In either case, I hope that you enjoy my not-so-regularly updated blog. Or, if you don't enjoy it, hopefully you at least tolerate it and move on without your day getting any worse.
Now on to the reason I'm back here typing away on an entry that few may read and even fewer may care about (but you all should because the topic of this post is important!).
In this ever-growing age of technology and independent art, new people are being exposed to the good, the bad, and the ugly of art, theatre, music, comedy, film, and everything else that anyone wants to call art. Sometimes this exposure comes from Youtube, local gigs, indie film fests, word of mouth, and/or Twitter (and I'm sure other ways as well); but there are a few sites out there that allow viewers not only to find and support works through spreading the word but also by giving money.
If you know about Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other sites like this, you'll also know that a lot of things get funded that in your eyes (and probably mine) shouldn't. See Team Coco's list of 20 terrible Kickstarter projects for just a taste of the craziest (or maybe to you the best) Kickstarter projects: http://teamcoco.com/content/the-terrible-20-kickstarter-projects
I understand and appreciate the "to each his own" concept of art and life. If people think that it is important to fund someone's trip to Olive Garden (see link above) then I'm glad that they are able to support something that they believe in (or to support something that they think is so silly that they can't help but give). I also appreciate that someone can get money to help them create their masterpiece, take a trip, or start a business, no matter what it is.
Sometimes though I can't help but sigh, shake my head, and mumble about the youth of our country being less than stellar when it comes to common sense.
And other times I can't help but yell aloud: YOU HAVE YOUR OWN MONEY. STOP ASKING FOR OURS YOU UN-NAMED FAMOUS PERSON.
I'd love to say that I support all art and will give money to anything and everything as my wallet allows but I can't and won't say that. Instead I will be blunt: I am cheap and will only support things that I actually care about and give to people who I think actually deserve it. Unfortunately for my friends sometimes this means me keeping my mouth shut, not RTing, and not encouraging people on Facebook to go somewhere, give something, or spread the word. This also means that I don't vote for people in contests, I don't join a lot of Facebook groups, and I don't follow new people on Twitter just because someone suggests it, unless it is something that I personally care about.
Don't get me wrong; I love and care about my friends. If you are one of my friends I will fight to the death to protect whatever venture your heart wants to follow. I will smite those who speak against you and push you to follow your dreams. Most importantly, I won't talk poorly about your idea or work, no matter how odd I think it is; but that doesn't mean that I will speak well of it or even speak of it at all. If I don't have anything nice to say I won't say anything at all (some exceptions do apply for crazies who need a good reality check).
Now that you know about my views on giving money for the sake of giving money (I just won't do it) I'd like to tell you about a Kickstarter project that I fully support both in word of mouth and from my wallet (I don't literally fully support them financially, but I did give to the Kickstarter) in the hopes that you will find it worthy of support. Wander My Friends is an indie film that is currently nearing the end of filming. The script is hilarious, the people are friendly and talented, and the subject matter should hit home for any independent artist, author, or small business owner.
From the Kickstarter page:
"Wander My Friends tells the story of Asher Ackerman, Nate Park and Roland Vanver, the creative team behind the fiction indie hit comic "Wanderers." After several years of telling the story of clandestine comic hero Jim Sable and his circle of every day people with strange abilities, the "Wanderers" creators have achieved critical notoriety and success. So successful, in fact, that a larger comic book publisher has made an offer to merge with their small, indie publishing company. Knowing full well that their days of creative control are now numbered, Ash, Roland and Nate make a low key attempt to start their own comic venture before their current contracts trap them in a place where they have little to no control over a story and world they created.
The film follows the trio as they find out just how hard it is and what it takes to launch an independently run creative venture."
And the link to the page to donate: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1184309126/wander-my-friends-a-comedy-about-comic-creators?ref=home_location
I was lucky enough to work on a small part of this movie. I don't expect and have never expected to get paid for my help. I helped for the same reason that I am suggesting that people give to this Kickstarter: I fell in love with the content and the people and have seen the talent that they have and I BELIEVE IN THIS FILM.
As of this post there are only 9 days left to give to the Kickstarter and help this group of indie filmmakers keep their pockets from collapsing into black holes. If you don't know much about Kickstarter, you should only remember one thing: If the project is not fully funded before the deadline, no one gets your money; your CC is charged only after the project has been successfully funded or it is never charged if enough money is not pledged.
So, I can only ask, now that you know that I really must care about this project (if I don't have anything nice to say I won't say anything at all and I've been pushing this Kickstarter since I found out it existed), to please give the page a look, see info about the people working on the film, check out the updates tab for some weekly footage, and if you feel like they are worthy, please give. If you can't give, please post the link to Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc. and ask people to help out.
-Main page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1184309126/wander-my-friends-a-comedy-about-comic-creators?ref=home_location
-Weekly footage: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1184309126/wander-my-friends-a-comedy-about-comic-creators/posts
If you need more reason to give, check out their website and social media outlets:
http://www.wandermyfriends.com/
http://www.facebook.com/WanderMyFriends
https://twitter.com/wandermyfriends
Thanks!
