Kickstarter project - Feedback, anyone?

[AmazonMonk]

Dear community,

... scratch that, I'll skip the formalities.

I've started up a kickstarter project recently, which is part of the reason I've been so busy recently and haven't had much time to be as active as I'd like to be (and why I've avoided joining more IC threads -- so that I wouldn't leave others hanging if I was unable to make the time).

Anyways, the project proposed is a documentary film called "Capoeira in Japan". It will take a sort of anthropological approach at exploring the subculture of capoeira (and the strong hints of Brazilian culture that it imports) and the interactions between the art and the Japanese, whose culture, at first glance, seems almost on the other end of the spectrum. (E.g. Expressive vs. reserved; free-flowing vs. rigid structure; trickery and deception vs. honor and the bushido code.). More details can be found in the link above (and even more in my notes, as I wanted to just keep the basics of the project so that it's not tl;dr. I have problems with brevity...)

I would really appreciate any feedback! I know there are tons of amazing writers and wonderful artists here, and I could use the help in sprucing this thing up (or condensing it).

If there are any other suggestions for rewards (new ideas or tweaks to other rewards), please let me know! (I had originally offered more plain-ticket rewards, including one-way and round-trip tickets for fairly cheap... but was advised against it for multiple reasons, including complexity, legal issues, and lack of "altruistic" motives).

I'm still working on putting together a website to go with it. Could take some time...

Many Thanks!!!

If there are any questions, shoot away~

[AmazonMonk]

Also just wanted to say... this project is important to me for multiple reasons.

1) With an anthropology degree in hand, I love learning about and exploring culture. So this is kinda up my alley. And I love Japanese culture
2) I just got my teaching credential, and am putting it to use by teaching abroad in Japan.. thus how I'll have the opportunity to stay there for a year
3) I love capoeira, and this project will give me a great excuse to put all of the above together and make this trip exceedingly worthwhile
4) .... I'm broke. Job market sucks, barely got a job as a tutor, but not making much due to limited hours (hours which are compounded with the need to travel to each student's house... without a car. Unpaid travel/transition time, and paperwork/lesson planning.)

We were advised by the company to arrive with a minimum of 500,000 yen for start-up costs to tide us over until the first paycheck. (Initial upfront housing cost for urban areas: ~354,000 yen for average apartment accommodations. The rest is for groceries, start-up phone (required), other initial set-up stuff, etc...) Given the depreciating value of the dollar, that's now about $6,500. (Just two years ago, it was ~$5,500, 1k difference.) That's not including the ticket. I've got $87 in my account, and overdrafted earlier this month thanks to my loans taking double the amount expected. Work might get me up to a couple grand by March, but there's no way I'll make the cut on my own, even with the second job I'm looking into.

I need for this project to be successful just to even have a safe start in Japan, let alone make it there... But, because kickstarter doesn't want "fund my life" projects... I toned down how much I actually need the help. Not sure if this was a good decision or not....

Of course, I fully intend to see this project through, else I wouldn't have put it up. (Besides, there could be legal ramifications if I fell short, as I had to create a business account just to get this started). And I hope this project turns out amazing, as I'm already getting in touch with some capoeira people in Japan and exploring my options. But... I have a feeling all these emotions didn't get translated well into the project, as I tried to lay down the basic groundwork of it. (I went through so many revisions and rewrites before even submitting my proposal, it was ridiculous)

But anyways, yeah... if I could get some input as to what's good and what areas need work/editing (and better yet: how to improve), I would most graciously appreciate it!

[Morgan]

My first suggestion would be for you to draw up some sort of waiver of liability clause, especially since you're talking about providing plane tickets, housing in a foreign country, etc etc. Say the person's plane crashed on its way to Japan or the person suffered serious injury while staying in your housing. It wouldn't matter if you were directly responsible or not...you funded it...you could be held liable.

I'll take another look at this later. Right now...NAP TIME.

<3

[Archival]

This style reminds me of Tekken's Eddie Gordo. His ultimate combo doesn't even fully connect, even when I let computer do it for me. >.< Hyping this thread up:





Bonus: Afro samurai

(Afro samurai)

[supernal]

It should remind you of Eddie Gordo's style because it is​ his style.

