Don't Forget To Remember
by Thomas Rotenberg

Thomas Rotenberg
Follow
Don't Forget To Remember
by Thomas Rotenberg
Thomas Rotenberg
Follow
We've got a fantastic creative team, a sci-fi world brimming with stories and characters, and an ethos built around challenging the traditions of science fiction and narrative filmmaking.
We've got a fantastic creative team, a sci-fi world brimming with stories and characters, and an ethos built around challenging the traditions of science fiction and narrative filmmaking.
In Partnership With

IndieWorks
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Story
Inclusion Statement
"Don't Forget To Remember" includes women in key positions supporting the director's story of a strong female saving the world, with a cast from all different backgrounds and ethnicities. We're dedicated to creating a world in which everyone has equal footing and opportunity to make a difference.About The Project
At first, people began to hallucinate. Workplace accidents, plane crashes, and suicides all increased dramatically. It didn't take long for people to lose their jobs, for companies to shut down, for families to become destitute, all transformed into husks of their former selves.
But let's take a few steps back....
This is a glimpse of a world falling apart, unravelling at the seams, a world not far removed from our own.
And it's surprising how quickly it can all c
o
l l
a
ps
e. . . .
Less than a year ago, an "event" occurred.
Although shrouded in secrecy and covered up at the highest levels, this event has had one very public consequence:
Ever since that bright flash in the sky, no living creature on Earth has been able to sleep.
It started off slowly, with restless, intermittent sleep.
No one discussed it, because why would they?
As sleep s l o w l y disappeared and people began to talk, people across the globe found that they all shared this unique commonality.
And nothing helped - no drug or other form of therapy was powerful enough to overcome this fundamental rewriting of one of the brain's core functions.
This is when the hallucinations began, and the infrastructure of society started to collapse. All those little, seamless things we don't notice that help the world function, they gradually broke down.
But a chance discovery gives the governments of the world an ace up their collective sleeve - a black powder left behind after the event has the power to induce sleep.
Subject Zero, the designation our protagonist has been given, thinks these are more than mere hallucinations.
And thinks she can find a way to save the world.
My name is Tom Rotenberg and I'm a video artist and curator. You're not here to read a laundry list of things that I've done - you can find that here...but here are a few ways you might've heard of me:
- curating and installing digital art exhibitions for the Made in NY Media Center
- video art that I've created for the Leo Kuelbs Collection, independent curators, and LIGHT YEAR
- co-directing, shooting, and producing the upcoming Longmont Potion Castle documentary, Where in the Hell is the Lavender House?
- my blog, Metallic Imagery, where I've been sharing the best music the underground has to offer for more than half a decade
Anyway, what you're really here to learn more about my narrative short film, Don't Forget to Remember.
Long before I ever held a camera or touched a piece of editing software, I was writing. I developed a taste for realism and structure with just a hint of the unknown, that something new could be around the next corner.
Sometimes life takes you in unexpected directions, though, and after working in development at HDNet Films and a suffering through a brief stint in reality TV, I began curating and making video art. Being given the freedom to invent my own structures and stories from abstracted imagery and non-traditional editing techniques has liberated my brain from some of those learned confines.
I'm ready to return to more traditional narrative storytelling but with a reinvigorated ability to incorporate the visual and structural concepts that have been infused into my recent creative work.
Don't Forget to Remember is the tip of the iceberg, as they say. It's a short introduction to just one point in one timeline of the world that I've created. This is a complex world, dealing with inequality, struggles for political power, increasing reliance on technology, and an environment that's becoming more and more inhospitable to human life every day.
There's so much more yet to be realized, and with your help we can take the first step.
What else?
How about a timeline:
Shooting is set to occur in late spring, 2019. I'm hoping to have a rough cut of the film in late summer and we should be locked by late fall....hopefully.
What about our team members?
Martha Frances Williams is our producer on this project. She most recently produced Up or Out, a short film that's gone on to screen at festivals throughout New York and across the country. She's a logistical mastermind who's dedicated to the filmmaker's vision in a way that few producers are, and has been an integral part of developing Don't Forget to Remember's script and bringing talented cast and crew on board.
