Before I hunker down to start working, I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. The fundraiser was a success. What an amazing night! Thank you so much. I really felt the love, from near and far. 

With your love and support, I’m feeling empowered and rejuvenated and excited to start working EXTRA hard with the team for the next two months to get Birthmark off to Hot Docs on time.

I’m so looking forward to sharing the results of our work, it has taken many years to get to this point and soon you will get to see it! For those who bought tickets and donated, you are invited to the Peterborough premiere next year!

We raised $800 with ticket sales. I was hoping for $1000, so it fell a bit short but someone (Kate King-Fisher) dropped a $500 donation and told me straight to my face, “I love you and I believe in you. Happy Halloween,” and handed me a cheque. So that made the total for the evening $1300.

The money will go directly to pay for editing/finishing costs. As some of you may know, $1,300 in the so called “film industry” is nothing. For some people, $1,300 is just pocket change. For me, it makes a big difference. The dollar figure represents the ability pay for a number of editing days. We could also use more money for hard-drives, a colour and sound pass, some spit and polish: will have to work it out.

Artists are so creative at stretching budgets. Big industry cannot even conceive of starting work without the proper budget. Support your local independent community artists instead of (big) box-offices for your entertainment/information needs. You know exactly where the money will go. 

You can email your support to Lester Alfonso at Gmail.com.

Your small support makes a big difference. Thanks again to everyone involved, everyone who came and graced the night. Thank you for your support near and far. I’ll see you next year.

Love, Lester