The Totem Pole

AU$11,135
of $10,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 12th May 2016 at 2:38AM.

Thankyou so much to everyone that has supported this film in any way.
Shares, likes, donations, carrying tripods, making cups of tea.
You all know who you are. 


Stories are the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. Stories are what move us make us feel alive and inspire us. And this one is a beauty !


The funding campaign still has 50 hours to run all money raised beyond our goal will go into crafting this film and make it the very best it can be.


British climber – now resident of Tasmania – Paul Pritchard, was one of the leading climbers and mountaineers of the 1980s and 1990s, renowned for his hard and extremely bold first ascents.


In 1998 Paul was abseiling in to climb the Totem Pole in Tasmania when he dislodged a rock with his rope that hit him on the head, leaving him with a severe head injury that he was lucky to survive: “All I wanted to do was go to sleep but I was certain that if I did so it would have been the last sleep I ever made.”


The aftermath of the accident left him with hemiplegia, which means he has little feeling or movement in the right side of this body. Despite this disability, Paul’s continued to live a life filled with adventure: "That accident on the Totem Pole was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Eighteen years later Paul returns to the Totem Pole to find out if he has recovered enough to finish the climb.


“There are a thousand reasons not to climb a mountain: rock-fall, hypothermia, falling off, avalanche, altitude sickness, severe weather or just the hard work of it. However, there is but one singular reason to climb when you look at it carefully.”

This is a film about an extraordinary man on an inspiring life journey, his continuing recovery from a crushing injury and the never waning desire for adventure. This is a film about determination and acceptance, patience and humility, grace, and ultimately, freedom.


69 kilo’s

65 metres

126 one arm pull-ups


“Its a very scenic place to have a head injury, that's for sure!”


Paul Pritchard


The film aims to reach a wide audience through screenings at international mountain / adventure and disability themed film festivals and personally by Paul through his ongoing public speaking tours and presentations to Hospitals and Rehabilitation centres.




How The Funds Will Be Used

The funds will be used to finance the edit of the film. Essentially this project is a labour of love. A large group of Paul's friends came together to help him manage the climb and ensure his safety. Rummin Productions in association with Ignite Digi filmed the climb as it unfolded from every angle including from the air through the use of drones.

We are now raising funds to get the incredible footage into the edit suit and craft this story into a powerful documentary that will be engaging and inspiring for able and disabled viewers alike.

Budget
Editor fees / studio hire -  $7500
Sound mixing / music rights - $1500
Mastering of finished film - $1000

The Challenges

The greatest challenge we face with this project is time. To date all the work done on this project has been pro bono. Our aim is to get the film finished as soon as possible in order to send it to this years round of film festivals. If we continue to proceed without funds it will inevitably take longer. With your support we can get the the fantastic footage and interviews we have into the hands of a professional editor and keep the momentum going.

Unlike other film projects this is one is in the can - we've already had an extremely successful film shoot and the story is incredible. All this project needs is a modest injection of funds to see it realised.

Screen Saver

Thank you on the film website

43 chosen

Est. delivery is Aug 16

Screen Saver

A personal thank you email from Paul and a screen saver image of the Totem Pole.

29 chosen

Est. delivery is Aug 16

Download

Be the first to see the finished film with a password to the film on vimeo, plus a personal thank you email from Paul and a screen saver image of the Totem Pole

28 chosen

Est. delivery is Aug 16

Print

Be the first to see the finished film with a password to the film on vimeo, plus an A5 archival photographic print of the Totem Pole signed by Paul with a thank you note.

4 chosen

Est. delivery is Sep 16

Credit

Your name on the credits of the film, plus a password to see the film on vimeo, and an A4 archival print of the Totem pole signed by Paul with a personal thank you note.

5 chosen

Est. delivery is Sep 16

The lot

Your name on the credits of the film, a download code to see the film on vimeo before it is released and an A3 archival print of the Totem pole signed by paul and a personal thank you note.

1 chosen

Est. delivery is Sep 16