SOUND for Film and Television Volume II -- ANNOUNCED

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David Jimerson

David Jimerson

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Hey, all -- we've been talking about it, and you've been asking about it since the original SOUND for Film and Television was released, so now's the time to make it happen!

To get it done, we're launching a Kickstarter for it, but here's the deal for you as one of our pre-order backers --

SOUND for Film and Television Vol II will retail for $89.95. But as a backer, you'll get your copy for $65. AND, you'll get exclusive content that no one else will get. You'll get exclusive mini-lessons. You'll get exclusive production BTS. You'll get outtakes. And, you'll get to be a part of a private DVXuser forum during production for updates, feedback, and even to help guide the content along the way.

ONLY our Kickstarter backers will get all that. So, you'll get $25 off the retail price, lots of exclusive content, and the opportunity to help guide the content.

What we're going to do in SOUND Vol II -- It will be a similar format to the first Sound DVD, with instruction, comedy, cinematic parodies, but also following sound professionals from pre-production all the way through production, post, and delivery on an original film project. So, it'll be encyclopedic when it needs to be, and practical and immersive, too. Plus, we'll be covering sound recording in a live/newsy/documentary environment by being on the set of a reality TV pilot.


Production topics to include:


  • PRE-PRODUCTION, where the most important planning takes place.
  • Dual-system recording
  • Slating
  • Timecode/Jam synch
  • Sound recorders
  • Wireless systems: UHF/VHF/Digital/Analog/Diversity/Non-diversity
  • Complex booming scenarios
  • Reality TV/news sound setup
  • Field/multi-channel mixing
  • Stereo recording

Post-Production topics:


  • PRE-PRODUCTION, coordinating with production recording with post-production concerns in mind
  • Proper sound mixing studio setup
  • Synching via timecode, synching via waveform
  • Intros to Pro Tools, PluralEyes, other software
  • Pulldown/pullup
  • Asset management
  • Setting up audio tracks in editing for optimal export to sound post
  • Sound editing workflow
  • Working with EQ, compressors, limiters, and other sound filters and FX
  • Leaders and timecode burn-in
  • Exporting from edit/NLE to digital audio workstation -- formats and workflow
  • Foley
  • ADR
  • 5.1/multi-channel/surround mixing

So, in all, we'll have:


  • Great lessons from Barry and David
  • Great practical, hands-on expertise from sound professionals
  • Sketch comedy, cinematic vignettes, and our trademark humor
  • A short film designed to get you behind the scenes, following production all the through to post
  • And even a dynamic reality-TV set!

This will only happen if the Kickstarter is successful, so please, don't hesitate to pledge. You won't be charged at all if it doesn't make the goal, so you've got nothing to lose, and so much to gain, by pledging your support.

And the more we raise, the better we'll be able to make it, so please, spread the word!
 
I'm in for $65 but I think you may have messed up your reward levels. You should have set it up so that enough people will pledge early so that you are sure to make your goal. And the one rule there is "sale == buy". So setup a $50 level but only for first 50 backers (the nifty 50, which if you get fast enough gets you noticed and placed on Kickstarter promotional pages). Then a $65 level but limited to 250 backers. Then a $70 level unlimited. Even a $5 incentive can be very effective and this way you actually get your funding. Kickstarter is a war, to win it you need a plan. And a lot of luck. And a great product. And it helps if you are famous. Good luck, you're going to need it.
 
I get where you're coming from, but there are several ways to approach it -- from a cutthroat business perspective, or from a community-building perspective. We're gravitating toward the latter. This is something people have asked for repeatedly, so here's the chance to get it done. If people want it to happen, it'll happen. I'm excited about doing it, and have a number of pretty cool things on tap to do with it, but I do want everyone to have the same chance. Final release is the time to get wheely and dealy. Right now, it's about reaching out to the community to give them the product they want.
 
Thanks for everyone's support so far! We're happy with our progress.

I just wanted to share something I posted in another thread, about the nature of our Kickstarter campaign, and why, if you're excited about Sound Volume II, it's critical to make your pledge!

______________

(After suggestions as to our Kickstarter tiers.)

Thanks . . . I'm going to answer by letting everyone get a peek under the hood of our thinking, because this is a community which is really our home.

We want to do this project. It's the kind of thing we enjoy doing and we've got some really great ideas and really great people lined up to do it with, and I'm excited about it. But we chose this project because it's what people have asked for, ever since the first Sound was released.

Over the years, we've listened to what people have said they wanted. They wanted a DVD version of the HVX BootCamps, so we made that. They wanted a good sound tutorial, so we made that. When Sound was released, people immediately started asking for a lighting tutorial, so we made that. And I do think they are the best you can get.

