Did you ever want to see your name in the credits of a feature film? Have you felt the urge to become an actor, at least for a day?
Or, did you ever think about just hanging out with the cast and crew in a behind-the-scenes setting?
Well, all of these experiences are available right here in Apex – for a price, of course.
Local producer and director Christine Parker currently is seeking funding for her independent film, “Fix It In Post,” being shot in the area. The comedy focuses on a bumbling film crew that must use their movie-making skills to survive an apocalyptic-type solar event.
An eight-minute promotional video for the project was filmed in November at the Friendship Store on old U.S. 1 just outside of town.
“The end of the world seems to be a popular theme today,” said Parker. “We wanted to do a movie about it that wasn’t so serious.”
Most of Parker’s projects usually are completed with a budget of about $10,000, which is used for equipment and food.
Parker, along with the cast and crew, don’t get paid. They happily volunteer their time because they love the process of film making.
“This is what I do on the weekends,” said Parker, who is employed as a video editor in Sanford. “It is a lot of fun and it’s something I wish I could do full time. But it’s really hard to make a living in independent films.”
Parker is hoping her budget will be a little different with “Fix It In Post.” The Apex resident is looking to raise $35,000 and increase the quality of the production.
“That’s a lot of money to raise but, for a feature film, it’s not really that much,” said Parker. “We wanted to pay some people this time and make a really good film.”
Independent film donors usually don’t get much in return except for the satisfaction of helping the cast and crew complete their project.
But contributors to “Fix It In Post” can receive anything from a film credit for $5, to a small speaking role for $250 and an executive producer credit complete with behind-the-scenes access and two-night hotel stay for $1,000.
“We want people to contribute but we also want them to get something out of it,” said Parker. “The chances of making money with an independent film are very slim. So, this allows us a way to pay back contributors in some way.”
Parker, a self-described “Navy brat” who was born in England, didn’t get involved in film making until after losing her job as a graphic designer in 2003.
She decided to turn the setback into an opportunity and enrolled in Central Carolina Community College where she majored in TV production.
“I was already working in multimedia and video and I always had an interest in films,” said Parker. “So, I went back to school. I met some people there who wanted to make a zombie film. So, I wrote the script and that became my first film.”
The script for “Second Death” was her first foray into writing for film.
“We had some instruction in school but, basically, I just kept looking up script writing on the internet,” said Parker. “It probably wasn’t very good and I don’t think my second script was very good, either.”
Parker eventually founded The Adrenalin Group in 2005 and several of her feature films have been picked up for distribution.
Last year, she began Sick Chick Flicks as a way to get more women involved film making.
“Film making is a man’s world and it’s definitely harder for women to become involved,” said Parker. “We try to encourage and teach women.”
For more information on the movie and to view the promotional video visit http://www.indiegogo.com/fixitinpost.
http://www.indiegogo.com/fixitinpost