FEATURE: For once in my life I'm stuck for words on how to start this thread

jpbankesmercer

jpbankesmercer

Director Mod
I find myself in a terrible position. Let me explain and no I'm not begging, I'm putting the truth down as my last option.

I recently shot UHF / Untitled Horror Film on the Blackmagic its my first feature film. I've shot 90% I raised the initial budget by selling virtually all of my film equipment (Thankfully Ive managed to keep hold of one camera, my DVX, great because I ended up shooting my KickStarter video with it) and selling various other things. My co-writer also matched what I put in.

I nearly managed to shoot it all in a finite time period but, sub zero temperature (it snowed), broken generators, FX shots going wrong, plus the usual hiccups broke into the schedule and left me short on what I needed to complete.

I got pro-active and started a KickStarter campaign, I'm not an expert in this area, but it isn't going as well as I hoped.

I've been directing for a long time now and I know I've got something special with this film. I've dealt with enough heartache, horrible corporate clients, outright disasters, over zealous briefs, primas plus the odd success to be objective about what I can produce and achieve.

I've shot an intelligent horror with an incredible lead and great supporting cast. The location itself (Wythenshawe Hall) is to die for (no pun intended) its a 500 year old Tudor run down superstar in its own right.

I need help - either to point out where I'm going wrong with the KickStarter or cash support via Pledges (there are some cool rewards)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1745680257/uhf-untitled-horror-film

All I'm asking at this point is for you just to check out the project and see if it captures your imagination. It all started for me here at DVXUSER, seems apt that it could finish here without my community's help.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Jp
 
In my opinion and experience, Kickstarter (and Indiegogo) is just a tool for your friends and family to donate. It is not a tool to reach out to strangers or investors-- It's a myth that investors are looking through these sites for interesting projects. So first, I'll start by saying cancel your Kickstarter and build your own webpage with a PayPal donate button. That way you aren't losing 5-12% to the website. It's not some miracle website, it's just a business that essentially exploits independent projects with ostensible exposure.

What's your marketing strategy? If your goals are to raise money, why don't you simply contact accredited investors with a pitch package? That's your best bet. Don't rely on internet traffic, because the people finding your page are just people who are looking to fund their own projects as well-- And the film industry is NOT a symbiotic industry. Everyone is just out for themselves.
 
I would disagree with Brickhouse, I ran a Kickstarter and I had surprisingly more support from random people surfing Kickstarter than I did from some friends and family. People you think would donate, don't. You have to directly contact and ask people for their support. You have to literally call them up, get them to an event of some sort to get them to donate. It's very hard unless your video just really connects with people. I've found that people who had the best luck, had very short and exciting videos.

Just look at Kick Me, the guy only has 418 friends on his Facebook page, he has less than half the network you have. I followed him on their back when he put it up and very few people liked or commented on his wall posts. He was getting funds completely outside of his network flowing in...
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/374591775/kick-me
 
Looks like a fun place to shoot, I watched the clip with the anomalies at 2:32, I don't mean to burst your bubble, but thats just a simple lens flare, if you notice, it moves exactly with the camera movement, I have had the same experience many times, and I admit at first glance it does look like a weird orb, but speed it up and watch it move with your cams movement.

With that said, good luck with the project, looks really good so far!! I like your lead female, she a strong actor.
 
Brickhouse / Robert > I think there is a lot of wisdom in those two relies, I also think that the truth of the matter is buried within both your statements. It's not cut and dry, thanks for posts I will have a bit of a rethink.

Maranfilms, of course it could be lense flare (my first thought) but it builds into the whole marketing ;) Margot is truly amazing in the part, I've got a feeling she's going to be massive!
 
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