Trust the Dice: Indiegogo

Showing posts with label Indiegogo. Show all posts

Sunday, November 5, 2017

This Week in Crowdfunding (11/5/17)

By: Selina

Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week. These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your friends, and/or post it on social media.

These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.

Support creativity. Support indie artists.

Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.

Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for

appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,

proposal, and people involved.

5 – Grayscale

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Nicole Sim Bao Ling

Writer: Nicole Sim Bao Ling

Other Staff: Natalie Balderas, Brielle Biscocho, David Benjamin, Nathan Baldonado, Michelle Cessna

Amount Requested: $2,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $415 raised by 25 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/grayscale-a-short-film/x/15582024#/

This project has a very interesting plot. A world with no color allowed, where people are all forced to be exactly the same. The main character falls into some paint and winds up all different colors.

There are a lot of projects that offer people looking to be themselves something to hold on to. An idea that no matter how different they are, they’re not alone in wanting to be allowed to be their particular version of different.

Grayscale is a dystopian story with a lot to offer. The page is also laid out incredibly well. There’s no question as to where your money’s going or what the people involved are capable of. You even get to see some interesting storyboards in their trailer.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Thank you! – We thank you for your support! It means a great deal to us, really. Every dollar counts.

Highest Fund Reward: $500 – Executive Producer Credit! – You are the bomb dot com. Thank you so much for your generous contribution! * Please note that we do not provide transportation and/or lodging.

4 – Relapse

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Karl Jackson, Ambreen Razia

Writer: Karl Jackson, Ambreen Razia

Other Staff: No names available at this time

Amount Requested: $3,924

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $4,192 raised by 44 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/relapse-film-love/x/15582024#/

I studied Criminology and Sociology in university. Naturally, a dramatic film focusing on the rate of recidivism in the UK caught my attention rather quickly.

The prison system isn’t just about locking away criminals, it’s about rehabilitating people who have the capability to be better. A lot of people committing crimes do so out of ignorance or because they just don’t have access to other options in their life. When a person like that is convicted, prison is supposed to sort them out so that they can come back to the world and be functioning members of society.

Unfortunately, that’s not really how it tends to go.

The creators of this film, Karl Jackson and Ambreen Razia, made this film from their own personal knowledge. They’ve seen people have to try to readjust after being released, and they know exactly the kind of challenges those people can face. Furthermore, they want to hold a mirror up to society as they put things in perspective.

“We both have loved ones within our own lives who have been a part of the prison system, and upon release disillusioned with the systems efforts to help them rehabilitate, which is essentially the catalyst for re-offending. Having facilitated workshops in schools, PRU’S and prisons you become exposed to more complex human stories. It’s easy for us to disregard that section of society, especially when you feel that it’s got 'nothing to do with you' through our work we're trying to remind people that prisons are a close reflection of certain people's reality. And that the state of our prisons holds a mirror up to the state of our society and we want to look at that.”

Since this project was chosen for our top five, it has reached its goal.

Lowest Fund Reward: $13 – Password & Film Credit – See the film before it’s released to the public via special password-protected link, and have your name immortalized in the credits!

Highest Fund Reward: $1,308 – Executive Producer! – Legendary status!

3 – Come, Said the Night

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Andres Rovira

Writer: Andres Rovira

Other Staff: Madeline Berger, James Edmund Datri, Colby Reed Miller, Ali Kazzaz, Amy Geist, Lew Temple, Nicole Sherman, Tate Birchmore, Max Page

Amount Requested: $50,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $1,425 raised by 25 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/come-said-the-night-film-horror/x/15582024#/

Come, Said the Night is not your typical crowdfunded horror film. The plot runs a lot more in depth than a lot of the projects I come across. Normally, that would already be eye catching – but in this case, you have the added difficulty of working with children.

A lot of directors do believe that working with children can be difficult, especially when there’s some kind of mature content. There are some that won’t even attempt it. In this case, Andres Rovira explained a very different view to Trust the Dice.

“I enjoy working with child actors because they are still at that age where acting is a sort of backyard playtime which leads to a more honest performance. They don’t put on a theatrical song and dance for the audience, rather, treat it like they are method acting as cowboys and Indians and this, I find, is where some of the most natural performances comes from. In the case of our 13-year-old lead, she’s an incredibly well versed and mature actress for her age who knows the script better than I do, so I have no doubt she will handle the mature topics like a pro.”

His argument is a good one, and even makes me want to rethink the way I see child actors.

Come, Said the Night utilizes their child actors to tell a grown-up tale. It’s a horror that is meant to keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.

Everything Rovira seems to believe about horror films leads me to understand that his project will benefit from the love he shows in the genre. Even his use of the gorgon known in Greek mythology shows an innate understanding of fear and what best heightens it.

“The Gorgon is a combination of Greek mythology’s version but with my own modern twist. For example, the most popular Gorgon, Medusa, is well known for the snakes in her hair. I wanted to avoid the familiarity of this imagery because to me, fear of the unknown is the greatest fear. My approach to scaring audiences is to bring to life what scares me and I’ve always been disturbed by Bubonic plague doctors and masquerade masks. It’s that long beak-like shape that if caught at the right light and focus, will stay with you. With this new interpretation of the Gorgon, I want to create something iconic that will be remembered.”

Clearly, this is not a project to be missed.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – The Hum – You’ve heard the Gorgon’s hum. She has you now. As an inductee of the night, we will send you a personal welcome email, an official shoutout on our social media pages and access to all the behind the scenes updates. You are part of this thing now. No turning back.

Highest Fund Reward: $4,500 – The Never Forget – Receive a poster signed by the full cast, and a thank you video from the cast to you! +1 day on the set, attend the wrap party, 1 ticket to the world premier (food/travel $ not included), and yes, an associate producer credit! We’ll never forget your contribution to our film, and with all this you’ll never forget this amazing experience.

