Main fundraiser photo

The Last Rancher Film

We're looking to raise $15,000 to fund both pre-production and US location filming for our feature-length documentary film about the stand-off at the Bundy Ranch in Bunkerville, Nevada.

We hope you enjoyed our short trailer, and sincerely hope it conveys our heart-felt and passionate approach to this project.

The provisional working title for this film is ‘The Last Rancher’, a 90 minute documentary film telling the inside story of this past spring's standoff at the Bundy Ranch. We believe this event is an important part of American history, one that has not only captured the attention of the national media, but also the imaginations of millions of people worldwide – it’s an incredible story which we saw unfold and now it’s time to assemble all the principle participants to retrace their steps and record their personal testimonies, opinions, feelings and emotions.

As soon as we begin to raise any funds, location shooting will begin ASAP. To get the project started off on the right foot, and to secure on-location film production as soon as possible, we have travel, accommodation, equipment, media and skilled professionals labor expenses – all of which are essential in the first legs of the project. We plan to shoot this in the highest quality possible, and have already secured a great Director of Photography, and are working closely with key participants from this event, as well as independent/citizen journalists who covered it closely. We'll need all the help we can get to make it all happen.   

After we are successful in this round of funding, we will produce another new high quality trailer, and move ahead to fund the biggest nut of the project – the post-production of the film, including editing, effects, original soundtrack, computer hardware, licensing, graphics, and adding any breaking updates to the story which might take place during the post-production phase, as well as acquiring any key major network and government footage which serves as documentation for this historic Bundy-BLM stand-off. If fundrasing goes better than expected, we will use additional resources to extend the conversation to other regions - reaching out to other farmers, landowners and communities who've found themselves in a similar situation as the Bundy Ranch - to hear, and tell their stories too. We expect post-production to extend into autumn and we will shoot for a pre-release before Christmas 2014.

If all goes well, we plan to premier this film at least at one American and one European film festival, and release a shorter version of the film online (1 hr) to a wider audience, and the full feature-length on DVD. We also hope to air this documentary on TV if any channels express a serious interest in it.

SUPPORTER APPRECIATION

- If you donate $25 or more to any round of funding for this project, you will receive a special DVD gift of the final production before the official scheduled release on DVD. How comprehensive the final DVD is (e.g. double disk plus extras, deleted scenes, interviews, etc.) depends on how well we do in our second and final round of funding.

- If you donate $100 or more you will appear on the film’s production credits (tiers and titles TBA).

- If you donate $500 or more you are virtual production crew and we'll provide you with an official crew shirt and hat with film logo and 'crew' embroidered.

- If you donate $1,000 or more you are an 'Associate Producer' and will appear at this level on the film's production credits.

- If you donate $1,500 or more you are an 'Executive Producer' and will appear at this level on the film's production credits. Based on availability, we'll also arrange an interview with you about the Bundy Ranch event to be included on DVD feature.

This is well and truly a team effort. We hope to add more ‘thank you’ gifts to this as we hit each of our goals - so watch this space!

DOCUMENTARY SYNOPSIS

On April 12th, 2014 something historic and significant took place – but much of it was not covered by the mainstream media. Many of the central characters in this real life drama will have a chance to tell their story – including the Bundy family, ranchers, cowboys, protesters, law enforcement, elected representatives and local residents, as we explore events which led up to the crisis, followed by a minute by minute recounting of events on the day, and finally, reflections of events and how this connects to the lives of everyday citizens. Alternative media also played a pivotal role in elevating this story to national status and we will also be interviewing a number of commentors and journalists who covered the story when it broke. We aim to do justice to this story and will leave no stone unturned, telling the full story to the best of our ability.

Thank you in advance - if you are able to donate this project! EVERY penny helps. If you're not able to donate on this round, we hope that you will be encouraged by our progress and meet us further down the road! Introduce your friends to our project by sharing our official website and share our pre-production trailer.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER PROFILE

Writer and Director Patrick Henningsen is founder and associate editor of the news website 21st Century Wire, a host on GMN, and contributor to UK Column. He's an independent journalist, filmmaker and TV/radio commentator whose work appears globally online, on radio, in magazines, film and on TV. He is a strong advocate for independent media and free speech and dedicated to bringing as much information and insight on a wide range of issues to the widest possible audience.


Free State Films
freestatefilms.tv
Donate

Donations 

  • Joanie Kahl
    • $100 
    • 8 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Patrick Henningsen
Organizer
Bunkerville, NV

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.