Though there is still some hope of reaching our goal, I'll admit, it's not likely at this point. We've had tons of views of the video and the page, nearly 800 likes on Facebook, a host of follows on twitter but at this point with one full week left, we have less than 100 commitments... pledges to help make the film. Those who have pledged committed enough but if we do not reach our goal, it is simply because the numbers of pledgers weren't there.
When hoping to fund a movie, I chose kickstarter because it is all or nothing. I cannot make a $3,000 dollar movie... at least, not one worth showing to the world. Crafting the message and then delivering it to the world is my intent. So we went all or nothing. With less than 10 days left, an anonymous donor promised to fund the final 10k if we could reach 20k. That day we received pledges with renewed vigor but the following day, it trickled off again.
I thought it was important to start thinking about the "what if." What if this campaign does not get funded through this kickstarter campaign. This isn't all gloom and doom. There are also a lot of positives that we accomplished.
What happens if the Cajun Kickstarter does not reach it's goal?
For the backers:
- No one's credit card will be charged.
- We Are Cajun documentary receives 0$
- No one receives the rewards they selected.
For Cajun's everywhere:
- We Are Cajun received a ton of press, that could be rolled into the project as a whole whenever I have the personal finances to take up this project one day.
- The world may be _slightly_ less clueless about what it means to be Cajun just because of the exposure the campaign and the question have received.
- We'll keep running the Facebook page as a place for people to talk about Cajun life & culture.
- The world will still be ultimately misinformed about what Cajun means, leaving the storytelling to reality programs, less than savory mardi gras videos, and tourism campaigns.
So you see, it's not all bad. But I hope that together, we've created some venue for us to actually get this film funded and this mission accomplished. We may find it's by way of this kickstarter campaign, private funding, or maybe even a bank loan at some point in the future.
I know people see a lot of indie films out there and may be wondering why we need 30k. The truth is 30k won't even fund a film of this caliber but I know I could generate the additional funding through other sources with this seed money and money to continue production immediately. Funding that would be needed to make a film worthy of Sundance, Cannes and Toronto film festivals. Funding that would give We Are Cajun the appropriate promotional consideration, and make it professionally and correctly so that it could arrive in the hands of the waiting world, finally setting the record straight. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it right, or not at all.
I do want to take the time to again thank those who have come forward and actually committed to helping fund this film, weather it was because you wanted a cool reward or just thought "why not? It's only $10!" I know that your goal was also my goal in telling the truth about our culture, and our distinct traditions and values and I thank you for sharing that dream with me.
We have 7 days. I'm really curious how this will turn out but for the most part, I will be hands off. My family has finally purchased our own home and we have to paint and move in. This place has a big back yard that reminds me a little bit of my old Lafayette neighborhood backyard. I miss the mile high pecan trees. I miss the fact that I could cut a branch off of anything and stick it in the ground and it would just grow. I miss setting up a big table in the backyard with friends and family and eating while talking about what we ate and what we were going to eat tomorrow. I miss long neighborly conversations and I miss all of you. One way or another, let's find out how to tell our story. I hope I can bring all of my God-given talents to the table for that effort through "We Are Cajun."
Yours truly,
A. Clements