2 – Sober and Stoked

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Scott French, Eugene Stiltner

Writer: Scott French, Eugene Stiltner

Other Staff: Tyler Valliant, Jenni Carney

Amount Requested: $50,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $4,657 raised by 48 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/sober-and-stoked-the-documentary-inspirational/x/15582024#/

This project looks like incredible fun backed with an important message.

Drugs and alcohol affect a lot of people – if not directly, then through someone they love. Addiction is no joke, and what’s worse is that there’s not often a way to help people who have succumbed to it. Not unless they want to help themselves.

I’ve seen a lot of addicts get pushed to clean up by people they love, and they ask what the point is. Why should they bother?

This film answers that question very simply. It states that the point is to live, to have fun, and to move on.

Getting clean is a huge step for any addict, and the creators of this project are very familiar with that. Together they fell to their darkest, but they were also reborn – phoenixes from the ash.

For a lot of people, getting clean might very well mean leaving behind all those friends that they once hung out with. Mainly because those friends might not ready to pick themselves up yet. A recovering addict can’t be around the same activities and substances that once dragged them down. Scott French and Eugene Stiltner were very lucky. Trust the Dice spoke to Stiltner and asked him about how he and French kicked their habits.

“I got sober a year before Scotty, and during that year I stayed pretty low key. When he had everything go down with him and he had his chance at getting sober, we were fortunate to reconnect and start surfing and riding together again. We always push each other hard when we ride or surf, just like we did partying, and now we get to do that in a way that actually has a positive impact instead of a negative one!”

That was the birth of their understanding on how the best things in life could substitute those things that hade once held them hostage.

Sober and Stoked is an important project, not only for recovering addicts but for the people who love and want to help them as well. If someone is helping a friend recover, they need to understand that their friend can’t just go back to the same habits they once had. Breaking a habit means breaking all habits that could lead to it.

Stiltner offered some advice to our readers.

“If you have to change friends, even if you have to stop talking to family for a while until you get your footing, you have to do it. These are the hard decisions in sobriety. You must remember that it is your life, your freedom, your health on the line. If others can’t be supportive, you must do whatever is necessary to not drink or use. For people who are trying to support someone in recovery, go to a coffee shop! Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Go do whatever, and please, please, please, don’t have a cocktail, joint, line right in front of them while you do it!!”

This film has the potential to help thousands of people, because it’s made by people that understand. No other creators could tell the story as reliably as they will.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Social shout out! – Ok, it’s not a marquee or anything, but you will get a social media shout out from us as a thank you for contributing! Every dollar helps, and we are super grateful for it!

Highest Fund Reward: $10,000 – Presenting Sponsor – The big fish presenting sponsor of the film! If you are a brand looking to get exposure to an exciting market of people who are embracing a positive and active lifestyle, this is the place for you! Gain positive PR in the fight against addiction and create a loyal base of supporters in the process. Contact us for details!

1 – Tales from the Edge

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Ben Adams, Andrew Shire, David Spearing

Writer: Ben Adams, Andrew Shire, David Spearing

Other Staff: Raffaele Nocerino, Michael Macdermid, Steve Curtis, Charlotte Knight

Amount Requested: $17,873

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $3,605 raised by 56 backers.

Type of Goal: All or nothing

Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/brokentoaster/tales-from-the-edge

I was instantly drawn in to the well-made trailer for this web series. Even though it was just a description of what they were filming and why they needed the money, it was created like a story all on its own. I love when crowdfunding teams do that. It gives potential investors the ability to see the kind of work those behind the project like to do. It helps people figure out whether or not they are willing to invest in that brand of comedy or attitude.

Personally, morbid comedy is something I’m very much a fan of. When I did some work at the morgue, it was common to get through certain cases by joking. It’s a little odd when you think about cracking jokes about decomposition, but when I saw this trailer it almost made me feel a little nostalgic for that.

I don’t know how that works for most people, but yes, I just compared this project to cracking jokes while surrounded by bodies in varies stages of decomposition. Call me crazy, but I don’t think the creators of Tales from the Edge will mind.

Trust the Dice interviewed the people at Broken Toaster, but the responses were so humorous that I’m just going to copy and paste the whole thing here. It’s a first for this particular article series, but I don’t think anything else will properly prepare people for what kind of humor to expect from this project.

Trust the Dice: Thank you for agreeing to discuss your project, Tales from the Edge. Below are my questions. If you have anything to add, I’ll be happy to read it. I attempted to go to the town’s website you show on your Kickstarter page. Was that an expert fooling or just a broken link? (Judging from the way everything’s written, I can’t tell.)
Broken Toaster: Well that’s part of the mystery isn't it?! Does a magician tell you how a trick is performed...No. Unless its the Masked Magician. He's a right spoil sports isn't he?!
TTD: The Kickstarter page highlights your sense of humor very well. It’s easy to imagine what your finished project will be like because of that. What would you say have been the greatest influences on your humor throughout your life?
BT: Thank you very much. Yes we have and are influenced by such legends as Lenny Henry and great comedy duos like Hale & Pace and The Crankies. However if you enjoy, The League of Gentlemen, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Murder Most Horrid then this is the viewing for you.
TTD: No one likes to think about coming short of success, but that’s what I’m going to ask you to do here. If your Kickstarter campaign does not reach its goal – will you create another campaign or try to find another way to fund your project?
BT: If this campaign doesn't work, we have a back up plan. We've hired a farm on the East coast where we intend to meet up and all digest a lovely cocktail of poison and paracitimols, washed down with a nice Herbal Twinings Tea.
TTD: You mention, briefly, the possibility of adding two more episodes (I imagine this is part of your stretch goals). Do you have those two episodes mapped out yet? Would they occur after Dead and Breakfast or before The Aristocrats?
BT: We may top and tail the episodes by having one set in the 1940's and one set in the 2010's. Or we may just not bother and fill out the episodes we already have with filler. You can never have enough walking shots in a script, a cut away of a flower or bloodied axe. The possibilities are endless.
TTD: Do you foresee any significant differences between the filming of this series and the filming you’ve done for your YouTube content?
BT: We shall apply our usual strategy which is if you can't plan it well. Simply throw money at the problem. The web-series is going to be next level. The money will give us time to rehearse, refine and reward.
TTD: For people who are new to your content, what three videos from your YouTube channel would you suggest to get them started?
BT: The Tooth of Freddie Mercury from Drew, Bodies from Dave and Guess Who from Ben. But I would say the 24 hour shorts are a great starting point if you want to get started on "The Toast".

