Hello friends! Happy 2023!
I wanted to share an update on our Kilimanjaro film. Just before Christmas, we saw the first edit of the film! Our talented filmmakers have taken 35 hours plus footage and condensed it to a very compelling 1.5 hour viewing.
Over Spring it’s going to be in post-production, with the music added and all colour graded (I sound like I know what I am talking about lol!) We plan to release it in summer either at a film festival or at a screening whilst negotiating which platform it can be streamed on.
To reach this stage of this film has been extremely difficult and challenging to say the least.
Some of those challenges I had envisaged. I knew that when we came back from Kilimanjaro, we had a shortfall of £30,000 to meet. And I knew that the economic situation had changed which meant that it would be difficult to raise that money.
The first thing I did was to revise the budget. Having gone through it with our director, Rehmat, we decided we could reduce it by £10,000 that had been allocated for contingency. This meant there was no wiggle room for over spend but we had to make tough decisions.
That left us with a shortfall of £20,000. I have been speaking to sponsors and individuals to help reduce the shortfall and while the conversations have been insightful there has been nothing immediately forthcoming.
In late November the seed was planted to organise a fundraising event to meet the shortfall. Moving Mountains Summit is taking place on 1st February, a one-day business training and conference for female founders who want to discover a blueprint for generating six figure recurring revenue, growing to a million impressions in one quarter and empowering your personal brand to accelerate your business. This is exactly what I have done with AWMB.
I was so touched when all the speakers (who normally charge thousands!) agreed to speak for free so that 100% of the proceeds can go towards the film (and of course our venue costs). We have managed to raise £10,000 and now have £10,000 left to raise.
I had embarked on this film venture with the valued support, encouragement and committed backing of the team of women partaking in this epic mission. I would never have signed such a huge undertaking making me personally responsible for the whole film budget without this. I had been assured of support and commitment to fundraise and make this film a success. With the best will in the world, what I had not envisaged was how much some of the personal relationships would change within the group, which has subsequently led to two women pulling out from the film. And not only pulling out from the film but pulling their support with the fundraising of the film and ghosting me.
To say it has been a difficult situation is an underestimation.
I’ve been navigating my sense of bewilderment, anger, disappointment, frustration and pure devastation at the actions of some individuals who throughout the process had full transparency of the filming journey and its requirements as well as costs. I wish I could tell you the departure was amicable and that I understood the reasons behind the complete 180 degree turn, but the truth is, despite my attempts at communication, they have decided not to share their reasons with me. Anyone who knows me, also knows how highly I value integrity and honesty, therefore, such actions have had me truly perplexed.
There was a moment when I had considered whether we could park the film and just give time to let the dust settle, but it quickly became evident that they had made their decision and I had a choice to make.
Crunch time.
Do I push on or park the film? Could I walk away from it just as they have?
But I decided to push on.
I have a strong sense of obligation and duty to the community, to the Sangat, to you, who have helped raised the money and we must honour the commitment that we made.
And so we continued. The film is beautiful. I and those who are part of it have seen it. And at The Moving Mountains event I will be showing an exclusive 3-minute screening to all attendees before dinner. I will also be able to share with you some of the challenges I faced and the techniques I needed to implement to overcome the obstacles and how to continue with a venture despite the difficulties or deliberate attempts to de-rail.
The 4.5 months since returning from Kilimanjaro have tested me in a way that I haven’t experienced. I have questioned my judgement, my sanity and what has happened with my therapist, my parents, my husband and inner circle. They are all as bewildered as I am. It has been professionally the hardest situation to navigate and personally I am heartbroken.
But as I often say “It is what it is, we are where we are…let’s push on.”
Thank you for your support and encouragement it really has meant the world to me. Doing what is right and not what’s easy is really important to me, and whilst the more difficult path may be more challenging, it will be more rewarding in the end because taking risks and making difficult decisions are essential components of a successful life.
Rupinder
