In The Nest

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Images

Website

http://www.inthenestfilm.com

Topics

Health: HIV/AIDS, Nutrition/Malnutrition
Human Development: Aid, Children, Education, International Cooperation, MDGs, Poverty, Shelter & Housing, Social Exclusion, Volunteering, Water/Sanitation, Youth
Human Rights: Civil Rights, Gender, Social Exclusion
Information & Media: Culture, Freedom of Expression
Politics: Ethics & Value Systems

Project Geography

International: Africa

Identity Niches

African, Caucasian, Children, Women, Youth/Teen

Budget

Raised to date: $155,000.00
Estimate to complete: $323,578.00
Total Estimated Budget: $478,578.00
The budget numbers above are accurate as of 04/12/2011

Status

Production

Media Type

Video

Project End Use

Theatrical

Key Personnel

Kelley Whitis
Director, Producer

Kelley has worked as a Post Producer on films such as The Promotion, Elite Squad, Penelope, Fanboys and Fighting. She has gained invaluable relationships with The Weinstein Company, Summit Entertainment, Focus Features, Rogue, Sony, Universal and countless post production facilities.

A former broadcast commercial Producer at Deutsch advertising agency, Kelley has produced spots for such high-profile clients as Coors Light, DirecTV, Burger King and Old Navy, and spearheaded a Mitsubishi spot for the Super Bowl in 2005.

While working as an Executive Assistant to Producer Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon, she worked on such films as Jarhead, RV, Memoirs of a Geisha and Bewitched. Thereon the Sony lot, she was involved with all stages of production from development to distribution.

With her experience in budgeting, Kelley has composed the budget for In The Nest. Her passion and dedication to this project will be the driving force behind her documentary directorial debut.

A Partner of Moirai Media, Kelley is currently in development on the features Black Coffee and Love's House.

Amanda Whitis
Producer

Amanda started her career as a personal assistant to actors Lorenzo Lamas and Pamela Anderson. It was during Anderson's show Stacked that Amanda became aware of the role of the Producer, and realized her talents were leading her down that path.

To further her education on producing, she worked as an executive assistant to producer Robert Lantos, who built Canada's leading film and television company Alliance Atlantis and production company Serendipity Point Films. Amanda was responsible for the day-to-day operations of Serendipity's Los Angeles office. During her three years at Serendipity, Amanda was involved with films such as Fugitive Pieces, and the 2008 Academy Award nominated Eastern Promises.

Amanda gained invaluable experience during this time in all elements of film production from creative development, budgeting, sourcing and assembling financing, production scheduling, international and domestic pre-sales and distribution, and filming and post production.

While on location in Kenya, Amanda will manage the production schedule and budget.

A Partner of Moirai Media, Amanda is currently in development on the features Black Coffee and Love's House.

Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria
Co Director

Juan Carlos moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Florida State University and began his career in film working for the acclaimed commercial directing team of Joe Public (comprised of Adam Cameron and Simon Cole) and shot for clients such as Coca-Cola, Adidas and Ford. His Cuban descent led him to produce, along with Co-Producer Charlize Theron, the documentary East of Havana detailing Cuba's underground political rap movement and how three young rappers are using their art to address their country's political future.

Juan Carlos used his editorial skills on various corporate videos, trailers and promos, and the reality-show Driving Force for the A&E Network. He joined forces with filmmaker Patrick Hasson to create the directing team The Vasco Brothers. Together they have shot Stealing Magnolias, currently in the film festival circuit and Mr. Patrick's Movie Makers, a documentary that follows inner city kids in Los Angeles over the course of one semester as they write, direct, produce and act in a film with a full red-carpet premiere at the famed Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.Juan Carlos is currently developing MotoGreen TV, a reality pilot on a motorcycle garage, and Forecast, a pod-cast on fourteen time National Hot Rod Association Drag Racing Champion John Force.

Outreach/Engagement Plan(s)

We have begun intial conversations with Cause and Affect (http://www.causeaffect.com/) to create a stragey for an out reach program. To compliment the making of the film, we have launched a website which provides additional information about The Nest, as well as the issues we touch on. We plan on providing additional information on each of the subjects that we follow in the film also. The website will give the readers ideas and resources on how they can become active in causes such as The Nest.

Once the film is released into theaters and its life extends beyond, there will be other opportunities to continue enlightening the audiences. The film can be used as an educational tool, shown in schools around the world.

We plan on the traditional independent film strategy of premiering and showcasing the documentary at various film festivals around the world. Film festivals play an essential role in the distribution of the independent film and specifically documentary. The film will be submitted to festivals such as Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Tribeca and HotDocs. Exhibition at festivals garners publicity, reviews, and awards, all which lead to distribution, the second tier.

After running in the festival circuit, the objective is for a theatrical release in large markets. The filmmakers are in early discussions with Entertainment One and Village Roadshow regarding domestic and international theatrical distribution.

Following the theatrical release is the third tier, licensing the broadcast rights to a major cable channel. The producers have interest from Oprah Winfrey's new OWN to include In The Nest as a part of their documentary of the month club. The DVD release will coincide with the broadcast premiere and DVD sales will be available via the internet and as a sales tag as part of the broadcast deal.

Funders

Name	Amount	Date
Private Funder	$100,000.00	01/01/2011
US DREAM ACADEMY	$2,500.00	07/09/2010
Micro donations	$25,000.00	07/01/2010
Sundial Pictures	$25,000.00	11/13/2009

Location

269 South Beverly Drive
Suite 1317
Beverly Hills, CA, 90212

See Google Maps

Short Synopsis

In The Nest is a feature length documentary currently in production. It is an inspiring story of struggle, support and survival following women in prison, their children, and their ultimate reintegration back into society.

Description/Treatment

This documentary will capture the human story of separation, support and survival. It will be an unprecedented and insightful view of those associated with The Nest (http://www.thenesthome.com - a children's home in Limuru, Kenya dedicated to children whose mothers are in prison):

Judy was wrongfully imprisoned for theft and reunited at the Halfway House with her daughter.

James, the only male volunteer at The Nest, was raised by a single mother and wants to empower women by changing the psyche of men.

River, a twenty month old, was recently admitted to The Nest and his journey reconnecting with his mother.

Heartbreaking yet inspiring, In The Nest will go behind the African curtain of war, famine and disease and present a breath-taking view of the love, hope and joy that supports and surrounds those associated with The Nest.

The Nest is vital in that it re-establishes and emphasizes a mother/child bond for these children who would otherwise be motherless. The social workers at The Nest facilitate the significant bond between the mother and child, and also nourish that child, mind, body and soul, with the attention and love they need while in their custody. By shedding light on the issues of women's inequality and its consequences on their children, the filmmakers wish for this project to be a catalyst to ignite change on the gender injustice in Kenya.

Words stir up arguments and differences. Images bring people together. Therefore, the film medium has been chosen because of its’ effectiveness in delivering a message. A visual story influences the audience on a deeper level than any other medium. Due to its’ powerfully moving nature, a film can reach the masses on a broader level, inspiring them to act and get involved with healing humanitarian efforts.