To show our faith in this web series, Trust the Dice has donated a small amount to Tales from the Edge.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1 – Bear Minimum, Fam – The bare minimum, or Bear minimum if you are from Peckham or a Bear. The size of the donation isn’t what counts, it’s what we do with it. Every $1 you give will go towards a part of production that we’d be a pound short for if you hadn’t donated. Mainly this will go on coffee, cigarettes, and renting the James Bond stage at Pinewood.

Highest Fund Reward: $10,503 – Nearly There Person – Because of you, we’re nearly there! We’ll shout you out every week as ‘almost there man/woman’ and you’ll be a part of the team basically, you can come to set, even be in it, we may even give you a line… but you don’t get any creative control of course, that’s just for us and you have to bring your own cigarettes & coffee to set.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

This Week in Crowdfunding (10/22/17)

By: Selina

These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.

Support creativity. Support indie artists.

Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.

Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for

appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,

proposal, and people involved.

There will be no Crowdfunding article next Sunday.

5 – EXIT

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Stephen Mathis, Evan Rutherford (assumed)

Writer: Naveed Khan

Other Staff: None listed

Amount Requested: $2,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $556 raised by 6 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/exit-a-new-short-film#/

This is a very unique project, but I wish I knew more about it.

EXIT is a short film about a woman struggling with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to donate her consciousness to someone after death. The idea behind the project is simply fascinating.

I did attempt to talk to the people at Blue Frost Films, but didn’t receive a response from them by the time this article needed to be written. That means I know very little about them other than what I could find on their Indiegogo page and IMDb. It’s a shame, because I had a LOT of questions to ask about this one.

The production company responsible for EXIT is known for at least three other films that can be found on IMDb, which lends a lot of credibility to their project – even with less information available.

With that said, I think the trailer says a lot. It’s eye catching and interesting. Exactly what you want to see in a crowdfunding project.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1 – Good Luck! – Send us a good luck wish in the best way! We get that times are tough, and we will still make sure your dollar doesn’t go to waste. You will receive our thanks and appreciation because every dollar counts!

Highest Fund Reward: $2,000 – Executive Producer – You are the ultimate supporter! You will have single handily funded the entire film and we couldn’t be more thankful. You get all the perks we can throw at you! (Note, you must be in Denver for a set visit unless we make more than our goal for travel expenses.)

4 – WedTrotter

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Catalin Anghel (assumed)

Writer: N/A

Other Staff: Marius Barbulescu, Pedro Cabrera, Andrea Giraldo, Isabelle Hattink, William Lambelet, Café Liu, Segun Olotu, Cristiano Ostinelli, Ken Pak, Christelle Rall, Citalli Rico, Ufuk Sarisen, Vinci Wang, Stefan Cotenescu, Adrian Anghel, Laura Bojinca-Moisei, Iulian Bojinca, Vasile Petrice

Amount Requested: $115,449

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $2,177 raised by 13 backers.

Type of Goal: All or Nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/971817892/wedtrotter-top-wedding-photographers

This was the first project to catch my eye this week… but photography isn’t my specialty, so I brought a photographer friend of mine in to take a look at the page as well.

Where the trailer caught me, it didn’t catch him as much… but the visuals did. He indicated that the set-ups shown throughout the trailer seemed like they would produce some incredible photographs. Of course, he wanted to make sure I mentioned that not all photographers live the way those in the trailer seem to.

I think that response indicates why I was so attracted to this film. Although my own experience with photography involves cutting the heads off anyone I attempt to aim a camera at, to someone more interested in the subject – this documentary shows the dream. People will get to see the best of the best where wedding photographers are concerned… and it will give them something to strive for.

Dreams are great, but they’re even better when you can see that future goal in your mind.

WedTrotter is a documentary series and it is asking for a lot of money, but you have to understand just how much world travel is involved with the filming. With the ‘All or Nothing’ goal, there’s still very little risk to backers. I think that makes it worth looking at, despite the high price point.

Lowest Fund Reward: $4 – Website & Facebook Thanks – We list your name on our film’s Thank You page and on our Facebook page.

Highest Fund Reward: $10,048 – Get your name on the presenter’s T-shirt in one of the episodes. + 30 seconds video advertisement for your product/service at one of WedTrotter’s filming locations. + We integrate the video in the documentary episode.

3 – Thousand Yesterdays

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Robbie Bryant

Writer: Robbie Bryant, Rhys Hills, Tom Bailey

Other Staff: Fred Bonham Carter, Franziska Lindner, Alessandro Farrattini, Thomas Carter, John Hubbard, Ros Hubbard, Andy Robertshaw, Alexandra Toomey, Ronnie Rackley, Jamie Edgell, Malcolm Huse, Kieran Waites, Nettie Hurley

Amount Requested: $12,192

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $6,022 raised by 39 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thousand-yesterdays-film/x/15582024#/

The deeper you look into this project, the more impressive it gets.

