The Pacifist - Documentary Film
Donation protected
Which do you hate more: Taxes or Crowdfunding? yeah, me too.
The Pacifist is a documentary film project about taxes, art and war. Downtown Lynchburg, VA is the backdrop to the story of local hero / criminal Larry Bassett, a man who refused to pay taxes on $1 Million this year as an act of civil disobedience - then wrote letters to his congressmen in order to provoke a response. Instead, he contributes money where he feels his government should be: helping the poor and less fortunate. So far he has handed out over $150,000 to individuals that organizations that make the world a better place. He also supports local artists, buying and collecting works of art from his community and displaying them in his loft above the Riverview Artspace (currently on display in the Craddock-Terry Gallery).
Besides covering Mr. Bassett's personal war tax resistance story, we will will also explore the history of war tax resistance, primarily through talking with the NWTRCC. We plan to examine the numbers in the US military budget, the costs of war, how personal taxes are used to fund wars and what the laws are regarding tax resistance. The film plans to have interviews with the folks from NWTRCC about the philosophy of tax resistance as well as other experts on tax law.
Downtown Lynchburg, VA is an important setting for this film because as one of the areas first residents, he was there before and witnessed it's economic rebirth, has been a patron and hands-on supporter of businesses and projects in the area. He has donated money to churches, museums, health clinics, homeless shelters, food banks and beyond. The film will talk about values and money. and taxes. and war. and art.
- DO YOU OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE OR THE LAW?
- HOW WE USE OUR RESOURCES DISPLAYS OUR VALUES
watch some test interviews here :
https://www.facebook.com/thepacifistfilm/

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
excerpt from a letter to my crew :
We are in a race against time... and possibly the IRS. A month ago today, on tax day 2017, we were introduced to the story of Larry Bassett - a war tax resistor and art collector. Since then we have been rushing pre-production on a documentary film about tax resistance, civil disobedience, the costs of war, and local art. It's also about laws, values, and art collecting, among other things. It's also about Lynchburg, VA, the revitalization of it's Downtown neighborhood, and the local art scene. It's also about family and legacy. And it centers around Mr. Larry Bassett (you'll like him).
Everything is in place; we are ready to begin production as soon as we get funding.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ABOUT BUDGET / from an email :
The goal is to make a feature length film, but that really depends on the fundraising. I want to do the subject, the history and the city justice. I want to show a vibrant, active and flourishing Downtown Lynchburg. I want the interviews to look and sound great. I need resources to elegantly present the history, the artworks and the facts and figures. All of which takes money to do well.
We are currently rushing the pre-production phase because timely things are happening -- ever since he sent his letters to the government, the IRS has been pinging him back. We had to mobilize the crew quickly. Usually pre-production should take us 90 days absolute minimum, but I'm afraid the IRS will soon come knocking and we'd miss a key event unfolding in real time.
We have not raised any money yet to complete the film. I have personally funded everything so far, either with money or by setting up in-kind trades to get the ball rolling. I really believe in this film - more than any others I've made or been a part of, and have already spent over $2,000 of my own to get us going. The crew is working for free until we can retroactively pay them. Everyone is ready and excited to move forward, but some of this is gonna need to paid up front.
My hopes are to raise another $4,000 to get us through production. In the film world, even for an independent film, this is considered ultra-mega micro-low budget filmmaking, at an estimated total project cost of $10,000. Less than my last film, but more than I can float by myself.
If we somehow come to find a fiscal sponsorship deal, an investor, or if an Executive Producer comes on board - our options will really open up. The more budget we have, the better chance this film / story will have of getting out in the world and being seen. The story content is amazing, and everyone is accessible and available. We need money for higher production value: proper cinema cameras and lenses, better lights, better sound. No matter how great the sory is, the film will only travel and reach people if the quality of the craft meets certain marks.
Please support this film project.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
from a press release to News & Advance :
A new documentary new film project that will be 100% shot and produced in Downtown Lynchburg, VA, using downtown Lynchburg streets, crew, businesses and history as it's backdrop.
The new film is set to start production on June 2nd at Riverviews Artspace / First Fridays in the Craddock-Terry Gallery (hosrted by CVCC).
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
further reading and a little about myself:
I set the production date to start after the world-premiere of The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself, a feature-length documentary I conceived, wrote and produced - and was directed by my brother. That film was screened last week at the International Filmmakers Festival in Nice, France. and now it moves on to play in Spain. a US premiere is already set for October in New York, but the details are not to be made public yet. This film was made in Atlanta, GA and deep in the woods of Maine, but I produced it from my home in Lynchburg.
