Ambition Short Film Prospectus

39 Pages·2013·8.64 MB·English

by  Christopher Celestin

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SHORT FILM PROSPECTUS lorem +
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AMBITION
FIXED SIGNS PRODUCTIONS Email: [email protected]
3629 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 07307 _Tel: [phone]
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ABOUT FIXED SIGNS PRODUCTIONS
In 2012, Christopher Celestin
f o u n d e d F i x e d S i g n s
Productions, LLC based out of
Jersey City, New Jersey. 
Fixed Signs Productions is an
independent film production
company dedicated to
producing films that touch on
t h e b o n a f i d e h u m a n
experience of all sexes, races, religions, and sexual orientations as well as the magic which makes motion
pictures the great art form of our time. They completed their first short film, The Love of My Life during the
summer of 2012, and are gearing up for their next production.  
The Fixed Signs are a group of astrological signs in the Zodiac consisting of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and
Aquarius. The Fixed Signs are associated with stabilization, determination, depth and persistence. They are
powerful and willful in all they pursue, often accomplishing more than the Mutable or Cardinal Signs.
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
,
We would like to thank you for taking the time to review this prospectus, and for considering sponsorship in our
production.
On behalf of Fixed Signs Productions, LLC, we are proud to present our new short film, Ambition.
Ambition is a gripping family drama about a young man who struggles to keep his sister from falling into the foster
system while eagerly pursuing his dream to become a film actor.
If your curiosity has been piqued, we encourage you to read further. Learn more about the filmmakers behind this
production and why this project means so much to us.
Independent film cannot exist without people like you to help guide the way. People who are willing to ensure that
the arts remain a vivid and important piece of any community at a time when it existence is at stake.
Once more, we offer our upmost appreciation for your consideration in joining us as a patron of our short film, and
look forward to seeing you at the premiere!
Sincerely,
Christopher Celestin Meena Sajwani Rayvon Southerland
Producer Producer Producer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
5 - SYNOPSIS
7 - DEVELOPMENT
9 - BUDGET
13 - CREW
19 - CAST
29 - HOW YOU CAN HELP
31 - PREMIERE
33 - FILM FESTIVALS
35 - PRODUCTION PHOTOS
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Film Synopsis
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FILM SYNOPSIS smoke. The AD offers
Jeffrey an audition in
exchange for the carton.
Jeffrey is excited to
Jeffrey Jones, an inspiring actor, recites a
receive a big audition until
screenplay in his bedroom. Jeffrey constantly
he realizes it is at the end
prepares himself for the moment he runs into
of the month.
that person who can make his dreams come
true. In the kitchen, his girlfriend Kendra Later at dinner, Jeffrey
prepares breakfast for the family. She calls boasts over his upcoming
Jeffrey, but he is too focused and doesn’t hear audition. He talks of how
her calling at first. rich he will be instead of
how rich his family will be.
Kayla, Jeffrey’s teenage sister, lays in bed
Jeffrey asks Kayla what
listening to music day in and out. She blames
she would want but she
Jeffrey for the death of their, still too recently,
desires nothing from him.
deceased mother. Jeffrey invites her to
They engage in a heated
breakfast and she refuses coldly.
argument and Kayla leaves
doing the right thing and that his priorities
the dinner table irate.
As Jeffrey and Kendra eat breakfast there is a have been misplaced. She gives him an
knock at the front door. It is Mr. Copper, a ultimatum to get them in line or she will leave.
Two weeks have passed, and Jeffrey is
social worker from Child Protect Services. Mr.
preparing for his audition rather than looking
Copper demands that unless Jeffrey finds a Jeffrey heads downstairs to sleep and finds
for a job. Mr. Copper pays him another visit to
stable paying job within 30 days he will have Kayla in the living room looking at an old photo
