2009 October 14
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by Dave and Matt

Hello everybody,

The Savoie case continues to draw some long over due attention to the issue. Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey will be coming to Japan this weekend and there is a new CNN video and ABC print piece just out:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/fighting-custody-abducted-children-japan/Story?id=8817579&page=1

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/10/13/lah.japan.custody.morrey.lg.cnn?iref=videosearch

Thanks so much for your time and support. We’d like to ask you to think about a donation if you have the means, click under “tags” on the right side of this page. To be blunt, we need your help. And money is the biggest challenge to making a film that will have the most impact. Thank you for your consideration.

There should be a another spike in the news coverage when the next step is taken with Chris Savoie. According to the law, he must be charged or released after a maximum of 23 days in police confinement. By our unofficial count that would make Oct. 20th, 2009 the last possible day the current conditions could extend to though something may happen at anytime.

More soon,

David

david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com

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2009 October 1
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by Dave and Matt

Hello again. Well for anyone who has been watching CNN or the Today Show recently you can easily see how the issue has become much more widely known with the arrest of Mr. Savoie in Fukuoka, Japan. As with all our cases it is our hope that the issue can be resolved peacefully and satisfactorally to all parties involved, especially the children.

Here is the CNN story:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/09/30/wynter.abductions.doc.cnn?iref=videosearch

Another one is posted at MSNBC. Go to this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33068613#33086474

Then click “American jailed in Japan over custody battle” on the left side and it will come up in the player.

We have a rough cut of the film but have exhausted our resources in getting here. We are still looking for funds to make the final push, finish the film and get it out to the public. We humbly ask those who who have the means and shared interest to consider making a donation. Below is the link to our credit card donation page.

http://www.documentary.org/community/IDA-resources/fiscal_sponsorship_donate?film_id=2977

Thank you so much for your time and interest. We look forward to the day we can announce where and when you can see our film on the big screen. With all the recent attention that shouldn’t be too much further down the road.

Contact us at: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com

Thank you,

David and Matt

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2009 August 3
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by Dave and Matt

Hello Everyone,

I’d like to announce that we have completed a rough cut and have started to approach those individuals and organizations that may provide the necessary finishing funds. We are still very much in need of any financial help you can provide. Please visit our “Get Involved” page: http://fromtheshadowsmovie.com/english/contact.html

For those who can consider a contribution of $10,000 or more we can arrange for “sneek peak” viewing of the current rough cut and would be glad to meet in person to explain more about the project. There are still challenges ahead but we keep January 10th, 2010 as our deadline for completion of the final cut.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking in. Please contact: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com if you have any questions or comments

David and Matt

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2009 July 5
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by Dave and Matt
Just a brief update here with regards to schedule. We are marching on and will finish the rough cut by August 1st. From there we must secure financing and once that is in place, complete and submit the film to Cannes Film Festival by January 10th, 2010.

As we are into July now that is only 6 months away. Not much further now. 

Anybody who can contribute is encouraged to go to our “Get Involved” page: 
http://fromtheshadowsmovie.com/english/contact.html
 
For those considering larger contributions ($10,000 or more) we would be glad to arrange a personal meeting and or a “sneek peek” of the rough cut after August 1st.

Please contact me at: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com

More soon,

David and Matt

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2009 June 28
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by Dave and Matt
Hi everybody,

Nothing very exciting to report other than the editing process continues as scheduled. Our editor has noted that we have enough strong material that this could actually be made into a series of films. 

I’d also like to stop and say that we have had numerous people help us with transcription and interpretation for next to nothing and it really shows the determination and spirit of those who are putting in their time. We are forever indebted to their efforts and hope to pay them back with a film that reaches far, deep and wide. I’d like to especially thank, Taka, Shu and Vicky for their effort despite their rigorous exam schedule. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and though we still have some challenges ahead with raising necessary funds for the final cut editing, we are very confident, optimistic and look forward to the day we can show everyone why all this hard work was so worthwhile.

More soon,

David and Matt  

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2009 May 15
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by Dave and Matt
Hello again.

