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kickstarter_pitch [2017/03/15 19:32] – [The Pitch] edits to clarity Carlos Pedrazakickstarter_pitch [2019/02/23 19:49] (current) – [Not the First Fan-Funded Studio] adds tag Carlos Pedraza
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-====== Details Emerge About Axanar Studio Kickstarter ======+====== Axanar Studio Crowdfunding Campaign Begins March 20 ======
  
-//**Alec Peters' Pitch Video Prematurely Released on YouTube, Then Removed**//+//**After Premature Leak of Pitch Video, Campaign Shifts from Kickstarter to Indiegogo**//
 {{TOC}} {{TOC}}
 <WRAP> <WRAP>
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 After delaying his launch of a [[crowdfunding_platforms|Kickstarter]] campaign to raise money for Industry Studios' rent and utilities, producer [[Alec Peters]] posted his pitch video on YouTube in which he articulated his argument for backers to donate $15,000-18,000 a month to keep the studio afloat. After delaying his launch of a [[crowdfunding_platforms|Kickstarter]] campaign to raise money for Industry Studios' rent and utilities, producer [[Alec Peters]] posted his pitch video on YouTube in which he articulated his argument for backers to donate $15,000-18,000 a month to keep the studio afloat.
  
-Peters appeared to be unaware his four and a half-minute video was publicly viewable. After **AxaMonitor** posted a link March 15, 2017, the video was changed to private, and later apparently removed from YouTube. But not before copies began to circulate on the Web.+<WRAP round important> 
 +{{ :indiegogo-logo.jpg?direct&125|}} 
 +<wrap lo><wrap em>UPDATE</wrap> In a March 17, 2017, email to Axanar donors, Peters announced his 30-day crowdfunding campaign would begin March 20, [[#Move to Indiegogo|on Indiegogo]] instead of Kickstarter.((Axanar Donor Update, email newsletter from Alec Peters, "Latest news on Axanar Productions' next crowdfunding campaign," 3/17/17.)) He failed to give a reason for the change in platform.</wrap> 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Peters appeared to be unaware his four and a half-minute video was publicly viewable. After **AxaMonitor** posted a link March 15, the video was changed to private, and later apparently removed from YouTube. But not before copies began to circulate on the Web.
  
-===== Kickstarter Goal Amount =====+===== Indiegogo Goal Amount =====
  
 To pay the rent and operational expenses for the remaining nine months of 2017 will cost Peters $162,000; a full year would run $216,000. To pay the rent and operational expenses for the remaining nine months of 2017 will cost Peters $162,000; a full year would run $216,000.
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 Peters described the studio's specific mission was to "help independent fan and student filmmakers in their science fiction, horror and fantasy projects to life,"(([[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.)) calling his [[studio-financials#not_a_soundstage|soundstage]] the "single largest asset to help creators bring their projects to life." Peters described the studio's specific mission was to "help independent fan and student filmmakers in their science fiction, horror and fantasy projects to life,"(([[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.)) calling his [[studio-financials#not_a_soundstage|soundstage]] the "single largest asset to help creators bring their projects to life."
  
-His [[axanar_kickstarter_details|previous Kickstarter]] campaign raised more than $638,000 in 2014 to produce //Axanar// and build his own studio rather than rent one. That money is all gone.+His [[axanar_kickstarter_details|previous Kickstarter]] campaign raised more than $638,000 in 2014 to produce //Axanar// and build his own studio rather than rent one. A follow-up [[axanar_indiegogo_details|Indiegogo]] effort brought in another $574,434. All that money is gone. 
 + 
 +Axanar's next campaign moved to [[axanar_indiegogo_details|Indiegogo]], where it was less successful, taking five and a half months to raise 89 percent of what it brought in from Kickstarter.
  
 ==== Others' Intellectual Property ==== ==== Others' Intellectual Property ====
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 > One of the reasons we want to work with Industry Studios is because we want his performance to reach as many of his fans as possible.((Tom Pike interview, [[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.)) > One of the reasons we want to work with Industry Studios is because we want his performance to reach as many of his fans as possible.((Tom Pike interview, [[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.))
  
-Pike added that he hoped to shoot the series' second season at Industry Studios — for free if Peters' pitch was to be believed — if Kickstarter backers underwrite the operational costs of the facility.+Pike added that he hoped to shoot the series' second season at Industry Studios — for free if Peters' pitch was to be believed — if backers underwrite the operational costs of the facility.
  
 **HARRY POTTER** Fan filmmaker [[imdb>name/nm2808985/|Justin Zagri]] (//Severus Snape and the Marauders//) also spoke up for Industry Studios in the pitch video: **HARRY POTTER** Fan filmmaker [[imdb>name/nm2808985/|Justin Zagri]] (//Severus Snape and the Marauders//) also spoke up for Industry Studios in the pitch video:
  
-> When you get to take meetings at a place like Industry Studios it gives you a professional veneer. It gives potential investors and other people that might be helping you a sense confident in you, that they see what your surroundings are.((Justin Zagri interview, [[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.))+> When you get to take meetings at a place like Industry Studios it gives you a professional veneer. It gives potential investors and other people that might be helping you a sense of confidence in you, that they see what your surroundings are.((Justin Zagri interview, [[yout>V4173MUhdUk|Industry Studios Kickstarter Video, YouTube]], 3/14/16.))
  
