Philadelphia, PA - Writer James Papa and his production team have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to allow them to create “Ray of Hope,” a short film about generosity and encouraging people to pay it forward.

The team is seeking to raise $20,000 by March 14. They plan to shoot the film during the spring and have it ready for releases at film festivals during summer 2016.

“’Ray Of Hope’ is about change and helping others,” Papa said. “We’re asking for help with our crowdfunding campaign, so that we may share our vision with others and they, too, will pay it forward.”

Papa was inspired to write the film after seeing his mother cry after she saw an image of a New York City police officer give his boots to a homeless man.

“I started to think about paying it forward and random acts of kindness,” he said. “It was then I decided to write this short film to inspire others to pay it forward.”

The film already has a cast set, including Brian Anthony Williams, who is best known for playing Detective Vernon Holley on the HBO series “The Wire.” Williams has appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies, including “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Do No Harm,” “Broad City,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” Williams will play Ray, the lead character.

Also cast are Carol Anne Raffa, who has appeared in “Do No Harm,” “Political Animals” and “House of Cards” among others, as Hope; Nakia Dillard, who has played roles in “The Underground Kings” and “Atlantic City Chronicles,” among others, as Ray’s boss; and newcomer Kyler St. Phard as Monica.

Papa said he and his team, which includes co-producer Tatiana Bacchus and co-director Nic Justice, want to inspire their audience to be more generous.

“It can be as simple as letting someone in front of them at the checkout or helping someone by carrying their groceries,” Papa said. “The main point is that helping others means the people helped will help someone else, and it will spread.”

The campaign is offering rewards for backers at levels ranging from $5 to $3,500. There are rewards for a limited number of backers at higher donations, including a writing evaluation, a script polishing, a one-on-one tutoring session and a one-on-one session with a producer.

For backers who pledge $1,500, there are five associate producer credits. At the $1,750 level backers can be an extra in the film, and at the $2,000 level, backers have the opportunity to spend a day behind the scenes with the cast and crew. A dinner with the cast and crew is the reward at the $2,500 level, and at the $3,500 level, backers have the chance to attend the wrap party and premiere.

More information about the Kickstarter campaign is available at www.kickstarter.com/projects/1755560788/ray-of-hope-film . More information about the film is available at http://rayofhopeshortfilm.com and www.facebook.com/Ray-of-Hope-1468799746679768

Contact:
James Papa
Address: 623 Wiltshire LN, Newtown SQ, PA 19073
Phone: 610.662.6205
Email: [email protected]