One Small Step for a Man

Introductions

Hello there! My name is Sam Hayes and I am a young enthusiastic Jewish film maker from the heart of North London, currently studying at film school.

Although a great lover of Jewish food and culture, I have always found myself rather distant from the religious aspect of Judaism. For years I have searched for a way to show my gratuity and respect for the religion when the idea of a short film occurred to me and realised this was the perfect opportunity. 

Story

The year is 1970 and after the recent first moon landing by man, Joseph Peltz - a young and ambitious Jewish boy - only has one thing on his mind. Space exploration. Unfortunately for Joseph, his father Michael strongly disapproves of such fantasy, and doesn't hesitate to vocalise his opinion. With his Bar Mitzvah fast approaching, Joseph could not be less prepared. Doubting his religion and the predetermined path that his father has set out for him, Joseph sets out to find answers for himself. With the great dream of becoming an astronaut refusing to die, Joseph is discovering how difficult it is to bury his ambition at his father's request.

Crew

Samuel Hayes - Writer/Director - Samuel Hayes is a student at the Met Film School, based in Ealing's prestigious film studios. At 20yrs old, he is the youngest member of the crew but will bring passion, imagination and electricity to the film.Hailing from Golders Green, North London, Samuel aims to use personal encounters and experiences to enrich the film and emphasise the feeling of Jewish community.

Lauren Davis - Producer - Growing up in London, Lauren has always taken advantage of the incredible and hugely expansive range of film and theatre. Before studying Filmmaking at the Met Film School she had always dreamed of performing on the West End stage, however after a year at drama school she realised her passion lied on the other side of the camera. She was recently Creative Producer of a web mini series which she very much enjoyed. Lauren wants to change people lives through her art and storytelling and is excited to learn about Judaism and produce such a beautiful story written by Sam!

Barbara Van Schaik - Cinematographer - Barbara was born in Amsterdam on 1 November 1987. Always painting, drawing, building things and creating hour-long lasting plays and performances with her friends for all the parents at birthday parties, it was clear that Barbara was a storyteller.In 2006 she moved to the UK and started her career in the theatre. However, two years ago she decided to go to film school and found her place. With an incredible amount of enthusiasm she has worked on more than 30 short films since then and could not see herself doing anything else. Except for being an astronaut of course!

What We Need & What You Get

Having already saved and raised over £2,500 from my very own Bar Mitzvah, I am now looking for a further £5,500 to enhance the visual experience and make for a better film. With the grand total of £8,000, I plan (hopefully) to spend it in these ways:

• Actors - I believe that all cast members should be payed. Although I may not be able to afford to pay millions, a small sum can go a along way with casting.
• Production Design - One scene in the film takes place on a cardboard moon set as if Joseph himself had built it out of household supplies. The hiring of a studio and sourcing the materials to build such set require a considerable amount of money.
  Furthermore, in one scene, Joseph runs into a bathroom cubicle, locking himself in. Due tight space constrictions in a functional public bathroom, we would have to build a realistic bathroom set.
• Costume - There are 7 characters, all which would require their own range of wardrobe. In a scene towards the end of the film, Joseph is rescued from despair by a fully suited astronaut. Renting the spacesuit is very costly. 
• Craft Services - In order for cast and crew to work well, they must be fed and kept hydrated throughout the shoot.
• Location - Several public locations needed for the film are not obtainable without proper licenses and payment.
  Several scenes take place in a residential house therefore paying a resident to hire their house will incur a cost.
• Post-production - Whilst there are no foreseen special effects, hiring a colourist to grade the footage will cost a considerable amount.
• Sound design - Choosing the right sound and design will always enhance a film ten fold. Therefore choosing an experienced and skilled individual will cost us.

What it will mean to me

This film is part of my graduation from Met Film School, based in the centre of Ealing's bustling film studios. I believe this film's originality in story and style will not just leave me with a great film but furthermore, it will provide me with a great stepping stone into a professional career in film making.

No words will explain my gratitude towards contributors of this project - you will bring to life a project that was initially thought up over a year and a half ago. I have waited patiently until the script was truly ready and my skills as a film maker were honed in on.

Final Word

I'd just like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to have a look through my proposal. If you are not able to contribute, not to worry, but I would be just as appreciative if you could share this page with anyone and everyone you think will be interested!

Have a great day!

Sam