Help us get to Hollywood!

My name is Michael Bunker. We're off-grid plain folk and we're raising money to take a trip to Hollywood. Sound weird? Well, I'm an author, and in 2015 we sold the film/tv option to my Amish/Scifi novel Pennsylvania to a Hollywood Producer ! It's been nearly four years, but now things are starting to happen! This past spring, Patrick Tatopoulos , one of the most legendary Production Designers in all of film (Stargate, Godzilla, the 300, Independence Day, Justice League, Underworld,) attached to direct the film, and Pennsylvania will be a major motion picture! We could not be more excited. Patrick is the PERFECT director for this movie. Things are starting to roll, and now they are casting and have already secured some of the financing.



We live completely off-grid on a small farm in Central Texas. I access the Internet for my writing, research, and social media platform work at a solar powered office about a hundred yards from my cottage.

The producer of the film has been so gracious and kind to us, and has kept us involved every step of the way. Whether the film was being pitched at Sundance or Cannes, we were always informed of what is happening in the process. We've even been allowed to read the scripts as the project develops! So, the film is really starting to happen, and it's time for us to take a visit out to Hollywood to meet the team that is making the picture happen.

But here's the deal...

The way that these deals are structured, the author of the original work on which a major motion picture is based usually doesn't get paid until the film is actually being filmed. That can take years (it has taken years!) but the end is in sight! But we don't have the money to travel (and to do all the things that would need to be done for us to travel,) and we'd hate to miss this opportunity to meet the team that's making the film AND have some input while it is in the pre-production stages. That's where we could use your help...

Where the money will go...

Pre-trip expenses will involve us buying some clothing for our trip (all of our clothes are either hand-made, or are thrift store clothes - mostly ripped and torn, but comfortable! We'll also make preparations around the farm for us being gone for up to a few weeks.

Trip expenses... we will be renting a vehicle for the trip. We have a vehicle but it is old and not very trustworthy. Wouldn't like to take it a few thousand miles through the deserts of the southwest. We will also be visiting some folks along the way, so there will be motels and food expenses for the trip.

Staying in Hollywood... Don't have any idea what this will cost, but we hope to be prepared to stay from a few days to a week. We'll also have food and expenses during our stay. We have some other meetups and meetings that are in the beginning stages. These could be exciting and I will report it all to you as it happens!

And then the return home!

NOTE: You are NOT donating to the film or to film production. This fundraiser is to finance the trip for Michael and Danielle to go to Hollywood. Thanks!

We hope to make plans and reservations as soon as possible. Hopefully in the next week to ten days.

My wife has been so supportive for our 27 years of marriage, even through the writing of these books and now this Hollywood craziness! It would mean so much to me (and to us) to take this trip together and to participate as the film version of my novel comes to life! We are so thankful to anyone who helps, and our grateful for the opportunity to represent all our friends, fellow authors, and other aspiring creatives who share this dream!

Michael and Danielle Bunker