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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrailer - Fred: The Town Dog (a film about struggling small town America)
Hi all! I've directed an upcoming documentary film about Rockford, Alabama's Fred the town dog. This a story about a town that came together to adopt an orphan mutt, but really it's about a lot more - namely the disappearance and economic struggles of small towns - a very pertinent issue for discussion. I'm a local of small town Alabama and currently attending NYU where I'm a senior studying Film & Television production. This is my thesis film and upon completion it will be released to various film festivals and submitted to PBS. Please take a few moments to check out our website for more information and the links below for our trailer and Indiegogo online fundraiser. I'm also including the film's synopsis below. Thanks so much for your time and for everyone's support over the years. I hope you all enjoy the trailer and that is serves as a reminder of the importance of disappearing small town culture and community.
- Ava
http://www.fredthetowndog.com
http://www.indiegogo.com/fredthetowndog
vimeo.com/57376908
About the film:
Rockford is a small town of only 400 residents located in Coosa County, Alabama, where it is the county seat. A small and rural area, everyone here knows everyone, and everyone knows everyone elses business. With a county newspaper that is only published once a week, a local law enforcement of only 2 officers, and a downtown area that consists of only one block, Rockford is in many ways a time capsule. This quintessential southern town has suffered in recent years; many of the towns shops have been forced to close, and meanwhile many of the towns inhabitants have moved away in search of job opportunities.
Yet many characters still live in the town, artists and blue-collar workers alike, and in 1993 when a dirty and disheveled dog named wandered into town, it was these people who took him in and nursed him back to health, naming him Fred the town dog. Fred was a beloved member of the community for many years before passing away on December 23, 2002, but not before befriending many of the townspeople. Fred will be a film about this small town and its adoption of a new friend, exploring his relationships and the effect he had on both individuals and the community as a whole.
Through Fred and the time he shared with the people of Rockford, Alabama, we will gain insight into the individuals who cared for him while exploring the towns narrative specifically the narrative of an increasingly deserted area on the verge of becoming another southern ghost town. A large theme of this film will be the desire for companionship, which Fred met, and the fear of abandonment and loneliness. We will explore exactly what Fred meant to the individuals who cared for him and why they were so willing to care for a dog that showed up as nothing more than a dirty mutt.
GoneOffShore
(17,340 posts)Glad you posted it here as well.
Ava
(16,197 posts)Glad you liked the trailer!
Bozita
(26,955 posts)Fascinating topic. Can't wait to see the entire work.
DBoon
(22,366 posts)We become human through our dogs
I lost my beloved Tucker a couple of months back and my sweet kitty hummus only a couple of weeks ago. I miss them both dearly. They truly were family, not just "pets"
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)"After twenty years he still grieves ..." Mr. Bojangles
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)xchrom
(108,903 posts)smokey nj
(43,853 posts)we'll edit for a couple of months, but will begin submitting it to festivals immediately after
Long time no see.
Hope all is going well.
Butch
Long time no see indeed! How are you?
Probably doing better than I deserve.
Mom and family OK?
Ava
(16,197 posts)Mom is staying busy as my little sisters grow up. It's so weird how much bigger they are every time I go home!
LWolf
(46,179 posts)Of course, as a dog lover and a small town lover, I'm easy.
I'd love to find a way to revitalize small towns while keeping them small.
i'm an animal love too, it's part of what attracted me to the story
derby378
(30,252 posts)Some small towns, despite their best efforts, are abandoned and turn into ghost towns. I explore some of these when I get the chance, and I document what I find here:
http://texasghosttowns.blogspot.com
So far, I've only visited ghost towns in Texas, but one of these days...
Ava
(16,197 posts)It's really sad what has happened to some small towns.
I really love the first photo from Gilliland Knox County btw. Great job!
hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)Wish the CONCEPT would be something that larger cities could adopt. I see a lot of animal abuse where I live.
Best of luck with the project.
And...as a rescuer myself, I have to mention that it would have been great if the town had arranged to get Fred neutered. I'll just settle myself by envisioning that "his girlfriends" were merely platonic in nature!
Ava
(16,197 posts)His "girlfriends" were more his pals, haha
hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)Thanks for clearing that up!
Wish more communities cared about the "Fred's" of the world, and happy to know that this town came together for their little guy.
Tikki
(14,557 posts)You truly make a difference.
Tikki
greytdemocrat
(3,299 posts)Do films like that cost a lot to create and produce???
Ava
(16,197 posts)just the cost of flying the crew down and paying for everyone's food, room and board, etc is a decent chunk of change!
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)and congrats!!
Ava
(16,197 posts)But filming went really well and we have a lot of great material to work with!
BeHereNow
(17,162 posts)I do hope you are entering it in every doc competition on the planet-
As well as protecting your rights behind the idea/story with the WGA!
I smell movie offers for the right to make a movie based on your doc!
PROTECT it NOW!
BHN
i will be submitting it to various festivals!
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)deutsey
(20,166 posts)I look forward to seeing the entire film!
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Love the concept, so I'm sure I'll love the execution too! Thank you.
Ava
(16,197 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)been a while. Hope the world is treating you ok.
Ava
(16,197 posts)how are you?
I'm keeping busy