Today we’ll continue on with our Kickstarter-theme, trying to help you, Good Reader, find that micro-budget dough so you can join the ranks of Joss Whedon in making micro-budget films.
Previously we talked about the Main Copy, and what it had to accomplish. Remember, the Kickstarter campaign needs to have:
- Main Copy
- Perks
- Video Script(s)
- Individual email to every human being you’ve ever known
- Follow up materials
These are the materials that helped us raise $25,000. Here’s hoping it helps you raise a few coins toward your own enterprise….
- PERKS
Should be apropos of the movie you’re making. Funny if you’re making a comedy. Cyber-sex-themed if you’re making a flick, like we were, set in a online XXX chat room. You’ve got to use your imagination when thinking up gifts. You want cool gifts, not just the standard t-shirt and DVD. And while we didn’t have the money clip that Robert DeNiro gave him on the set of Taxi Driver (a Paul Schrader gift for The Canyons Kickstarter campaign) we did let the donator of $750 bucks name the mouse character in Chat. Yeah, it wouldn’t have been great if they named him Mickey, but for 750 clams, we truly didn’t give a s&^%!
Here are the perks:
$5
BAD KITTY
Little Orphan Annie and her sexy cam model friends will welcome you to the world of chat by posting your name on Facebook/twitter, and on the donor sections of our upcoming website.
$10
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES
Get a private link for an exclusive look at a scene from the movie Chat. Disclaimer: Annie will not be baking blueberry muffins or strawberry shortcake.
$20
HEELS, PEARLS, AND BLACK BOOTS
Get everything listed above, plus a free download of an HD digital copy of the finished film.
$25
LATEX AND LACE
Everything listed above, plus access to exclusive behind the scenes footage as we make the film.
$50
RUBY RED LIPSTICK
All of the above in addition to a DVD of the finished film, an awesomely designed t-shirt and a signed 11×17 film poster.
$75
VICTORIA’S SECRET
A gift for the writers out there…
All of the above, get blu ray instead of a DVD plus everything listed above and a signed copy of the script, including script coverage from the writer, Paul Peditto.
$100
VOULEZ VOUS?
Born in France, Annie will whisper sweet nothings from the language of love in your ear with a personalized voice message. {THE $100 PACKAGE} also includes a “Thank You” credit in the film’s ending credits and on IMDb
$250 (only 3 slots available)
BLACK SILK PANTIES
A prop will be sent your way. ‘Nuf said.
(or)
Not sure what prop you’ll be sent, but it’ll come in a brown paper wrapper.
Get the {$100 PACKAGE} plus to two tickets to the premiere, a photo with the director, and a very cool prop used in the making of the film after production is wrapped.
$250
THE CAT’S MEOW
A purrfect package for the writers of crazed, kick-ass thrillers…
This is the {$100 PACKAGE} plus to two tickets to the premiere, a signed photo with the director (if you attend the premiere) and a private, one hour script consultation with Paul Peditto.
$500
ODE TO A GRECIAN URN
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”–John Keats
We send you a private custom video from Annie. Side effects of watching this video includes giant fucking boners, carpel tunnel syndrome, seizures, dry swelling tongue, blindness, blisters, hives, unemployment and the munchies.
Get the {$250 PACKAGE} plus a 24×36 high gloss poster of the film signed by key cast and crew, and a private film production consultation with Boris Wexler. It also includes a private custom video from Annie.
$750 (1 slot available)
MICKEY MOUSE, HE’S NOT
That’s right, you get to name a character!—the one and only pet mouse of our lead character Falcon!
This is the {$500 PACKAGE} plus a 30s private custom video from Annie, a 24×36 high gloss poster of the film signed by key cast and crew, and the opportunity to name the infamous pet mouse of our main character.
$750
NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY!
Imagine your Dad wandering the halls of our online adult chat set! Give back for him putting you through college!
Get the {$500 PACKAGE} plus four tickets to the movie’s premiere, a featured extra spot in the film for you or someone of your choice (transportation/lodging not included).
$1000
BITCHIN’, AWESOME, AND RAD
You’ll be the after-party sensation…
This is the {$750 PACKAGE} plus 10 tickets to the movie’s premiere and after party and one day of unlimited set access(transportation/lodging not included).
$1500
ANGEL FROM HEAVEN
A shimmering moon or five-color sunset is beautiful, but not more beautiful than Chat Goddess Annie, and you’re having dinner with her!
Get the {$1K PACKAGE} plus a private dinner with a lead cast member, the director or the producer, or all of the above! (Transportation/lodging not included))
$2500
CAMAGEDDON!
Your name echoing across the digital divide.
You’ll get the {$1.5K PACKAGE} plus an Associate Producer credit on screen and IMDb, including an all access set VIP pass and 20 tickets to the movie’s premiere.
$5000
WALL OF FAME LEGEND
Official OH SHIT status. Become an instant legend of D.I.Y filmmaking.
This is the {AP PACKAGE} plus the Executive producer head credit on screen and IMDb (instead of AP credit), plus you’ll be able to view and critique preliminary cuts of the film.