Josh Graham is a multi-instrumentalist, graphic designer, and music video director. He was a member of Neurosis for a decade, crafting their visual identity across album design, packaging, live visuals, and more. He also served as Soundgarden's creative director and just released a new album from his long-running A Storm Of Light project. He'll be composing our score under his IIVII moniker and I couldn't be more excited to have someone with his level of experience, professionalism, and dedication to craft on board.
Seriously, he's amazing and is going to bring so much to the film...that music you hear in the video above?
All him.
As we get closer to our expected shoot date, we'll be announcing additional cast and crew members, and a large portion of your donations will go toward ensuring we have the best people possible in every role, both in front of and behind the camera.
Oh, we've got incentives. There are the usual "thanks-in-the-credits" and "digital download" incentives, but there are a bunch of unique ones, too. I can manipulate some of footage for you, or you can give me footage to use in the film. You can have a personal consultation with Josh, or you can have him come to your house for special live performance. Our team will also evaluate a project of yours and give you our two cents - we've got a strong track record with narrative and documentary development, story structure, festival strategy, budgeting, and more, so here's your chance to get some feedback.
Help us and we'll help you.
This short film is just the beginning.
Incentives
$1
Remember Your Name
Your name will appear in the credits and you'll have our eternal, undying gratitude...whatever that's worth.
You'll also get to be on IMDb.
Also, you promise that you'll click that "follow" button up there and share it....deal?
$10
Don't Forget To Download
A high-res digital download of the film will sent to you, along with a thanks in the credits.
Please note that this will be made available after the film's festival circuit has been completed, but will be sent out no later than January 2021.
$25
Your Selfie, Manipulated
See that image below? That's me, turned into particles. For $25, you can send me a short, ten-second video clip and I'll turn into particles. It can be you, your pet, a loved one, whatever you want...just keep it tasteful and then post it for all to see.
This also includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 9 of 50
$50
Your Note, Included
You can write a note to the main character that will appear on a wall in our primary location which will be visible throughout the film.
Again, this one includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 5 of 50
$150
Your Footage, Abstracted
I will take any footage that you want to give me (up to one minute long) and turn it into motion graphics that will be used in the film...you probably won't be able to recognize it, but it'll be there.
This also includes, you guessed it, the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$250
Your Documentary, Evaluated
Do you have a short documentary that you'd like feedback on? Do you have a pitch for a documentary that you're working on, or are you trying to decide which festivals might be best? IFP's documentary expert Charlotte Reekers and I will put you on the right track.
As with the narrative option, we'll give you a page of feedback and a 30-minute Skype session or call, whatever you prefer.
Want the digital download and a thanks in the credits, too? You got it.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$250
Your Narrative, Evaluated
Do you have a narrative script / outline / short film / other form of creativity you'd like us to evaluate? Here's your chance. Martha Frances and I will give you a page of feedback along with a 30-minute call or Skype session, whatever you prefer.
Obviously this includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits, just like all the others.
Claimed: 1 of 5
$300
Skype Consultation with Josh Graham
Our amazingly talented composer Josh Graham (IIVII, A Storm of Light, Battle of Mice, Neurosis, and more) will provide you with an hour-long consultation to discuss whatever you want (but please keep it tasteful) - music, motion graphics, live performance, visuals, this guy is a master and you'll benefit from his years of insight!
Have you figured out the theme here? Digital download and a thanks in the credits included for this incentive, too.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$500
Invite to the Premier Event
You'll get one ticket to the premier event in the New York area, so you'll get to see the film (and maybe some other special extras) before anyone else.
Please note that any airfare, lodging, and food are not included and must be paid for by the backer....but you'll also get the digital download and a thanks in the credits, so it's totally worth it.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$6,000
Live In-House IIVII Performance
Josh will bring his gear to your house to play a live IIVII show.
Also, you'll get the digital download, but not a thanks...instead, you'll be getting an Executive Producer credit, which is way cooler.
Date and location will be coordinated in conjunction with Josh's schedule and availability, and backer will pay for Josh's travel expenses.
Claimed: 0 of 2
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$1
Remember Your Name
Your name will appear in the credits and you'll have our eternal, undying gratitude...whatever that's worth.
