contact:

Leena Pendharkar,
Writer/Director
leena@raspberrymagic.com

Megha Kadakia,
Producer
megha@raspberrymagic.com

Okay, so it's over ninety degrees outside despite the fact that the sun is gone. We've spent the day roasting in desert temperatures to photograph raspberries at Snow-Line Orchard in Glen Oak, CA.

Now, it's 9pm, and we're driving home.  My head is pounding, Megha is sick; alas, to make matters worse, my car has overheated for the second time on this trip. I pull into a gas station, raise the hood and refill the car with anti-coolant.

A car full of guys in a large Escalade drive by, shouting out the window, to see if I need some help. No I do not, thank you very much I tell them. This is just another day in the life of Raspberry Magic, another day in the life of an indie filmmaker, and pouring coolant is no big deal.

Making an independent film is like shaking a carton of cream to get butter--it takes forever, it's really hard work, but when you're finally done, you've got something very real and tangible.

It's no different with Raspberry Magic.  Over the past year, Producer Megha Kadakia and I have formed Raspberry Magic, LLC, developed our business plan and a marketing/distribution strategy. We've also worked with a line producer to break down out budget and get a rough shooting schedule down. We have also been meeting with many potential investors to raise all of the money we need.

For those of you who might not remember, Raspberry Magic is about a family in turmoil, and at the center of that struggle is Monica Shah. Monica is a bright and determined 11-year old girl who believes that she must win the science fair to save her parents' crumbling marriage. Her experiment seeks to grow raspberries through touch therapy in the forest. 

Ultimately, it's a movie about dreams and believing in something so deeply, that you make it happen.  I was inspired to tell the story of a young, bright girl who picks up the pieces when the adults disappoint her.  I  also wanted to explore a young girl's connection to nature.  The script has gone through many re-writes, but it's finally in a really good place. A recent coverage report from Film Independent said of the script:

"It's not often that true family films with messages can touch all ages are created. Central to this script are incredibly well defined characters that are authentic in every detail. It's an excellent vehicle to introduce new faces and frankly, a new family into the American cinema lexicon"

We feel very strongly about moving forward and making this film happen.  Our goal is to raise $500K to make the movie, then an additional $250K to market and distribute it. We have several investors on board and are looking for more--there are thirty five slots, and ideally, we would like to raise all of the money by this spring, with the first round closing January 31. Our goal is to shoot this summer in both LA and a Pacific Northwestern location.

We've already started on securing investors, exploring casting options, hiring crew and scouting locations.  Presently, we are also talking to several prominent film and business professionals about joining our board as advisors/executive producers--we will announce those names soon. We also want to thank everyone who has helped us thus far with everything from photography to music, to advice on the business plan, budget and more--we could not do this without you. Making this movie is a long and exciting process, and could really use your help!  Here are some specific ways to assist us:

> Share Information.  If you or anyone you know might be interested in investing, send them our way. We have a detailed prospectus packet to break down exactly how the money would be spent and what the cycle for the investment is. Our one-unit investment is set at $20K, but we are happy to discuss investment pools and/or other structures.

> Host a "Raspberry Magic" night.  It can be a game night, a cocktail hour or a dinner, anything helps!  Our best weapon in making this film a reality is letting people know about it. We've done several dinners and social events where you invite your friends, and we spend about 30 minutes doing a presentation about the film.  There's no pressure to invest, we're just sharing information.  This type of gathering is an excellent way for us to meet more people and potentially gain interest in the film.

> Volunteer with us. We are seeking help in all areas from production to financing and casting. If you or someone you know can help, that would be awesome!