By LAURI NEFF (AP) Their movie isn't out yet — or even made — but three teenage filmmakers already have video promotions from Jude Law and Stephen Fry. "Now more than ever it's incredibly difficult to get a film funded even if you've been doing it for years and have a good track record," Law says in the video he shot for Adrian Bliss, Ben Robbins and Toby Stubbs, who discovered "Clovis Dardentor," an 1896 novel by Jules Verne, and decided to make a movie of the comic story about two friends who try to get adopted by a wealthy man. "No matter how passionate you are, or how good your film could be, it's still a monumental struggle to get the money together. What could make it harder is if you're a teenager like Adrian, Toby and Ben who found a forgotten Jules Verne novel in the British library and they knew instantly they wanted to make it into a film," says Law, speaking alone on camera with a "Sherlock Holmes" sign behind him. Determined to become filmmakers, the trio hatched their plan during their final year in a London secondary school. But Stubbs, 18, says they knew they had to find a creative way get funding.
So, they used the Internet, social networking and a bit of bluster to get their production off the ground. Many people have turned to micro-financing to launch record albums or films, employing the Internet as a fundraising tool. But Stubbs, Bliss and Robbins found a way to involve celebrities. "We thought about it and thought what could we sell to people that there are lots of in a film and that's when credits came up," Stubbs says. "Everyone wants to see their names on the end credits of a film."
The result is www.BuyACredit.com , which sells end credits for $10 a name. Stubbs, Bliss and Robbins, 19, are also selling advertising space on the site. "Essentially, you can be a movie producer and see your name on the end credits of a film knowing that you've helped to make it happen," Law says in the video. "The aim of the project is to provide a window into the world of movies and to show ... a real-time 'making of' through the Web site, blogs, YouTube and Twitter." Larger donors are offered set visits and even cameo roles. Fry has already appeared in a 10-minute film the three produced called "Jam" and will have the lead role of the wealthy Mr. Eustache in "Clovis Dardentor." The teens landed Fry after sending dozens of tweets to his Twitter page. The teens say Law was soon giving advice. He looked over their script, offered to make the video and hired his own camera crew to shoot while doing publicity for the film "Sherlock Holmes," in which he played Watson to Robert Downey Jr.'s Holmes.
OSCAR NOMINEE GABOUREY SIDIBE HELPS GBK RAISE OVER $30k FOR CHARITY
GBK'S Luxury Gifting Lounge Turns Gifting into Giving with Help of Oscar Nominees and Celebrities
(Los Angeles, CA) Friday, March 5th, 2010 – In the height of Oscar madness, celebrities still find time to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. GBK is a premiere gifting, event and marketing company that prides itself on its charitable connections with todays top talent. GBK president, Gavin Keilly commented, "We are so furtunate to do what we do and to be surrounded by such decadence. It is very important for us to feel as though we contribute to a deeper purpose. It is a priority at each of our events that we align with charities that, in addition to raising awareness, actually raise funds for those in need. The celbrities that attend our events share in this belief and go out of their way to support us because they are giving back."
This event will donate to the relief and rebuilding of Haiti and Chile through GBK giving a percentage of their event earnings, sponsor donations, the celebrity poker tournament and the auctioning of celebrity signed gift bag. 100% of the donations made will go to the benefiting charities: Help for Orphans International, [HelpForOrphans.org] and Hollywood Unites for Haiti [HUFH.org]. Gabourey's charity of choice, Fresh Air Fund, will be receiving a $5,000.00 donation in her name from GBK.
The lounge is filled with luxury items including five-star vacations from Montana to Thailand, the latest fashion lines, jewelry, skin care, and electronics. A luxury Baby Suite will also be featured within the lounge. Some of the participating sponsors include: Beamz [Professional Interactive Music System], RevitaLash, The Sampler [t-shirt, jewelry, stationary and more], Ranch at Rock Creek [luxury wilderness retreat], Six Senses Resorts & Spa [Thailand Resort], Eminence Organic Skin Care, Decleor, Reactivator, Peek-A-Boo [lotion], Healthytrim.com, Hairlocs [Hair extensions and products, Far North Wellness [saunas, massage beds], Sevin Nyne [tanning], The Besty Hotel [2 night stay at their Luxury Miami Hotel], The Pillow Company, Vila Vita Portugal [4 night stay], Prevennia [supplement], Fine Jewelry is provided by Nehita Jewelry.
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Jude Law Backs Teens Efforts to Fund New Film
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Gabourey Sidibe and GBK's Gavin Keilly
Teen film maker Adrian Bliss appeared on Film Festival Radio March 5, 2010