[AmazonMonk]

My first suggestion would be for you to draw up some sort of waiver of liability clause, especially since you're talking about providing plane tickets, housing in a foreign country, etc etc. Say the person's plane crashed on its way to Japan or the person suffered serious injury while staying in your housing. It wouldn't matter if you were directly responsible or not...you funded it...you could be held liable.

I'll take another look at this later. Right now...NAP TIME.

<3

Thank you so much dear!
And you make some very good points... which, I suppose, is all the more reason I should follow my brother's advice and just take those things out, leaving it as "you're welcome to come over and stay a few nights", at most...
Though, even then I suppose I'd have to set some more rules/conditions. Of course, these waivers can be signed after the project is backed, but still sounds like a good idea to mention before hand...

Yeah... might scrap the ideas. Hmm...
Not sure what other good ideas to come up with atm, but I'll keep thinking. Maybe I'll leave the "Executive Producer" credits there...

(I might post more stuff later. For now, gotta run~)
Thanks again! :D

[AmazonMonk]

Update: Some small tweaks to the way the "About the Project" reads (Hopefully it sounds more exciting/more enthusiastic? ^^;)

I've also launched the accompanying site. A little plain-Jane, but it'll do, for now... It includes a little blog where feedback/commenting is possible...

I still have to hammer out those Rewards though... but it's 3:30 AM. Tomorrow...

Once again, I am grateful for any help or input I can get. In fact, even if you don't like the way a particular section reads, but can't put your finger on why or are too lazy to explain, I'll be happy to hear about that too. Even if it's not "constructive" criticism, if something rubs you the wrong way, it might bug others too, and I'll try to figure out what that is so that I can fix it. It's all appreciated! :)
Sincerely.

Off to bed now. See you next time, space cowboys...

[AmazonMonk]

Quick Poll: Which title do you find more presentable?

1. "Capoeira in Japan: A fusion of cultures"
2. "Capoeira in the Land of the Rising Sun"
3. "The Capoeira Diaspora: Integration with Japan(/or Land of the Rising Sun)"
4. "Kick Back: How the Reserved Culture of Japan Embraces the Expressive and Free-Spirited Subculture of Capoeira"

I've also heard "Tumbling in Toyama" and "Cartwheels in Kyoto" (the latter of which I really like), though they're not quite politically correct with regard to location, as I'll try to gather footage from different parts of Japan.

Random:

Fusion HAH small.jpg
Friend and I trying to do "Fusion"... upside down.
We missed a little

P.S. I'm fixing the Rewards tonight. Most likely taking out "Plane ticket" type rewards
and possibly homestay types as well.... to offer more substantial rewards, like instruments, etc.


If you have any ideas you think are interesting, please share :)
Any and all feedback is appreciated.

[Archival]

Capoeira: The Brazilian Martial Art #01 - MMA - UFC 141


20-Second Capoeira KNOCKOUT! (Go to 2:25)


Capoeira KO in MMA UFC - Crazy Knockout - Incredible


Lateef Crowder Tribute


The Protector

[odium.]

That's the Protector, not Tekken.

[AmazonMonk]

Lol yes, it's the Protector (Tom Yum Goong). Tony Jaa and Lateef Crowder both make beautiful choreography nonetheless (even if Jaa's movies make little sense.) It just makes me sad that, in nearly every major movie, it seems like Lateef has to lose, often within the 1st round. Sometimes they look liked forced losses, as it does it this movie (though I think the choreo might have been cut short b/c of an injury on lateef's part).
Lateef also played Baraka in the trailer for Mortal Kombat Legacy... and as an extra bonus fact, he's trained under the same school that I have. Just sucks that I was too poor to attend the "batizado" ceremony the year that he went to get his "professor" title/chord.
And a random story: One of my friends/instructors told me that he played him once, a couple years ago. and got a clean sweep on him. But instead of just "falling" like a normal person, Lateef landed into a hand-spin recovery. Insane...

