filmman launches GOLD DIGGERS on KickStarter.com

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Nathyn wrote: You may want to think about making the women Black and Hispanic (or Black and Asian) and call this film "Gold Diggaz", you, may make some money in the urban market. LOL.
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I will probably have a racially mixed cast for this movie anyway. Gold Diggaz! I like that :-)
 
Jon Starr wrote: All we have are two girls that are just reading lines, somewhat unprofessionally shot (sorry) by what looks like a crew of one. You need to show some professionalism....

Not to be mean, but the poster looks like it's from an old '95 geocities page, with the silly font, the low res pictures, the strange non-descriptive images blended awkwardly, the cheap photoshop filters, etc.
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You have made two good points. I appreciate your comments. It really helps me to hear these things ... even though I'm a professional cameraman, you know -- if you review my work and my credits. But the point about "two girls reading lines" is really true, and it's my fault; I was in a hurry, with a copter buzzing overhead (trying to ruin my shoot -- LA is funny that way). You're right, it's important to work with actors that are well-trained and not just going through the motions. I'm not making excuses for myself; I cast them. ... Here is another thing you should consider: I'm making felliniesque movie not -- this is not an excuse -- I choose to work like this ... with 35mm! For me it is cheaper and better to shoot 35mm. I get the look that I want and I already have the equipment and the know how to shoot cinema verite, which is to my liking as a filmmaker. I'm essentially going to make creative documentaries and not genre films -- this is going to be my style for my own self-financed zero budget movies LOL -- an oxymoron, I know.

The poster, Jon, is not excuse too -- you're 100% on the money (and I had a geocities page too LOL that's when I learned Photoshop -- on my own!)

Thanks again for the comments.
 
Zak wrote: I've got two good friends who have had successful kickstarter campaigns for $25k and $30k. take a look at their page, deconstruct and use as a guide. I think what's working against you here Vic is the lack of information on your page and the fact that your pitch video has nothing to do with the project you're raising funds for.
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Oops, I accidentally erased this ....

Ok, here it goes again: thanks, Zak. I reviewed the two projects. I learned a lot from them.

The funny thing is that this thread has been the most commented on here. So there must be something about this project that has struck a chord.

I appreciate your comments. I'm definitely going to work on my pitch and the presentation of my project on kickstarter. I still have time to get it funded.

With respect to the video clip showing me shooting 35mm, I only wanted to show the way I work -- basically I shoot 35mm and I like to shoot alone, cinema verite style, making it up as I go. I don't plan anything, and I prefer to shoot documentary style. This time I'm going to be working with a script I wrote some years ago, which I still like -- because I'm asking for funding on kickstarter, so I figured I'd work from a script this time. I generally shoot no-budget movies, so $25,000 (if funded) will be a big budget for me.LOL
 
Azmyth wrote: I tried the kickstarter thing myself, and I "thought" I had something interesting enough up there for people to want to donate. I even had a video of me explaining the project, what my goals were, and a pre teaser I made up [and] still couldn't garner any interest (and I blasted my page everywhere, and promoted it like crazy.) Its almost like trying to get people to watch a youtube video. Unless its something cool and different, they don't care.
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I really appreciate your sharing this with me; it's something I was thinking of doing, but I need to work on the poster, as you suggested and coming up with a new teaser for sure.
 
ikander wrote: But, I'd rethink this a bit. I mean, do you honestly think that "Poster" looks...good?
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Er, I think you might be right :-)

No, it doesn't look good at all. What was I thinking? LOL It's back to the drawing board, I'm afraid. Thanks, for commenting.
 
