Help Bring This Project To Life...

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

This documentary feature has been a heartfelt passion project, involving years of extensive research and personal investment. And while we’ve already done a great deal of filming, there is still much work ahead of us.

Your support can help make this project a reality, and help preserve the legacy of an artist we lost all too soon.

AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is a sponsored project of FRACTURED ATLAS, a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts service organization legally registered as a charity to fundraise in all 50 states. Donations through this page are fully tax-deductible under the law.

...and your support recently helped us cross the $40k fundraising milestone! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed thus far!

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About the Film

AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is a forthcoming documentary profiling the life and work of RICHARD AMSEL (1947-1985).

One of the most prolific and popular American illustrators of the 1970s and 1980s, Amsel remains a titanic figure in the world of entertainment art. From his celebrated covers for TV GUIDE, to portraits of legendary personalities like Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and Barbra Streisand, to his remarkable posters for films such as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, HELLO DOLLY, THE STING, FLASH GORDON, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME, Amsel’s work has inspired generations of illustrators, and continues to be enjoyed by millions of art and film lovers around the world.

Tragically, Amsel’s life and career were all too brief, and the aim of the film is to celebrate his work, preserve his creative legacy, and shed light on an enigmatic life that was every bit as colorful and wondrous as the art itself.

Filmmaker Adam McDaniel has traveled extensively throughout the United States, conducting over 50 interviews with Amsel’s friends and family, colleagues, classmates, teachers, and art collectors, as well as new generations of artists who Amsel inspired.

In an exclusive arrangement with the Amsel estate, filmmaker Adam McDaniel is also developing an extensive retrospective book on Richard Amsel’s work and career, featuring selections from the hundreds of images McDaniel has collected over the years, including some that have never before been published, each digitally color-corrected and restored. This will allow for some of the artist’s most iconic works to be seen in a new and improved light.

Both endeavors represent the culmination of over a decade of research into Amsel's life and work.

RICHARD AMSEL
(1947-1985)

How to Contribute...

has fiscal sponsorship through FRACTURED ATLAS, a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts service organization legally registered as a charity to fundraise in all 50 states.

WHY FRACTURED ATLAS?

Fractured Atlas is a nationally recognized service organization benefiting the needs of arts groups as well as individual artists in all disciplines. Founded in 1998, their fiscal sponsorship will allow the documentary to receive tax-deductible donations through individuals, grants, and crowdfunding campaigns. All monetary donations to the project through Fractured Atlas, where no goods or services have been exchanged, are fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

CAN I DONATE ONLINE?

Yes! The Fractured Atlas website can accept online donations by credit card through this link.

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Fractured Atlas does not assess any additional fee to cover the credit card processing expense.

CAN I DONATE BY CASH OR CHECK?

Checks are accepted, and should be made out to "Amsel: Illustrator of the Lost Art c/o FRACTURED ATLAS".

Please mail to:

c/o Adam McDaniel

CINEMALAD PRODUCTIONS
930 Ocean View Ave.

Unit D

Monrovia, CA 91016

USA

NOTE: Please do NOT make checks payable to Cinemalad Productions or Adam McDaniel. Fractured Atlas is our fiscal sponsor, and all financial contributions to the project should be through them. This ensures complete transparency, accurate tax filings, and that your donation is 501(c)(3) tax-deductible where applicable by law.

CAN I MAKE A NONCASH DONATION?

Any item or service can be donated in-kind. Donations of tangible goods are considered noncash donations by Fractured Atlas. They can accept almost any type of donated noncash item for the purposes of the project, and issue a receipt to the donor for the item. The notable exceptions are vehicle donations, airline miles, and airline tickets, as Fractured Atlas does not have the facilities to process such donations.

Noncash donations will require a completed NONCASH DONATION LETTER in order to qualify as tax-deductible. Donors should complete this letter and send it either by email to richardamselproject@gmail.com, or by direct mail. Donation letters will be forwarded to the Fractured Atlas team for proper reporting and tax records.

WHAT ABOUT DONATIONS OF SERVICES?

We would strongly value any contributions of services toward our project, from those willing to donate their time, talents, and efforts. Please be aware, however, that such donations of services (such as pro-bono accounting/legal help) are considered in-kind donations by Fractured Atlas. These donations are undoubtedly valuable, but they are not tax deductible under the law, so Fractured Atlas cannot issue receipts for them.

CAN I VOLUNTEER TO BE A PART OF THE PRODUCTION?

Yes yes yes! We'd always value people's help!

Those looking for crewing or volunteer opportunities may inquire by email to richardamselproject@gmail.com.

Rewards Perks

PERKS AND PROMOS FOR 2023!

After all these years, it’s strange to think that this project will finally take shape and see the light of day. It’s been a long journey, but a very rewarding one. All the people I’ve gotten to know…and the friends I’ve made… It’s inspiring.

I’m a filmmaker, but was never much of a showman. So when it comes to reaching out to the public about fundraising and donations, I’m admittedly pretty lousy. I’m usually too introverted and shy to “pitch” things, and hope that word-of-mouth would be enough.

I also didn’t want to exploit Richard Amsel’s name or work for my own gain. That’s why I ultimately wanted this project to have 501c3 fiscal sponsorship for non-profit status. Whereas venues like GoFundMe and Kickstarter generate money through “selling” something, those who donate to our project benefit by knowing that their contributions are fully tax-deductible, where applicable by law.

But I also wanted to offer additional incentives – and it’s only fitting that a crowdfunding campaign should offer rewards “perks” as a means to thank people for their generosity.

Previous promotions were limited to every few months, and involved donation raffles for large prints. This was done so that even someone making a small donation could still have a chance to win. The downside to this, however, was that there was no guarantee of rewards for those making larger contributions; it doesn’t seem fair to leave a generous donor empty-handed.

For 2023, I want to try something a little different.

First, raffle promotions will now be on an ongoing monthly basis*, with different prizes offered each month.

More importantly, every contribution of $225 or more will automatically be rewarded with a large print of the donor’s choice. This perk is our way of saying “Thank you!” for your generous donation.

ABOUT LARGE PRINTS

Sizes of the large print will vary by art, but prints will be at least 20"x30". Also, if there's a particular image you're looking for, please inquire, as not all the images I have available are suitable for high quality reproduction. Also, if there's a particular image you're looking for, please inquire, as not all the images I have available are suitable for high quality reproduction. (Options include -- but not limited to – textless versions of RAIDERS, THE DARK CRYSTAL, FLASH GORDON, THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE STING, select TV GUIDE cover illustrations, and many, many others...)

Many of these art reprints were made directly from photographs or transparencies taken of Amsel's original artwork, and were professionally scanned and color-corrected. None of these reproductions are intended for commercial sale.

ABOUT THE RAFFLES

Those who donate at least $10 to our project will be entered to win the current raffle. You can enter multiple times, with $10 for each entry.
Every $40 donation will automatically receive a series of postcards, as well as 4 entries for the current raffle.
Every $100 donation will automatically receive a series of postcards and 8x10" prints, as well as 12 entries for the current raffle.

*NOTE: Raffle promotions may need to be extended in order to meet the threshold of covering the costs and shipment of prizes. Winners will not be responsible for any shipping fees, and will be drawn at random.

February's Raffle:

The first raffle prize of the year will be an original one sheet (27x41”) of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, from the film’s 1982 rerelease.

This is NOT a reprint, but an unrestored, folded poster with some light edge and fold wear, corner bends, slight fold separations, creases, and subtle ink in the left border. (Picture above is of the actual poster.)

This poster was purchased from Heritage Auctions back in 2021.

Entries must be received before midnight Pacific time on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.

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