Kickstarter Day Three. Oh, What A Feeling!

Cameras
Posted by Admin on 31, August 2011 with 7 Comments
Twitt

I have to admit that I am very impressed with how quickly Kickstarter has responded to “The Board Of Education Doc” application. I have received daily updates from them and really “feel” like they care about this project. I might just be naïve but they have done a great job here and I am happy to announce that…. We are in! Now, visualize me jumping up and down. I am very excited to get this project up and running. I am very passionate about this subject and feel grateful to have this opportunity!

Here is the response from Elasibeth.

“Hi Jared,
That all sounds good. Definitely would emphasize the creative, engaging, and experiential rewards over products and gear. Though I know you have a large following of folks who’d be enticed by the gear offers, we’re more about offering rewards that relate directly to the creative product of the project (i.e. the film itself–on-screen credit, DVD/digital downloads, chance to hang on set, work on the film, learn about filmmaking from you, etc.). The mix you have is definitely on the right track. That is to say…
Congratulations — you’re in! In just a moment, you’ll be able to start getting your project ready.
Take as much time as you need to prepare; there’s no deadline to launch.
Check out Recommended projects for inspiration: http://www.kickstarter.com/discover, and explore Kickstarter School for tons of tips on making a great project: http://www.kickstarter.com/help/school.
Some of the things you’ll learn:
1) A video is a must. It makes an emotional connection and shows you care. Plus, projects with video succeed at a much higher rate!
2) Cool rewards make a big difference. Not every reward has to be special, but they’re a great opportunity to share what’s unique to you and your project.
3) Spreading the word pays off. You provide the experience and the idea, your network helps fund and promote it.
And remember, funding is all or nothing — you can always raise more, but never less! You’ll want to choose a funding goal that will cover costs and fulfill rewards, but also one that is reasonably attainable through the support of your networks.
If you have questions, check out our Help Center: http://www.kickstarter.com/help/.
Good luck!
Elisabeth”

The entire process from application to approval only took about three days total. I am still very green in this process. We will be prepping our “Pitch” this week and hope to launch the campaign by the end of next week. I will share our methodology behind all this madness as we progress.

“That all sounds good. Definitely would emphasize the creative, engaging, and experiential rewards over products and gear.”

It looks like we will have to get a little more creative with the “Rewards” any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Please take a minute to comment here.
Thanks!

Admin
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Jared Abrams is a cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. After many years as a professional camera assistant he switched over to still photography. About two years ago a new Canon camera changed the way the world sees both motion and still photography. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • James Miller

    I would see a great rolling reward of weekly BTS blog extras. Things that actually make you say, you know what, this guy is just like me. Really help bring those barries down. Even a pictorial podcast.
    I would say a credit is the least appealing, as so is a free download of the final production. I want to feel I’m viewing it as it happens.

    Cheers & best of luck, James Miller

  • Goforjared

    Sounds like a cool idea. A little UStream style action maybe. Still want to give the supporters something. Im thinking about a Director’s notebook. Limited edition. 
    Thanks!

  • http://twitter.com/jdwiden Jeremy Widen

    I know a lot of people skip right past the lower level rewards and look specifically for  on screen/website, or even better: IMDB, credit.

  • Goforjared

    Thanks for the comment. I’ll come up with something cool for the higher end. What do you think of the V.O. reward?
    Thanks,
    Jared

  • Charles Elmore

    Hey Jared,

    Can’t wait to see how this project takes off. I know from experience, having backed two kickstarter projects that the mid-range rewards are what is really going to attract the majority of people. Not everyone is going to be able to afford a private screening or fly to the premiere or even have the available time for that.

    That said, I think those mid-range rewards should be really well thought out. Soundtracks, digital downloads, posters etc. Here’s a kickstarter campaign that was successful that I got to be a part of, http://kck.st/qF0dhw and it reached it’s goal fairly quick. In that campaign, the mid-range ($10-$75) included everything from credit to a real, tangible product that the donor could walk away with, A poster, A collectors CD of the soundtrack, a T-Shirt, etc. That’s the sort of stuff that attracts me more than a skype phone call or anything. Something I can boast and show off to my friends, “Yeah, see that poster, that’s from a film I helped get funded”. Breaking some of the rewards, like the t-shirt, or the lens-cloth+t-shirt, into the 15-25-50 donation range could help attract a lot of the people who might not be able to afford the polarizer or the higher rewards, but still want to contribute.

    The way I see kickstarter’s strengths is in providing a direct link up between product provider and product purchaser, you’re not just donating, you’re specifically buying the product you’re giving toward (and I think that’s awesome!), take for instance the cineskates campaign that’s more than met their goal.

    Good Luck Jared, I hope this project get’s funded and I see myself giving no matter what rewards range you offer.

    -Charles Elmore

  • http://twitter.com/jdwiden Jeremy Widen

     I think it’s a great idea. Audience interaction is the wave of the future.

  • Goforjared

    I must have missed this great response. I apologize for not responding sooner. Thanks so much for the killer suggestions! I’ll get a poster thing going. Some limited editions with some bonus swag. 
    Thanks so much,
    Jared