| Documentary Film Project |
Dear Friends, Supporters and Contributors:
I want to let you know about this exciting and important documentary project that I am
currently working on with 89-Second Productions.
As many of you know, the ninth anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard passed in
October of 2007. Matthew's murder has made a huge mark on our country's landscape,
and has propelled many Gay Americans, their families and loved ones to get proactive
about LGBTQ rights through their own efforts, and through organizations such as the
Matthew Shepard Foundation. As we head towards the 10th year commemoration of this
tragic event, we began filming a short documentary in and around Laramie, Wyoming the
first part of November, 2007. This was to document how Matthew's murder has
influenced ordinary people, like myself, a LGBTQ Advocate, to do extraordinary things
with their lives, and to show how it has affected the country on a larger scale with regards
to such issues as the introduction of hate crime legislation. I am very happy to be working
with Ryan Kipp, Creative Director of 89-Second Productions. I've known Ryan since high
school, where I was his first acting coach in West Side Story! Ryan played Tony.
By now you all know that I travel the country and lecture about hate, why people join hate
groups, coming out, community and diversity. I also lecture to many schools about Matt's
murder as I have visited Laramie.
On November 2, 2007, 89-Second Productions (www.89-second.com) and I teamed up
for this documentary film venture. We began filming in Denver, Colorado on November 2,
2007 and then traveled to Laramie, WY. It was an amazing shoot and so many great
people helped us out. We met and interviewed several people in Laramie that will give
film watchers a newer and moving experience about Laramie and Matthew Shepard. . It
was an amazing start to this documentary journey. Since then we have traveled to film in
Boston, MA, Albany, NY, Laramie, WY, (a second time) and soon to Oxnard, CA Our film
will attempt to tackle issues that have been brought to light by Matthew's murder, such as
the need for hate-crime legislation and the general affect this tragedy has had on
people's lives. I believe this film will be a life-changing event for those involved and who
will see it. Our goal is to premiere the film at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, followed
by a Q & A in later 2008. There are also plans to submit it to a variety of film festivals.
As the months pass, we have much more filming to do.
Of course, this project will require financing. And that's where you can contribute to the
project. Fortunately, many of the costs will be cut in half because we will be providing the
labor and post production work from our studio in New York, so all donations will be spent
on DVD and other format copies, film festival fees, press-packets; the list goes on. We
would like to offer all of you the opportunity to get involved. If you would like to help
financially support this effort in any amount - large or small - we would greatly appreciate
it. As a public show of your support, you will receive a credit in the thank you portion of
our film. In addition, you will know that you contributed to a project that seeks to
enlighten, educate and preserve the life, death and after-effects of Matthew Shepard.
Thank you so much for your time in reading this and I hope to speak to all of you soon!
If you'd like to contribute to this film, read the following information:
Checks should be made payable to Greg Baird, Ryan Kipp, or Jennifer Tuttle, (This
is required for tax reasons, 89 Second Productions, Inc. will be credited afterwards)
Please make sure you include the following:
Please print the information below and send with your donation.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
E-mail address:
Donation Amount:
The address to send your donations is as follows:
Greg Baird
606 W. Cornelia #372
Chicago, Illinois 60657
or
Ryan Kipp or Jennifer Tuttle
2134 29th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
A receipt of your donation will be e-mailed to you for your records. Updates on the
progress of the film and when it will premiere will be e-mailed to you and posted on here
at northernvoice.com and 89-second.com.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Greg R. Baird
LGBTQ College and University Lecturer & Advocate
northernvoice@hotmail.com
www.northernvoice.com
Ryan Kipp
Creative Director
89 Second Productions, Inc.
917.763.9650
ryan@89-second.com
www.89-second.com
I want to let you know about this exciting and important documentary project that I am
currently working on with 89-Second Productions.
