The Crest: a documentary

Two descendants of an Irish king journey to the island where he once presided — not to reclaim the land, but to surf the waves About // Bios // Contribute // Buzz // Supporters // Teaser

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General update and a call to all musicians!

Hey there Crest backers,

Did you think we’d forgotten you? Never! We’ve just been really busy working hard to reach our goal of having the film ready for showcase at The Dingle Film Festival in March. Doing it right takes plenty of time, but it’s going great. All shooting has wrapped and we are in full editing mode -- those of you in the film industry know what an all-consuming stage this is, which is why we’ve been a bit quiet on our end. Focus is a must, especially for perfectionists!

So, the reason you haven’t received a copy of the film yet (if you’re entitled to one from a donation) is because the final edit isn’t quite in place yet. But once it is, rest assured you’ll receive your copy shortly thereafter.

Impatient to get a glimpse? If you are in New England or Co Kerry next week, you might just have a chance! Our Associate Producer Eliza Kane will be screening a sneak peak as part of two events to promote The Last Blasket King, a new biography she co-authored with Gerald Hayes about Andy and DK’s great-great-grandfather. They’re coming up fast, so check out these details:

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2015, 10 am: The Irish Cultural Center of Western New England’s Annual Breakfast at the Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke, MA. Tickets will not be sold at the door so please call the ICC to reserve your placeaccording: 413-265-2537.

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2015, 8 pm: Book Launch at The Blasket Center, Dún Chaoin. Featuring Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Diaspora Affairs.

For those of you asking how you can continue to support the film, first of all, THANK YOU! At the moment these are our two main needs:

Help us source music. We have enlisted a talented composer to bring original scoring to The Crest, but will still need to mix it up, and that’s where you might come in. If you’re a musician looking for exposure or know someone who is, we’re accepting music samples for possible inclusion in the film. To submit or learn more, contact [email protected].

Donate again! We know you've already given us plenty, but the truth is we’ve got many talented people working hard to finish the best possible version of this film and money is what makes it happen. No new rewards (although thanks will be given on our website and, if applicable, in the film), but this time your gift can be tax deductible by donating it through our charitable partner. Simply make your check out to Upper Valley Arts for whatever amount you like, noting "The Crest" in the memo line, and mail it to: Upper Valley Arts, POB 322, Norwich, VT 05055. Non-deductible donations can also be made direction through the Butter Flavored Films PayPal link.

Well that’s it for news for now – we’ll definitely stay in touch as things wrap up, so stay tuned and stay connected on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Hang Ten,

John, Mark, and everyone at The Crest

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Update from the wondrous world of post-production

We thought you might like to hear about how The Crest is doing in post-production! The answer, we are happy to report, is that it has blossomed into an even more delightful story than our original pitch.

After two transatlantic trips and plenty of filming in the good ol' US of A, we now have over 150 hours of footage, including breathtaking scenery, real life adventure, and interviews with experts such as author Gerald W. Hayes and scholars from National University of Ireland Maynooth. Such wealth comes with its own challenges, however, namely converting all of that digital gold into a format that can be logged, synced, and edited into the final product we all await.

To get this done in the timeliest way, our director Mark Covino left his beloved job teaching film studies in order to devote himself fully to finishing The Crest in time for its expected debut at the Dingle Film Fest this spring. Helping him is our new editing assistant Misha Zhuykov, whom we'd like to welcome to the team! Additionally, producer John Kane Jr now has boots on the ground in Los Angeles, holding down the business side while keeping tabs on the overall vision. 

It's at this point that any filmmaker feels the finish line is so close and yet so far, so the continued faith, support, and patience of our funders and fans really keep us going strong! Also perking us up is this fantastic promo poster by IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the world's biggest documentary film fest), which is graciously plugging our project this year. Hopefully next year they'll be screening us, too!

Well that's it for now, but if you haven't already, please go ahead and like Butter Flavored Films onFacebook and follow us on Tumblr & Twitter to keep up with our news and help spread the word!

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More scholarly studies on our little isle! This one by Chris Fennell of University of Illinois 

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Abstract: 

This paper will discuss, compare, and contrast the three main works of the Blasket Island authors: Peig, by Peig Sayers, The Islandman by Tomas O'Crohan, and Twenty Years A-Growing by Maurice O'Sullivan.

It will seek to identify unique elements of style, content, and purpose among the three authors, and in doing so will illuminate each piece's contributions to Blasket lore. Collectively, the paper should serve as a thorough introduction to Blasket literature and its overall place in Irish literature.