$7,500
WALL OF FAME GOD
Your name on top of our Wall of Fame… forever!
This ultimate package is the {$EP PACKAGE} plus a private screening of the film in your city organized for you in a theater with two key members of the production attending.
- KICKSTARTER SCRIPT(S)
The script for CHAT was actually two parts. The first was written as a direct address for our lead actress right into the camera– Chat Cam-Style. I thought it made sense considering the material, and put the viewers right in the voyeuristic shoes of our lead character.
KICKSTARTER SCRIPT: (ANNIE starts the timer)
I’m going to set the timer once. 60 seconds… Want to talk? We’ll talk, or I will. You should never have come in here. Party chat with the sex monsters. Want to talk in private? Ah, we can do that. All the naughty stuff happens in private. 40 seconds…
(Taking the camera in hand, she moves it POV-style, leaning back, incredible flexibility)
I’ve got something for you. Some goodies, from me to you. Pictures, a personal video, a sneak peek into my world. But there’s something you can do for me first. 20 seconds. There’s a special, steamy, sexy guest I want you to meet. He’s going to tell you how we can meet. 10 seconds. I want to see you, in Private, inside. Let’s make it happen. Here we go.
The second part was the speech of director Boris Wexler, direct to camera. Sincere, passionate, competent…sell the damn toothpaste, Boris!
Hi, I’m Boris Wexler, the director of CHAT. I’ve been working on this project for a year now with my writing and producing partner Paul Peditto. It’s something we’re excited about. Something we think is kind of unique.
CHAT is the story of a father searching for his daughter who disappears in the world of cyber chat. He has photophobia, an eye disease which distorts what he sees. Problem is, with his aversion to light, he can’t even look directly at a computer screen. To find his daughter, he enlists the aid a cyber chat model named Annie. All the clues point to a murder, but in this world, nothing is as it seems.Lots of thrillers are being made. Why is this film so different? CHAT puts us directly inside the mind of Falcon, and that’s a pretty messed up place. It drops us into a Lynchian world of crime, extortion, latex cat-suits, and bad liposuction. Freaky characters appear and disappear. Time folds back on itself. And there’s a twist you will never see coming.
I’ve been shooting movies with limited resources for several years now, and I know how to make the most with what I have. No matter what the final budget is, this will be a great film. But there is a minimum we have to reach and we need your help to get there. The only way a micro-budget movie can exist is with the support of friends and family. I believe in this project. We’ve got some of the most talented cast and crew in Chicago, committed and ready to do this. You can help make this happen. We’ll send you a link to a test scene we already shot. It will give you a feel for what I have in mind, and for the quality our team can achieve with very few resources. Please join our team.
- FOLLOW UPS
You MUST do project updates if the campaign is funded. These folks donated and want to feel a part of the movie-making process, so help them out by giving them timely updates on what’s happening through the pre-production, production, and post-production processes. And for goodness sake, make sure you deliver on the gifts you promised. For instance here, several folks were promised a personal ‘sexy” call from our lead actress, Annie, in character. Again, this was tailored with the cybersex chat theme in mind. Make the copy sexy, but not enough to get you arrested:
TELEPHONE MESSAGE
ANNIE: Hi ——….Welcome to my room. I heard you wanted a little personal time with me, so here we are. I got your donation. Thank you. As we speak, your gift is taking Little Orphan Annie out from behind the small screen onto the big screen. About time, no? I’ve been rampaging behind a computer for too long. Now imagine this… me up there on a movie screen, 20 feet tall! And you made that happen. Can’t thank you enough, —–. Think about me when you watch Chat. And I’ll be thinking about you.
VIDEO MESSAGE
ANNIE: (MAKING HER BED, DANCING AROUND THE ROOM AS SHE DOES SO, MUSIC BG) Hi —-….Hope you don’t mind, I need to clean up around here. Heard you wanted a little personal time with me, so welcome to my room. I got your donation. Very generous of you, and the best kind of generosity…giving for a good cause. Are you laughing? Good cause? No, this isn’t the Red Cross. But your gift really helped make a movie happen. Imagine this now: Little Orphan Annie, finally freed from rampaging inside a computer. Up there on the big screen, 20 feet tall! Nice. And you made that happen. (CLOSER TO THE CAMERA) Can’t thank you enough, —–. Think about me when you watch Chat. And I’ll be thinking of you.
ANNIE: (SITTING, FACING A STATIC CAMERA) Hi ——….Welcome to my room. I heard you wanted a little personal time with me, so here we are. I got your donation. Thank you. As we speak, your gift is taking Little Orphan Annie out from behind this small screen onto the big screen. About time, no? I’m tired of rampaging behind this computer screen. Can you imagine, me up on a screen 30 foot tall?! And you made that happen. (CLOSER TO THE CAMERA OR PICKS IT UP POV) Can’t thank you enough, —–. Think about me when you watch Chat.
And I’ll be thinking of you.
Got it, folks?
Now go out and sell that toothpaste!
