The Library Boys: Kickstarts
Earlier this year, Zane Borg shared the story behind his coming of age movie, The Library Boys, with KOS. The Melbourne-based writer, director and producer was also crowdfunding on Kickstarter for the post-production stage of the film.
Two months on, having reached his $15,000 fundraising target, Borg reflects on his Kickstarter success and looks ahead to his plans for the rest of the year.
On his Kickstarter campaign page, Borg explains his aim in making The Library Boys was to fill the ‘Australian High School Film’ shaped hole in cinema. He sought to represent the complexities of adolescent life that he feels are often neglected or trivialised on the big screen, as well as avoid the stereotypical, two-dimensional characters so common to teen movies.
The story follows Zane, James and Mitch in their final year of high school as they negotiate the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. The characters are not only named after Borg and his real-life best friends, but also inspired by their own high school days. At the time Borg was totally unaware their final year at school would become a source of inspiration.
“If you had told me five years ago that by slacking off in my last year of school I’d be exposed to the idea for my first feature film, even I would have thought you were full of it. I slacked off at the time because that’s what I wanted to do. You could almost say it’s because I was uninspired. But fate had other plans”.
Fate’s other plans also led Borg to start fundraising for the post-production stage of the film on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Borg says he initially felt confident about reaching their Kickstarter goal but the campaign got off to a slow start in the first few weeks and it seemed they wouldn’t hit their target.
“But the support of our community through the final stretch that took us over the line is an act of generosity I will never forget”.
Borg was both shocked and relieved when they hit the $15,000 mark.
“I was with my dad when we passed the finish line so he was the first to hear about it. It was late at night so I sent a message to the cast of the film telling them the good news. I wish I’d done something to celebrate, but truthfully I just felt a responsibility to do right by our supporters and started budgeting how we would spend the money. I’ll celebrate when the film is complete”.
Borg was not only surprised at their Kickstarter success but also was expressed disbelief that The Library Boys made it past the first stages of the creative process.
“I didn’t even think it would get as far as a completed script. This entire process has been one of self-discovery and surprises. I really feel like it’s out of my comprehension to understand how any of this happened. It’s been over a year now and I still don’t feel like it’s real. I think it will hit me at the premiere. I think you’ll find me sobbing in the back row. But happy tears, good tears”.
Before Borg can enjoy this emotional moment he will be locked down at his editor’s home finalising the perfect cut for The Library Boys, which is on track to be completed by the end of the year and ready for a festival run in 2021.
The team at Backlot Studios have been employed to complete the sound mix for the film using funds from the Kickstarter campaign. Borg and his team are also on the lookout for talented musicians around Australia to help fill the soundtrack for the film.
Although The Library Boys is a work in progress Borg is already looking ahead to his next film.
“My next film has begun pre-production and the lead role has been cast. I can’t give exact details yet I can tell you it’s called “Cherry” and it’s a story told from the female perspective, and unlike anything I’ve done before”.
Borg also shared some advice for young people hoping to build a career in the film industry.
“The biggest thing that I ever did for my own career was just to start doing it. If you are making films then you are in the industry, the industry is huge and there are so many facets to it , you don’t have to be in Hollywood to be a part of it. Just start doing it, whatever it is you want to do, whether you want to be behind the camera, in front of it, write screen plays...whatever it is just start doing it anyway you can”.
Read our first interview with Zane Borg here.
Check out The Library Boys Kickstarter Campaign