You'll also get to be on IMDb.
Also, you promise that you'll click that "follow" button up there and share it....deal?
$10
Don't Forget To Download
A high-res digital download of the film will sent to you, along with a thanks in the credits.
Please note that this will be made available after the film's festival circuit has been completed, but will be sent out no later than January 2021.
$25
Your Selfie, Manipulated
See that image below? That's me, turned into particles. For $25, you can send me a short, ten-second video clip and I'll turn into particles. It can be you, your pet, a loved one, whatever you want...just keep it tasteful and then post it for all to see.
This also includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 9 of 50
$50
Your Note, Included
You can write a note to the main character that will appear on a wall in our primary location which will be visible throughout the film.
Again, this one includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 5 of 50
$150
Your Footage, Abstracted
I will take any footage that you want to give me (up to one minute long) and turn it into motion graphics that will be used in the film...you probably won't be able to recognize it, but it'll be there.
This also includes, you guessed it, the digital download and a thanks in the credits.
Claimed: 2 of 5
$250
Your Documentary, Evaluated
Do you have a short documentary that you'd like feedback on? Do you have a pitch for a documentary that you're working on, or are you trying to decide which festivals might be best? IFP's documentary expert Charlotte Reekers and I will put you on the right track.
As with the narrative option, we'll give you a page of feedback and a 30-minute Skype session or call, whatever you prefer.
Want the digital download and a thanks in the credits, too? You got it.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$250
Your Narrative, Evaluated
Do you have a narrative script / outline / short film / other form of creativity you'd like us to evaluate? Here's your chance. Martha Frances and I will give you a page of feedback along with a 30-minute call or Skype session, whatever you prefer.
Obviously this includes the digital download and a thanks in the credits, just like all the others.
Claimed: 1 of 5
$300
Skype Consultation with Josh Graham
Our amazingly talented composer Josh Graham (IIVII, A Storm of Light, Battle of Mice, Neurosis, and more) will provide you with an hour-long consultation to discuss whatever you want (but please keep it tasteful) - music, motion graphics, live performance, visuals, this guy is a master and you'll benefit from his years of insight!
Have you figured out the theme here? Digital download and a thanks in the credits included for this incentive, too.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$500
Invite to the Premier Event
You'll get one ticket to the premier event in the New York area, so you'll get to see the film (and maybe some other special extras) before anyone else.
Please note that any airfare, lodging, and food are not included and must be paid for by the backer....but you'll also get the digital download and a thanks in the credits, so it's totally worth it.
Claimed: 1 of 10
$6,000
Live In-House IIVII Performance
Josh will bring his gear to your house to play a live IIVII show.
Also, you'll get the digital download, but not a thanks...instead, you'll be getting an Executive Producer credit, which is way cooler.
Date and location will be coordinated in conjunction with Josh's schedule and availability, and backer will pay for Josh's travel expenses.
Claimed: 0 of 2
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
My name is Thomas D. Rotenberg. I’m a Tisch graduate with more than 15 years of experience working alongside some of the most prolific and talented producers in independent film…and reality TV, but that’s a story for another day. For the last three years I’ve been making installation video art, and these abstract science-fiction stories have played at film festivals, in galleries, and at site-specific projection events around the world. This is my return to narrative filmmaking, and I'm eager to infuse the techniques and sensibilities that I've learned in the art world with a high-concept, sci-fi narrative.
While a lot of you might not know Josh Graham by name, you’re probably familiar with his work. Not only did he serve as Soundgarden’s creative director for several years, he’s been making some of the most emotionally intense music I’ve ever heard with Battle of Mice and Red Sparowes. His more recent work, as IIVII, has moved his composition style into a more cinematic, sci-fi-influenced place, and I couldn’t be more excited and honored to have him on board as our composer.
Tying everything together is Martha Frances Williams. I’ve never met a more organized, enthusiastic, and capable producer, someone who does everything in service of the best interests of the project. Honestly, she makes all other producers I’ve met look uncaring, unmotivated, and incapable. Directors in crowdfunding videos say this all the time, but MF is the best. Her logistical skills, cost-saving mindset, and on-set experience tie everything together.
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