Just a brief update. As of May 1st we started editing the rough cut. So far, so good. Most of our time is spent filling in the holes in our material so our editor has the most complete library to work from.  

We are still looking for funding to make the final period for the 2nd half of this year (once the rough cut is complete). Any consideration or suggestions for that of course are warmly welcome. 

For the most part, we will have our heads down while we push on but we can always be reached at: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com 

Thanks so much for your interest and support. 

David and Matt

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2009 March 12
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by Dave and Matt
Hello again everyone,

The promotional short  DVD is ready and we have been sending it out and showing people related to the film. It has been difficult to keep up with demand so please be patient if you are waiting now. 

One of our main goals is to try to fill our $90,000 budget for post production which will begin from August 1st. We understand the economic climate is no where near ideal for contributing to a documentary film right now but as the days and weeks pass more cases happen and the need to address this as soon as possible continues to grow. 

Another goal of ours is to start a relationship with someone or organization who can help realize our goals and help raise awareness. Involving a famous name in our project will give it great lift and help tremendously when we submit our final cut to the film festivals. We will keep approaching our contacts and ask that if anyone else has any ideas that would help us build that bridge we would love to hear them and participate however we see best fit. 

We have tentatively set May 1st as the date to begin the rough cut edit which will be finished by August 1st. Matt and I will be busy preparing the material for our editor and pitching the project while also chasing down releases for copyrighted material.

Thanks for your help, contact us at: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com and check back in a while for another update. 

For now,

David 

 

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2009 February 22
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by Dave and Matt
Hello everyone,

We have completed the promotional short video we mentioned last post. It’s a 14 minute cut that plays like the film will for a large section. Please contact me if you are interested to have us send you a copy. Email to: david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com 

We are look forward to hearing your opinion.

We continue to push forward to the to complete the rough cut by August 1st. I have been busy capturing all our material at full resolution while Matt has been focusing on transcription and assisting our editor in Los Angeles.

More soon,

David

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2009 January 28
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by Dave and Matt
Hello again,


Just another brief update here. 

Matt and I have been working around (and during) our normal work schedules to help our editor prepare a 15-20 minute clip of the film. We intend to take that clip and use it for additional fundraising efforts. It will play like the finished product and give you an idea of what we have been working on. It should be ready by February 15th. I will post again when it’s done and explain how best to see it. 

We have also just interviewed one practicing Japanese lawyer and have one more lined up for next week. It seems more and more people are opening up and willing to come forward to be heard on this issue. We especially credit the efforts of all the organizations and individuals, too many to list here, who are working everyday toward this end.

Please send any comments or questions to david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com

For now,

David

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2009 January 6
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by Dave and Matt
New year’s greetings everyone

We have a very eventful time since we last posted. Currently, I have joined Matt in Los Angeles and we are currently in the middle of capturing the 136 tapes of footage for the editing process. 

We have picked up three wonderful volunteer assistants Vicky, Shu and Takahisa who have been very helpful doing much of the unglamorous part of the work. 

We received some very nice comments and even a contribution bounce from the Japan Times article on August 26th (link below). Then in the fall, Matt went to Vancouver and shot more footage of Murray Wood’s story and covered and IROCS event that occurred there. Meanwhile in Tokyo, I spoke at an Oyakonet event describing the similarities and differences of my own experience with those we document here. We also covered the street protest on October 26th and had some of our footage aired online in a BBC news piece: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7668654.stm

The shooting, especially with Japanese legal and cultural experts, has also continued but now we are pushing forward to get to the editing stage. Our goal is to have a rough cut ready by this summer and approach film festivals from there. Matt and I still have difficulty committing full time to the project due to financial constraints but we feel this is a tenable goal and the excitement of moving to the next phase, and closer to the realization of our goal, is getting closer each passing day.

Here are a few photos from recent activities. More soon and I promise to do a better job of keeping the blog updated. Any questions or comments contact us at david@fromtheshadowsmovie.com

More soon,

David
1) The film crew on a shoot in Shibuya station
2) Matt Shooting Murray in Vancouver
3) David speaking at the Oyakonet event in November.

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