Independent Animation 11 Mar 2012 05:50 am
Kickstarting the Can
- I have to say I like the name Kickstarter. There were a number of programs, and I chose to go with that one trying to get some life in POE. The others allowed you to fail in reaching the total goal and enable you to collect what had been pledged. Something about Kickstarter made it all more reliable and above board to me.
POE was a film that I pushed to start almost five years ago. Now it’s in the loghy period and really needs that “Kickstart”.
So let me tell you what’s happened so far with only a couple of days since it all started.
First and foremost there was an overwhelming show of support from so many people. Even if I don’t reach the goal, I’m so pleased to have seen the results that have already come. In just four days, we’ve reached a quarter of the total moneys requested. I’m a bit of realist, so I have no grand expectations of getting there. Yet I’m ready for whatever comes.
I’ve also been trying to contact any possible backer who expressed interest to see if they’d be interested in putting in some high numbers for this campaign. I haven’t had a “no” yet, but the money’s still not there. There’s still a week or so to go on it.
Originally, POE, once the script and boards were done, went looking for money.
There was one principal guy we were trying for, and he came back with an offer. Unfortunately, the offer was relatively low (which wasn’t the problem for me), but they ended up wanting to own everything. Not a good idea. If I was going to bust my butt doing the work and assembling something I was proud of, I wanted to share in any tiny profits such a film could generate.
A Rue Morgue Courtyard
Well, we went for bank financing so that we would control the final product to the best of our ability. And the money was coming – it was coming.
But then do you remember “Too big to fail”?
AIG.
They were the ones giving us the money and they failed.
The money disappeared; the company that was supporting POE put the project in “Turnaround,” and it’s taken us years to get it back to where we are.
I suggested to my producer, last week that we go back to the original guy who was interested in the project and had offered too little. Many his position is changed. That very same guy is now willing to talk about co-production deals. They wouldn’t own it all , and we’d have a chance to raise more money for a theatrical run prior to the US TV airing. Maybe.
A bit of Paris n 1840
This Kickstarter push on my part has regenerated some interest, and I’m counting on using all the marbles to get it going. If I have to see it a bit more limited than I planned, I don’t care. I want a movie, and I know how to do stylized, limited animation. POE is going to get done come hell or high water.
Besides, I have too great a project to do for the second feature. Once POE‘s underway, the second script will be started. The rights shouldn’t be too expensive, and I’m going to give animation a grown up push while I can.
You can see more POE material from the pre-production at our website for POE, Poestory.net. That’s been up for quite a while and could use a good overhaul. It’ll get one soon.
on 11 Mar 2012 at 7:44 am 1.steve fisher said …
Wish I had the resources to make your project happen. Best of luck in finding those that do.
on 11 Mar 2012 at 12:09 pm 2.Charles Brubaker said …
Good luck to your “Poe” project, Michael. I’m keeping track of this.
Your story on financing is something all independent filmmakers need to think about. Glad you shared it.
on 11 Mar 2012 at 12:55 pm 3.Brett McCoy said …
I’ve sen a few independent animation projects get going from Kickstarter, many pulled in a lot more than the original target. 1000 animation fans throwing in $25 each would easily fund this project!
on 11 Mar 2012 at 1:41 pm 4.Pierre said …
I want to wish you the best of luck with your Poe project. I know at least three people who’ve kickstarted their independent films through the website and have appreciated the efforts of others to help with the financial burden.
I just contributed as well and followed through with a message on Facebook. Here’s hoping that my friends (many of whom are film-makers themselves) will join the effort to get your project funded and completed!
on 11 Mar 2012 at 1:54 pm 5.Michael said …
Pierre, I’ve long considered you a strong voice of support in the work I’ve done. We will have to find some way to do work together. Thank you for the kind words, the generous contribution and the strength you give this film project.
Brett and Charles, likewise, you keep my spirits running high and allow me to feel hopeful that there may be a positive ending to all this. I think we’ll know soon enough.
on 11 Mar 2012 at 7:09 pm 6.Stephen Macquignon said …
keeping my fingers crossed
on 12 Mar 2012 at 12:08 am 7.Joey P. said …
I wish I had enough money to give you that the project would be able to flourish; it looks fascinating, and I can only hope it finds a wide release. I had two questions regarding the film: who are the voice actors involved, and how did you decide which Poe stories to use parallel to the main story? (I was only surprised The Raven wasn’t involved.)
on 12 Mar 2012 at 4:30 am 8.Michael said …
The actors connected, thus far, are listed on the IMDB page. (Sorry, legally I am forced to be coy. They have been recorded and not properly contracted due to a past producer.)
The stories chosen have to do with advancing the biographical aspects of Poe’s life. Rather than the popular “Raven,” we do “Annabelle Lee.” This is about the death of Poe’s cousin/wife at the age of 22.
Besides, no one could do “The Raven” any better than The Simpsons did it a couple of years ago. Go here.
on 12 Mar 2012 at 8:27 am 9.Lawrence White said …
Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears. // Poe
on 12 Mar 2012 at 1:03 pm 10.Brett McCoy said …
James Earl Jones’ reading of “The Raven” is the best ever! His voice was made for reading Poe.
on 12 Mar 2012 at 2:47 pm 11.J.Shamblin said …
I saw your kickstarter page. I’m a huge fan of Poe and I’d love to see this film made.
Just a word of advice, I think you’ll get more support if you made the video more personal and filmed yourself explaining why you want the film made. You explained it a little in the written description below the video, but I think you’ll be more successful if you can make others feel as passionate to support your project as you are to make it.
Good luck! I looks like it’s going to be a great film.
(If only Kickstarter was around when Richard Williams was making The Theif and the Cobbler.)
on 12 Mar 2012 at 5:26 pm 12.Joey P. said …
True, the only ones who come close to Jones’ reading would be Basil Rathbone and Christopher Walken (who, like Jones, could read anything and I’d buy it).
on 13 Mar 2012 at 12:45 am 13.Joey P. said …
Ah, I DID think Graham’s voice sounded familiar…
on 13 Mar 2012 at 3:18 am 14.Eddie Fitzgerald said …
I LOVE Poe, and this could be the movie that really sells him to this generation. If you need a live action actor to bookend the animation, I recommend Tom Minton, who comments here occassionally.