“Revolt,” a movie starring Lee Pace (“The Hobbit,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Bérénice Marlohe (“Skyfall”) that journeys through African countrysides and villages amidst an alien invasion, just finished production in South Africa and is giving back to its host township. The production team and producers, Voltage Pictures (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “The Hurt Locker”), Automatik Entertainment (“Sinister”, “Autobahn”), and 42 (“Autobahn”) have launched a charitable Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise money for Ward 48. The campaign hit its goal in 24 hours.
During production, the “Revolt” team traveled to Ward 48, a poor, struggling township on the outskirts of Johannesburg. While filming in Ward 48, the team was overwhelmed by the generosity and support shown by the township’s residents.
They launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to give back to the community. It has currently reached its goal of $15,000 in less than 24 hours and on its way to hitting 200% of the goal. The first $15,000 that has been raised during the Indiegogo campaign will be matched by filmmakers at the end of the campaign. These funds, and everything else raised beyond that, will go towards helping the Ward 48 community. The more funding, the bigger impact.
“As filmmakers, we fly in and out of communities around the world,” says Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. “I’ve been thinking about how we can have a long-term impact in those places that help us.”
By launching a charitable crowdfunding campaign, in which the only goal is to give back to the local community that hosted them, the filmmakers are setting a unique example by being one of the first to approach an Indiegogo campaign in this way. The “Revolt” team hopes the widespread enthusiasm behind this campaign will encourage filmmakers around the world to do the same.
“The presence of a film crew in a community can have a very positive impact,” says actor Lee Pace in the Indiegogo campaign video, “but we want to do even more – something lasting. We want to help Ward 48 get the things they need.”
The “Revolt” team is working closely with Ward 48’s town counselor Betty Ryngani. With Betty’s help, the funds will go towards hiring professional drug counselors, providing Ward 48 with its own soccer field, building an irrigation system for the community garden, and establishing a car wash that will provide jobs to young people coming back from rehabilitation.
“Even though we were guests in their community, the people of Ward 48 treated us with a warmth and kindness that made us feel at home,” says Pace. “This campaign is our way of saying thanks.”
Perks in exchange for donations include getting one’s name on a plaque in the community garden, a signed soccer ball, a digital South African travel guide by Lee Pace and Bérénice Marlohe, and more.
The Indiegogo campaign will run for 30 days – From March 11th to April 10th.