I find the plot interesting enough, but the trailer heightens that interest quite a bit. The problem was my concern over just how well the setting could be duplicated on a smaller budget. When I dug deeper into the page, I learned they had a military advisor lined up for accuracy.

That was when I really started to pay attention to what the Indiegogo page was telling me.

The idea that this film isn’t about trying to save the love interest, but about appreciating her while she’s still alive… that’s new to me. You see the same base plot all the time, but it’s always about trying to save the woman. That small twist is enough to change the plot from seeming trope-y to seeming fresh.

There’s a very experienced team working on this project and they have a clear idea of how to make their short film work.

Lowest Fund Reward: $26 – Digital Copy of the Film – Thank you credit at the end of the film and a private online link to the film once the festival run is finished.

Highest Fund Reward: $19787 – The All In – Discuss your bespoke investment incentive over dinner at Gastronhome, one of the finest restaurants in London!

2 – All Talk

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Jim Tierney, Mike Hayhurst

Writer: Jim Tierney

Other Staff: Erik Jacobsen, Matthew Kay, Christina Bianco, John Bianco, Thomas Yannite, Tikki Suarez, Dor Dotson, Michael Tranzilli, Colleen Britt, Devon Delatour, Jerzy Gwiazdowski, Johnny Hildreth, Katie Shea Drossel, Ozie Carty, Padraig Sweeney, Patricia Brown, Richard Prock-Golan, Douglas Cranfield, John Bianco, Patricia Bianco, Isabella Bianco, Helen

Amount Requested: $20,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $8,039 raised by 73 backers.

Type of Goal: All or Nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1025102812/all-talk-the-series

I wasn’t sure what to make of this project at first. I was watching the trailer with a kind of confused expression, but things changed rather quickly.

The trailer wound up becoming my favorite part of the Kickstarter for this series. It highlighted the comedic timing and writing involved in the project.

I laughed a lot while watching. And that gives me incredibly high hopes for the finished project.

The page is one of the best laid out pages I’ve seen in a while, also. It’s full of information that could get you interested in the series, but it also has all the necessary information to make backers feel more comfortable about donating. They know why they need that exact amount of money and they lay out how they’re using it really well.

Even if you’re not sure you want to donate anywhere, you may want to take a look at this series. At the very least, enjoy the trailer.

Lowest Fund Reward: $10 – Ten for the show – You’re great! You’ll be listed as an official supporter on our website, plus we’ll give you a shout-out on our Facebook page.

Highest Fund Reward: $2,000 – You’re kind of a big deal – Hey, boss. You are officially an Executive Producer of All Talk, Season 1. Welcome to the team! You can rest well every night knowing you are an integral part of making our dreams come true. You’ll get an official credit on the show, and you’ll be listed prominently and separately in the credits. We’ll keep you apprised during the rest of the creative process. And when we’re huge stars, not only can you say you knew us when, you can make up fun stories about the early days and we won’t even deny them.

1 – Severed Silence

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Elizabeta Vidovic, Kathryn Michelle

Writer: Elizabeta Vidovic, Kathryn Michelle

Other Staff: Rob Raco, Maiara Walsh, Izabela Vidovic, Adam Huss, Alla Tumanian, Mostly Kosher, Allen Hooper, Austin Nordell, Polly Gregory, Barbara Holmes

Amount Requested: $25,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $8,260 raised by 68 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/severed-silence-horror-film-1st-campaign-round-thriller/x/15582024#/

Severed Silence was the real stand out project this week.

It’s a horror film that truly seems to be top of the line. It offers some of the traditional jump horror you’d expect, with an underlying thrill that drives it.

I asked the creators of this film, Elizabeta Vidovic and Kathryn Michelle, how they felt about balancing subtle and overt horror, their answer was very informative.

“When we can make our audience feel uncomfortable, unsettled, and vulnerable to the point they are biting their nails without even a knife being lifted, then we know we've got our hooks in and the fear they feel runs much deeper. However, we don't shy away from traditional gruesome horror, we just don't make that our foundation. So, the intense mysticism and folklore surrounding our Romani family in Severed Silence is already unsettling and plays to the audience's fears of an unknown culture. When we challenge the audience's perception of our Romani characters and work against stereotypes, we hope the audience's internal conflict will deepen, especially as they emotionally connect with these people before they have to tragically and inevitably lose them. For us, the balance will simply be in staying true to what is already on the page and allowing the intense moments to form organically as the murders begin to take place.”

In that one response alone, you can catch a glimpse of the experience, passion, and talent involved in the making of Severed Silence. The Indiegogo page speaks for the rest of it.

The trailer is eye-catching and has a humanity to it that helps connect any interested party to the project they’re learning about. There’s even a concept trailer to help prospective backers get into the feel of the film – something not a lot of projects have.

To show my confidence in this project, I have donated a small amount in the hopes that it gets funded.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – A personalized thank you! – We will post a personalized “Thank You” addressed to you on our social media, for being so awesome!

Highest Fund Reward: $5,000 – Executive Producer Credit – You will be credited as executive producer on Severed Silence, Plus receive the premium perks!

Sunday, October 15, 2017

This Week in Crowdfunding (10/14/17)

By: Selina

These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.

Support creativity. Support indie artists.

Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.

Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for

appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,

proposal, and people involved.

5 – Why is there no fifth project?

Sometimes, crowdfunding doesn't work out. It's a sad fact, but it's true. One expects that there will be times that projects don't meet their goal. However, it's a little more shocking when the project fails before the end date.

That was the case with one of the projects I chose for this week.

