13 January 2012

GOD HELP THE GIRL! Barry Mendel/Belle & Sebastian Film Needs Your Help

God Help The Girl is a Musical Film written and to be directed by Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian.

Set in Glasgow, Scotland, the film is about a girl named Eve who is in the hospital dealing with some emotional problems and starts writing songs as a way of getting better. Songwriting becomes her way forward, leading her to the City where she meets James and Cassie, two musicians each at crossroads of their own. What follows is a story of renaissance over a long, dream-like Summer.

Inspirations for the film come from all over, the French New Wave of Truffaut and Godard, the early post-punk movement in music, pop musical movies of the 70's and 80s, classics by John Hughes, the great British comedies of Bruce Robinson and Bill Forsythe and just the city of Glasgow itself. And yet this will inevitably be its own film, one that started with a song.

Seven years ago, Stuart was out for a run and a tune came into his head which didn't sound like Belle & Sebastian. It was sung by a girl, and soon, one tune led to another. Then Eve started to talk, James came along, then Cassie, and as all of their thoughts evolved, so did a girl group sound and a sense that it wanted to be a film, a musical.

Faced with the daunting task, Stuart started with what he knew best, the songs, and began looking for girls to sing them.

In Spring, 2007, producer Barry Mendel (Rushmore, The Sixth Sense, The Royal Tenenbaums, Munich, Bridesmaids) ran across an ad Stuart posted online, "Singers wanted for Autumnal recording project." The fine print hinted at a film. He wrote the Belle & Sebastian fan site offering to lend a hand, Stuart got in touch and Barry has assumed the mantle of Producer ever since, working with Stuart on the script and preparing to make the film.

In 2009, Stuart found the girls and recorded a God Help The Girl LP, an EP, Stills and took the singers on a small tour.

Finally, we're gearing up, casting, putting the team together.



So how can you help? Go over to the films KICKSTARTER PAGE you can donate even $5 which is about £3, they will have a few nice incentives to support and if your a fan of Belle & Sebastian you might be keen to support which can be anything from signed posters and t-shirts, on screen credit, even a walk-on part in the film!

"If we can reach the Kickstarter goal, this movie will get made. If we can't, it won't. We need the money and also to show the powers that be that there's grassroots support for our project." - Barry Mendal

I'm not a fan of Belle & Sebastian but its a meaningful project which is giving something back to the community http://godhelpthegirl.com/ you can also follow the project at there TWITTER ACCOUNT

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