An exciting new documentary project promises to put the Isle of Wight firmly on the film making map.
The brainchild of veteran, Island-based documentary filmmaker Bill Bristow, Our Isle of Wight has been described as an exciting journey through time that will inform and entertain.
For several years, in between other projects, Bill has nurtured the idea of such a film and engaged in detailed research of the Island, its geography and history, its people and contribution to the worlds of culture, literature, science and technology.
Now, with narration by award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, the film is finally coming to fruition, having been thoroughly researched and scripted over the last few months.
With a diverse and rich history dating from the earliest dinosaur discoveries, the Island certainly provides a colourful canvass for such a cinematic journey. Along the way, Bill will introduce his audience to developments in the stone and bronze age, to the impact of the Romans and the complex process whereby the Island eventually became part of England.
With contributions by local experts, the film will look at the role of pirates and smugglers, artists, writers and scientists in shaping the Island and the world as it is today. It will look at the Island’s strategic and military past, as well as its contribution to technical innovation both in aviation and communication.
A veteran filmmaker since the 1980s, who has worked with Whoopi Goldberg, Rutger Hauer, Peter O’Toole to name some. Bill is an Island resident and is the ideal person to be working on such a film. A documentary filmmaker, Bill was also a judge on the famous I’ve Seen Film festival launched by his close personal friend and Hollywood actor Rutger Hauer, whose tragic death was reported recently.
Bill says:
“One of the challenges has been to bring in lesser-known facts about the Island that will hopefully be as surprising to our audience as it has been to us.
“Already many islanders have donated their time and energy to this project, enabling us to complete the research and script and to create the short promotional video for the Kickstarter fundraising campaign. We really do want to make a film which will be created by backed and funded by Islanders and those who love our Island.
This week sees the launch of an ambitious Kickstarter.com campaign to raise the necessary funds to get this film made. Everyone donating £10 or more to the project will receive a copy of the movie with additional benefits the more you contribute.
The Kickstarter target budget for this project is £40,000 to fund a 90-minute documentary. Launched on Kickstarter on 4th August the crowdfunding will run for 6 weeks.
Bill explains:
“If you want to be a part of this project, there are two ways to help and be involved. As a community-driven and focussed project pledges no matter how small can make an enormous difference. We have to hit our fundraising target of £40,000 by 3rd October, or none of the pledged funding will be available. Its an all or nothing pledge platform, which is why we are hoping the local community will get behind the project and either pledge financial support or help to spread the word on social media.
Visit the Kickstarter project page and make your donation today at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/isleofwight/our-isle-of-wight-narrated-by-jeremy-irons.
40k
For the size of this project, it is a very cheap price. It is something that could have been funded by the Visit Isle of Wight group. Probably can’t afford it since Joanne Lisa Thornton stole all that money.