first feature press kit

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FIRST FEATURE Press Kit

CONTACT INFORMATION Curtis Matzke

T 517.214.4584 [email protected]

Ben Sherman


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OVERVIEW First Feature is a documentary film about Thomas Reilly-King, an intrepid student filmmaker who will do anything to complete his feature film, Enduring Destiny. Working four jobs to pay for his production, TRK, as everyone calls him, has labored over his film for more than four years. He is the writer, director, and producer, but also lead actor, camera operator, and editor. Long on passion but short on resources, TRK's film does not turn out quite the way he intended. This eccentric dreamer and his unusual movie are the stuff of legend in his university town. First Feature celebrates the underdog filmmaker through a study of TRKs raw determination in the face of skepticism and adversity, but also connects with this would-be filmmaker on a personal level. For TRK, film isnt just about the story; its about the experience and perhaps most importantly, about feeling like a kid again. First Feature was shot in a loose and natural way with a very small crew. We have hours of footage on the set of "Enduring Destiny" and nearly two-dozen interviews with actors, friends, and fans. Since TRK often had few people helping him with production, we would be recruited to help out. The result is a unique documentary style where we become both participants and observers. Like us, our viewers will be drawn into TRKs strange and wonderful creative process.

Enduring Destiny by Thomas Reilly-King

Enduring Destiny follows Max Kenner, an all-state

wrestler on a full-ride scholarship to a top-ten

university. Max is living large: joining a cool

fraternity, driving a new sports car, and dating the girl

of his dreams. He is ambitious and motivated,

with big plans to become a C.I.A. agent until a fateful

accident confines him to a wheelchair for the rest of his

life.

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REMAINING FUNDS Funding will be used for the remaining cost of post-production for this documentary, particularly with regard to sound and an additional editor. Although the current funds being sought will not be enough to cover the entire cost of marketing the film, a certain amount will be put to starting this process, including DVD production and festival submissions. The vast majority of the funding, however, will be spent on completing a professional cut of the film. To date, First Feature has been entirely self-supported. The film has received no external financial support. Production of the film took place primarily at a university and the equipment was provided in-kind. No further expenses were incurred.

SUCCESS The success of this project will be judged on whether the film can find its audience. It is my personal goal to get the film out to as many venues as possible, including film festivals as well as distribution pipelines. Our goal is to have the film completed in early fall 2014 to ensure First Feature is in contention during the festival season and ideally premiere at a high profile festival such as SXSW in 2015. I have worked the film festival circuit in the past and am confident in my ability to ensure that the film is screened. Ideally, I would like the documentary to be picked up by a distributor and released on DVD as well as streamed through media providers such as iTunes and Netflix. The story of First Feature is one that is relatable to a wide audience of anyone who has ever attempted to follow their dreams. TRK is a true character that people will connect with and support. We are confident that the film will have a strong critical and commercial success because of this.

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CREATIVE TEAM

CURTIS MATZKE Director/Producer Curtis is an independent filmmaker from Michigan with a B.A. and M.A in Media Arts and Technology from Michigan State University. In addition to the above credits, Curtis also served as the Writer and Director of Complex, which is his first feature film. Curtiss last film, American Terrorist, which he co-wrote and co-photographed, as well several other short films, have screened at over a dozen film festivals nationally and internationally.

BEN SHERMAN Producer/ Director of Photography Ben is an independent filmmaker with a B.A. in Media Arts and Technology from Michigan State University. He was the director of the independent short film American Terrorist, which he co-wrote with Curtis and went on to win several awards at film festivals in the state of Michigan. Ben is the perfect person to edit First Feature as he was there for almost every shoot during production.

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SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS For more information about First Feature, Curtis, and TRK himself, please follow the following links:

Trailer for First Feature https://vimeo.com/59316819

Sneak peak of First Feature https://vimeo.com/68815357 Password: trk

Facebook Page for First Feature https://www.facebook.com/firstfeaturemovie

Director Curtis Matzkes Website http://www.curtismatzke.com/

Subject TRKs Website http://www.trkproductions.com/

CONTACT INFORMATION Curtis Matzke


Ben Sherman


Thank you very much for your consideration.

first feature press kit

Documents

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