The last documentary I produced here was the honky-tonk singer biographical tale of Hick'ry Hawkins. The film was shot in the Rivermont area (a performance at Rivermont pizza and interview locations along Rivermont Ave) and scenes in that motel downtown that has a swimming pool in the middle of the parking lot. That film was delayed for over a year as I recovered from a massive corneal abrasion in early 2016, caused by recurrent corneal erosion, where my eyeball was infiltrated by an unknown organism and nearly cost me my left eye. I was blind and in bed for 6 months and my eye survived, scarred and damaged, but still working. The film is now completed and ready to be submitted to short film festivals this fall.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
more:
Mr. Bassett was a first-hand witness to the revitalization of downtown Lynchburg over the years and is one if the original residents in the lofts above the Riverviews Artspace where he still lives and will spend the rest of his days (he told me that). He has been an active supporter and patron of downtown businesses since the rebirth began over a decade ago. As an outspoken tax resistor, he has committed his retirement years to supporting local, national and international charities as well as individuals who need financial help. he has already distributed over $150,000 of his money that would have gone to his tax bill. like seriously, for real, he just hands out money.
The film has a working title of "The Pacifist" or maybe "The Pacifist & The Art Collector" as we intend to cover both things simultaneously. it will go through the history of the war tax resistance movement, the NWTRCC, the 1985 court case brought against Mr. Bassett by the IRS and his mother's multiple arrests for civil disobedience. It will explore the philosophical aspects of paying taxes (or not), the US military spending budget, and the laws and repercussions of refusing to pay taxes on moral grounds. he wrote letters to Senators Goodlatte, Kaine and Warner as well as Trump. There is currently a bill from Sen. John Lewis out there to allow citizens to avoid having their tax dollars pay for war - H.R. 1947, or the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act of 2017.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
final thoughts:
A facebook page has just been set up (yesterday) for anyone to follow along with production of the film, as well as a crowdfunding page for financial support (very much needed). we are looking for investors and/or sponsors as well. so far I've had great support and help from everyone I've reached out to: my homies at the Downtown Lynchburg Association, Abandon Films (located downtown) is helping us out with our rushed production schedule and Riverviews Artspace has been amazingly supprtive as well. I have even chosen a director of photography that lives and works downtown as well.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Thank you.
Please feel free to contact me on Facebook for any questions.
https://www.facebook.com/thepacifistfilm/

The Pacifist is a documentary film project about taxes, art and war. Downtown Lynchburg, VA is the backdrop to the story of local hero / criminal Larry Bassett, a man who refused to pay taxes on $1 Million this year as an act of civil disobedience - then wrote letters to his congressmen in order to provoke a response. Instead, he contributes money where he feels his government should be: helping the poor and less fortunate. So far he has handed out over $150,000 to individuals that organizations that make the world a better place. He also supports local artists, buying and collecting works of art from his community and displaying them in his loft above the Riverview Artspace (currently on display in the Craddock-Terry Gallery).
Besides covering Mr. Bassett's personal war tax resistance story, we will will also explore the history of war tax resistance, primarily through talking with the NWTRCC. We plan to examine the numbers in the US military budget, the costs of war, how personal taxes are used to fund wars and what the laws are regarding tax resistance. The film plans to have interviews with the folks from NWTRCC about the philosophy of tax resistance as well as other experts on tax law.
Downtown Lynchburg, VA is an important setting for this film because as one of the areas first residents, he was there before and witnessed it's economic rebirth, has been a patron and hands-on supporter of businesses and projects in the area. He has donated money to churches, museums, health clinics, homeless shelters, food banks and beyond. The film will talk about values and money. and taxes. and war. and art.
- DO YOU OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE OR THE LAW?
- HOW WE USE OUR RESOURCES DISPLAYS OUR VALUES
watch some test interviews here :
https://www.facebook.com/thepacifistfilm/
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
excerpt from a letter to my crew :
We are in a race against time... and possibly the IRS. A month ago today, on tax day 2017, we were introduced to the story of Larry Bassett - a war tax resistor and art collector. Since then we have been rushing pre-production on a documentary film about tax resistance, civil disobedience, the costs of war, and local art. It's also about laws, values, and art collecting, among other things. It's also about Lynchburg, VA, the revitalization of it's Downtown neighborhood, and the local art scene. It's also about family and legacy. And it centers around Mr. Larry Bassett (you'll like him).
Everything is in place; we are ready to begin production as soon as we get funding.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ABOUT BUDGET / from an email :
The goal is to make a feature length film, but that really depends on the fundraising. I want to do the subject, the history and the city justice. I want to show a vibrant, active and flourishing Downtown Lynchburg. I want the interviews to look and sound great. I need resources to elegantly present the history, the artworks and the facts and figures. All of which takes money to do well.