filmman said:
With respect to the video clip showing me shooting 35mm, I only wanted to show the way I work -- basically I shoot 35mm and I like to shoot alone, cinema verite style, making it up as I go. I don't plan anything, and I prefer to shoot documentary style. This time I'm going to be working with a script I wrote some years ago, which I still like -- because I'm asking for funding on kickstarter, so I figured I'd work from a script this time. I generally shoot no-budget movies, so $25,000 (if funded) will be a big budget for me.LOL
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Nothing against shooting 35mm nor against not shooting genre, but people want to see you involved with the actors and crew. Seeing a director off in the distance shooting a scene with little to defeats the purpose you're going for. Even if you're making a felliniesque film relationships. Drive a story. Right now the only story you really have is you want to make a movie and that's what you're selling. You're relationship with the actors should be seen if you want to show yourself directing. In Crank 2's BTS we see them working with Stratham and Smart. Here's a non-action production with one guy shooting. It looks like it has some budget, but knowing what we know about filmmaking this is probably a small budget movie:



The example Zak gave: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grking/how-do-you-write-a-joe-schermann-song-a-feature (see I told you Zak would know, LOL) is probably the best example of what you should be creating for your film. Dude got over his goal by the way.

-Nate
 
Thanks, Nate. I watched the whole BTS clip that you posted. It's amazing how digital filmmakers have carried over the 35mm way of shooting movies to digital filmmaking. The little plastic camera is treated like a Mitchell on a dolly and the Key Grip is dollying on every take. I'm amazed. Really interesting to see how much production value this cameraman-director got out of the dolly. And it was interesting to see the need for a huge reflector to deal with video's inability to deal with contrast beyond 4:1.

And it was wonderful to see all these people making a "Hollywood movie" somewhere out there. This couldn't have been done here. The subject matter too. I mean, I really liked that.

I'm really happy that kickstarter funds such projects too. I might even put up a Christian-themed movie myself next time (especially if the GOLD DIGGERS doesn't get funded.)
 
but for me it's back to basics... I'm making a felliniesque movie again, and the poster is the first item on my list to change, then the teaser-trailer. I'll do that later today.
 
Here is the new teaser and art work for the GOLD DIGGERS. I think now there will be a mad rush to fund this project :-) Let me know what you guys think.
Click on this link to see the teaser > http://kck.st/9RMqzg
 
Friend, you're going to have to take that DV camera out and shoot a prepro reel. You're a filmmaker, isn't this what you love. I'd pull the Kick Starter thing and redo it with a whole know vid. And stop with low quality posters. It's 2010. No one's going to steal your art and if they do so what.

And as for the vid if you're doing a "Party at the Palms" movie or if you're raising money to get Tara Reid to do "Wild on Tara: The Movie" then this is your trailer. I'm on board, but I don't think this has a thing to do with gold diggers. Now if you want to change your story, you can make this work...

"Three luscious gold diggers hunt rich men in LA's swank night spots, but the tables are turned when they match wits with a charming shyster."

Even still you'd need more than just this. Put an ad on Craigslist. It takes less then 20 minutes. Cast your actors. How hard is it to find hot chicks who can act in LA? I can do it Chicago (have you seen my Facebook). Seriously, if you want this project to go, you have to make it happen and honestly you don't seem to care about it. It's like something you saw in a dream and said, "Heck why not?" and you're just trying to throw it together without doing the footwork.

I know you love film, but right now brush the DV cam off and shoot something fresh and new for this. Use Zak's examples. It will take you two weeks to a month come up with something and I'm not talking about using old footage from the "Red Queen" stuff.

-Nate
 
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I'm not good at Jack Nicholson impersonations, but here it goes:

"What can I say, when you're right, you're right. ... And you're right!"

It's back pounding the pavement.

Maybe I should do a proof of concept.... That would take less effort.
 
Nathyn's right, it doesn't feel like the heart is there yet. Kickstarter has to have a lot to get people itnerested. A great video that engages the viewer, explains the concept (they want to see the faces behind the camera) something on set, maybe some actual footage.

Look at Similo. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikehedge/vfx-for-sci-fi-shortfilm-similo

They needed only the visual effects to be completed. They came on with a widely popular test video (the current Similo short) as a proposal to make something bigger. On top of that they let you know EXACTLY where the money is going. They talk about the film, some of the technical aspects, and they even show some concept art of the visual effects that need to be done.Then some clips of the test video and some stuff from the new film. We see who's behind it and everything is clear. What's clear is that they are proffesional, they know what they need, they've shown what they can do, and what they want to do.

