Dear Friends, Family and Current Mom readers,
This is a request, but not for money – please keep reading to see how you can help.
As most of you know, I am a storyteller. There is one story I have told many times over in the past 15 years, which is among the saddest stories of my life.
I had a baby son. His name was Ari Joshua Stern. He was born on March 5, 1998, and he died on March 10, 1998. The four months I spent on bed rest leading up to his birth and the many months and years I have spent mourning, grieving and trying to give voice to that experience have been one of the defining pieces of my life.
A few months ago, I was reading a blog and it had a link to something that caught my eye – a movie that was being made called “Return to Zero.” It stars Minnie Driver, Paul Adelstein, Alfred Molina and Kathy Baker in a story about a couple facing a stillbirth. It is, according to the filmmakers, the first film ever made about stillbirth and its effects on those who go through it.
Although my birth and neonatal death experience was slightly different, I was still so moved that this film was being made that I joined a Kickstarter campaign to help the filmmakers finish their work and submit the movie to festivals.
I contributed financially to make “Return to Zero” a reality because I know how hard it is to tell these stories. I know how important it is to tell these stories. And I know how hard it is to hear these stories.
But I have long been dedicated to telling my story because it helps me heal, and it helps the world understand how better to respond.
I decided to take my contribution one step farther, and I have just signed up to be a Local Leader in the “Return to Zero” Kickstarter campaign.
This is where you come in.
Films like “Return to Zero” do not have an easy time making it to the screen. Even after the money has been raised and the final edits have been made, the filmmakers are in the unenviable position of having to convince the studios and the theaters that it is worth their while to screen the movie.
As a Local Leader, I have committed to getting 100 people to sign a pledge form stating that they will commit to seeing “Return to Zero” opening weekend. Over 1,600 people around the world have signed on as Local Leaders; if we all collect 100 pledges, we have a worldwide commitment from over 150,000 people who would come out to see this important movie on its opening weekend.
It’s not a blockbuster number, to be sure, but it’s enough to make the statement that you, like I, believe that a movie like “Return to Zero” has an important story to tell – one that affects all of us, in our lives, our relationships and our communities.
Please sign the pledge form for “Return to Zero.” I promise that there will be no follow-up fundraising ask, just a request that you help raise our voices for the premiere of this film.
Here is a link to the English version of the pledge form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HqU43R7iij8WJt1bavZkmjhmPdci56qakUUKt2VfvWg/viewform?pli=1&utm_source=RTZ+LOCAL+LEADERS&utm_campaign=b1904ed953-Return_To_Zero_Update12_15_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e00bb4db83-b1904ed953-324495681
And if you’re interested in learning more about “Return to Zero,” click here:
http://www.returntozerothemovie.com/filmmaker.php
Thank you in advance for your willingness to bring “Return to Zero” to your community.
Karen
Done.
Posted by: Carol Feder | Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 06:28 PM