And people have asked for an advanced sound tutorial, so now we're here intending to provide that as well, and make it the best of its kind available -- to make it every bit as high-quality, entertaining, and engaging as our other stuff. We certainly like that much better than someone just talking into a camera! And so do you guys who have purchased in the past.

So, as members of a community, we're trying to give people what they ask for. That's what we can do as independent producers -- we can give the customers what they want, and respond to them as best we can because they are our sponsors, and they are the ones we're responsible to. If we were hired by a company to do what we do, or were paid a sponsorship fee in the making of the product, then naturally, we'd gravitate toward that company. But that's not what we do, so we can be responsive to the community.

That's why we're running this Kickstarter -- to give people the product they've asked for. To do that, we need to raise the capital to produce it, so we're looking to the community for that. Economic realities pretty much dictate that for this to happen, there needs to be a solid market for it, and there's no gague of the market better than people willing to put up the money for the product they've asked for.

The beauty of Kickstarter is that it's a low-risk, very convenient way to pre-sell a product. That's chiefly what we're trying to do here, to see if there's enough of a market to support it. No one's money is risked during the campaign period -- we don't collect anything until the full amount is funded, and it doesn't cost us much to run the campaign. That's as opposed to straight pre-orders or deposits which would have to be refunded if enough isn't collected. No one is on the hook for anything until the project is funded, and if it isn't, then no one is out anything.

So, our Kickstarter is there to pre-sell the product. But we understand that pre-sales can be frustrating, putting up money and waiting for a product, and we don't ever want to frustrate anyone. That's why we've offered some great incentives at the $65 tier -- a really good discount from the release price, exclusive content which will start being delivered months ahead of the final product, so you'll get good stuff while you wait, and the chance to help shape the project into something you want. We want to treat it like a community production -- you're with us early, and we appreciate it, so we want to do things for you.

But I can't stress enough -- if there's not enough support for this Kickstarter to be successful, then there's no reason to do the tutorial. It's just not something people really want.

So as for the tier/incentive breakdowns --

Honestly, the critical tier is the $65 tier. That's the pre-selling tier. That's where we expect most people to land, and that's where most so far have. We wanted to provide other options, and research into how Kickstarters have been historically funded shows that those other tiers are the most effective ones for people who just want to support us -- and that too many tiers are just plain confusing and off-putting. But the $65 tier is the bread and butter, the tier that will make this thing work.

But while we're happy to have any support, and want to give you something to thank you for it, if people want to buy the original Sound all by itself, then it makes more sense -- for them and for us -- just to buy it. At a $25 incentive level, they'd have to wait for the end of April to get it anyway, and that is all they would get, so why not just get it right away for the money? And from our point of view, we're using the Kickstarter to pre-sell Volume II, not to sell our current products. But we're more than happy to give a sort of bundle deal on it if you want to do both.

This is all a chance for us to make the product you want, and let you in on it while we do. It's truly a community mindset with us. We just need to know that the demand for it really is there. It's too expensive to do on spec.

Thanks for supporting us already, Aram. You want the product to be a reality, and you've shown it by pre-ordering with your pledge, and we thank you.

Now, we need everyone else who wants this to be a reality to do it, too. As I said above, this can't happen unless we're successful. So please, don't hesitate to pledge -- you won't be charged until the campaign ends, and you'll only be charged if it's successful. It's a total win-win, and no-lose, for everyone.
 
Just a reminder, because a couple of people have mentioned it -- you can pledge at any time, and you will not be charged until the campaign is over and successful. So, pledging today, you will not be charged until at least April 16th. If the campaign isn't successful, you won't be charged at all. Thanks!
 
Day 7 update -- THANKS to all who have pledged so far, including those who have pledged at the higher teirs.

The great news -- there have been over 1,000 page views, so the word is out there.

The not-as-great news -- we're a bit behind the curve for success. But it's easily made up, so if you want to see Sound Vol. II be a reality, please don't hesitate to pledge. And spread the word!

Thanks, all!
 
OK, guys -- we're prepping production on this, but we're falling even further behind on the Kickstarter goal. It really is up to you whether or not SOUND Vol. II gets made!

Again, many thanks to those who have pledged and want this to go forward. If you want SOUND Vol. II, and haven't pledged, now's the time. It won't happen without you. :)
 
I think it's time for an update on the Kickstarter page. And a banner ad here on DVXuser (like the ones you are showing now for the existing tutorials). Maybe a press release? Not sure how exactly you can promote a Kickstarter project, but a little media coverage might be a good thing. Maybe trade some ad space on DVXuser for ad space on other film making web sites (especially ones dealing with audio in film)? Not sure any of those exist or if it's even something you could do (you may not control DVXuser ad space). Selling products is hard, selling a product that doesn't even exist yet is really hard.
 
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