Our Crowdfunding Groups
Thank you for showing interest in this project! If you are still interested in making a contribution please reach out to Nathaniel Ball at ncball@memphis.edu.
THAT'S A WRAP! Freedom's Village, Hooks' short film based on the incidents in the civil rights movement of Fayette County, Tennessee, has officially finished filming, and we couldn't be more thrilled! It was four intense days of shooting, but we did it! A massive shoutout to our incredible cast and crew, who poured their hearts and souls into this short film. Your dedication and hard work made it all possible.
A special round of applause goes to our phenomenal director, Kristen Hill, and the talented cinematographer, David Goodman (both from UofMemphis Film Department), for their outstanding contributions. You and your team brought the Hooks Institute's vision to life and perfectly captured the essence of Freedom's Village. We thank Ames Plantation in Fayette County, TN, and Shelby Farms Park in Memphis for graciously allowing us to film their breathtaking properties.
And, of course, we want to thank you, our donors, for supporting this project! We couldn't have brought this film to life without your contributions!
Now, we're enthusiastically moving into the post-production phase, aiming to wrap it up by this fall. We can't wait to share the final product with all of you. Keep an eye out for the premiere date of Freedom's Village in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks along the way.
Thank you!
Nathaniel Ball
Hooks Institute Assistant Director
Executive Producer, Freedom's Village
Photograph: Freedom's Village Production Crew
Greetings Freedom's Village Donors!
We are excited to share with you the latest updates on the progress of our short film. Following an incredible table read this week, we are now gearing up for the filming next week. We want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your invaluable support towards making "Freedom's Village" a reality.
Our film draws inspiration from the events that took place during the civil rights movement in Fayette County, Tennessee. It will showcase the indomitable spirit of the courageous individuals who fought for their right to vote and bring to life their stories and struggles. We can assure you that the final product will be a powerful, moving experience that will leave a lasting impression.
We will keep you updated with behind-the-scenes sneak peeks and exciting progress reports as we continue to work on this important project. Thank you once again for your continued support, and we can't wait to share "Freedom's Village" with you soon. Stay tuned for more updates!
Thank you,
Nathaniel Ball
Hooks Institute Assistant Director
Executive Producer, Freedom's Village
Hello "Freedom's Village" Team!
We are happy to announce that "Freedom's Village," a short documentary film on the importance of civil rights based on the Fayette County civil rights movement, has reached its $10,000 goal with six days left in our campaign!
I want to thank everyone who donated to the campaign. Through your donations, we will be able to create this critical movie and significantly increase our impact.
The film will go into production in the Summer of 2023. Please join our mailing list at www.memphis.edu/benhooks/signup, or follow us on social media (www.facebook.com/benhooksinstitute | twitter.com/hooksinstitute | instagram.com/hooksinstitute) for updates on this film!
Once again, thank you for your donations, and congratulations on helping us meet our goal!
Nathaniel Ball
Assistant Director, Hooks Institute
Producer, "Facing Down Storms"
Hello "Freedom's Village" team!
We officially surpassed 40% of our goal at $4,170 with 26 days left in the campaign! Thank you for your hard work spreading awareness of the campaign. Without your help, we could not have made it this far!
Please continue to share the campaign on your social media pages. Content is regularly shared through Hooks Institute social media: Facebook (facebook.com/benhooksinstitute), Twitter (@HooksInstitute).
Let us take a moment to remember what this story is about, honoring the sharecroppers of Fayette County who gave everything in their struggle for equality and the right to vote.
What is Sharecropping, and how was it used to continue a system of inequality in the county? University of Memphis film students explain the regressive practice and how it relates to the history of the 1960s Fayette County Civil Rights movement.
View the video at the end of the message.
Please like and share!
Thank you,
Nathaniel Ball
Assistant Director, Hooks Institute
Hooks Institute
Hello "Freedom's Village" team!
We are beginning to pick up momentum with our crowdfunding campaign for "Freedom's Village!" Thank you all for donating to this film about the importance of voting rights told through actual events from the Fayette County Civil Rights Movement.
Through your hard work getting the word out on the film, we have surpassed $3,000!
If you have a moment, please read this excellent article about the film and the campaign written by Alicia Davidson of the Daily Memphian https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/28141/university-of-memphis-hooks-institute-fayette-county-civil-rghts-film-tent-cities
Please continue to share and build awareness of this film with your network so that we can get the critical, little-known story of African American Fayette Countians' struggle for the right to vote made. Your help is essential to that effort!
Thank you for your donations and your hard work!
Nathaniel Ball
Assistant Director, Hooks Institute
Producer, "Freedom's Village"
Hello "Freedom's Village" team!
Through your support, we have reached nearly $2150 to support this important film on the importance of the right to vote told through the story of the Fayette County Civil RIghts movement! Thank you all for your donations and hard work getting the word out about the film.
We will be continuing our campaign to raise funds for this film until May 31! Please spread awareness of this short film to anyone in your network who supports the cause of voting rights and civil rights.
