Dear Friends,
An Estonian friend of ours told us that the Singing Revolution was a battle won one-small-step by one-small-step, and so it is with our film as well. We are slowly, and most surely, getting to completion of this epic project. And, we are very pleased to provide you with another update on our progress.
In this update we’ve included a short item on Estonia’s recent prominence in the news, as current events underscore the importance of the story told in our film, and also raise the visibility of the nation to the rest of the world.
Politics and the Singing revolution President Bush’s visit to Riga in May brought international prominence to the Baltics. That is a good thing; however we remain concerned because the context was Russia’s commemoration of the end of World War II.
President Putin of Russia has not only refused to apologize to the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for fifty years of illegal occupation and the destruction of countless lives, but members of his government have recently articulated the old, false Soviet version of what happened in the Baltics in 1939/40, claiming that the Baltic countries invited and welcomed the presence of the Red Army. The importance of telling the truth about what actually happened during those years cannot be overstated.
The time for this film is, quite clearly, now.
Our work now EDITING:
The Singing Revolution is currently in the midst of offline editing. This is the process of turning hundreds of hours of footage into a ninety-minute film, a labor-intensive effort that takes several months. If we are able to meet our fundraising goals we will advance to the online, or final, edit of the film later this fall.
Our goal is completion by the end of 2005. RECENT EVENTS:
In March, we screened a ten-minute sample edit of the film at the U.S.-Baltic Foundation’s annual gala in Washington, DC. We met many prominent Estonians and friends of Estonia, and were very flattered to be presented with an award for our contribution to Estonian culture. And we appreciate the friends and family members who attended the event to once again support our endeavor.
At this banquet, we met a woman who was a neighbor of Jim’s grandfather Julius Tusti, and remembered the Tusti’s well from the 1920’s!
We also spent several days in Estonia in late May, where we met with many content experts, government officials, and started plans for releasing the film theatrically in Estonia. We believe there will be a great market for this film in Estonia as well as North America and Western Europe, and everyone we speak with agrees it is important that young Estonians fully understand their recent history.
DISTRIBUTION:
In addition to the possibility of theatrical release in Estonia, Estonian Television will eventually broadcast the piece on television. We have had several inquiries and offers for broadcast in both Europe and North America, but are holding off on making any commitments until the film is completed. That will put us in a stronger negotiating position.
Plus, we wish to pursue theatrical release in North America before committing to television broadcast. In that regard, we have an offer to the premiere the film at New York City’s famed Angelika Theater, an internationally renowned theater that features independent films.
The scope of this film and the nature of some of the huge singing protests certainly lend themselves to the big screen. Although documentary films are the most difficult genre to distribute theatrically, we are determined to at least explore this option.
But first things first, and completing the best film we can is our priority right now.
FINANCIAL REPORT
But we still are in need of additional funds to complete the project at the highest level of quality….which is what this story deserves.
Our total cash budget to complete the film is $550,000. That number is strictly for cash paid to our suppliers and vendors, and includes no payment to Maureen, Jim, or Mountain View. That number also assumes donations of time and service from many of our valued partners and vendors. In total, we will have some $400,000 of in-kind contributions given to the film at completion.
To date we have raised nearly half of the cash goal: $250,000. Please spread word of our need for completion funding – we must enlighten the world by sharing this story. All U.S. contributions are fully tax-deductible through the U.S.-Baltic Foundation, our 501(c)3 project partner. Information about donations and links to the USBF can be found on our website
www.singingrevolution.com.
The Singing Revolution film has already generated a great deal of enthusiasm in Estonia. The Estonian Film Foundation recently awarded us a grant of $30,000, and the Ministry of Culture has contributed $10,000. We are very grateful for the belief and commitment the Estonian government is showing in our film. Former President Lennart Meri has suggested many sources of rare footage to us, and will be reviewing our raw footage for comments and suggestions. Ambassador Jüri Luik, European Parliament Representative Tunne Kelam, former Prime Minister Mart Laar, and many others have also helped move this project forward in many ways and continue to support its completion.
CURRENT CONTRIBUTORS:
We are very grateful to the following people and organizations for their support of
The Singing Revolution. Primary Sponsors:
($50,000+)
Steve Jurvetson
Olga and Walter Kistler
Sponsors
($25,000-$50,000)
Estonian National Film Foundation
Northern Light Productions
Supporters:
($10,000-$25,000)
CrawfordCommunications AllFilm
Estonian Ministry of Culture The Estonian Cultural Endowment
Friends:
(up to $10,000)
Estonian-American National Committee
Sven and Hillevi Paul
Estonian Air
Chris Szwedo
Andres and Susan Peekna
Tunne and Mari-Ann Kelam
Dr. Toomas Sorra
Charles and Helina Piano
Bruce Morgan Casner
Estonian Central Council in Canada
National Estonian Foundation of Canada
Working Pictures
Juliane Mayer
We hope you will share this information with friends and colleagues and those who may wish to provide us with further support so that we may complete this film!
FILMMAKERS JIM& MAUREEN TUSTY