Not even an entire 24 hours passed between when the person involved opted to respond to my request for information and the moment when they pulled their project from Kickstarter. They made no mention of the possibility that their project might be on the brink in their interview, either.

I can't explain what happened - if someone dropped out, or they decided not to go the indie route... that information was not offered to me. I didn't ask.

Sometimes that just happens. The best way to protect yourself from those issues, is by paying close attention to the campaign. If a page isn't laid out well, with a breakdown of how your money will be spent and the risks - along with solutions - of filming, then you usually want to move along.

It's great for a director/writer to know what they want and to have a good proposal, but it's also important that they have the business aspects down pat as well. If you don't know where your money is going, don't give it to them. If they don't have a plan b for any issues that occur, then anything can go wrong.

Be vigilant. That's the best thing you can do.

4 – FrankenThug

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Richard Tanner

Writer: Richard Tanner

Other Staff: Danielle Page, Cassidy Rose, Joseph Mcelwaney, Nathan Hamilton, Dante Sellers, Nik Uttam

Amount Requested: $5,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $510 raised by 10 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/frankenthug-horror/x/15582024#/

This film is a little different than the majority of the projects I choose for the top five. It didn’t make the list by default, however, it beat several other projects for the spot.

It’s easy to underestimate a film sporting such a goofy title. When I was going through the various projects shown on Indiegogo for the week, I certainly did. I had no doubt I’d be watching just a couple of seconds of the trailer and moving on. Instead, I wound up laughing like a hyena in the middle of Subway.

I recommend it. The weird looks you get, alone, are worth it.

FrankenThug was filmed in two weeks with a budget of $5,000. It’s definitely meant to be a B-type film, but it does so gloriously. It’s got the camp and humor that you expect from a movie you want to turn your brain off for and just have fun with.

That makes sense, because the director has got B-horror in his heart.

“Funny enough, B-horror/comedy is my dream! I grew up on that stuff. Tons of gore and cheesy one liners,” Richard Tanner told Trust the Dice. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m living the dream! I have a ton of fans and I get to make silly films with my friends.”

From what I can tell, FrankenThug is a fun, incredibly weird, film specifically made for people who love camp. It’s worth giving a serious look if that’s your thing.

For a sample of Richard Tanner’s writing, before you donate, you can purchase “The Thin Veil of Sanity and Other Stories: A Cthulhu Mythos” from Amazon.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1 – No longer a Buck Short – For a dollar, we will be forever thankful! Bucks add up!

Highest Fund Reward: $1,000 – Hey, Hollywood! – At this level, we owe you everything! We will graciously give you executive producer credits on FrankenThug and a very special fruit basket! Also, we will be more than happy to personalize this perk for you in any way that you want (within reason… we are fragile!). All other perks are included!

3 – Beautified

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Emily Haigh

Writer: Emily Haigh

Other Staff: Beatriz Delgado Mena, Cassandra Rutledge, Joanna Masiewicz, Ana Baltova

Amount Requested: $7,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $760 raised by 9 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/beautified-film-beauty/x/15582024#/

More than once, Trust the Dice has spoken out about human trafficking. It’s a significant issue that’s growing due to the rampant violence and injustice in the world. Recently, more than 70 children went missing from foster care in Kansas. It was difficult to not instantly wonder if trafficking was involved.

Whether or not it was, the fact that those children went missing for so long before anyone even noticed… it shows just how big a problem there is.

Beautified is a little different than the other projects on the subject that I’ve supported before. It’s not a documentary.

This is a dystopian-style story involving three innocent girls that find themselves in a dark and terrible situation.

“The story is fictional but highlighting human trafficking,” Emily Haigh told me. “Sadly with the refugee crisis more people are being pushed into modern slavery - people need to be made aware and vigilant as most cases go unnoticed. The girls in ‘Beautified’ look like they have the perfect life but it is quickly apparent this is not the case.”

Not much is known about the film yet, since Haigh is still auditioning other actors at the moment, but the Indiegogo page is laid out well and is clear about where exactly your money will go.

Documentaries are good, but telling a horrific tale through the scope of a fictional film is sometimes the best way to get people to understand.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Smile – You’ve but a smile on our faces and we wish to put one on yours with a social media shoutout.

Highest Fund Reward: $2,000 – Botox – Become an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER! You’ll receive an Executive Producer credit on IMDb and your name will appear in our end of film credits! You’ll also receive TWO TICKETS to our London screening. Please note dates may vary and you will need to cover your own transport/accommodation.

2 – The Power of One Coin

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Flaminia Graziadei

Writer: Jack Angerstein

Other Staff: Zbigniew Siwek, Rebecca Morton, Magdalena Herfurtner, Amrit Bilkhu, Kathleen Nellis, Laurent Durham, Alice Beesley, Mathias Falcone, Alba More, Simon Pires, Rory Gardner, Devorah Corona, Chris Smith, Cristiane Delfina, Mark Rae, Simon Gibbons, Carianne Dunford, Michael Spry, Patrick Kigozi, Claire Richardson, James Troake, Ryan McDowell, Nigel Barber, Stacey Gough, Adrian Relph

Amount Requested: $39,858

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $5,717 raised by 73 backers.

Type of Goal: All or Nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1442553388/the-power-of-one-coin-short-film-0

This is another project that covers an important subject, but takes a fictional stance with it.

Depression and the power of kindness are subjects that sit very deep in my heart. When I was in high school, I lost two friends to suicide… and depression has since been a common recurrence in my life since. Aside from my own battles, I’ve met many people that have dealt with it.

Along the lines of what The Power of One Coin is about, I have a story from my own life.

Me and my best friend are night owls. When I lived with my mom, however, that was a problem. My mother was always an early to bed, early to rise type. That meant no one was in the house past six at night, which is normally when my head stops being foggy. So, me and my buddy would go hang out at the nearby Dunkin Donuts and play a card game called Magic: the Gathering.