As many of you know, the ninth anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard passed in
October of 2007. Matthew's murder has made a huge mark on our country's landscape,
and has propelled many Gay Americans, their families and loved ones to get proactive
about LGBTQ rights through their own efforts, and through organizations such as the
Matthew Shepard Foundation. As we head towards the 10th year commemoration of this
tragic event, we began filming a short documentary in and around Laramie, Wyoming the
first part of November, 2007. This was to document how Matthew's murder has
influenced ordinary people, like myself, a LGBTQ Advocate, to do extraordinary things
with their lives, and to show how it has affected the country on a larger scale with regards
to such issues as the introduction of hate crime legislation. I am very happy to be working
with Ryan Kipp, Creative Director of 89-Second Productions. I've known Ryan since high
school, where I was his first acting coach in West Side Story! Ryan played Tony.
By now you all know that I travel the country and lecture about hate, why people join hate
groups, coming out, community and diversity. I also lecture to many schools about Matt's
murder as I have visited Laramie.
On November 2, 2007, 89-Second Productions (www.89-second.com) and I teamed up
for this documentary film venture. We began filming in Denver, Colorado on November 2,
2007 and then traveled to Laramie, WY. It was an amazing shoot and so many great
people helped us out. We met and interviewed several people in Laramie that will give
film watchers a newer and moving experience about Laramie and Matthew Shepard. . It
was an amazing start to this documentary journey. Since then we have traveled to film in
Boston, MA, Albany, NY, Laramie, WY, (a second time) and soon to Oxnard, CA Our film
will attempt to tackle issues that have been brought to light by Matthew's murder, such as
the need for hate-crime legislation and the general affect this tragedy has had on
people's lives. I believe this film will be a life-changing event for those involved and who
will see it. Our goal is to premiere the film at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, followed
by a Q & A in later 2008. There are also plans to submit it to a variety of film festivals.
As the months pass, we have much more filming to do.
Of course, this project will require financing. And that's where you can contribute to the
project. Fortunately, many of the costs will be cut in half because we will be providing the
labor and post production work from our studio in New York, so all donations will be spent
on DVD and other format copies, film festival fees, press-packets; the list goes on. We
would like to offer all of you the opportunity to get involved. If you would like to help
financially support this effort in any amount - large or small - we would greatly appreciate
it. As a public show of your support, you will receive a credit in the thank you portion of
our film. In addition, you will know that you contributed to a project that seeks to
enlighten, educate and preserve the life, death and after-effects of Matthew Shepard.
Thank you so much for your time in reading this and I hope to speak to all of you soon!
If you'd like to contribute to this film, read the following information:
Checks should be made payable to Greg Baird, Ryan Kipp, or Jennifer Tuttle, (This
is required for tax reasons, 89 Second Productions, Inc. will be credited afterwards)
Please make sure you include the following:
Please print the information below and send with your donation.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
E-mail address:
Donation Amount:
The address to send your donations is as follows:
Greg Baird
606 W. Cornelia #372
Chicago, Illinois 60657
or
Ryan Kipp or Jennifer Tuttle
2134 29th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
A receipt of your donation will be e-mailed to you for your records. Updates on the
progress of the film and when it will premiere will be e-mailed to you and posted on here
at northernvoice.com and 89-second.com.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Greg R. Baird
LGBTQ College and University Lecturer & Advocate
northernvoice@hotmail.com
www.northernvoice.com
Ryan Kipp
Creative Director
89 Second Productions, Inc.
917.763.9650
ryan@89-second.com
www.89-second.com
| Check out pictures from our film shoot below! |
| Documentary Film Shoot Pictures |
| This was the view from our SUV travelling between Fort Collins, CO and Laramie, WY |
| Valley between Fort Collins, Co and Laramie, WY This was such a beautiful area full of mountains and prairies. |
| Ryan from 89-Second Productions filming as we arrive in Laramie,WY |
| Rocky hillside on the way to Laramie, WY |
| Rock formation on our way to Laramie |
| Jim Osborn, our waiter Matt, who we eventually interviewed, and myself at Dinner in Laramie on our first night |