The Background Story (How we got here):

First of all thanks for taking the time to read up on our incredible story. It means a lot, truthfully. My name is Michael Todd and I am a writer, actor, director and musician, struggling like any other twenty something to be succesful, but also just to have some stability in this world.

This fundraising campaign is to help me raise enough money, for me and my girlfriend Anastasia from Tyumen, Russia to finally meet after two years of having an intimate friendship that grew into the deepest love two people can share and film it to bring this truly, one in 7 billion story, to as many people as possible.

I feel like giving you, the potential benefactor, a deeper background to the story that your investing in. It is important to Anastasia and I to be integral and to let you know your money is going to something worth while.

SO HERE GOES.... I met Anastasia two years ago on a lonely night in my life where I just felt like having someone to talk to. Me and my friends had always joked about ChatRoulette, and rightly so! Sad to say the joke "50 dicks later you see a real person," is no joke. Anyways, after about 15 minutes and now being at a razor thin divide between just closing the chat window and going to sleep or staying up a little longer and seeing what happens, Anastasia came onto my computer screen.

She wasn't wearing any make-up, her hair was in a pony-tail that I have come to know so well and she wore a plain white tank-top with a pair of lounge pants she made for herself. She was just her; friendly, but kind of shy and unsure of if she wanted to take a chance on me. I impatiently started typing, hoping she wouldn't just hit the NEXT button and think I was just another random person or creep.

Now that I think back on it, those were the longest 15 to 20 seconds of my life. They were also the luckiest! We talked and within minutes there was a connection, something; you could sense it but couldn't name it, and then I asked the question that can either be the killing blow for anyone when they meet someone fun, interesting and attractive, or a ray of sunshine.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Her response was simple, but honest, "yes, I do." Not only did she have a boyfriend, but she had been dating him for four years. I was let down, but let it go and realized I had no opportunity 6,100 miles away in America while she was in Russia, halfway around the world and with one guy for four years and was happy but disappointed in some ways that I was in the "friend zone."

That one conversation turned into a close friendship of many conversations on Skype (Thank you, God for Skype!!) that was open and honest, that also maintained a high level of respect for her committed relationship that I never tried to challenge, because I did not want to lose her as the close friend she became. I'd be lying if I said it was easy keeping that equilibrium, but I wasn't going to chance losing someone who had become so special to me over the course of a year to something as selfish as my own desires that met a brick wall head on.

We would ask each other for relationship advice, talk about our lives, anything and everything, and the hours would fly by like minutes. I dated a few girls in the course of that year and eventually they would find out about Anastasia and be "OK" with it because Anastasia was 6,100 miles away and had a boyfriend of now almost 5 years.

But in October of 2012 around the time I was dating another girl, one of a few in the course of that year, I got a long Facebook text from her saying she and her boyfriend had broken up. My eyes widened and my heart raced as I layed in bed next to my girlfriend (at the time) after coming back from a night out. I read over the text a few more times and thought through what to do, what to say knowing she was looking for honest advice from a close friend.

I told her to be strong and trust her judgements, whichever way they led her and that I was, as always, one of her closest friends and that she could talk to me anytime about anything. The truth of it is, I didn't hear as much from her in the next month after Anastasia and her boyfriend broke up.

She was 6,100 miles away, but over the last year she became more and more of a daydream. She was my best friend and I was crazy about her, but tried filling the void with what seemed possible, but honestly with girls that were at best shadows of what Anastasia had always been.

I got over my ex-girlfriend fairly quickly and began planning in my head how to get Anastasia from Tyumen, Russia to me here in the United States and not only that, but how to somehow win her heart from 6,100 miles away. By the time August 2012 had rolled around we were talking more than ever and I told her that I was done making excuses and that we needed to meet. I still remember her face and the smile she shot back at me and a month later in late November when I told her how I felt about her and that if she were here I would want nothing less than to date her and for her to be mine.