@ Archival: The kick most frequently seen knocking people out is often called either "meia lua de compasso" or "rabo de arraia" (sting ray's tail)... and the momentum from the spinning heel is indeed devastating :3

For Roen:

Not sure if this'll work but here's a nice little clip of the "fusion" my friend put together for fun :P

[/rambling]

[AmazonMonk]

Kickstarter updates:

* Title changed: "Capoeira Diaspora: Integration with the Land of the Rising Sun"
* Rewards settled (but if there are any requests/ideas, feel free to drop 'em!)
* 15 days left until the kickstarter ends. Still ways away from the goal...
* Video introduction is still in the works. Making a "trailer" that is also a kickstarter explanation to the project has proved challenging... it's also proving to be a voice-acting workout (I'm normally somewhat monotonous when I try to explain things T_T). Balancing between semi-flashy mixes and bland explanations creates a fine line for cheese (hard to go back and forth gracefully)... and it's taking a lot longer than I anticipated to get something I'm content with. (Could also use more original clips to use as visual aesthetics to cover up the talking...)

Anywho, sorry for the absenteeism/late responses... which will likely resume after this post :(
Will return when the video is complete (hopefully no later than the weekend)

Thanks you for any support! It is much appreciated :')

Edit:
Any thoughts about this clip? Good as is/Don't "unravel" the effects at the end to make it look like just an animation/Don't add the effects at all, and just use the original version (not cartoony)/ Not good as an intro/ Not good at all/ Other?

(this youtube upload is an early rendition before adding other stuff, but still.)

[AmazonMonk]

Updates: Err... so apparently the fb video only works for a few people.... meh.



Here is what I have so far. This is taking a painstakingly long amount of time... If it were just the editing, I'd be done already. Voice-overs/talking in front of the camera .... it's killing me. I'm generally a more shy, soft spoken person, so it's taking a lot of takes and a lot of energy to get something that's "Okay".

Anyways, as usual.... feedback is always appreciated. If there's a part that seems awkward or looks weird... angles, effects, flaws, whatever... please let me know.

There's only 10 days left for the project to be up on kickstarter, and I'm trying to finish this as fast as I can for that reason - while taking care of other business as well... so I apologize for my lack of activity. I hope to get more involved after this is over.

For right now, I could really use your support >_<. Honestly, just $5 would go a long way... but I'd be more than happy if you could just spread the word.

[AmazonMonk]

In case you're tired of seeing updates... this might be the last regarding this project:

The Introductory video is FINALLY finished! :D (It only took forever and a day!)



And again, the project, Capoeira Diaspora: Integration with the Land of the Rising Sun, <--- can be found right there. (Only 5 days left!)

Being fairly new and mildly unbeknownst to the peeps of Valucre, I completely understand if there's a lack of interest in this thread and/or with offering any help to this stranger right here <--

So I figured I'd have to add an extra incentive for Valucre members.

Now, I can edit the project and the rewards as I like... but I can't include rewards on kickstarter that are "financial incentives" or otherwise not related to the project...
so rather than adding a specific reward on Kickstarter, I thought I'd post it here.

For every "pledge" (donation), even as low as $1, I will give back $5 to Valucre - (Expected delivery: Between April or May, when I've stabilized and recieved my paycheck).
Conditions:

• $5 per donor, regardless of pledge amount. So a donor donating $1 multiple times is still considered a single donor.
• You must select "No Reward" in the list of Rewards in order to help let me know that you're from Valucre - UNLESS you pledge more than $5... in which case, select whichever reward(s) interest you at your donation level
• You must post on here after "pledging". (this'll help keep track of the donors... in order to easily add up how much I'd have to give back)

Naturally, posrep will also be delivered.

If you can think of any other feasible rewards (e.g. ValBullion), I can also try to accommodate. (Rewards related to the project in some way are preferred, as I can input such rewards directly into the kickstarter. One possible example that I've just thought of - which might be of interest to artists and writers depicting melee - is to capture and put together a collection of capoeira pics featuring moves and poses from different angles/perspective, offering good reference material. If you like this idea, or have another, please post your thoughts below and I'll see what I can do.)


As if the money wasn't enough of an issue, I know having to create kickstarter account just to back a project seems annoying and can deter potential donors... so hopefully these incentives help alleviate the some of the symptoms of donor apathy.

And just as a reminder: If the project's goal is not reached, nothing is charged to any backer, and no money goes towards this project. It goes kaput.

The rest... I leave in your hands.

Cheers!
AmazonMonk

"Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends".

[AmazonMonk]

24 hours left!! It's sink or swim from hear on out.

All pledges = +$5 donation to valucre.

Anything, even $1, is much appreciated, and will also go back towards helping Valucre.

~(I know I said "last update", but... It's the Final Countdown)~