Tell Your Children, a Poetry Shorts Project, now in pre-production

A series of short films based on poems. Inspired by legend & loss. Rooted in magic, strength & the stories we tell our children.

North West Renaissance Poets is partnering with Tacoma poet and actress to produce a short film scripted entirely with poetry.

Tell Your Children, coming in 2016, was created by Emilie Rommel Shimkus and “fuses original poetry and independent film to make a series of 4 micro-shorts (4-minute films).” With 3 live action films and 1 animated film, the project focuses on characters from myth, legend, and faery tale. “We have always used stories to teach the next generation about our place in the world. We use adventure and magic to pass on lessons and important ideas, like consequence, sacrifice, sympathy, community, and resilience.”

Grant-supported and Currently Crowdfunding—Rommel Shimkus was awarded a grant from the Tacoma Arts Commission and 4Culture (via the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program for 2015/16) to produce Tell Your Children. The project is currently running a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, through October 14 to supplement the grant money, cover production costs, and pay the cast, crew, and contributing artists. The initial goal was more than 50% funded on the first day of the campaign.

Tacoma-centric Film—Tell Your Children will be shot on location in Tacoma later this fall in November, and will screen at the Grand Cinema in a free, open-to-the-pubic event in 2016. The project also counts many current and former Tacoma residents in its production team and cast, including the creator, producer, composer, make-up artists, and animator. “We’re even tapping into Tacoma’s thriving Letterpress art scene, with our beautiful poster that is intentionally designed to be a frameable piece of art,” says Rommel Shimkus.

New Venues for Encouraging Poetry & Artistic Collaboration—For more than 30 years, Northwest Renaissance Poets & Publishers, a 501c3 organization, has operated with the straightforward mission of “bringing poetry to the Puget Sound region,” through workshops, readings, and publications. When NWR member, Rommel Shimkus, approached the board about a producing partnership, it seemed like a natural fit. “There are so many fruitful collaborations with poets and painters, photographers, glass artists, even dancers,” said Rommel Shimkus. “A new collaboration between NW poets and filmmakers seems exciting and full of untapped potential.”

Inclusive, Female-centric Set—“We have several goals with this project,” said Rommel Shimkus. In addition to making a quality, beautiful piece of film art, Tell Your Children focuses on encouraging collaboration between artists of varying genres.  “We are also proud to make this film with the talents of the amazing women working in the PNW film industry.” Tell Your Children features an all-female cast, and is written, produced, directed, and will be shot by professional, experienced female filmmakers.

Questions? To learn more about the project and partnering organizations, visit Kickstarter.com and search for “Tell Your Children.” (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2095404221/tell-your-children)

 Contact: Producer Rose Hall (rose@adventusfilms.net) or creator Emilie Rommel Shimkus (emilierommel@hotmail.com)