In the past, I’ve sent you information about high quality, compelling arts events, and now here’s something that’s close to my heart: a documentary about the life and of my brother, James Austin McDowell (1948-1972). The eldest of six children, Jim died as a civilian in in 1972 in Saigon, Vietnam. I was five. As the youngest, I have become fascinated with his life story and have sought to meet and interview everyone around the world who knew him during his short life.

Having worked on this project for several years now, I am running an Indiegogo campaign to fund an upcoming trip to Vietnam, as well as to help with some US travel and editing related to the film.

Jimmy left behind nearly 200 letters, most of which were written to my parents, and some to other friends, such as David Sauer. One quote which I cherish, he wrote on a postcard: “One can do a lot of living in a short time. Or of course, just the opposite.” I believe in this philosophy and I am thrilled to explore his 24 short years on this earth during the remaining time that I myself have on this earth.

I invite you to join our generous and pioneering team of initial donors and give generously. Your support will help us with the enormous costs of bringing a film crew to Saigon, which we will do by the end of 2016. Additional costs of further travel, logging, editing, equipment, personnel, and research for this project will be extensive and will only be possible through the generosity of supporters.

I am very grateful to our current donors, listed below. Won’t you consider joining them and donate $30 or more to this project? If you can’t give at this time, help us spread the word.

THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT DONORS! WON’T YOU JOIN THEM?:

Tony Adams, Liliana Amador-Marty, Michael Anderson, Michelle Areyzaga, Naomi Ashley, John Atorino, John Attebury, Sean Attebury, James Barham, Andrew Beall, Angela Bender, Sara Berliner, Michael Blossom, Guy Brenner, E. Brooklyn, Tong-Ching Chang, Stephen Couch, Deana Cizek, Jonathan Crosby, Ken Cutler, John Dimond, Eileen Dohnalek, Deborah Doering, Glenn Doering, Edwin Douglass, Sonia Dumont, Joseph Erbentraut, John Faier, David Fink, Nathaniel Finney, Jane Flynn-Royko, Paula Hanssen, Allison Holton, Lark Huang-Storms, Andrew Ingall, Helen Jameson, David Johnston, Sarah Jourdain, Joan Juster, Jonathan Kagle, Jodi Kaplan, Lisa Kaplan, Trudi Kessler, Eunbi Kim, Gregory Knight, Patricia Knowles, Rebecca Kriz, Yvonne Lam, Debra Lane, Lisa Leshne, Laura Lynch, Jess Main, Ann McDowell, Sarah Mirkin, Jules Morgan, Martin Mulcahy, Ann Murray, Susan Noel, James Palermo, Elizabeth Paley, Kelly Parsell, Luan Parsell, David Paul, Kathryn Perich, Bruce Poster, Warren Prince, Helen Rashad, Dylan Rice, William Ricker, Alexia Rivera, Benjamin Rivera, Julia Rhoads, Amy Rosenthal, Ari Salomon, Aviva Saloman, Carrie Sandahl, David Sauer, Dan Savage, Jim Schiff, Jeffrey Schwarz, Tony Scott-Green, Todd Shalom, Susan Shure, Aaron Siegel, Kenneth Simonson, Adam Singer, Catherine Smitko, Hank Stuever, Lily Szujewski, Beau Takahara, Emi Takahara, Todd Walker, Lilli Weisz, Audrey Wells, Heather White, Yoriko Yamamoto, Leah Zagreus, and YOU.

THANKS to Martine Granby, Liz Kaar, Dan Savage, Phil Batta, Sacha Mullin, Nikki Joshi, and Helen Vasey who have helped with this current campaign. And SPECIAL THANKS to our kind and generous perk donors who gave given all of the amazing services and items as rewards.