do we. That means that we must reach it so we can do something with it and put some work.

The rewards that suggest delivery, do they include shipping costs?

Yes, shipping costs are included, but Spain only, sorry. Certificate mail by Correos. If you live in the A Coruña metropolitan area, we give them to you in person.

Alright, and that "A Coruña metropolitan area", what does it mean exactly?

It means the Councils of Abegondo, A Coruña, Arteixo, Bergondo, Betanzos, Cambre, Carral, Culleredo, Oleiros and Sada. In other words, should you choose a reward that includes, among other things, meeting the producers, we'll meet at a bar in one of those councils that better suits us all.

I don't want you to sign my poster!

Jeez. Well, no problem. In that case, simply tell us about it when we make contact for the delivery. If you don't say anything, we'll assume that you want it signed!

I'm not quire sure about that 70€ reward with the creative writing...

Once this campaign is finished and we get in touch with you, those who have that reward will be asked one word to be included in the micro-story. Any word you can imagine. Topics will be family and old age, but the genre will be influenced by the selection of words given by the patrons. Comedy? Drama? Your choice. All of you will get the same micro-story, but it will only have possible thanks to your smart cookies (pun intended).

About the 150€ reward, could you show me some examples of portraits?

Sure thing! There you go. We welcome you to check Sonia Mª Corral's work in her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonia_corral_ilustradora/