In this short life, all we have is one another.

Interview with Director/Writer/Producer Tim Rauch

Congratulations! Why are you making your film?

I am making Mushroom Park because I believe in love, redemption and the power of hand drawn animation.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Mushroom Park will take you places you'd never expect- hope, despair, anger, betrayal, redemption, joy, love, eternity and peace. The performances of our stars are riveting, our art director is an icon, our composer is a rising star in Hollywood, and the animation itself is transcendent. You will feel everything.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

In this short life, all we have is one another. Forgiveness is essential and redemption is always possible. That's what I've experienced in my own life and I'm guessing others have as well.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Mushroom Park was originally an exploration of both human relationships AND our place within space and time. Too much! I prefer simplicity, so I trimmed things back. The other big decision was to drop a large chunk of exposition preceding what is now "scene 1". Always good to keep things moving and focused.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People love what we're doing- the story, the acting, the design and animation. It's got a look and feel all its own and I can't wait to finish! We've raised 75% of our Kickstarter goal- just a little boost from your readers and we'll be able to share this truly unique film with the world!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I've got death as a central theme in a cartoon. On paper, that doesn't sound right to a lot of people. But I'm used to it- I co-created StoryCorps: The Animated Series on PBS, documentary shorts about cancer and 9/11 that were shown to audiences of all ages and won universal acclaim. You can do whatever you want with animation and I'm ready to prove it a second time.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I'm hoping like-minded humans who believe in the power of film and animation will help me reach my fundraising goal on Kickstarter. We can't wait to share Mushroom Park with the world and we've got great rewards to say "thank you!"

kickstarter.com/projects/1994234025/mushroom-park-the-animated-film

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We could use the support of anyone with access to a Facebook or Twitter account! Sharing the link to our Kickstarter page is a great way to help the film. I'd be thrilled to speak to any journalist, blogger or podcaster, and am really looking forward to sharing what we have with festival programmers.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Mushroom Park challenges us to live with more purpose and greater love. Preferably, you also feel entertained and amazed. Animation has limitless potential, and I aim to use it.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Ha! This is one I can't wait for - are the children dead and when did they die?

Can you have a happy ending where everyone dies?

Spoiler alert on that second one- my answer is "yes"!

Would you like to add anything else?

Mushroom Park is my vision of what animation can be - a method of film-making with total freedom for self expression. Cartoons are a universal language restrained by cultural expectation. It has to be for kids, it can't be intellectually challenging, and you certainly shouldn't kill anyone! Help me make Mushoom Park and together we can break down those walls.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am currently raising a 5 month old boy and readying several post-Mushroom Park pitches for networks and studios.

Art Director Bill Wray is a fine-artist and always has an exhibit of paintings on the horizon.

Composer Chad Cannon recently completed a major commission for the Slovenia Philharmonic - "Dreams of a Sleeping World".

Our stars, Betsy Sodaro & Shondalia White, both have booming careers as comedic performers in LA.

Interview: November 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Mushroom Park

In this short life, all we have is one another.

Length: 13 minutes

Director/Writer/Producer: Tim Rauch

Tim Rauch co-created the Peabody award-winning StoryCorps: The Animated Series. His work has been called "Must-see, can't-miss, your-life-depends-on-it-TV" (Time) and "highbrow, brilliant" (NY Mag).

Key cast:

Betsy Sodaro (Disjointed) as "Derek"

Shondalia White (American Horror Story) as "Roger"

Looking for:

Journalists, film festival directors

Social media handles:

Facebook: rauchbros

Twitter: Tim_Rauch

Instagram: tim_rauch

Vimeo: rauchbrothers

Funders: Independent + Kickstarter

Estimated completion date: July 2018