April 1, 2008

Dear Friends,

 

I hope this letter finds you healthy, happy and busy with the things you love to do.  As many of you know, I’ve been extremely focused trying to make the most from my appearance on last year’s Fox reality series, On the Lot, (created by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett).  The exposure was a tremendous opportunity and has allowed me to get my “foot in the door” to Hollywood.  Since the show ended, I’ve been approached by several companies and I’ve been traveling frequently to Los Angeles “taking meetings” with various people – agents, managers, studio executives, directors and actors.  The feedback has been positive, I’ve made some fantastic connections and I’m progressing well on my future projects.

 

So far, I’m in negotiations with an overseas film studio for my project, The Fillmore Flower; directing The Sundarban’s Tiger, a book-on-tape developed from a children’s coming of age story set in Bangladesh; and in pre-production on Oakland B Mine, a film commission for the Port of Oakland.  My most recent success is a $10,000 grant from the East Bay Community Foundation for the production of Oakland B Mine.      There’s just one catch -- it’s a challenge grant.  In other words, the foundation will match the funds that I am able to raise, dollar for dollar up to $10,000.  There’s another catch, the match is for all monies raised in a limited period of time – TWO MONTHS (and that’s not an April Fool’s joke).

 

This is where you come in.  In order to receive the $10,000, I am asking family, friends, colleagues, other artists and film professionals to make a tax deductible donation to match the East Bay Community fund award.  Oakland B Mine is a ten minute film with an original screenplay (written by yours truly) that I will direct.  My work was selected from over forty other competitors to participate in this public arts project.  The film is a travelogue, except instead of a host talking to you about the city --where to eat, what are the sights, hot spots, etc, the city itself is a real character – a beautiful woman named Oakland.  It’s a love story and the audience is one of the love struck characters. This film project involves an artistic, production, and technical crew comprised of myself, a producer, director of photography, 2 lead actors, a bevy of  extras, and a small crew of  15 members working as assistants, camera operators, make up, production sound mixer, grips and lighting, etc.  We will be shooting all around Oakland for seven days.   The final piece will be shown on a new 25ft media wall built in the Southwest Airline Terminal baggage claim area at Oakland International Airport.  Approximately 12 million people are going to see this film  as they pass through the SWA terminal over the next year.   Needless to say, every dollar helps. The entire budget for this film project is more than $50,000.

 

 For example, the suggested donation starts at $100, which will provide transportation and gas for one of the many daily company moves to and from locations .  $250 will buy a roll of film, $500 will fund one week of an editing suite; and $1000 buys my insurance for the shoot. Anything above that and you get to see me attempt back flips in my underwear around Lake Merritt.  I think you all get the picture— J.   At any rate, to participate there is a remittance form included in this letter.  If you have received this via email, please print the remittance form, (which is included as an email attachment) complete all of the information and include it with your check.  Those receiving this letter the “old school” way just complete the enclosed form with your check.

 

Please make all checks payable to Intersection for the Arts, who is serving as the fiscal sponsor for this project.   The checks should be mailed to my Los Angeles office, where they’ll be processed and then forwarded onto Intersection for the Arts.  Also, make sure to include Oakland B Mine on the memo line so the donation will be properly credited. All donations are 100% tax deductible and should be received no later than May 31, 2008.  Please be sure to include your address on the form since the East Bay Community Fund will be sending confirmation letters of your donation.  Also, let me know if it’s alright to publicly acknowledge you in the film credits. 

 

Thank you so very much for your support.

 

Sincerely  yours,

Mateen Kemet