Short Summary

Goal is $250,000 not $250,000,000 indiegogo will not allow us to change it.

My name is Raymond, I play myself in the script I wrote Tommy and Ray, a live-action teen drama that has humor, true events, a creative storyline and is full of life.  I am on the autism spectrum, and I have learning disabilities.  When I was a baby, I was adopted by a loving family that instilled in me that I can be and do anything I set my mind to in life.  At age, 11 I knew I wanted to be an actor and a filmmaker.  After being bullied for being special needs, my parents put me in Wedgwood Academy, a school dedicated to the education of those special children with learning differences.  It was there I wrote my first screenplay, Tommy and Ray and cast my friends Nick and Luke to be a part of it.  It costs a lot of money to make a film, so I tried to raise the money by saving my allowance and trying to find a job.  I quickly learned that most people don’t want to give those with disabilities the opportunities they deserve, we get so much push-back from people like we are not capable of following instructions or directions or being able to do the job according to their standards, but we are.  I graduated from high school, I learned to drive a car, and I wrote this movie script.  My daycare teacher Mrs. Cynthia is like an extension of my family and my mentor, she has always believed in me and supported my school Wedgwood Academy.  She is also an actress and does movies, plays, commercials and theater.  I showed her my script and she vowed to help make my dream come true.  She has found a production company that is patient with me and my friends, we know our lines and we understand better than people give us credit for.  With all that being said, I need your help.

What We Need & What You Get

The budget to make this film is an ultra-low budget of $250,000.  We must have money to hire a professional film crew, professional actors to accompany us, funds to make the film under safe conditions, for locations and equipment rental and so much more.  Please help us produce this film.  Zake Gottsagen that starred in The Peanut Butter Falcon has Down Syndrome the same as some of my friends at Wedgwood, and he was given a chance to act in the movie and make his dream come true and we would like that same opportunity.  Donating to make Tommy and Ray will create an inclusive production for actors and filmmakers with disabilities.  The film will have positive changes on target issues that increase communication, improve social interactions, and create a more equitable and inclusive world for actors and filmmakers with disabilities today and tomorrow. 

Tommy and Ray is a live-action teen drama that’s fun for the whole family, young kids, teens and grown-ups too.  Families with family members that have special needs.  Shy, insecure people who think things are impossible to achieve.  Students and teachers of all levels and ages.  Your donation, will get your name in the film credits, an invitation to the movie premier with a VIP meet-and-greet the cast invitation, a tax write off and that fuzzy feeling in your heart that you are part of making some kids with disabilities dreams come true after having so many doors slammed in their face.  NDpendent Films is producing my film and has assured me that this movie will get made with whatever the amount that we raise.  So even if we don’t reach our $250,000 goal we will find a way to complete this project with the amount we do raise.  But we need your help. 

The Impact

Tommy and Ray’s production team has incorporated strategies to involve the community in the film making process during the audition and casting process.  The opportunity is open to the community and is especially open to any student at Wedgwood Academy with a disability to become a part of the film either as an actor, behind the scenes with production or with the film crew.  Doing so, creates an inclusive production for actors and filmmakers with disabilities.  When working with special needs children, teens and adults it increases their communication skills, improves social interactions, betters self-regulation, enhances independence in daily activities, greater participation in classroom activities, has positive behavioral modifications, and overall development of life skills.

Risks & Challenges

I over came all these hurdles by having a loving family that encouraged me, attending a school that allows for a highly individualized education experience, surrounding myself with people that I could learn from, and positive role models who never made me feel like I was different.  My biggest challenge is retaining my lines and staying focused, but the production company has provide an acting coach, counseling and our parents are always present and most importantly we have God smiling down on us.

Other Ways You Can Help

Get the word out about our Indigogo campaign and share tools.  Visit our website and social media page to donate using our PayPal App, Zelle and Cash App.  Make noise about our movie and about our campaign.  Invite your friends and family members to donate and to go see the movie.  Make in-kind donations of goods and services such as gift cards to restaurants, grocery stores to feed the crew, props for set design, wardrobe gift cards and other special services beneficial to the movie.  We need your help.