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For an academic perspective on the famed memoirs that sprung from the Blasket Islands, don't miss this article by John Eastlake from the scholarly journal Oral Tradition.

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A news feature on the making of The Crest by the Irish language channel, which aired May 31st in Episode 151 of Nuacht TG4.

To watch the full episode (including a mention of the project in the opening and an introduction by the anchor at :55 of Part 2), click here. 

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"Islandmen Reborn": The Irish Times features the CREST

Following this weekend's press in The Irish Times, we've been getting questions about how to donate now that the Kickstarter has expired, which is great to hear! 

Many of you know that $30k is actually a very low budget for a feature-length film, but we assessed that as a realistic fundraising goal for a 90-day campaign. However, costs will certainly exceed our net Kickstarter income, so we are very happy to hear of continued interest in supporting The Crest.

For now, please contact our co-producer at [email protected] to inquire about making a new or supplementary donation. 

We expect that within the week a permanent PayPal option will be available in our header and on our Donations page.

By default all donors will be acknowledged on our website, and individual donors contributing $65 or above will also receive a mention in the film's end credits.

Again, thank you and go raibh maith agat!

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Some Ireland landscapes I took during the recent week-long shoot for The Crest documentary.

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One of The Crest's camera operators, the multi-talented Joe Spurr, just posted some beautiful photos from our shoot in Ireland last month:

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Last weekend we filmed in and around Springfield, MA -- the American gathering spot for Blasketers -- including a wonderful interview with Dr. Michael Carney, oldest living Islander and author of the newest (and likely last) Blasket memoir. We were lucky enough to have been on the island when Dr. Carney returned there last month, along with descendants of the beloved Robin Flower. It had certainly been many years since Kanes, Carneys, and Flowers were together on the Great Blasket, a special occasion indeed. We captured the touching moment of Dr. Carney's arrival, which you can witness in this little video.

But on with business! We are happy to announce that our Kickstarter goal was surpassed before its deadline this month, thanks to all the supporters who rallied beyond expectation! We thank everyone for chipping in what they could, increasing their pledges, and spreading the word as if they were one of the crew -- because really, they are. This story belongs to all of us, and we look forward to bringing it beyond our current circle of support by making a film to share with the world as well as generations to come.

The crew is already hard at work with that goal in mind, and the intention of getting the promised Rewards to our donors. If you missed the deadline to earn those but would still like Crest merchandise of your own, don't fret! We plan to have a store up soon -- stay tuned!

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Micheál De Mórdha of Ionad An Bhlascaoid Mhoir (The Blasket Centre) forecasts what's in store for West Kerry participants of The Gathering this week. We'll be there to document those festivities as part of our documentary!

www.crestmovie.com

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On the eve of our departure for Ireland, we're a tempest of excitement, nerves, and gratitude. We know every one of our donors' names and have seen their generosity push this project's needle closer and closer to the goal. We falter to convey our thanks for their enthusiasm, and for every penny they've pledged!

Our project is now at a critical moment. It has surpassed Kickstarter's statistical "tipping point" where success is more likely than failure, yet we're still underdogs. But that's no strange situation to the fighting Irish! So we're counting on you -- our audience and our would-be benefactors -- to help us rally in these final days. 

Why? 

Because in the end, this is all about you. We've been working so hard over the last several months because we want to make this film for you, and you are the ones have the power to make it happen.

How? 

Make a pledge. We're thrilled with all the enthusiasm our project has stirred up, and if praise and well wishes alone could make this thing happen we'd be very well equipped indeed. Unfortunately, getting this done requires money as well. 

As you can imagine, our necessary expenses for airfare, specialized equipment, insurance fees, accommodations, boat rentals, etc., are untenable for a handful of independent filmmakers, but spread out over hundreds of modest investments, you can help make a top quality documentary that will extend far beyond us all.

Help spread the word right until the clock runs out. Reblog this post. Share www.crestmovie.com on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, and if you're so compelled, add it to your email signature or put it as an away message on Skype and chat. Send out an email or two (or twenty) to friends who are interested in history, Irish heritage, surfing, or independent film.

You can also raise the amount of your pledge at any time before the end of our campaign (thank you to those who already have!), which makes you eligible for those swanky higher level rewards. 

Remember, unless and until our $30,000 goal is successfully met by June 4th, you will not be charged a single cent. 