We got a lot of weird comments and questions, but it was the only place we had the option of hanging out… and it was one of our favorite activities.

One day, a young guy saw us playing and paused by our table to watch. We asked him if he wanted to join us, and let him use one of our decks.

It was a random act. He was a little younger than us, alone, and seemed interested in the game. I’m not the most outgoing person in the world, but I just stepped out of my comfort zone a bit that night. He turned out to be a really great player.

It also turned out that he was planning to kill himself that night and wound up not going through with it because he made some new friends. He’s married now and has moved out of the country, but I think about him a lot.

That night we made a difference to someone with our silly little card game and weird sleep schedules.

The idea that a small, random act of kindness can change a life… is one that I understand. And, having experienced it, I know that there’s a lot of truth behind what this short film is trying to teach.

It’s important to note that a small act of kindness can affect anyone, not just those suffering from depression. According to producer Zbigniew Siwek, this film will also focus on other mental illness issues, such as: dementia, OCD, anxiety, and PTSD.

As a project, in general, The Power of One Coin has the ability to truly succeed. They’re working closely with a Kickstarter expert, Justin Giddings, that has helped other projects go from troubled to funded, very quickly. Some of his former projects include: The Alley, Holiday Hostage, This is Normal and Cujo: The Smart Way to Fight Home Hacking.

The Power of One Coin is asking for a lot of money for a short film, but their message is an important one and they have a lot of great help. Not to mention, they are going with an ‘all or nothing’ kind of goal, so there’s less risk involved when donating.

Lowest Fund Reward: $13 – The Thank You Coin – We’re so glad that you’re here to support the film so we’d like to give you the thank you coin which will give you the power to be famous across all of our social media via a huge thank you shout out from the team!

Highest Fund Reward: $2,613 – Executive Producer Package – You put some serious coins into this project and we could not be happier to have you on board our team. We’d like to give you a coin that will not only make you an Executive Producer but also give you all the perks that go along with it! Your company’s logo featured at the end of the film and in promotional materials, you will be an official sponsor of the film. This of course comes along with all the perks of the Co-Producer!

1 – I Am Maurice

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Jerry Lamothe

Writer: Wil Sylvince, Bryan Kennedy

Other Staff: Paul Basile, Patrick Hay, Bryan Trenis, Tommy Harron, Bryan Bisordi

Amount Requested: $101,091

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $15,970 raised by 89 backers.

Type of Goal: All or Nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brwilliant/i-am-maurice

By the end of the first eleven seconds of this project’s trailer (different trailer than what’s featured above), I was hooked.

It was such a simple beginning. Simple sounds. Simple imagery. But it was so well done that I was instantly wondering about the main character.

When I go through Kickstarter and Indiegogo for these articles, I always watch the trailer without having read anything else on the page. I don’t even always know the name of the project before-hand. I do that because the majority of people surfing these sites are doing just that: casually surfing. There’s no guarantee they’re going to donate anywhere, and they’ll often just watch the trailer and move on if it’s not eye catching.

This particular film does not have that kind of problem. After watching the trailer, I was hungry to know so much more about the project.

I was shocked to learn that I Am Maurice was written by two comedians, but writer Wil Sylvince had a very good point about why I shouldn’t have been.

“I don’t know about other comedians, but my life is mostly drama,” he said. “Not like baby-mama drama, but it’s not always fun and games. Comedians, we take drama and make it OK to laugh at. So, most of the time, it starts out as drama anyway.”

After some thought, that made a lot of sense. Even the greats, like George Carlin, had jokes rooted in the serious dramas that took place in his live, and throughout the world.

Reading Sylvince’s response to my questions put the rest of his Kickstarter campaign into a different light for me, and an image of what to expect of the film manifested much clearer.

I’m absolutely certain that I Am Maurice has everything it needs to be a great film. The story is interesting, there are incredibly talented people involved, there’s an insane amount of passion, and it carries an important message with it for anyone who watches.

To show my confidence in this film, I have donated a small amount toward it’s hopeful success.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Updates & Behind the Scenes Access – We’re pretty sure $5 donations is how Obama got elected, so are hoping it works for us as well, but we’re filmmakers, not politicians. For $5 we’ll send you regular updates and behind-the-scenes news throughout the fundraising and movie making process!

Highest Fund Reward: $10,000 – “I Am Maurice” Co-Producer – Get a credit in the film as a co-producer!

Sunday, October 8, 2017

This Week in Crowdfunding (10/8/2017)

By: Selina

These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.

Support creativity. Support indie artists.

Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.

Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for

appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,

proposal, and people involved.

5 – M.O.T.H.E.R Knows Best

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Chris Mayo, Scott Kingsnorth

Writer: Chris Mayo, Scott Kingsnorth

Other Staff: Holly Mallett, Carla Harrison-Hodge, Evelyn Lockley, Hannah Warman, Jenny Walters, Emma Tansley, Megan Smith

Amount Requested: $1,707

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $2,052 raised by 32 backers.

Type of Goal: All or nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrismayo/mother-knows-best

Between when I first saw this comedy series on Kickstarter and when I started writing this article, M.O.T.H.E.R Knows Best reached, and exceeded, their goal. That means that it made over $1k in a matter of days.

I think that says a lot about what the series is. Clearly, I’m not the only one that thought there was something worth paying attention to.

Even before checking out the video, I was attracted to this project because of the dystopian dark comedy factor. I’ve seen precious few films and shows that have fallen into that specific category. There’s a kind of unique quality to it that’s very interesting.

