DARE NOT WALK ALONE

DNWA: Support info...

Dare not Walk Alone

Dare Not Walk Alone has the power to move people to positive action and spark dialogue where before there was only silence and mistrust, misunderstanding and fear.

Wherever the film has been shown, people have left the theater talking about issues of diversity and equality, about social justice and racial reconciliation, about what can we can do, individually and as a society, to keep moving forward toward to the beloved community of which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke so often and so eloquently.

We want to thank everyone who has helped move Dare Not Walk Alone forward, at festivals and schools, colleges and community centers.

And we are pleased to announce that, starting in late 2008, due to your support of the film, Dare Not Walk Alone will likely be able to start paying something back to the community from which it sprang. (Proceeds from the film will be tithed to a charitable trust.)

Help the Film, Help the Community

In the past we have solicited financial support for the film to cover the costs of licensing music and archive footage. Thanks to the generosity of the film's supporters, that stage has now passed and we are moving forward with a theatrical release, to be followed, at the appropriate time, by a DVD.

As we see it, the more people who see the film, the more money we will eventually be able to funnel back to the community. (For more on how that works, see Where Does the Money Go? below.)

Anyone can help in this effort by telling other people about this film and this web site. That might not sound like a lot, but it is amazing how effective word of mouth can be.

So, please tell friends and family about this very different civil rights movie, a film that brings the heroism and genius of the non-violent movement to light, a film that shines a light on the serious challenges that still remain in the aftermath of those landmark victories more than 40 years ago. Point them to this web site, www.dnwa.info, and to the blog at darenotwalkalone.blogspot.com.

Also, people can sign up to get inside updates on the film by registering on our Contacts page.

Other Ways to Help

Some people who have seen Dare Not Walk Alone want to help in other ways. Here are some suggestions:

Habitat for Humanity: If there is one organization that is doing more than any other to build thriving and united communities where once there was only poverty and division then it is probably Habitat for Humanity. Through its producers, Dare Not Walk Alone is a member of the Habitat for Humanity Presidents Circle. Click here to visit the Habitat for Humanity web site and learn more.

The Coley Family: The innovative social responsibility company, Rosa Loves, has been raising money for the Coley family (whose house, which appears in the film, burned down). You can contribute to this project by visiting their web site and ordering shirts. Through its producers, Dare Not Walk Alone has also provided direct assistance to the Coley family.

The Foot Soldiers: When the 40th anniversary of Saint Augustine's successful civil rights protests of 1964 was approaching, a group called the 40th Accord was formed to celebrate and keep alive the history of these momentous events. That work continues today in efforts to erect a statue in the center of the city commemorating the "foot soldiers" of the movement, those who risked their careers, their homes, indeed their lives, to take a stand against injustice.

Last year Dare Not Walk Alone was proud to participate in a fund-raising event for this worthy project. You can donate directly to this non-profit group. Find out more on the organization's web site. If you go to the Contact page on that site you can download a donation form.

MLK National Monument: Statues and monuments that honor the past, much like documentaries, have the power to capture and focus people's attention on present-day problems in our society that need to be addressed. While donating to the building of a monument does not directly fund social programs, it helps those projects get the attention they deserve.

One powerfully symbolic effort of this kind is the National Monument in Washington, D.C. to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through its producers, Dare Not Walk Alone is a Founding Sponsor on this project. You can find out more here.

Corporate Sponsors

Dare Not Walk Alone will soon be opening in several major metropolitan areas. That means some great opportunities exist for socially-responsible and diversity-aware companies to sponsor openings and related events. Corporate sponsors can place their logos and messaging on theatrical posters plus banners and other signage at events. For more information email:

Where Does the Money Go?

Media coverage of Hollywood has led many people to think movies = money. Folks assume that, if someone makes a movie that makes it to the big screen, someone must be raking in the cash. For many films, nothing could be further from the truth.

A lot of independent film-makers go deep into debt to pay the many bills that need to be paid before a film can be shown to the public. Even when a film is shown in theaters, the cost can be more than the cash from ticket sales. And a lot of films, even some with big names, don't actually make a profit in theaters. However, they may make money later on, when they come out on DVD or are broadcast on television. That means any profit from such a movie, any surplus left over after the bills have been paid, comes a long time after the making and releasing of the movie.

It is true that some movies have the luxury of starting off with money in the bank. Investors may supply 'front' money to finance a film if it has big name stars in the cast. But this is not the case for a documentary, or a small independent film, or the efforts of a first-time film maker. In other words, Jeremy Dean's, Dare Not Walk Alone started out with worse than no money in the bank: it had three strikes against it.

However, thanks to the tireless efforts of people like producer Richard Mergener, and the generosity of folks around the country who believed in Jeremy and the film, the project survived long enough to get onto the festival circuit and get noticed. What the film has not yet achieved, and is unlikely to achieve for quite a while, is cash flow. (Films don't get revenue from film festivals, in many cases films have to pay to be entered.)

If, but hopefully when, the cash does flow, a portion will be placed into a fund to be directed back to the community.

Finally...

If you have questions about the film, about support, donations, sponsorship, or anything else, please email us at the address below and we'll be glad to answer you (if you would like someone from DNWA to call you, please include phone number).

And Finally, Finally...

OUR SINCERE THANKS TO ALL OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE SUPPORTERS...YOU ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN!

 

 

THE BILL:

The bill for the music and archive footage used in Dare Not Walk Alone was over $40,000. We want to thank everyone who pitched in to help us pay that bill.

What For?

Dare Not Walk Alone is a documentary, it documents events and realities, past and present, both appalling and uplifting, tragic and hopeful. To do this accurately and convincingly, the film does not use actors to 'play' the part of participants in those past and present events, it uses original photographs, film, and video footage, recorded in the present time, together with unscripted commentary from eye witnesses and participants.

You might think that all news reports of our shared past are common property, but they are not. If film crews filmed that anti-segregation march you took part in, their employers own the footage, not you. Today, most of the old news footage is owned by large corporations , some of whom see it as a profit center. They charge by the second when anyone uses that footage in a movie or TV program. They even charge for use of 'spare' footage that was never aired (ad rates can be as high as $90 per second).

Many of the people who see Dare Not Walk Alone say it strikes them as more powerful and more moving than other documentaries. One reason is the use of archive footage. Another reason is the sound track. Indeed, the role of music in the civil rights movement is a central theme of the film, as is the controversial role of music in the African American community today. Without the soundtrack, the film would lose a lot of its meaning.

Fortunately, some music is in the public domain (free) and we use some of that. Also, the film's director has some very creative friends who composed music for the film. But most music costs money.

Could you save some money?

Some people have asked if there is any way Dare Not Walk Alone could have saved on licensed footage and photographs and music. Let's just say "we tried." Expensive footage was pared down as much as possible without detracting from impact of the finished film. Licensed music was used sparingly.

And some of the costs that the project now faces are non-negotiable. While the owners of licensed material can choose to give a worthy project like this a discount, some costs are fixed. These include something called E&O insurance. Sadly, the litigious nature of society requires a film maker to buy this coverage before the film can be distributed (it covers Errors and Omissions).