Publicity Release Posted: August 21, 2012 10:00:08 EST

Short Film Takes a Closer Look at the Signs the Homeless Create and Carry

LOS ANGELES, August 21, 2012 | SHOOT Publicity Wire | --- A film co-produced by Kids At Play and FearLess Cottage that explores the most fundamental, ever-present form of advertising – cardboard signs created by the homeless – has been accepted into 12 festivals, including the 2012 DC Shorts Film Festival, the largest gathering of its kind on the East Coast.

Before it became a 15-minute film, "Good Karma $1" began as a fascination by Alex Bogusky – former Crispin Porter + Bogusky executive creative director and founding partner and founding partner at Common and FearLess Revolution – with the street-level philanthropy and communication that happen through windshields. When you have no resources to share your message, Bogusky noted, the sign remains the simplest, most effective tool to do so. He began buying signs from the homeless as a way to understand this unspoken conversation that occurs at intersections.

"Good Karma $1" is about this vernacular familiar to all of us – as well as what happened when Bogusky and others tried to write their own signs. The making of the film was a collaboration between Bogusky, the Kids At Play team and Made Movement's Chief Creative Officer, Dave Schiff. A minute-long teaser to the film is here.



"In true documentary fashion, this film took a completely different path than what we originally set out to do," said Amy Laslett, producer and partner at Kids At Play. "The crew, and I think even Alex and Dave, experienced a shift in the voice of the film. As we progressed, it became much less about the signs and much more about the people flying them."

In addition to the DC Shorts Film Festival, which runs from Sept. 6 to Sept. 16, 10 more festivals will screen the film:

• the Rhode Island International Film Festival, Aug. 7 through Aug. 12;
• The San Francisco International Festival of Short Films, Sept. 6 through Sept. 8;
• LA Shorts Fest, Sept. 6 through Sept. 13;
• London's Raindance Film Festival, Sept. 26 through Oct. 7;
• the Vancouver International Film Festival, Sept. 27 through Oct. 12;
• the Edmonton International Film Festival, Sept. 28 through Oct. 6;
• the Mill Valley Film Festival, Oct. 4 through Oct. 14;
• the Austin Film Festival, Oct. 18 through Oct. 25;
• the Heartland Film Festival, Oct. 18 through Oct. 27;
• The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Oct. 19 through Nov. 11; and
• a monthly screening event through the HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, date to be determined.

About Kids At Play
Kids At Play is a one-stop production company that creates content for motion picture, television and digital mediums. Our team is young, eager, creative – and nimble, allowing for immediate starts on some of the most compelling projects in video. Our arsenal of producers, writers, directors and editors approach every project in a manner that is collaborative, relevant, engaging and unexpected, and our work is truly a team effort. Both literally and figuratively, we carry the bag and equipment.

Contact Info
Steve Sapka
Sapka Communications
305-479-5208