The Doctor's Case has already been adapted from Stephen King short story into a film script (with King's permission and the aid of his Dollar Baby filmmaking program).
It has already been cast. It has already been shot. The raw footage is waiting for the pivotal editing process. In fact, "post-production" is the most complex and professionally exhilarating part of making a movie, if you are an auteur. It's like forming all the letters in your Scrabble hand into the words that'll win the game.
The Doctor's Case has reached this point. A fundraising campaign is underway to get the all-local production over the finish line.
"We are still crowdfunding for post production to make it the best possible film. We are grateful for any support," said co-producer Norm Coyne. "We've gone and shot the movie of our lives. Now we need a little help with post-production expenses in order to complete The Doctor's Case - Movie and show it (for free) to our supporters, friends, and non-profit festival audiences."
That free viewing is why the post-production money is so important. The Dollar Baby program allows for the making of movies using Stephen King stories, for the licensing fee of $1, but it cannot be a film that makes commercial money. In other words, it must be a not-for-profit venture so the art is served, not the pockets of investment speculators. But that means few traditional sponsors are available.
The Doctor's Case is in need of contributions from those who believe in their filmmaking skills and their artistic integrity. They've done their best to prove themselves by going so far as to actually shoot the movie. It's done. The trailer can be watched now on the project's website, Facebook page, YouTube and at the fundraising portal indiegogo.com .
Pledges start at $2.
This production was conceived of and led by director James Douglas (with co-direction by Len Pearl), the actor and writer who is also one of the leading managers of Barkerville Historic Town. Barkerville is one of the locations used in filming, as are historically significant facilities at Craigdarroch Castle and Emily Carr House. The story is King's homage to Sherlock Holmes, so these locations vividly conjure the look and atmosphere of the Holmes era as originally created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Douglas film stars such luminous actors as Denise Crosby (Ray Donovan, Southland, Pet Sematary, and Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation), William B. Davis (founder of the namesake actors' school, The Smoking Man on The X-Files) and Michael Coleman (Millennium, Smallville, Supernatural and Happy on Once Upon A Time) in the starring role as the young Dr. Watson.
Much of the talent involved - on screen and behind the scenes - came from the Cariboo region, most notably Barkerville actor J.P. Winslow as the young Sherlock Holmes and music composition by 108 Mile House performer-producer Ken 'Hiwatt' Marshall and Prince George singer-songwriter Jer Breaks.
"Should we raise more than our goal of $35,000 (by the indiegogo deadline), there are a slew of additional visual effects and touch-ups that can be done to make the film even more brilliant, but with $35,000 we can finish the film that we have, and be immensely proud of it, and so will you," said Douglas.
Those who contribute will be eligible for graduated levels of gift items in return for financial support. The campaign ends within the next week.
