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independent film
Feature Film about Homeless Man, To give Half of Film’s Profits to Homeless.



If firstly you don't succeed, do everything on your own and give half to charity.

 

Michael Stein has been a struggling actor and filmmaker since he was fifteen years old, but that is where his common story ends. Forgoing the actor’s path to work as a waiter, he find the entrepreneurial route and be a self made millionaire red carpet months in business. After that he did what any self proclaimed desperate actor/filmmaker would do and take part in the lead roles in films he wrote, directed and produced. His independent films have always been under half a million dollars, ultra low budget by today’s standards but they're not without merit and name talent. His last film, “Love Hollywood Style” starred Faye Dunaway, Andy Dick, Coolio and Stephen Tobolowsky and has become a cult comedy classic. Michael says he's still a struggling filmmaker and actor with pride, the only difference is he struggles in style more than he use to. In order for him to get to that point the road was for a long time.



Stein’s, first role came when he was cast by his friend Paul Thomas Anderson to experience the lead role of Dirk Diggler within the original short film “The Dirk Diggler Story”, that later became the feature film “Boogie Nights” which Michael Appears in too. The acting roles never came easy to him. After several years of the struggling actors lifestyle, Michael decided to learn how to be a filmmaker and became a production assistant.



Getting funding happens to be a struggle. The past many years in Hollywood have experienced a major change. As Stein puts it, "They aren't handing out movie deals like hotcakes how they use to within the 90s."

Stein admits he would gladly quit the reins of financing and producing if he had outside finding. Since he made his last film, the economy has slipt into a recession and he presently has a family to support. “When I was single I i never thought twice about taking a chance on budgeting my own films, now I've got a wife and two daughters, that changes your mind-set”

It’s been 4 years since Stein made his last film. The issue was self funding a movie in a bad economy combined with the obligations of supporting his family. He knew about crowd funding websites like kickstarter.com but didn't feel that any of his scripts would go well with a crowd funding concept. He then came up with an idea that he felt could be with the right vehicle. A film that would be funded 100% by the public someone complain about who is homeless and the earnings of the film benefiting homeless causes. The story and the concept came easily, he explained. “I felt possessed. I wrote the rough draft to screenplay within a month.”

The film is known as “The Guitar Player”. The story is about a homeless street performer who receives a second chance in life but struggles together with his painful past. At seventeen, Robert Shiller (a.k.a “Robert Shiller The Killer”) was a champion high school wrestler in a small town in Northern California. One week before the state championship, Robert accidentally killed his closest friend and team mate, during practice. The loss of his friend and the social stigma in a tiny town was more than he could bear, so he ran abroad, grabbing only what he could fit in his wresting bag and his best friend’s guitar even though he did not know how you can play. Our story begins twenty years later with Robert living about the streets.

The film is anticpated to be shot in January 2012 contingent upon the funds can be raised publically. The film’s kickstarter campaign also has a high concept. One of the packages, a 35 hundred dollar pledge allows businesses to advertise their products at each of the premieres, which will be in several major cities, including L.A. and Ny. Another package, a 10000 dollar pledge includes “An Event for any Day” where one thousand tarps will be donated to a local homeless shelter and a screening in a movie theater in the city of your choice, all being promoted in honor of the pledge contributor. There are many other elaborate incentives built round the premieres and promotion from the film. Tricks of the trade Stein learned working with Peter Guber and John Peters on movie promotions when he was a twenty years old nightclub promoter.

The minimal funding goal for that film was set at one hundred and fifty thousand. A typical low amount is always set for projects on kickstarter due to their “all of nothing” policy. Stein and also the Line Producer Aimee Flaherty hope to break the kickstarter’s funding record for any film, which is approximately half a million.

The fundraising campaign is being held for fifty days and expires on October 21st. If you are interested in learning more about the film, you can visit the website at: www.theguitarplayermovie.com