Features and Columns

Fund This Film: A Social Issue Gets a Shot of Magical Realism

By  · Published on December 11th, 2014

Damon Colquhoun

Just to be clear, I’m about to suggest you consider giving money to a film project with no recognizable stars, a director you’ve probably never heard of, and a plot that involves zero billionaires who dress up like bats to frighten criminals.

But Damon Colquhoun’s Pixie Dust does involve a superhero of sorts.

The story involves a teenage girl whose mentally ill mother stops taking her medication. It’s a real-life issue that becomes injected with magical realism when the girl discovers a family secret that can save everyone, but that can also potentially kill her. On the face of it, it feels a bit like Pan’s Labyrinth by way of 125th Street, but here’s Colquhoun explaining (and pitching to you) why he wants to make it:

If you’re curious about who Colquhoun is, we posted his short film Transporter a few years ago because it represented a strong piece of independent, thoughtful science fiction wrapped inside an urban thriller.

It’s also an example of the kind of thing he can pull off:

The Pixie Dust IndieGoGo campaign has the usual contribution perks (posters, trips to the set, co-producer credits), although I’d suggest adding some $5 and $10 incentives for the masses. It also lets you read the script for the project, which might further help you decide whether to pull out your wallet.

I haven’t read it yet. More than anything, I’m going with my gut based off of Colquhoun’s passion, the ability he showed with Transporter and a personal soft spot for street-level magical realism. Not to mention the joy of seeing someone try something new. Something that doesn’t look like everything else.

Plus, the plot sounds fascinating, and it manages to explore a concept that isn’t always welcome in movie scripts. If you’re feeling generous and/or looking for an emerging artist to support, Pixie Dust is a great project to get behind.

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Movie stuff at VanityFair, Thrillist, IndieWire, Film School Rejects, and The Broken Projector Podcast@brokenprojector | Writing short stories at Adventitious.