We are currently rushing the pre-production phase because timely things are happening -- ever since he sent his letters to the government, the IRS has been pinging him back. We had to mobilize the crew quickly. Usually pre-production should take us 90 days absolute minimum, but I'm afraid the IRS will soon come knocking and we'd miss a key event unfolding in real time.
We have not raised any money yet to complete the film. I have personally funded everything so far, either with money or by setting up in-kind trades to get the ball rolling. I really believe in this film - more than any others I've made or been a part of, and have already spent over $2,000 of my own to get us going. The crew is working for free until we can retroactively pay them. Everyone is ready and excited to move forward, but some of this is gonna need to paid up front.
My hopes are to raise another $4,000 to get us through production. In the film world, even for an independent film, this is considered ultra-mega micro-low budget filmmaking, at an estimated total project cost of $10,000. Less than my last film, but more than I can float by myself.
If we somehow come to find a fiscal sponsorship deal, an investor, or if an Executive Producer comes on board - our options will really open up. The more budget we have, the better chance this film / story will have of getting out in the world and being seen. The story content is amazing, and everyone is accessible and available. We need money for higher production value: proper cinema cameras and lenses, better lights, better sound. No matter how great the sory is, the film will only travel and reach people if the quality of the craft meets certain marks.
Please support this film project.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
from a press release to News & Advance :
A new documentary new film project that will be 100% shot and produced in Downtown Lynchburg, VA, using downtown Lynchburg streets, crew, businesses and history as it's backdrop.
The new film is set to start production on June 2nd at Riverviews Artspace / First Fridays in the Craddock-Terry Gallery (hosrted by CVCC).
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
further reading and a little about myself:
I set the production date to start after the world-premiere of The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself, a feature-length documentary I conceived, wrote and produced - and was directed by my brother. That film was screened last week at the International Filmmakers Festival in Nice, France. and now it moves on to play in Spain. a US premiere is already set for October in New York, but the details are not to be made public yet. This film was made in Atlanta, GA and deep in the woods of Maine, but I produced it from my home in Lynchburg.
The last documentary I produced here was the honky-tonk singer biographical tale of Hick'ry Hawkins. The film was shot in the Rivermont area (a performance at Rivermont pizza and interview locations along Rivermont Ave) and scenes in that motel downtown that has a swimming pool in the middle of the parking lot. That film was delayed for over a year as I recovered from a massive corneal abrasion in early 2016, caused by recurrent corneal erosion, where my eyeball was infiltrated by an unknown organism and nearly cost me my left eye. I was blind and in bed for 6 months and my eye survived, scarred and damaged, but still working. The film is now completed and ready to be submitted to short film festivals this fall.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
more:
Mr. Bassett was a first-hand witness to the revitalization of downtown Lynchburg over the years and is one if the original residents in the lofts above the Riverviews Artspace where he still lives and will spend the rest of his days (he told me that). He has been an active supporter and patron of downtown businesses since the rebirth began over a decade ago. As an outspoken tax resistor, he has committed his retirement years to supporting local, national and international charities as well as individuals who need financial help. he has already distributed over $150,000 of his money that would have gone to his tax bill. like seriously, for real, he just hands out money.
The film has a working title of "The Pacifist" or maybe "The Pacifist & The Art Collector" as we intend to cover both things simultaneously. it will go through the history of the war tax resistance movement, the NWTRCC, the 1985 court case brought against Mr. Bassett by the IRS and his mother's multiple arrests for civil disobedience. It will explore the philosophical aspects of paying taxes (or not), the US military spending budget, and the laws and repercussions of refusing to pay taxes on moral grounds. he wrote letters to Senators Goodlatte, Kaine and Warner as well as Trump. There is currently a bill from Sen. John Lewis out there to allow citizens to avoid having their tax dollars pay for war - H.R. 1947, or the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act of 2017.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
final thoughts:
A facebook page has just been set up (yesterday) for anyone to follow along with production of the film, as well as a crowdfunding page for financial support (very much needed). we are looking for investors and/or sponsors as well. so far I've had great support and help from everyone I've reached out to: my homies at the Downtown Lynchburg Association, Abandon Films (located downtown) is helping us out with our rushed production schedule and Riverviews Artspace has been amazingly supprtive as well. I have even chosen a director of photography that lives and works downtown as well.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Thank you.
Please feel free to contact me on Facebook for any questions.
https://www.facebook.com/thepacifistfilm/
Organizer
Allison Bingham
Organizer
Lynchburg, VA