What Inspired Us to make "Freedom's Village?"
Why did we choose the true story of the Fayette County Civil Rights movement as the focus of our film on voting rights? Producers Nathaniel Ball and Marty Lang speak on the importance of the right to vote and how that inspired us to create this film.
What Inspired Us to make "Freedom's Village?" : Producers Speak on the Making of the Film
Thank you,
Nathaniel Ball
Hooks Institute Assistant Director
Producer, "Freedom's Village"
Hello, Freedom's Village team!
We hit the $1,000 mark! Thank you so much for helping us get the word out about our campaign!
Through your donation, we are one step closer to telling this important, untold story about voting rights and the importance of fighting to preserve them!
Keep sharing with your network and help us get to $2,000 this week!
Today, our video is from University of Memphis students who interviewed Kristen Hill, Freedom's Village screenwriter. in the video, Kristen describes her research into the civil rights movement and how their actions inspired her while writing the film.
Thanks again for all of your hard work!
Nathaniel Ball
Producer, Freedom's Village
Hooks Institute Assistant Director
Hello, Freedom's Village team!
Thanks again for your support. We are nearing $1,000!
As part of this campaign, University of Memphis film students in Marty Lang's Film and Video Production class are diligently working to raise awareness of the film.
See what they have learned working on this crowdfunding project through the attached video!
Help us grow our team! Make sure to share our campaign with your contacts.
Thanks so much for your help! We cannot do this without you!
Nathaniel Ball
Producer, "Freedom's Village"
Assistant Director, Hooks Institute
Hello "Freedom's Village" Team!
The first week of our crowdfunding campaign ends tonight with nearly $800 in donations. Help us get to $1,000 before our first week ends by sharing our campaign with your network. www.memphis.edu/facingdownstorms
We can't tell this inspiring story without your help!
I want to thank everyone for your support of our film "Freedom's Village!" Every little bit helps!
Today we have a video looking at what University of Memphis students know about voting rights in the United States.
Please enjoy help us get this amazing story produced about the importance of fighting for the rights guaranteed by our constitution!
Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign so far!
As part of the campaign, University of Memphis film students are creating videos on the history and importance of voting rights. A main goal of our campaign is to stress the importance and build awareness of voting rights in the United States and how these rights are earned by normal people who made change through their courageous actions!
Help us build more momentum for this film by sharing our crowdfunding page with you network! We can't get this amazing untold story off the ground without your help!
Please share and tell others about our film through social media. They can donate at memphis.edu/freedomsvillage.
Thank you!
Nathaniel Ball
Assistant Director, Hooks Institute
Producer "Freedom's Village"
Thanks to everyone who has donated to "Freedom's Village!"
We are now at 5% percent of our goal at $575!
We still need your help spreading the word about this important untold story on the historical struggle for the rights to vote. Over the next few weeks, UofM students will provide videos to continue our momentum for the campaign.
Please share our campaign with your contacts to grow our list of supporters!
Today (April 4) is the last day to register to vote for the Shelby County, Tennessee primary on May 3! University of Memphis students lead an overview of the requirements to register to vote!
Help us support our film "Freedom's Village" a film about the right to vote based on true events that occurred in Fayette County, Tennessee in the 1960s. Make a tax-deductible donation at memphis.edu/freedomsvillage.
Most importantly, make sure to register to vote!
This Video is Intended as an Overview of the Voter Regustrtation Process and Does Not Necessarily Reflect the Entire Process or Requirements to Register to Vote. For full information on how to resgiter to vote visit VOTE.GOV.
For $5 dollars, you'll receive a “Freedom’s Village, Get Out the Vote" sticker with a link to the campaign, so you can let your friends know you're part of the team!
For $20 dollars, you'll receive a poster for the film, with the names of all the backers on it, as a thank you to everyone who is part of this project.
With a $25 donation, you'll be given a special link to stream the film when it's completed!
For a $35 donation,, you'll receive a downloadable collection of songs used in the movie's soundtrack when the film is completed.
At the $50 level, you'll receive a link to download a documentary about the making of the movie.
At the $75 level, your name will be listed in the special thanks credits of the finished film!
With a donation of $100, you'll be invited to be an extra in the film, scheduled to shoot in summer 2022! (This perk is only the invitation; it is up to the backer whether or not they actually show up to set. Travel, lodging and food are the responsibility of the backer.)
Back this project at the $150 level, and you'll receive a ticket to the Memphis premiere of the film! (Travel, lodging and food are the responsibility of the backer.)
If you back us at the $500 level, you will be given a Crowdfunding Associate Producer credit in the finished film! (This does not give the backer any financial participation in the film.)
If you back us at the $1000 level, you will be given a Crowdfunding Co-Producer credit in the finished film! (This does not give the backer any financial participation in the film.)
If you back us at the $2000 level, you will be given a Crowdfunding Executive Producer credit in the finished film! (This does not give the backer any financial participation in the film.)
