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£15000 would be a phenomenal amount of money to raise for the project. But would rea...
Forty at Forty Film
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
Filmmaker RACHEL TRACY searches for 39 people who, like her, will turn 40 on 27 April 2022 so she can invite them to a joint party.
THE IDEA:
Rachel Tracy is a single, stressed-out mum of a toddler who is trying to maintain her career directing documentaries. To make matters worse, Rachel’s next birthday is the big 4-ohhh... But rather than cover her eyes as she hurtles towards the edge of a 39 year old cliff, she’s determined to take action, and celebrate her milestone birthday in a milestone way by making a film about it. The film follows Rachel as she tries to find 39 other women born on the same day as her so she can invite them to a joint 40th birthday party.
What she wants to know is - how do other women born on the same day as her feel about turning 40? What do they think about their own life and achievements? How they can help Rachel come to terms with the inevitable? Her search will shine a light on modern womanhood and in particular the idea of ‘success’. This is a celebration of all the different lives her birthday counterparts lead, and a reappraisal of her own, packed with humour and confession.
But can she find enough of these 'birthday twins' to help her feel better about her birthday? And even if she can… will she have the money to film and edit their stories?! This project needs your help.
THE FILM:
Juggling childcare and the day-job, Rachel is on a mission - a journey to the heart of what it means to be 40. And to help guide her, she needs to find women in the same boat: 39, and born on 27 April 1982. Newspaper articles, radio features, walking up to strangers in the nearby park whilst wearing a ‘Were you born 27 April 1982?’ t-shirt: she’ll search for her nearly-40 needles in the haystack of early middle-age. When she finds one, she’ll jump on a train or plane to meet them. (If childcare isn’t available, daughter Corinne will go with her.) And she’ll spend a day with them, documenting the very different lives each of them now leads and looking for the commonalities.
One woman is about to embark on her first round of IVF, whilst another only wishes that she doesn't become a grandmother too early. One woman is conducting pioneering Alzheimer's research, whilst another is battling cancer.
How has life changed for these women in their 20s and 30s? Are they looking forward to turning 40 or dreading it? What have their achievements been? What have they learned about themselves? How has their self-esteem changed? How has their view of love changed? What struggles have they overcome? What’s the big deal about turning 40?
Spending time with her 2 year old daughter and 70 year old mum, Rachel will reflect on how turning 40 in 2022 differs from 1982 when Rachel was born.
Suddenly: It’s 27 April 2022. Will Rachel have succeeded in finding some women exactly her own age to celebrate it with? And what happens next? As the minutes count down, she starts to worry that getting a room full of Tauruses together wasn’t such a good idea after all.
THE DREAM:
It’s our vision that this film be screened in festivals, all over the world, and then made available to view online. A funny, honest and poignant portrait of what it’s like to be a woman turning 40 in 2022 – on the 27th April to be precise. This is a celebration of women and ageing. We would love it to be watched by as many people as possible.
WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS FILM?
Up until this point, this film has been entirely self-funded. We have approached numerous commissioners and independent film funds but we really need your help too to get this film over the line.
Rachel has found brilliant women all over the country - and beyond - to film but now needs the funds to be able to travel to see them and document their stories.
With everything we’ve been through over the last couple of years, we think that this funny, upbeat and celebratory film is just the ticket.
Or perhaps you'd like to view your donation as an early birthday present to Rachel or a bunch of nearly-40 year olds that you don't know?!
We would hugely appreciate any donation that you can make. It will make a real difference.
HOW WILL WE USE ANY MONEY RAISED?
All of your money will end up on the screen. Rachel won’t be taking a salary. Instead, any funds raised will go towards the following:
FILMING
- Wages for an Assistant Producer to help Rachel
- Travel & accommodation
- Lighting equipment for master interviews
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
- Contribution towards travel for birthday twins who don’t live in London
- Venue Hire Costs
- Wages for additional kit/camera people
POST PRODUCTION
- Wages for an Editor
- Post production house costs for Online
THE TEAM
DIRECTOR - RACHEL TRACY
Since graduating from Camberwell College of Arts, I have spent the last 15 years working on single documentaries and series for the major UK and US broadcasters. In 2017, I was shortlisted for a Grierson Award for ‘MPs: Behind Closed Doors’. For examples of my work, please visit www.racheltracy.co.uk
This is the first independent film that I have directed and the first time I have filmed myself.
I am on the management committee of ‘We Are Doc Women’, advocating for equal opportunities, greater support and fair recognition for women working in broadcast television.)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - SAM ANTHONY
Supporting the project is Sam Anthony, an award winning creative director and executive producer, with 30 years of experience working for all the major broadcasters in the UK, and several in the United States. He has worked as a senior creative manager at ITV, and the BBC, along with numerous British production companies, in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Los Angeles.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS APPEAL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
This project successfully funded on 19th May 2022