Invest in COMING TOGETHER film

“Tribalism... is the curse of our times right now. Tribalism hinges on us not seeing each other as full, multi-dimensional, fully fleshed human beings. It hinges on us seeing everybody as either pro or con, ally or enemy, friend or foe. People are more complicated than that. Life is more complicated than that.” - Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist - on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher - 3/12/22

COMING TOGETHER is a light-hearted movie about a serious subject. What happens when a young single L.A. woman -- an avowed progressive -- discovers a new guy she meets in December 2020 happens to be a supporter of President Donald Trump? Is he someone she could actually date, regardless? And is she, for him?

Helping her explore this question, reluctantly, is her new housemate, a gay man who is the opposite of the romcom “gay best friend” trope. He’s not fabulous, extroverted or interested in talking about her love life. At all. But she so wants them to be friends. And she can help him with something he wants -- to get in better shape while they quarantine together.

So she sets about enthusiastically training him while getting his take on what’s going on with the new guy. She gets closer to both of them in the process. She realizes she can't change the guy’s politics. In fact, he decides to attend the January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington. Is all hope lost for them?

Smart Comedy with Heart

Take heart: this story does not unfold in scenes of strident political argument! While their different views are clear as the main stumbling point to a relationship, and she experiments with “dialoguing” about them, it’s really about three likable people trying to figure out their lives and relationships and move forward.

Tonally it has similarities to some of these films from the past:

Classic Hollywood romantic comedies

With a low-budget "indie" sensibility

And some of the flavors of recent streaming comedy series such as:

The characters have flaws they need to look at, but this is not the kind of arty niche film that appeals only to critics and film festivals. It’s not aimless or ambiguous, and it doesn’t have a “messy” main character who’s hard to fully bond with or care about. It’s more of a traditional narrative with sympathetic characters and a central story problem that builds and complicates in clear, entertaining ways, as the characters grapple with it.

Writer-Director Erik Bork

Erik Bork is best known for his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning work as one of the producers and writers of the epic HBO miniseries BAND OF BROTHERS and FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON, where he worked alongside executive producer Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg (on BAND OF BROTHERS).

Erik’s lengthy professional screenwriting career also includes stints writing for two primetime drama series on NBC and the former CW, selling numerous pitches for series and movies to the likes of NBC, the Fox network, HBO and TNT, and writing scripts on assignment for both feature film and television projects that didn’t make it to the screen (par for the course for most pro screenwriters), such as:

• A World War II bomber movie starring and produced by Tom Hanks, with Steven Spielberg attached to direct, for Universal Pictures
• An HBO film about the tragic story of acclaimed jockey Chris Antley
• A comedy series about a divorced couple who continues to work together and co-parent a variety of kids, for ABC Studios and producer Warren Littlefield
• An original miniseries about the rise of Apple Computer Company for HBO and Playtone
• A legal comedy-drama about an “old boy’s club” law firm taken over by a female managing partner who turns the tables on which gender gets the fast track, for NBC

His work as a writer/producer includes projects with companies such as:

Erik is also a well-known script consultant and blogger on screenwriting who has taught for UCLA Extension’s renowned Writers’ Program and National University’s MFA in Professional Screenwriting. His book THE IDEA: THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF A VIABLE STORY FOR SCREEN, STAGE OR FICTION was published in 2018 and is a multi-category Amazon best-seller.

Erik’s 22-minute short comedy 

Erik Bork wrote and directed I GOT THIS, which was released in 2018 and played at many film festivals, winning awards such as:

• Filmmakers’ Award: Outstanding Short Film - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Filmmakers’ Award: Outstanding Director - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Grand Jury Prize: Best Screenplay - Sherman Oaks Film Festival
• Best Featurette: Comedy - Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
• Best Screenplay: Featurette - Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

I GOT THIS is streaming on the renowned Omeleto short film channel on YouTube, where it’s been viewed almost 300,000 times with over 1,000 comments. See samples below:

View the film on Omeleto here:

COMING TOGETHER - The Characters

(Actors pictured are for character reference only - not signed on to be in the film.)

COMING TOGETHER Budget Breakdown

(Based on minimum $135,000 budget including $75,000 in grants/donations received plus a minimum of $60,000 from Wefunder)

None of the funds raised will go to the writer-director or the production company as compensation for services, and they will receive no revenue until after all investors recoup 120% (125% for Early Bird investors), after which revenue will be evenly split between investors and production company.

Project Timeline

*Forward-looking projections can't be guaranteed.

Financing - MAY 2022 - JUNE 2023

• WeFunder campaign
• Script revisions
• Long-term planning

Pre-Production - JUNE 2023 - AUGUST 2023

• Finalize shooting schedule
• Complete SAG-Aftra contract paperwork

Secure the following:

• Cast
• Crew
• Locations
• Equipment
• Wardrobe
• Set Dressing/Props

Production - SEPTEMBER 2023

• 18 to 20-day shoot over 4 weeks in Los Angeles area

Post-Production - SEPTEMBER 2023 - MARCH 2024

• Editing
• Music Composition and Placement
• Sound Mixing
• Color Correction
• Create teaser trailers, key art and poster

Festival submissions/release planning - JANUARY 2024 - DECEMBER 2024

• Strategize top U.S. (Sundance, Toronto, SXSW, Tribeca), regional and international fests
• Begin discussions with potential sales agents
• Create festival deliverables such as DCP's
• Publicize World and North American Premieres

Festival circuit and premieres - AUGUST 2024 - JULY 2025

• Negotiate potential deals with sales agents and distributors
• Decide whether to use self-distribution path and for what markets
• Decide whether to pursue theatrical release 

Distribution - 2025 AND BEYOND

If pursuing self-distribution:

• Market and publicize theatrical release and create deliverables (if releasing theatrically)
• Engage aggregator (such as Bitmax or Filmhub) for digital release
• Market and publicize TVOD release (iTunes, etc.) with social media ad campaign
• Pursue additional markets (foreign, TV, DVD, airline, etc.) possibly using sales agents

Begin payouts to investors!

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