3 Grunts Productions, LLC is a minority-owned, multi-media production company based in Columbus OH. The three founding members of the LLC, Brenda Barton, Cheyne Curry and Chip Willis are U. S. Army veterans, hence the name. We were a diverse group, two Caucasian lesbians and an African American straight, but not narrow man, however we did have our military service and the fact that we’re all over forty-five years of age in common. We also discovered that we shared the dream of making a difference in the art of telling a tale through motion pictures. Recently, our company has had to undergo some reorganization. Chip has had to leave us in order to prepare to for his upcoming move to the west coast where he and an old friend are forming their own company. Cheyne and I wish him the very best. He was an extremely talented member of our team and he will be missed. We’re grateful that Chip stayed with us just long enough to direct, shoot and edit a *prequel* promotional video for our film tentatively titled Requiem: A Soldier’s Tale.
Requiem: A Soldier’s Tale focuses on the effects that the military’s present policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has on the loved ones that are left behind when lesbian and gay soldiers are killed in service to our country. All three of us volunteered and served in the military nearly a decade or more before the implementation of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and we’re all in strong support of the repeal of this policy. We’ve been compelled by the continued resistance of its repeal by some members of Congress, the military and the public to make this our first short film. The screenplay was written by Cheyne Curry, based upon her award winning short story, Requiem. Her script brings to light the many negative effects this policy has on those gay families that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
While we formed 3 Grunts Productions, LLC as a for profit company, we will be financing our indie short film through group financing donations, because this is a not-for-profit endeavor. This being the case, we are asking for your financial support. If you can help us out, with any amount, no matter how small, thank you. But, please be aware, that since we had to organize as a for profit company, your donations will not be tax deductible.
Why are we seeking to raise
funds by going directly to the public for donations and not seeking
grants or wealthy benefactors? We have been seeking grants, both public
and private. Unfortunately,
all of the grants we have discovered stipulate that the funds are to be
used for post-production.
Filming
must be completed before they will consider the request.
They will only cover the cost associated with editing for
example. As far as wealthy benefactors, we’re certainly open to the
possibility, but they seem to be sought out by many people and causes.
If we can convince just one thousand of our
friends and their friends across the
country to generously give us
just
twenty dollars, we’ve made our
budget goal. Those funds will go towards paying our cast and crew a
modest salary and all other associated production and post-production
costs. Cheyne and I believe
in this project and we’re working to make it a reality.
I hope that we can count on your support.