What I said wasn't news to her, it was obvious and we both knew it, but now the obvious had been spoken and thrust into the spotlight. She finally and shyly admitted how she looked at me, and always had as more than a friend and how she cared for me so much, as much as I did for her, but that realistically we had our own lives 6,100 miles apart. I agreed, but said that I didn't and wouldn't change how I felt or that she couldn't change how she felt and that we were both free to do as we wanted. She agreed and the relationship did nothing but grow.

Over the next year I began to save as much as I could. We planned more and more and settled on her coming to America. As I told my close friends more and more about her they were happy, but hesitant and ohh man did the jokes fly about mail-order brides and the sex trade industry, but also that I should be careful and that she was sure to ask me for money to help her cover her travel expenses and then never show. Never once has she asked, to this day for a dime.

I will admit I was paranoid of this. Anyone would be a fool not to be and not to at least hear the concerns of your close friends and family. But I was quick to let anyone know that she had never proven to be anything but my best friend and that she had never asked anything of me except my time and honesty.

It was in early February of this year where after researching airline tickets for months that the universe cut us a break from the normal price of $2000 - $3000 and I found one for $757.00 round trip to New York. She hurridly made the purchase with her own money she had been saving and it was an hour later she sent me a screen shot of the purchased ticket. After a year and a half it was no longer wishing and hoping, it was happening. She was coming to be with me for a whole month! I was truly the happiest man on earth.

We continued to shop for cheap tickets for the rest of her flights from New York to Dallas, but we decided for to her to hold off on buying one until she had her visa approved by the US government. Meanwhile we planned a roadtrip for the entire month of her stay, hitting different cities and the natural wonders all across America, and trying to get it sponsored and filmed and turned into a roadtrip documentary. It was to be her first time in America. Our first time to meet. We met online on a chat website designed to choose people at random. How would someone not want to help us out and film it and get a month worth of completely unique and marketable footage at a bargain basement cost?!

I worked endlessly on researching who to speak with, trying to find funding and even a group of my closest friends jumped on seeing it's worth and value from not only a production and story stand point, but also how incredible it was that we had found each other and shared the deepest of connections.

On August 7, 2013; her flights, our roadtrip, the money spent to get us to where we were, and all of the hardwork to turn it into a documentary; that Anastasia, me and 9 other people had slaved over was crushed in one United States consulate visa interview in Yekaterinburg, Russia. She was denied a visa based on being too young and not having her own residence, while the United States consulate managed to overlook her bachelors degree in Economics and working at an accredited financial firm for over a year.

Meanwhile my situation here in the United States has turned into rather a dire one as well. I have my bachelors degree like Anastasia, but like many in the demographic of twenty-something I have found it almost impossible to find a job befitting my skills or giving a stable income. I have extingusished the vast majority of my savings for our trip together to make sure I can stay alive. This has also cost me selling many personal things (music equipment, a computer, furniture, etc.) I was given an offer letter last week at a Marketing firm after 6 months of searching and two days later it was taken back from me. This job was the embodyment of making our dreams come true. While days later her visa was denied as well. This was literally the worst week of both our lives as we watched a year of hard and dilligent work crumble beneath us with nothing to do but carry on and march forward.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE HERE AND NOW. We have reformatted our travel plans to us flying to Paris in the next three to four months. I personally have committed every penny possible to making this happen as has Anastasia, but we need your help to make this FINALLY a reality. I have been working odd-jobs to stay afloat, but it is far from the money needed to make this happen for both of us.

By now I am sure you see the grand and epic story of love, hardship and devotion this has turned into; but also how incredible this story would be to film as it is happening. Two people who have never met face to face but share such deep care and love for eachother, that are willing to fight through anything, not just as best friends or lovers, but as companions and soul mates. Any little bit will help us in our efforts in making this production a reality. As an aspiring author I also intend on making this my second book. I am currently writing my first novel and close to completion.

