THE MOVIE
Help us bring this very special and poignant film to life – one that will give hope to those and their families that walk through the darkest of times. With the link below you can give tax deductible gifts to the film’s account at NCF. If you’re a foundation, or have a large gift, please read below for other options.
You can also read below to find out about our plans for the movie and how you can get involved through giving, sponsorship, investment, or simply as someone who wants to see more content that gives hope in these times.
OVERVIEW
The initial phase of this project entails the creation of development materials for the film. Although there will be dark moments, “Hope in the Dark” will show how Troy inspired many in his short life and the amazing result he had on the world around him, as well as address the issues he faced with addiction. The goal is for audiences to leave the movie theater filled with hope, peace, and faith.
On this page we will detail how the project will be developed, the costs involved, and where help is needed. The development phase includes writing of the screenplay, the creation of a website, setting up the funding mechanisms for donors and investors, and get the word out by working with a social media marketing company to bring awareness of the film.
SCREENPLAY
The first step in the screenplay process will be to develop an outline of the movie from scene to scene. Great care will be taken to reflect the accuracy of Troy’s life and events (see the bottom of this page for a brief story summary). Some moments and characters may be combined where necessary for the sake of expediency to create a quality movie that will attract name actors and audiences.
Once the outline is approved the screenplay writing will begin. This will be done by a professional published screenwriter (and filmmaker) Shawn Justice. Shawn has turned previous real-life stories into films, including the ‘based on a true story’ film A MURDER OF INNOCENCE. Shawn has won awards for his filmmaking and screenwriting. He has agreed to defer most of the pay as screenplays for films are a minimum of $55K in the 2–3 million-dollar range. From this screenplay scenes would be chosen to create the optional trailer or excerpts as discussed below.
WEBSITE CREATION
The website would be developed to tell the public about the film and encourage them to get involved as a donor, investor, or fan (to help promote it). As time goes on the site would change to talk more about the film in production and then the release of the film. Other video and photo content would be added over time, including trailers, where to see the film, and eventually where to buy it.
This budget for this would also include the creation of project/movie pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram where the content and videos/photos would be posted. The fee would cover the creation of the site for funding and development purposes. Additional fees would be required to develop and maintain the site from the main budget of the film.
PROMO CONTENT – INTERVIEW SEGMENTS
Two to three documentary style videos would be developed and produced to help people understand Troy’s story, the project and how people can support the making of it as a donor or investor (the ‘ask’), and the production methods and approach to creating a high-quality film (bringing credibility to those involved in the project).
These 5-10 minutes pieces would include historical photos and video of Troy. In addition, there may also be photos and video from Shawn’s previous projects to lend credibility. Finally, it may include behind the scenes footage from the narrative promo scenes shot for the project as described below.
The idea of these video segments would be to help those visiting the site, and other places where they are shown, such as Facebook and YouTube, to understand the project and the ‘ask’.
EXAMPLE OF AN INTERVIEW SEGMENT FROM JUSTICE PICTURES
EXAMPLE OF A NARRATIVE SEGMENT/TRAILER FROM JUSTICE PICTURES
PROMO CONTENT – NARRATIVE SEGMENTS
In addition to the documentary style videos, segments of the screenplay will be produced on a small scale to give the interested investor/donor a feel or flavor of what is intended for the movie. This could also be built into a teaser/trailer.
Actors would be hired and a crew to accomplish this. These may or may not be the actors that end up in the eventual film. Justice Pictures would look at the resources available in both its hometown of Vancouver, Washington (where it has shot five previous feature films), as we as Hopewell, Virginia to determine where to shoot these segments.
The scenes/segments may be stand alone, as well as integrated into the documentary style segments. If the funding raised for the development phase supports it, the narrative segments could be shot the same time as the documentary style segments in Hopewell.
FUNDING MECHANISM SETUP
The plan is to fund the films budget utilizing multiple methods. These include a crowd investing site for investors such as Angel Studios or Slated. It will depend on who provides the best rates and options. These organizations, for a small percentage, take care of the SEC paperwork and flings.
Secondly, at some point, a crowd funding Kickstarter campaign or campaigns will be initiated. This will help raise money through giving to various stages of the production of the film. Although this does not raise large dollars, the main reason is for market exposure.
An account has already been set up with the National Christian Foundation allowing people to donate to the project. Both NCF and The Impact Foundation are not-for-profit and tax-deductible organizations who handle all paperwork with the IRS and donors. It might be noted that many faith-based film and television projects have utilized these organizations, including The Chosen series.
The difference between the two organizations is that the National Christian Foundation takes in smaller donor amounts that add up collectively, much like a checking account. These funds would be transferred to an account at the Impact Foundation. The Impact Foundation account would then be directed to provide a forgivable loan to the LLC for the film with the condition that the film be completed.
Larger donors or foundations may wish to establish their own accounts at Impact and arrange to ‘invest’ or loan the LLC funds through their managed account. Any revenue going back to Impact in shared profit percentage, if that is the choice by the donor/foundation to receive, will be up to the manager of that Impact account.