What that means is that even if we manage to raise $29,999.99 but nothing more, no backers will be billed and unfortunately the film won't benefit at all. 

In the next week we'll be having a lot of face time with the Irish press, and look forward to updating you on the articles that come out of that as well as the adventures in Ireland that will ultimately become The Crest -- thanks to your support.

Here we go!

John, Andy, Dennis, and the entire crew For updates & sneak peaks: Twitter Instagram

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A lovely vintage postcard of Dunquin Harbour, where the namhogs used to set sail for the Blasket Islands. We'll be heading out to the Great Blasket ourselves later this week to film Andy & DK's historic attempt at surfing there!

Via John's Bookshop.

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The Crest documents the surprising, scenic, and brave adventures of a family estranged by time and distance, but united by a peculiar devotion to the dangers of the sea…

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The Blasket Islands: Na Blascaodaí, a set on Flickr.

The Blasket Islands - Na Blascaodaí http://www.dingle-region.com The tiny islands off the west coast of Ireland fascinated writers and artists. For some, like W.B Yeats, they epitomized pride, solitude and a sense of estrangement. For others, such as J.M. Synge, they provided the example of a commune in which life was reduced to its fundamentals - mankind pitted against nature. Via Flickr: www.dingle-region.com The Blasket Islands (Na Blascaodaí in Irish - etymology uncertain: it may come from the Norse word “brasker”, meaning “a dangerous place”) are a group of islands off the west coast of Ireland, forming part of County Kerry. They were inhabited until 1953 by a completely Irish-speaking population. The inhabitants were evacuated to the mainland on 17 November 1953.[1] Many of the descendants currently live in Springfield, Massachusetts, and some former residents still live on the Dingle Peninsula, within sight of their former home. The islanders were the subject of much anthropological and linguistic study around the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries particularly from writers and linguists such as Robin Flower, George Derwent Thomson and Kenneth H. Jackson. Thanks to their encouragement and that of others, a number of books were written by islanders that record much of the islands’ traditions and way of life. These include An tOileánach (The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig by Peig Sayers and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. The Blasket Islands have been called Next Parish America, a term popular in the United States and recalled in the book The Blasket Islands - Next Parish America by Joan and Ray Stagles

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The restored house pictured below is an example of how the residence of An Rí, great great grandfather of Andy and Dennis (our films' subjects) would have looked in its prime!

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Two descendants of an Irish king journey to the Blasket Islands Dingle,  he once presided over — not to re-claim the land, but to surf the waves.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/860217114/the-crest

Cut off from the surrounding world by treacherous ocean, a collection of rocky islands off the western-most coast of Ireland housed a people and a King. Constantly fighting against the threat of famine and cruel weather, this group of families helped preserve a language and culture that was forcibly taken from their country.

That was long ago. Since then, the Blasket Islands have become a cult topic, producing and inspiring nearly as many books as it had residents. One person frequently featured in these celebrated memoirs was known as “An Ri”: the King.

Among the King’s duties was to trek across miles of unforgiving ocean to the Dingle Peninsula for correspondence and supplies. After his death and the evacuation of the island, his descendants settled in America.

On opposite sides of the country, two of the King’s great great grandchildren would inherit a love for the ocean and make their way — unaware of the other’s existence — to the world of serious surfing. Upon discovering each other, they arrange to meet for the first time in the land of their unique heritage, to explore their history and satisfy a desire to conquer the dangerous water of The Blasket Islands. This isn’t coincidental — it’s in their blood.

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We're gearing up to head over to Dingle two weeks from today!

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Video: The Blasket Islands - Na Blascaodaí

Although now uninhabited, the Blasket Islands were once home to a thriving community, cut off from the rest of Ireland by the two miles of sea forming the Blasket Sound.

  Numbers dwindled over the years as emigration took its toll, but the final decision to evacuate the island came when the turf supply (the only source of fuel on the island) became scarce, and the last remaining islanders left the Great Blasket in 1953.

Aided by Government grants, the last inhabitants of the island were re-settled on the mainland, mostly in the parish of Dunquin. From their new home, the islanders could still look across the stormy Blasket Sound towards the little islands that held so many memories for them

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This video gives a good glimpse of some of the Blaskets' rugged and picturesque landscape.

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absolutely beautiful

Blasket Islands, County Kerry, Ireland (photo credit to Desmond Daly on TrekEarth.com)

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A unique portrait of the famous islands.