The only real problem I’ve seen with the series is that the page doesn’t do very well at explaining what it’s about. You get a couple of sentences, but the rest is dedicated to the technique, and people, involved. There’s nothing too wrong with that, I just prefer to know more about the project in general, which is why this series isn’t higher on the list.

Lowest Fund Reward: $13.07 – Hearty Thanks – You’re a modern day hero! You will receive hearty thanks either in a tweet or by email from the creators of the show.

Highest Fund Reward: $653.49 – Executive Producer Credit – Holy bananas! This is the big one. A large executive producer credit (just like George Lucas) plus: A poster, early access to all episodes, a drawing from Scott, a short story from Chris and a hearty thank you from M.O.T.H.E.R. herself. PLUS exclusive additional footage.

4 – Today in New York

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Michael Labbadia

Writer: Michael Labbadia, Madeleine Meigs, Gus Halper

Other Staff: Andrea Goocher, Rob Levy

Amount Requested: $8,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $1,365 raised by 28 backers.

Type of Goal: All or nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/producedbyactors/today-in-new-york-a-mini-web-series

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I’ve lived in various neighborhoods, but always right here. There’s no naivety in my love for this place, so it’s almost amusing to me when I meet people who come here with that innocence still intact.

That was partially what drew me to this project, but then I saw the video.

The Kickstarter trailer that the Today in New York team put together was incredibly unique. It did a phenomenal job on not only drawing my attention, but of forcing me to want to learn more. The kind of stereotypical old-school New York accent combined with a mix of the older and current New York background brought up images of some of the great films created in the city.

As trailers for projects go, especially projects that don’t have too many scenes to show yet, this was one of the best.

Everyone involved in the making of this film has some kind of experience living in New York.

“Although we are all from different places, we have all spent enough time in the city as young artists to understand ‘the struggle’... And our main character in the web series is experiencing her very first day in NYC so it's actually great that we all still freshly remember our first days,” writer Madeleine Meigs told Trust the Dice in a short interview. “In fact, each episode is based off of our actual experiences that we had when we first moved here.”

Crew members from New York mixed with transplants to make this series. I think it’s very important to note that, because it indicates that every aspect of the series will be as true to life as it could be while still remaining fiction.

The only reason I could see this series failing to make their goal is because it seems to be directed only toward New Yorkers, but that’s not how Meigs sees it.

“We want the series to be relatable to anyone and there will be many themes such as being a ‘20 something’, naivety, humility, and independence that will be explored,” she wrote.

The target demographic has little to do with New York and everything to do with young adults starting to strike out on their own. Everyone can relate to that at some point in their lives.

Lowest Fund Reward: $10 – New Yorker – Like any real New Yorker you are there for your neighbors and friends when they need your help! We would like to thank you with a Facebook shout out and a more personal thank you email.

Highest Fund Reward: $1,000 – Rockefeller – Your generosity towards our vision blows us away! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please select two of your favorite songs, and Gus and Mike will sing them for you (via video). Along with that thank you, you will be credited as an executive producer, sent a monthly update on our progress with behind the scenes photos, and an exclusive digital premiere of “Today in New York” with interviews from key cast and crew members.

3 – Mara: The Seal Wife

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Uisdean Murray

Writer: Uisdean Murray

Other Staff: Adam Keltie, Donald Coutts, Jason Weidner, Philip Smith, Kevin Kelly, Sarah Pritchard

Amount Requested: $13,070

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $3,836 raised by 16 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mara-the-seal-wife-a-short-film--2/x/15582024#/

Spending time browsing Trust the Dice would inform anyone that both Cat and I love myths and legends. We’ve both spent extensive amounts of time reading about various cultural creatures and stories. Cat is the one obsessed with Irish, Scottish and Celtic legend, but I still find plenty of interest in it myself.

Selkies are new to me, I just started reading about them a few weeks ago. That made this a prime time to run into a short film based around the myth.

I contacted the writer of Mara: the Seal Wife, Uisdean Murray, and found out some pretty interesting facts.

“The short film I am working on now and running a crowdfunding campaign for is essentially the backstory of two small but important characters from my feature film project,” Murray told Trust the Dice.

In fact, by supporting Mara: the Seal Wife people are actually giving life to one piece of a much larger puzzle. Not only is Murray interested in adding that original full-length film to the short, but he also seemed interested in exploring other folklore-inspired tales.

Supporting this one film tells the writer that his other ideas could have some serious backing as well. I think, in this case, that’s a very good thing. His short film looks heartbreaking and intriguing in ways that not every story could.

“Mara: the Seal Wife is set during the 80s and 90s and it contains a unique interpretation of the traditional Selkie tale,” Murray wrote. “The film is in part about a man suffering tremendous grief after the loss of his wife in tragic circumstances and years later happens upon a Selkie on the beach who appears to look like his long-deceased wife.”

I urge you to look up some of the selkie tales available on-line. They are a very mermaid-like species, but with some seriously dark twists. Seeing them used in a cinematic world is worth a few dollars in donations.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1.31 – Join us on our adventure – A shout-out on twitter and exclusive updates throughout the production.

Highest Fund Reward: $3,267.44 – Producer Credit – You will receive an Opening Credit and End Credit screen all to yourself with your name and ‘Producer’ credit!

2 – Around the World

Crowdsource Platform: Kickstarter

Director: Tom Cheve

Writer: N/A

Other Staff: Clement Reubrecht, David Amouzegh, Ricardinho Chahini, Laura Biondo, Jordan Meunier, Esteban El Pantera, Archie Crispy, Juan Roberto Aguilo, Michal Rycaj, Ibuki Yoshida, Fagerli Brothers, Caitlyn Schrepfer, Andrew Henderson, Sean Garnier

Amount Requested: $57,494

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $2,929 raised by 52 backers.