We plan on finding cheap accomodations in Paris over the three week period, but also traveling by rail to many other places through out France by train, bus and bicycle and adventuring around the country, backpacking. We will also be blogging and posting our journey everyday. A more established itinerary will be posted as we draw closer to our travel date.

Any contribution will be greatly and appreciatively accepted from both of us. To you as the would be benefactor $5, $25 or $100 may seem trivial, but to us it is priceless. For each donation in addition to a copy of the documentary, I will also be taking down the contact information of each contributor and will be mailing a signed copy of the published novel when it is completed.

Anastasia and I thank you very much for your time and consideration and I hope you will help us to reach our goal and eachother, finally; after, two, long, arduous years. Thank you again and thank you for your contributions! :D

The $25,000 is just a number to cover the "ideal" in terms of filming / production costs. We want to ensure a complete and professional job with the production to make sure it stands out and shows itself to be as unique and groundbreaking as it truly is.

We plan on sending this into all major film festivals around the world and selling digital copies ($2) and DVD's for $5. That is where the majority (75%) of your donations are going. Again we appreciate your time and even if you can't give or donate we'd love to hear from you. Thank you again for your support. :)

What We Need & What You Get

So here is the skinny on what we need to make this happen!

Airfare / /visa / documentation costs: $5,000

Food costs: $2100 ($50 a day per person over a three week period)

Equipment costs: (2) Canon Rebel 5 Mark III: $4,600 ($2300 per camera)

(1) Apple Macbook Pro: $1,500

(1) GoPro Hero3: $400

(1) External hardrive (2 terabytes): $200

Train/Bus/Taxi costs: $1,500

Emergency costs: $1,000

Living Accomodations: $2,000 (In Paris, this is pretty "on the cheap" for three weeks, but still not a hostel. We don't need or want anything 5*star.)

Cameraman (on-site in France): $2,000 (covers all travel/food/labor costs.)

Production / Post-production costs: $5,000 (We have been shopping and this seems the average price for all production, post-production and duplication costs. The production costs also cover the $1,000 - $1,500 it will cost to send the film in for film festivals around the world.)

(If you are willing to loan any of the equipment to us that is just as good! Also both of us are experienced photographers and have broad understanding of all of the equipment and the respect it deserves.)

*We will also be posting video and pictures daily on our blog and also on Instagram, so you can follow us through the whole 3 weeks in Paris!*

*If we do not reach our entire goal, we still make it work somehow! Promise!*

:D

*PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS!! :)*

The Impact

Your contribution will mean EVERYTHING to us and will be money WELL spent!

-We know this documentary will impact people! It will show how two people no matter the circumstances can still find each other, meet and share something most people only dream of if only they would trust and be open to the world around them and be open to the experience life brings.

-This documentary will show how connections through the internet can still be real, heartfelt and inspirational to everyone and create lasting friendships for life that translate into real life. It will also document the impact of pursuing your dreams and never giving up on them and bring true inspiration to anyone who watches it; in knowing that nothing is impossible if you are willing to truly fight for it.

-The documentary will also show that love, no matter a language, a place or a time is still one of the most transcendent emotions that people can share with eachother.

Other Ways You Can Help

-We would love to hear from you regardless of if you can or can not make a contribution. We know that we are not the only ones out there who are not afraid to dream big and go out and chase down those very same dreams!

-If you have anyone or know of an organization who would like to help us or know more about our story and this production, we want to know them too!

-Donating air miles

-Donating equipment

-Loaning us the equipment necessary

-Sponsoring/Partnering with the production

The $25,000 is just a number to cover the "ideal" in terms of filming / production costs. We want to ensure a complete and professional job with the production to make sure it stands out and shows itself to be as unique and groundbreaking as it truly is.

We plan on sending this into all major film festivals around the world and selling digital copies ($2) and DVD's for $5. That is where the majority (75%) of your donations are going. Again we appreciate your time and even if you can't give or donate we'd love to hear from you. Thank you again for your support. :)