A film about the insanity of gun violence..

I'm Brad Mays, and I'm an indie filmmaker. Over the past couple of decades, I've made a good number of feature films, both narrative and documentary, plus many short and music videos. Now that I'm in my late sixties, I'd like to do something topical, something that needs to be done. So, over the past eight months I've been writing a screenplay designed to take on the issues of gun violence and radical right politics in America. Over the summer, I intend to cast and schedule the production of this film, entitled "The Prepared Mind." The donated funds I am seeking here will be used to get the film off the ground, and ever penny will be used for that purpose.

Here is a synopsis of the story:

Taking a hiatus from his position as a university professor, Nathan Salt is trying his hand at photography while he sorts things out. He has also begun a new relationship with the owner of a local bookstore, Betty Fable. One aspect of Nathan's down time is embracing the concept of ignorance as a possible scientific tool, a sort of zen approach to problem solving. Meanwhile, a local boy - Brian Loomis - is experiencing an existential crisis of his own. To his family and teachers, he seems to be descending into the society of white supremacists; some are even starting to suspect he may be on the path to a mass shooting. Brian's mother, Nancy Loomis, is about to undergo an out-of-state cancer treatment, necessitating the arrival of her own mother, Sandy Beechman, to oversee Brian. Meanwhile, a ragtag trio of while nationalists - Kong, Chief and Driver - plot to make a stand for white power, much to the chagrin of Burt, the wealthy and elusive man seeking to legitimize their organization. And then there is Jet, a classmate of Brian's, who has taken a romantic interest in him. As Brian digs himself ever deeper into the rabbit hole of white supremacy and their obsession with firearms and fascist politics, Nathan works out an approach asking the "right questions," which may (or may not) avert a catastrophe.

With over 19 directing credits listed on the IMDb, plus 36 editing credits and 14 for cinematography, I have a wealth of experience. Plus - and this is significant - I own all the professional equipment needed to make this film. At 67 years of age, I am dead serious about getting this project finished and out to the public, where it's themes need to be heard. I am seeking like-minded people who are motivated to do something about the gun insanity in our nation.

The $60,000 amount I am seeking here is to get this film off the ground. I have access to additional funds to ensure completion.

I think I should add here that I based my research for this film on the books "Newtown - An American Tragedy," by Mathew Lysiak, and "Ignorance: How It Drives Science," by Stuart Firestein, among others. I also spent a great deal of time on various websites of the far right, as well as many devoted to gun ownership, and Second Amendment issues.

During the few days since I first presented this fundraiser, I have been met with considerable online hostility, way beyond anything I would have reasonably expected. I've had to remove several posts from Facebook, so vituperative were the attacks. If anyone out there has any ideas about where I might go to pitch this project, I'd be forever in your debt.

Please check out my page on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Mays

Or go to my IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0563058/