FILM FUNDS FOR FRIEDL!

My name is Johan and I am running the Copenhagen marathon on May 19th to raise funds for my friend Friedl to attend film school in NYC. Friedl is one of the most talented young film makers in South Africa and I want to be able to help him make his dream of studying in the USA a reality. As we all know, universities in the US are extremely expensive, and even more so if you are converting from SA Rands to US Dollars. Most people run for cancer charities or medical research charities, but this year I want to use this opportunity to raise money for someone who can actually use it! I hope you guys can help. Please find below all the info you need on how to give, as well as a message from Friedl explaining a bit more about his project. Thank you so much and remember: every little helps, so please give as generously as you can. 

PS: I have made funding available until June 19th for anybody still wishing to give after I run!

What my campaign is about

Africa is full of rich stories to tell and new film flavours to be discovered, but our film industry is still only starting to figure out what it is and what it can be.

New York has film history hiding behind every corner and America has the skills that turned a clever carnival trick into an art form and a billion dollar industry that stretches from the intimate to the epic.

I want to get there, soak up all I can & come back home with new skills and perspectives to bring to our local film industry.

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) has very kindly accepted me to their 2 year hands-on filmmaking program, starting in July 2013, and sponsored 20% of my total tuition. But I still need about $35 000 to get there and cover my first year's tuition (I'll start planning for year two when year one is locked & loaded).

Details of What I Need

I need about $35 000 to get me from Pretoria, South Africa to New York, New York and attend my first year of film school. $8 000 per year has already been sponsored by NYFA & I've applied for additional funding with all the local and international bodies I could find. 

The year consists of two semesters of $21 000 each, a one way flight from South Africa should cost me around $1000 and I will take care of living costs by working part time and taking along a supportive wife who will be working full time. 

Although I ultimately need to raise the full amount, I am not relying solely on Crowdfunding. All donations received will be gratefully added to my New York nest egg. 

Why I Need

Film has been my lifelong passion and, since I'm fairly fussy about whose advice I'll accept, attending film school in New York has been a lifelong dream.

My dream is so close to being realised, but the Rand / Dollar conversion puts the cost of tuition at the selling price of a decent house in South Africa.

At 27, married, with no kids yet, now is really my last real chance to tackle a crazy left turn like quitting my comfortable corporate job and dragging my wife to a new, student's life in New York.

I want to be the dad that shows my kids how to live what they love and turn their hearts into something that serves the people around them, but I'd prefer not to make impossible amounts of debt doing so (not a great life lesson).

Why NY Film Academy

NYFA takes an immersive, hands-on approach to filmmaking, with projects that will force me to collaborate in a wide variety of roles & hold a camera from day one. They also have connections to interesting professionals you may have heard of, like Steven Spielberg, Terry Gilliam, Jim Sheridan, George Romero, Tim Robbins... You can check out the full curriculum for the two year filmmaking program, which I have been accepted for, in the campaign updates page. 

Thanks for reading! Come visit in New York!

Check out Friedl and his wife Mareesa's video 'Bring Film Skills to Africa' here: http://vimeo.com/56456439

 You can check out Friedl's Movie Blog at www.sumupfilm.blogspot.com