 Incidentally, Zagri noted his two Harry Potter films had garnered in excess of 10 million views. //Prelude to Axanar//, by comparison, logged 3 million views in the course of nearly three years. Incidentally, Zagri noted his two Harry Potter films had garnered in excess of 10 million views. //Prelude to Axanar//, by comparison, logged 3 million views in the course of nearly three years.
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 //**__‘Contrary to Alec Peters' claims, Industry Studios would not be the first fan-funded movie studio in history. That title goes to Legion M.’__**// //**__‘Contrary to Alec Peters' claims, Industry Studios would not be the first fan-funded movie studio in history. That title goes to Legion M.’__**//
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
 +
 +The move to Indiegogo would appear to require a new version of the pitch video; that presumably would be released with the campaign's March 20 launch.
  
 ==== Operational Costs ==== ==== Operational Costs ====
  
-Peters described the aim for the use of Kickstarter funds: the operational costs for the studio, which are not identified in the video, but he had separately described the costs as high as $18,000 per month. //Axanar// supporters' $1.4 million was all but used up by studio-related costs even before the [[CBS]]-[[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] [[copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]].+Peters described the aim for the use of the crowd funds: the operational costs for the studio, which are not identified in the video, but he had separately described the costs as high as $18,000 per month. //Axanar// supporters' $1.4 million was all but used up by studio-related costs even before the [[CBS]]-[[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] [[copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]].
  
 Backers' underwriting those costs would offer student and independent filmmakers free access to the studio, he said. Backers' underwriting those costs would offer student and independent filmmakers free access to the studio, he said.
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 Peters made a point of claiming "none of the money raised will go toward individual compensation" — a criticism levied at him since he revealed in Axanar's 2015 [[annual report]] he had paid himself a salary from donor funds. He [[peters_kickstarter_facts|changed that story]] a year later, claiming he had paid the money back by paying for the studio rent out of his own pocket once he had used up donors' money. Peters made a point of claiming "none of the money raised will go toward individual compensation" — a criticism levied at him since he revealed in Axanar's 2015 [[annual report]] he had paid himself a salary from donor funds. He [[peters_kickstarter_facts|changed that story]] a year later, claiming he had paid the money back by paying for the studio rent out of his own pocket once he had used up donors' money.
 +
 +== Propworx's Free Rent ==
 +
 +Unmentioned by Peters is the status of his other company, a separate business called [[propworx-email|Propworx]]. Peters admitted during the lawsuit that company has never paid rent for its space at Industry Studios. It remained unknown whether this other business would contribute to the studio rent alongside donors.
  
 === Funding Other Fan Films === === Funding Other Fan Films ===
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 The studio's commercial prospects may have dimmed, however, with Peters' admission the soundstage is not actually [[studio-financials|soundproof]]. The studio's commercial prospects may have dimmed, however, with Peters' admission the soundstage is not actually [[studio-financials|soundproof]].
  
-Meanwhile, none of the Kickstarter money appeared to be earmarked for fan film production. That money is meant to pay 2017's rent and utilities. Any funds raised over that amount would be applied to the same costs in 2018.+Meanwhile, none of the crowdfunding appeared to be earmarked for fan film production. That money is meant to pay 2017's rent and utilities for Axanar's commercial soundstage. Any funds raised over that amount would be applied to the same costs in 2018.
  
 ===== Launch Delay ===== ===== Launch Delay =====
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 In a "mea culpa" missive the same day, Peters said he was holding back on the Kickstarter campaign "so we can coordinate better with Kickstarter and plan out our perks."((Email from Axanar Productions to donors, Axanar Donor Update: “This is what happens when our PR guy goofs up,” 3/8/17.)) In a "mea culpa" missive the same day, Peters said he was holding back on the Kickstarter campaign "so we can coordinate better with Kickstarter and plan out our perks."((Email from Axanar Productions to donors, Axanar Donor Update: “This is what happens when our PR guy goofs up,” 3/8/17.))
 +
 +==== Move to Indiegogo ====
 +
 +Ten days later, Peters announced the campaign would no longer be on Kickstarter, and would instead launch March 20 on Indiegogo. That platform, unlike Kickstarter, allows campaigns to keep whatever they raise; if they fail to meet their goal on Kickstarter, they receive no money.
  
 ==== Priority Over Producing 'Axanar' ==== ==== Priority Over Producing 'Axanar' ====
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 In the pitch, Peters repeated an [[studio-financials#first_fan-funded_studio|inaccurate claim]] he first made in a message to donors: In the pitch, Peters repeated an [[studio-financials#first_fan-funded_studio|inaccurate claim]] he first made in a message to donors:
  
-> 2016 was a challenging year [fending off a copyright lawsuit]. 2017 has seen the opportunity for us to create the first fan-funded movie studio in history. Won't you help us make that a reality?+> 2016 was a challenging year [fending off its copyright lawsuit]. 2017 has seen the opportunity for us to create the first fan-funded movie studio in history. Won't you help us make that a reality?
  
 Unfortunately, that reality already exists. **AxaMonitor** reported that [[studio-financials#the_other_first_fan-funded_studio|Legion M]], established in 2016, is the first fan-funded movie studio. Fans are actual equity partners in that studio. Supporters of Peters' Industry Studios would have no ownership interest. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}} Unfortunately, that reality already exists. **AxaMonitor** reported that [[studio-financials#the_other_first_fan-funded_studio|Legion M]], established in 2016, is the first fan-funded movie studio. Fans are actual equity partners in that studio. Supporters of Peters' Industry Studios would have no ownership interest. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}
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-**Keywords** {{tag>Industry_Studios nonprofit crowdfunding}}+**Keywords** {{tag>Industry_Studios nonprofit crowdfunding Indiegogo}}