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH
Justice Pictures will outsource this service to a company like Fearless Influence or Front Gate Media. They have many of the email lists and knowledge of how to reach the faith audience. This first development phase would be to make people aware of the project. The second stage will be to encourage them to get involved; donating, giving, or investing.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED NOW
This development phase seeks to raise a total of $50K to cover initial costs and sets up the mechanism to raise the full budget of shooting and producing HOPE IN THE DARK. The detail of the development phase budget is as follows.
| Screenplay | $15,000 |
| Website Creation | $3,000 |
| Promo Content – Interviews | $5,000 |
| Promo Content – Narrative | $10,000 |
| Funding Mechanism Setup | $5,000 |
| Social Media Outreach | $10,000 |
| Legal/Other | $2,000 |
| Total | $50,000 |
Not all of the development costs have to be raised up front, but can be done in stages. For instance, the first phase of the development is writing of the screenplay. If the funds come in for this then the writing can begin while other funds are being sought. In regards the raising the funds for the production of the film itself the goal will be 2-3 million dollars. If more is raised it will allow Justice Pictures to hire even more well-known actors and create an even higher quality project. It would be ideal to start shooting in the Spring of 2023.
You can help support the development phase of HOPE IN THE DARK through our giving link to the right at the National Christian Foundation. If you are interested in investing through our crowd investing platform once we are setup please email us using the address below. You can also become a sponsor where your company logo would appear on various promotional materials, website and even as possible product placement in the film itself. If you are a foundation or larger donor that would like to give/invest through the Impact Foundation please contact us and we will be happy to work with you, walking you through the process. Contact Info: 360-334-6957 or hopeinthedark@justicepictures.com.
TROY’S STORY
Troy was an All-American kid that loved life. His heart was so big it didn’t fit in his chest. His life changed forever his senior year when he was in a car accident. This began a 12-year horrific journey of ups and downs. Troy never lost his faith. During this journey Troy helped as many people as he could. Troy planted seeds of hope and faith throughout his journal. He never gave up hope and planted so many seeds before his death at age 31.
This film is filled with tragic events, hope, and the love of our Savior Jesus Christ. This film is for everyone, people with substance abuse, families that have or had someone with addiction, and everyone who needs to learn about this particular mental illness. We need to take the stigma out of addiction. We need to help. Drugs are the number one killer in America.
Troy died working as an informant ingesting illegal drugs he was forced to purchase. He died instantly and was found in a praying position. Sadly, the police invaded his memorial service instead of waiting to arrest a man for child support. That’s one of the last things Troy’s mother, Donna, remembers about her son as the police escort his best friend in shackles and handcuffs up the aisle to see her son laying in a casket.
After his death Troy continues to impact others. Daily people are touched by what he did and the battle he fought so hard. His writings and love of life live on. Those who knew Troy remember him for his big heart and love of family. Family meant everything to Troy as he almost never missed a single-family event – big or small. If there was a family barbecue, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, wedding, the annual family week at White Lake, or any family gathering, you could always count on Troy being there. With his big heart and smile Troy keenly felt others happiness, pain, and sorrow. When others hurt Troy hurt. He gave to others even when he had a little or nothing to give. Troy loved the Lord and he often quoted the Lords words, because our Lord made more sense than anything on or of this earth. Troy was a born-again Christian.
Troy is with the Lord in paradise, and those who love him so dearly they miss him like crazy, but they know they will see him again and rejoice. Troy will be loved and remembered by his family, his mama, daddy, brothers, and all; until they join him in heaven.
—
It was a Sunday afternoon at the tennis courts when tragedy struck. Leaving the tennis courts Troy was run over by friends as they were horse-playing. This changed Troy’s life forever. Med flighted to MCV hospital and being on Pain pills for over a year and suddenly cut off. It was too late. Troy had come addicted to Opiates. Hiding this secret from his family and friends until he could no longer hide the pain, disappointment, embarrassment, and this horrific addiction finally came to the surface after confessing to his mother and asking for help.
Everyone is affected by this disease. It’s not just them, but your entire life changes as well. This film will be compelling, demonstrating the life of someone with Substance Abuse Disorder. Tragically Troy lost his battle with addiction like many. Drugs are the number one killer in America.
This film will be filled with Hope, Faith, and Love. This film will help take the stigma out of Addiction. This film will show the daily struggles of addiction and the corrupt system that keeps people with this horrible disease on a vicious Merry-go-round! This film will give hope to the hopeless. This film will help families heal. This film will bring light to anyone that doesn’t know about Substance Abuse Disorder. This film will bring light to where addiction started and how it continues today.
Ultimately this film will show God’s grace.
Buy Donna’s new book, “You’re Not the Boss of Me, God is!” From having it all, to addiction, to healing, only be forced back into addiction by police to become a confidential informant. Click on the LINK HERE.
