Sunday, May 29, 2011

Addendum to Newsletter #2


"When I was a kid I just wanted to be a student and world traveler my whole life. Doc making is probably the closest you can get to that." -Kristina

May is the month I have been introducing you to the lovely Kristina Robbins. This week I've provided a link to a wonderful award-winning short film (here) she and her husband, Nick, directed and produced. This film is called THE MCCOMBIE WAY. Ann McCombie is 81, built the road to her house herself and clears the Mojave Desert one rusty can at a time. This is a touching portrait of a woman who lives more in the moment than anyone I know.

If you've missed the links to Kristina's newest film, click here. Kristina's company The Department of Expansion created an outreach film for Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) an organization that helps at risk youth avoid the criminal justice system. And if you have some time, please take a look at some of the other fantastic films Kristina and the D of E have produced by perusing The Department of Expansion website (here).

Info about LOST IN LIVING and how you can help:
LOST IN LIVING follows four remarkable women, all artists as well as mothers. Through intimate, verite scenes, and in-depth interviews, this film illuminates how the choice of being a mother can affect one’s art and approach to creativity. Further, the film explores parenting expectations and failures, issues of friendship and marriage, the monotony of domestic routines, and most importantly who we are in the world and how we all struggle with the balance of family commitment and personal work.

Tax deductible contributions to LOST IN LIVING can be made on-line by visiting the website (here) and clicking on the “donate” tab, or you can mail a check written out to: Filmmakers Alliance, 1218 East Palm Street, Altadena, CA 91001 (with LOST IN LIVING in the subject line of the check). Tax ID #95-4449125

To view a ten-minute excerpt of the film, please go here

Like the Facebook page here.

Thank you so much for your amazing continued support. Yours, Mary

Sunday, May 22, 2011

LOST IN LIVING Documentary Film Newsletter #2


LOST IN LIVING Documentary Film Newsletter #2

"I guess I'm more of a mother than I thought I was." -Kristina

In less than two months I have reached close to half of my funding goal. Thank you to everyone who supports this film. I am so grateful and humbled by your belief in this project and in me!

May is the month I have introduced, Kristina Robbins, one of the remarkable subjects of the film. This week I have provided a link (here) to a film Kristina wrote, directed and produced called “Life As You Know It.” Commissioned by Audi, this award-winning short asks whether you can raise kids and continue with your passions. Can you have it all? I think this film is a wonderful companion piece to “Lost In Living” because it introduces entire families who have figured out how to continue their creativity after having children.

Kristina is one of the partners and co-founders of the Department of Expansion. You can see their short films at this link (www.departmentofexpansion.com). The Department of Expansion is a team of talented filmmakers and producers who ask the question, “What good is a film if it doesn’t inspire action?’ They are a production company that delivers lean beautiful films about evolution, agression, the relationship of peace and violence in humans, rehabilitation of incarcerated youths, how blind children learn, Veterans for Peace, nurses, Jane Goodall and many other topics.

Kristina is also a wonderful mother of two young children who are as smart, insightful and creative as she is.

Enjoy getting to know Kristina a little more by visiting the Department of Expansion website and watching “Life As You Know It.”

Info about LOST IN LIVING and how you can help:
LOST IN LIVING follows four remarkable women, all artists as well as mothers. Through intimate, verite scenes, and in-depth interviews, this film illuminates how the choice of being a mother can affect one’s art and approach to creativity. Further, the film explores parenting expectations and failures, issues of friendship and marriage, the monotony of domestic routines, and most importantly who we are in the world and how we all struggle with the balance of family commitment and personal work.

Tax deductible contributions to LOST IN LIVING can be made on-line by visiting the website (here) and clicking on the “donate” tab: www.maandpafilms.com/lostinliving/ or you can send a check written out to: Filmmakers Alliance, 1218 East Palm Street, Altadena, CA 91001 (with LOST IN LIVING in the subject line of the check). Tax ID #95-4449125

To view a ten-minute excerpt of the film, please go here or to www.maandpafilms.com/lostinliving/about-the-film/index.html

Like the Facebook page here.

Please feel free to forward this to friends. Thank you again for your help and support.
Yours,
Mary



http://bit.ly/loyIOK

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Meet Kristina


LOST IN LIVING Documentary Film Newsletter

In just over a month I have reached 1/3 of my funding goal! Thank you to everyone who contributed, shared links, posted on Facebook and liked the Facebook page. I am grateful and humbled by your support and belief in this project. Post-production is underway!

As part of the campaign I will be introducing one of the remarkable women from the film each month. To celebrate Mother’s Day here’s your chance to meet Kristina Robbins, mother extraordinaire! And Happy Mother’s Day!

Meet Kristina:
“When I was Five I remember saying to my mother I wanted to be an actress. My mother said, ‘Oh, Kristina, people like us don’t do things like that.'”

Facts about Kristina:
•Lives in Los Angeles, CA.
•Married to Nick Higgins.
•From Lancaster, PA.
•Mother of two children.
•Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker.
•Founding Partner of The Department of Expansion (film production company that delivers lean beautiful films).
•Founder of Juice.
•Screenwriter.
•Improvisational Theatre Performer and Teacher
•Graduate of Cornell Univeristy.

Check out Kristina’s newest film: : FLY

Info about LOST IN LIVING and how you can help:
LOST IN LIVING follows four remarkable women, all artists as well as mothers. Through intimate, verite scenes, and in-depth interviews, this film illuminates how the choice of being a mother can affect one’s art and approach to creativity. Further, the film explores parenting expectations and failures, issues of friendship and marriage, the monotony of domestic routines, and most importantly who we are in the world and how we all struggle with the balance of family commitment and personal work.

Tax deductible contributions to LOST IN LIVING can be made on-line by visiting the website and clicking on the “donate” tab: www.maandpafilms.com/lostinliving/ or you can mail a check written out to: Filmmakers Alliance, 12228 Venice Blvd., Suite 406, Los Angeles, CA 90066 (with LOST IN LIVING in the subject line of the check). Tax I.D. #95-4449125

To view a ten-minute excerpt of the film, please go to: www.maandpafilms.com/lostinliving/about-the-film/index.html

Like the Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lost-In-Living/196021470416175

Please feel free to forward this to friends. Thank you again for your help and support.
All the best,
Mary