For 4 plus years now our team has been immersed in the grant writing process for our film. One component that is often included in these grants are letters of commitment from our team. Each time we check over these letters to include in our grant packets, we are reminded why we must keep pushing forward in this long and often hard process of finishing our film. This story and the people behind it have captured the hearts of so many people. Inspired by the perseverance and hope that these filmmakers poses, they have committed to a journey with us until the end. We wanted to share with you one such letter. This letter comes from our 23 year old Production Assistant.
Thank you to all of you who have followed us on our journey to finish this film. No matter the size of your involvement, your commitment and care for this film is why we push on.
To Whom It May Concern:
I began working with Film Festival: Rwanda around the time they launched their Kickstarter campaign in May 2010. I had heard, from many different people, about a woman in Seattle making a documentary about filmmakers in Rwanda who were using the power of story to heal after the horrific genocide. I had recently graduated with a degree in Digital Technology and Culture, studying the interaction of our culture and the technology which drives it. This project was up my alley to say the least. I contacted Leah and we hit it off immediately. She sent me some footage of the film and the moment I saw the faces behind this story I was hooked. There was never a question, I had to be involved with this project and I have not stopped since.
I have been working for Leah since the first day we spoke. I manage our social media outlets, working hand in hand with her on public outreach and audience engagement. I have also helped with fundraising, research, subtitling and editing assistance. This is more than a job to me. It is more than a project I love. It is everything. Words cannot describe the connection I feel to the individuals featured in our film and as well as to the common human experience that they represent. Though their triumph comes from a deeper suffering than many of us will ever know, we are all looking for our voice in this world. I believe with all my heart that this story of hope cannot go untold.
It has been a joy to have the privilege of helping Leah share our project with the public through social media. It has been magical to watch the way people have fallen in love with this story and have become so invested in our quest to finance this film. The support of our community of followers has been incredible and is a testament of what this story means to so many people.
I am committed to the completion of this film and I will be giving all my time and effort to this project until the end. I am filled with confidence not only that this team is capable of completing this film, but that this story is capable of touching the world.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Aly Schoonover
