Mary-Pat Green and Theresa Rebeck's Short Film WALK Starts Indiegogo Campaign, Donates Proceeds to ALS Association

Filmmaker Mary-Pat Green has teamed with celebrated playwright, television writer and novelist Theresa Rebeck for the independent short film WALK. While examining the personal struggle of one woman's battle with ALS, WALK asks the simple yet vital question, "When fate hands you a difficult ride, what's worth your time, and what's not?"

As WALK enters post-production, the producers have turned to Indiegogo for crowdsourcing support, with a campaign underway now through November 20.

Taking audiences on a poignant, humorous and gut-wrenching ride, WALK tells the fictional story of a woman in the overwhelming early stages of ALS. During a chance encounter in the park, she meets another struggling soul, and together they tackle life's biggest questions by examining what is truly valuable in today's fast-paced world. The result is a story that imparts wisdom about change, the future, and what makes something worthy of the time we have left.

WALK features a script by Pulitzer nominated playwright Theresa Rebeck, whose work has appeared on Broadway and Off-Broadway (Seminar, The Understudy, Mauritius, The Scene, The Water's Edge, Loose Knit, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, Bad Dates, and The Butterfly Collection), in film, and on television, most recently as the creator and executive producer of NBC's Smash (other credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue, Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A.

Law, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch). Ms. Rebeck's other writings include her novels "Three Girls and Their Brother," and "Twelve Rooms With A View," and "Free Fire Zone," a book of comedic essays about writing and show business.

WALK is directed by Mary-Pat Green, who began her career as an actress, appearing on Broadway in the original casts of Hal Prince's Candide and Sweeney Todd. As a director, her film credits include Even Stephen, selected for screening at more than a dozen film festivals around the world, as well as theatrical productions of Alfred Stieglitz Loves O'Keeffe at the Fremont Center Theatre, Theresa Rebeck's Great to See You at the Tiffany Theatre, Once In a Lifetime at the Hudson Theatre, and Nuncrackers, which received the ADA Award for Best Musical. Her film and television work includes: Fantastic Four, Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, Yes Man, The Breakup, In Her Shoes, xx, American Horror Story: Asylum, Murder In the First, Anger Management, and The Middle, and recurring and guest star roles on The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Any Day Now, Ally McBeal, The Drew Carey Show, Married With Children, Saving Grace, My Name Is Earl, Desperate Housewives, ER, NYPD Blue, and Friends.

WALK boasts an all-star cast, including Stephanie Michels, an NYU graduate who originated roles in The Life and Contact on Broadway, and whose film and television appearances include: Centerstage, The Producers, Cop Dog, Acts of Violence, CSI, Drop Dead Diva, Law & Order, NCIS and Lie To Me. WALK also stars Michael Dempsey, whose television credits include: Extant, Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory, Weeds, Lost, Madmen, Monk, ER, and Six Feet Under.

"In 1998, I was asked to direct a short play by Theresa Rebeck that focused on a woman struggling with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease," director Mary-Pat Green said. "I knew at the time what an amazing short film this play could be, but didn't have the resources to shoot it."

"Unbeknownst to me, original cast member Michael Dempsey had the same thought, and last year, along with Stephanie Michels, approached me about directing. The three of us joined together because we knew this story needed to be told. And it definitely needed to be seen by more people than the capacity of a small Los Angeles theatre. When we made the film, our crew worked tirelessly for very little or no compensation. The writer, director, and actors were unpaid. We were all simply compelled to tell this story," Green said.

As WALK enters the post-production phase, the producers have turned to Indiegogo for crowdsourcing support to raise $12,000 for costs associated with editing, color correction, music composition, scoring, sound design and mixing. A portion of proceeds will go to the ALS Association in partnership with the Cedars Sinai Medical Group.

To contribute on Indiegogo, visit igg.me/at/walkthefilm and for more information, visit: www.walkthefilm.com and follow the film on Twitter at @WalkMovie.

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