Type of Goal: All or nothing

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1236181427/around-the-world-documentary

Soccer is not nearly as popular in the United States as it should be. Of course, that’s coming from someone who hates American football. I’d much rather refer to soccer as football… but I was partially raised by an Englishman so… I guess that makes sense.

That said, something we do love here in the U.S. is freestyle. Doesn’t really matter what kind: rap, dance, hacky sack… pretty much anything that could possibly be considered impressive. Well, freestyle soccer definitely applies. People talented in that kind of freestyle can do things with their feet that would make even the best break dancers green with envy.

I spoke to the Around the World team and found out that freestyle soccer is a lot more than it seems to be.

“Most of the freestylers see freestyle as an athletic performance by surpassing its limits. You know, it's a young culture created around the beginning of this millennium. That's why the community needs time to be really openminded as well and accept the ‘sensitive’ part of freestyle,” the team told Trust the Dice about the sport aspect of freestyle soccer.

Athleticism, however, is not the only motivation behind the subject of Around the World. The team went on to explain that, to some freestylers, it’s all about the art.

“Some freestylers like Clem Keym,” the team wrote, “find inspiration in dance, and especially in breakdance. It's like a new wave in this culture and it's growing up each day!”

Now, most people know that documentaries aren’t really my thing. I find that they can get boring and monotone. I don’t see that being an issue here. Just go to YouTube and search for ‘freestyle soccer’ or ‘freestyle football.’ The sheer level of impressive feats the athletes are capable of will have you glued to the screen.

Take into account that this documentary is going into how freestyle soccer is approached by various countries, as well. It’s easy to associate soccer with England, less-so with some of the other areas they intend to hit.

I admit, I could be a little bias because of my love of the sport, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it. The Kickstarter page is incredibly well thought-out and, though ambitious, seems doable.

I’ll admit that they are asking for quite bit of money, but for what they need it for… it’s not that much.

The team of this documentary is passionate about the stories they want to tell, and they have a subject that could be interesting to people that know nothing about it. They don’t intend to stick to technique, they intend to focus on the humanity and skill of their subjects. I think all of that is a recipe for a great documentary that could even speak to people who don’t enjoy the genre.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1.18 – We Thank You – Hey every little counts at this point, so thank you for your generous support.

Highest Fund Reward: $8,861 – Executive Producer Credit – Your name or company will be in the credits at the beginning of the documentary. Everybody will see it, and see you as the Executive producer, and will associate our documentary to your name or brand. We’ll also make sure to bring forward your brand during our communication.

1 – Night Run

Crowdsource Platform: Indiegogo

Director: Erick Solis

Writer: Erick Solis

Other Staff: Elizabeth Salazar, Jake Hays, Tyler Cole, Rebecca Weaver, Tim Andrews, Cameron Tagge, Patricio Reano

Amount Requested: $28,000

Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $1,360 raised by 16 backers.

Type of Goal: Flexible

Link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/night-run-an-80-s-action-film-horror/x/15582024#/

I cannot explain how excited I am for this project.

In a world of sequels and remakes, we’re finally getting a brand new 80s film. Not a reboot of an 80s film just… an 80s film. Sure, movies were a bit cornier back then… but I’ll be damned if they weren’t pure.

As an 80s kid, this Indiegogo instantly spoke to me. Loudly. It had everything one could expect from the type of film the team was going for. They had an intriguing trailer, a sample of their music that sounds right out of Knight Rider (1982-1986), even the names of the characters are super 80s. Hell, there’s even a VHS available as one of the rewards! I still have some VHS tapes that I’ll likely never get rid of. They’re probably worth nothing, but they hold a strong place in my heart.

Clearly, this film isn’t made in the decade its representing, so the creator, Erick Solis, has to rely on manufacturing an 80s feel. The actors, the setting, the script… everything needs to feel right in order for this film to work.

The problem is, we live in 2017. Cars aren’t that old, the settings are modern, and it would take a lot of budget to change that. So, I asked Solis what his plans were in that regard.

“In terms of recreating 80's car chases, we'll be on the lookout for companies that rent out cars for commercial purposes,” Solis told me. “There's a lot of companies that provide rentals at a fairly decent price, the problem is finding cars from the 70's and 80's. Trying to avoid Computer Generated (CG) cars is my main goal, so I plan on shooting wide shots of the real cars and cutting to the close up of the actors inside a studio, it'll be a combination of many things, but I'll avoid as much CG as I can.”

He went on to add, “not a lot of the budget will go to make the world look older. You can get away with things seeming older just by not including a lot of modern cars, a right amount of budget will go directly into wardrobe and finding the right locations.”

The desire to steer clear from CG, on his budget, is an honorable – and difficult – one. However, it shows just how committed he is to doing this film correctly.

Just for fun, I asked Solis who he would have hired to play the characters in his film if he was actually making it in the 80s with an unlimited budget.

“I never thought about that,” he said. “I'd say Ralph Macchio as Daniel, Elisabeth Sue as Jennifer, Johnny would be played by Patrick Swayze, Sheriff Atkins by Tom Atkins!!! For Jason and Billy they'd have to be played by one of the guys from The Lost Boys!”

To show my confidence in this project, I have donated a small amount toward its success.

The promise of a new 80s film that’s handled the way an 80s film should be, is something I can’t ignore.

Lowest Fund Reward: $5 – Bragging Rights – Complete bragging rights that YOU made this movie happen, like for real. Without you we couldn’t make this.

Highest Fund Reward: $1,500 – Executive Producer – The Executive Producer credit which will be featured in the opening titles and posters and any promotional material involving the film. You’ll also receive the movies’ Blu-ray, the limited edition poster, a digital download of the film and soundtrack plus the official logo t-shirt and the Compilation Album.