reemphasizes what will happen to Kayla
no other option than to remove Kayla from his album of her mother’s. Jeffrey joins her and
should Jeffrey fail to find a stable job.
home. tries to connect, but she recoils. Jeffrey lets
Kayla know that the death of their mother
With few days remaining, Jeffrey still has not
Jeffrey heads over to a theater to look for an saddens him too, but she does not believe his
found a job. His best friend Mitch comes over
acting audition immediately but to no avail. sincerity.
to check on him and encourages Jeffrey to do
Jeffrey runs into Chris, and old friend from
what he must to take care of his family. Mitch
college on his way out. Chris is now at a point The following morning, the day of his audition,
mentions to Jeffrey that he could possibly get
in his acting career that makes Jeffrey envious. Jeffrey receives a phone call for an interview
him an interview at his job.
per Mitch. Jeffrey must now decided to go to
Jeffrey exits the theater and runs into Mr. the audition that could make all his dreams
The night before his audition, Jeffrey is
James Brass, a famous film director. Jeffrey come true or to the job interview that will keep
restless. Kendra wakes up and wonders what
pleads with Mr. Brass’ AD for an audition but his sister out of a foster home.
is wrong. Jeffrey reveals that he is nervous for
she refuses. Accepting defeat, Jeffrey opens a
his upcoming audition. Kendra breaks her
carton of cigarette’s and prepares to light a
silence and tells Jeffrey that he has not been
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Development
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DEVELOPMENT
In many ways, my last short film, the Love of My Life was accustom to
a sacrificial lamb. That short film was created with the sole purpose of
proving to myself that it could be done.
After principal photography wrapped on the Love of My Life I allowed
myself to ask a burning question: what is next? I’m a believer in
making my own opportunities rather than waiting for one that may
never come. I thought I had the answer, but I didn’t. Rayvon
Southerland did, it was Ambition.
In the middle of August 2012, I read Ray’s first draft of Ambition and
As Ray returned to work on the screenplay, the foundations for this
remember thinking, it was ambitious. Compared to our last
production were laid down. Many of the cast and crew members from
production, Ambition was bigger in every way. Compared to the
our last production, would be attached to Ambition. No screenplay is
budget for The Love of My Life at $1,500, out of my own pocket,
ever complete, but now we are finally ready to move onto the next
Ambition would be $12,000.
phase in production. That story is being written this very moment...
My initial reaction to Ambition was that there was a great story there
-Christopher Celestin
but some fat that needed to be trimmed. Ray and I went back and
Director
forth until mid-October when we decided to get the ball rolling and
enter pre-production. However, after our first production meeting, with
Meena Sajwani and Darrell Ayer, we all quickly agreed that we still
had work to do with the script.
The goal was to shoot in November and looking back now that was
wildly outrageous. A lot of learning is negative learning and I adopted
an important filmmaking philosophy. Good, Fast, and Cheap, an
independent film can only be two of these but not all three.
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Budget
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TOTAL GOAL:
$12,000
SUMMARY ESTIMATED
1 Pre-Production and wrap costs (Totals A & C) $0.00
2 Shooting Crew Labor (Total B) $350.00
3 Location and travel expenses (Total D) $1,995.00
4 Props. Wardrobe and animals (Total E) $750.00
5 Studio & set construction costs (Total F/G/H) $0.00
6 Equipment costs (Total I) $2,225.00
7 Film stock/Media costs (Total J) $0.00
8 Miscellaneous Costs (Total K) $1,000.00
9 Talent costs and expenses (Total M & N) $0.00
10 Post Production costs (Total O-T) $4,450.00
SUBTOTAL $10,770.00
11 Insurance (2%) [Built in Legal Fees] $215.40
SUBTOTAL Direct Costs $10,985.40
12 Director/Creative Fees (Total L-Not including Direct Costs) $0.00
13 Production Fee $0.00
14 Contingency (10%) $1,098.54
15 Weather Day [Covered in Contingency]
GRAND TOTAL $12,083.94