18/10/2019
I am extremely embarrassed to share this and I feel humiliated that I need to ask for help. Many of you have been following my difficult journey to make our movie Danger Close about the Battle of Long Tan for many years. Some of you have even tried to help me by writing letters to politicians, and much more. I can honestly say without your interest and engagement via this Battle of Long Tan page, I would have probably given up many years ago. Without you, the veterans, and their families, our movie Danger Close would simply never have been made. So thank you!
But after all this hard work I am now flat broke and I have been left with over $100k of debt. I have less than $500 in the bank and can't pay my rent, let alone buy a ticket to any upcoming awards events where our movie Danger Close is a finalist.
Over the past 16 years I have outlaid every single cent I could of my own money from my salary to tell this story, and I had to take on a lot of debt - over $500k - instead of taking holidays, buying property or doing other things. But the only money I have ever received over these 16 years is a total of $67k, and this was for the two and a half years of full-time work I spent formally producing the movie Danger Close.
I quit my full-time marketing job in March 2017 to try and finally get the movie made - or die trying - so I was totally reliant upon getting my intended producer fees for making the movie. However, until that was paid - most of it after the film was made - I had to borrow more money from friends and family just to pay my rent and live while I raised the money for the movie and then made it.
The last link in our financing chain for the movie was satisfying and securing our completion bond (think of it as comprehensive car insurance for a film). They did not believe we could make the movie on time or on budget and they would not proceed with the crucial bonding of the movie unless we substantially increased our contingency. By this stage there was absolutely no fat anywhere on the film to cut, and any further cuts would have really hurt what would be seen on screen. The only place left to increase the contingency was from our producer fees and so we were forced to reinvest almost all of our producer fees into the film, to be repaid only after our principal investors, and only if the film makes enough money. This could be at least two or more years away, if ever.
I have also never received a single cent for researching, writing and producing my documentary The Battle of Long Tan or been repaid the $200k I provided (mostly debt) to fund it. Sadly my then producing partner and director on my documentary ripped me off as well as many others, and fled to Los Angeles.
I know there is nothing special about my situation or me, and there are plenty of other people in much worse situations and are more deserving than me.
The past 16 years has never been about making money for me, I just wanted the veterans to be properly honoured and at the end of it all I might not be out of pocket. I have always put the veterans, crew, cast, investors, partners and others first, and me last.
This post and asking for help has created a lot of anxiety and I have debated for over a week now whether I should even post this, as I have to publicly acknowledge I have hit rock bottom. I have cried quite a few times over the past few months reflecting upon this long, extremely tough and emotional journey, where it has left me financially, and whether it was all worthwhile.
I am now 52 years old and I have been trying to get back into my old marketing career to try and earn some money in the short-term, but it's been a very frustrating exercise. A combination of my age and being out of the workforce for almost 3 years seems to be the cause. Meanwhile I've exhausted the last amount of money I had trying to find work and get some other projects off the ground.
To top things off, a few weeks ago I fractured my left knee and did an acute grade 2 injury to my left calf and have been on crutches since then. I had to use most of the last $2k I had for doctors and physio, but I haven't been able to afford to see them again for the past couple of weeks. I am also trying to sell my last prized possession, my car, to raise some funds.
I do want to make more great movies and documentaries and I hope I have demonstrated my ability to identify and produce great stories and films. I have four very exciting projects I’d like to produce over the coming years, but I can’t do any of that without first getting back on my feet and keeping a roof over my head.
I am hoping in return for producing my documentary and making it freely available online and without any advertisements, all the work I've done telling this story and supporting the veterans, and finally making the movie, that some of you might be kind enough to help me.
The full story and details are on the GoFundMe page at the link.
I know I might lose some followers on this page and lose the respect of some people, but I do hope you don't think any less of me for asking for help.
Kind regards,
Martin Walsh
Producer
Martin Walsh Help Martin Get On His Feet Many of you have been following my difficult journey to make our movie Danger Close about the Battle of Long Tan for