Compare this to what you've shown, which is nowhere near this level IMO. I'm not saying you're not a proffesional though as my last post may have implied. I'm sure you have far more experience than I, but then if that's the case you should be showing us how experienced you are and shell out something amazing that makes people HAVE to give you money.

I'm poor, with student debt and hardly working. If it weren't for my insane debt I would have also contributed to the Similo kick starter. That's how effective it was for me. But then again they have close ties to DVXuser.

I'm planning on making a sci-fi short, which will need a lot of funding to make into reality. I plan on using kickstarter, but not without loads of pre-production. I want to have a test video, concept art and lots more before I even ask for funding and applying for grants.
 
Hi Jon, I learned a lot from your post. It takes a lot of effort to convince people to contribute -- more than getting them to invest. Of course, I know we can't mention the word "invest" anymore. They should actually make it punishable by death for anyone to use the word.LOL

What's really sad is that sometimes I forget why I wanted to stay an independent; in the time that it takes me to formulate my appeal for funds I can actually shoot the movie. As for funding, I really prefer to use my own funds. This way it's like working as a traditional artist -- paint, brushes & canvass.

I know that this doesn't make any sense for young people who want to do traditional style movies. You have to go through all the steps and jump through all the hoops; I can sympathize, because for the budgets you have to work there is no other way.

People don't want to donate even one dollar without knowing what it's going to be used for. This is not for me :-) I'm a felliniesque filmmaker; I make movies the way I dream -- effortlessly and almost subconsciously.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. If there is anything I can do for you let me know. I have worked on traditional movies and I continue to look for production work as cinematographer, especially if people want to shoot 35mm. I have all the equipment and film too.

I'll let the project I posted at kickstarter float in cyberspace until it finds itself a happy home. It's now called Gold Digger at the Well.
 
same here. I am going to use KS to fund the next stage of Mnemonica; web site, professional packaging

I have three trailers and I plan on adding behind the scenes footage, plus actor and crew interviews.
 
Well, it makes more sense after having shot a movie to use Kickstarter for raising marketing funds. Because by the time you have shot all the movie you have enough to draw a good trailer from; but if you haven't shot the movie, then what are you going to show them? What BTS? I can understand doing a poster, but even that has to be a simple and preliminary piece of artwork.

Now, if you have a sci-fi movie or similar and can do a proof of concept, then ok, you can go out there and spend a day creating something to tell the funders what you're up to....
 
I wonder if people would be receptive of trying to raise money on KS to get a named actor to work on a film that would otherwise be impossible to get.. hmmm... ideas!
 
Azmyth, I was thinking along those lines; but that's a good idea. I was thinking more like finishing the movie and asking the funders to help distribute it, promote it and sell DVDs for a commission. That's much better than to give them a T-shirt for investing $500! Or just giving them a DVD of a movie they might not even want to take the time to watch it. I'd be happy to give them 30% commission for selling DVDs. Hell, I'll give them that to sell the RED QUEEN for me and they don't even have to fund it.LOL
 
But no matter what, you still have to have a professional package. Why do you think I changed my covers so many times. As time went on I learned what looked more professional. And the reaction is there. Look at my "Divinity" link. When I did the poster people commented but the result was much better when I did the new ones. They were more professional and attention grabbing. You have the same problem many of us have. You love to shoot and create the project, but once it's done you lose interest in the marketing and such that goes with it. You may simply need to pay someone to package and market your project. As well as stop shooting yourself in the foot by posting low quality art thrown together art.

-Nate
 
I know, I have to work on the art work longer and harder. I posted another piece on my Kickstarter page.

Another thing; I read this article today > Posted by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Sat 1st May 2010 22:17 UTC

"You see, there is something very important, that the vast majority of both consumers and video professionals don't know: ALL modern video cameras and camcorders that shoot in h.264 or mpeg2, come with a license agreement that says that you can only use that camera to shoot video for "personal use and non-commercial" purposes (go on, read your
manuals).

The full articles is at http://www.osnews.com/story/23236/W..._Art_and_Culture_is_Threatened_by_the_MPEG-LA
 
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