Filmmaking, like most of the arts these days, is not for the weak of heart, and is a very difficult business even for those "in the know." Filmmakers often have to struggle to get things made, as it seems that big studios want to take less and less chances, fearing that their bottom line might suffer. Sometimes, directors have to take things into their own hands, much like Canadian director Allison Parker. An effects editor, producer, director, and writer, Parker has worked towards making her own work, as opposed to working for other's films. She's been in the industry for twelve years, and knows many people. Still, it's a hard road to find someone willing to fund any movie, let alone a kid's film about ferrets.
Parker, a ferret owner herself, came up with the idea of this movie after a very successful first kid's movie, Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale. Friends' kids took to the cuddly little guys (Parker is the owner of two ferrets of her own) and loved the film, so Parker worked with writer Sally Meyer to make her new movie idea come to life. Just one problem—no producer. So, Parker decided to try things a little differently—she has created an amazing trailer with the cast that she wants to use (including some fairly well-known actors and actresses) and she's put it online, hoping that the word gets out.
While Kickstarter (the online fundraising tool) isn't available for Canadians just yet, and the fundraising tools we have available may not quite be up to snuff, I'm impressed with her desire to make her movie. With the small amount of funding that she did receive, she was able to pull this high-end trailer together, which is being shared on social media by ferret-lovers across the world, and she's broadened her search for the right producer by hoping that anyone with a love of the classic kids' movie (think The Sandlot, The Goonies, and The Neverending Story) will want to help get this movie made.
I hope that this movie gets made, because it looks great. But then Parker's secret will be out—ferrets will be the new pet that every kid will want after seeing this trailer.
So, spill it! Would you take your kids to see The Ferret Squad?
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