The cult movie with a ground-breaking lesbian love storyline, I Can't Think Straight has launched a crowdfunding campaign to become a web series that aims to push the boundaries of the web format.
Acclaimed writer and director Shamim Sarif and producer Hanan Kattan are answering requests from fans of the feature film by raising money to produce I Can’t Think Straight as a web series. Kattan and Sarif’s own true love story inspired the film and drew on their cultural backgrounds.
Sarif wrote and directed the film, and plans to do the same for the web series. “Characters change, the world changes, and I have changed as a writer - all that will influence the way the love story plays out this time around,” Sarif says of writing the new script. “Also, with a series, there's more leeway to develop more of the family dynamics and to take Tala and Leyla's relationship further.” The team even took the series idea to TV Networks, but they wanted to either make the main relationship abusive or leave out the cultural backgrounds of the women. “It is the sense of hope and possibility – despite the odds – that people have responded to,” Sarif explains.
By raising money through a crowdfunding, Kattan and Sarif want to maintain the original values that have, and continue to, inspire fans of the film while continuing to develop the story even further.
“We believe that with fan support, we can keep our creative independence,” Kattan explains. “And we will be looking for all sorts of input, not just financial sponsorship. Our new site will offer a community where people can meet, post ideas and interact with us.”
As for the cast, Sheetal Sheth who starred as Leyla in the film will continue in her role, in addition to serving as an executive producer with Kattan and Sarif. There will be an international casting call to find an actress to fill play Tala, the role previously filled by Lisa Ray.
Fundraising for the web series starts today on the new I Can’t Think Straight website, and will continue through March. If enough money has been raised to produce the 15 six-minute episodes slated for Season 1, pre-production will begin, with filming scheduled for June.
The series would then air weekly from September 2012 to December 2012. Should the necessary funds not be raised, all donations will be refunded.
“We have created various packages for sponsorship starting at $10 and going all the way up to $25,000,” says Kattan. “We've tried to offer innovative gifts as a thank you to those who make the effort to support us.”
“We want the web series to embrace all the best aspects of the movie - love, integrity, the courage to be yourself - and to take it to new heights,” says Sarif. “And the best part is having our fans be part of the new journey.”
Here's the trailer from the film just as a reminder of how hot the movie was!
Check out the new I Can’t Think Straight website for more information and to make a donation.
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