The squares are private property I believe.

Thanks. If anything, individual political views might serve as a comic relief. :icon_wink: I doubt I'd move too much into that direction.

You can probably shoot from the easements. There might be a few shots for establishing the location, but I'm not going to following people around asking them questions, etc.

David, I would recommend that you put together a "sample" of what you are thinking. I'm sure that you could get a few Villagers who would participate. Let us get a feeling of what you are proposing, how well you can do it, and if we can trust you to tell our story

There are a lot of amazing life stories to be told here. You may be on to something!

That's exactly what I'm doing now. It's going to take a while and some sweat equity to get it all together.

I will not put the cart before the horse, and you'll know much more about me when it comes time.

[//

When someone from the populace you wish to document ask you for a title to a documentary on them and a summary of your focus, then that means it comes time.


I think the fact you aren't funded and call some of us "old timers" does not bode well for your readiness. It sort of hits some of us like someone calling YOU a snot nosed kid. It just isn't good journalism and funding yourself with your hat in hand doesn't show us you are well planned or that you have been previously successful.

I didn't say or allude to that opinion.

I'm not a black and white person, and I don't subscribe to stereotypes.

This post was not meant to be a solicitation of monies. It's an idea that I had, and I was looking for opinions and feedback. When and if I'm ready, I'll lay it all out on the table.

Crowdfunding is a quite common way to fund projects.

Again, "oldtimers" as in people who have lived in The Villages for a long time. At least that's what they've called themselves.

I'm not really sure what the plan is. I'd probably do a press release and see if the media picks it up first.

Crowdfunding is when someone pitches a project, and people can contribute at different levels to get different perks. It's almost like a PBS drive. It's a popular and legitimate way to fund different projects or product development.

I'm still working on this. Thanks for those who messaged me with support and those who openly lent support in this thread.

Cheers!

Why did you think to do a documentary here in The Villages? Did you study journalism or sociology or business or demographics or anthropology or go to cooking school?

More importantly, watch out for those who call a different opinion "hate".

Fortunately those who throw that grenade are a minority here.

No cooking school... I've been in the marketing field for the past 20 year or more, and spent six years in education and training video and films. Being in marketing, video production has always been on my plate, and my interest in film and video has been with me since a kid. My father was in broadcasting for RCA, which fueled the interest.

The history bug hit me a few years back while living in Chattanooga, TN. That started a project to crowdsource historic photos of the Chattanooga area, which spawned into a greater effort than I anticipated and a partnership with the Chattanooga History Center. I've done some writing about Chattanooga history, been able to grow a following on Facebook of nearly 20,000 likes and the project has been an overall success and a well-known local brand.

In 2001 I moved to Clermont, FL from Orlando. At that time, Clermont was a blip in the orange groves. My mom and her husband moved to The Villages in 2003 and since, I've alway have been interested in its seemingly magical appeal. Like many, they spent a weekend with friends and wound up putting an offer on a house. I moved to Chattanooga in 2005 and found myself back to help mom in 2012.

A major pharmaceutical company did a video shoot with my mother last month, and that inspired me to do something a little different and expand upon their idea by telling several stories of the people who live here. I have met many Villagers over the past 12 years, and most have and interesting and unique perspective on their life here.