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New Article on Jumper Cable Films

Hey JCF...congrats on rolling out a new project idea, I wish you luck with the funding. I love the genre mix--great potential.

I was wondering, do you guys have any previous work that can be viewed online, like a trailer or a short?

Thanks.
 
Hey M1ichae1,

Thanks!

Part of the catch-22 of course, is waiting until we have the proper resources to generate content like a trailer. As I'm not directing it, I'm very loathe to put out visual content that people would associate with the final movie. That said, our plan at the moment is to shoot a trailer after we raise a certain percentage of the budget. I agree it's needed, and would do a lot more to capture people's imagination.

For now, we have the animated promo, and a teaser promo series for Facebook on our vimeo channel, as well as videos on the http://jumpercablefilms.com site. As I'll be acting in it, I suppose it's a good idea to put up my showreel, too. This, and other new content is always being generated - but eager to get to the trailer phase, for sure.

Thanks again for your interest, and your kind words.

All the best,
Ryan
 
I'm not sure those promos are the material you're looking for. As of now, they are low quality on the production end, and even low quality on the video resolution end.

If you expect to get 'funded' with an actual budget (even over 10K), then I highly suggest you put together higher quality sample work or promo work. Right now, what I see here will not be appetizing to investors. I'm not sure what budget range you're going for, but right now it looks ultra low to no budget. How much do you need to start shooting, and what is the general budget range?

You have to look at who you're competing with. With todays influx of independent media and the crappy state of the DVD market and the horrible distribution deals being made, you have to stand out if you want to actually find investment.

I am not here to bash your promo material or make you feel bad, I'm telling you from my standpoint and experience that your material needs to be much stronger if you want to capture investment and standout in the sea of 7Ds and Reds--especially with a company that has no previous catalog.

Don't let this get you down. Trust me, you want to hear it here first.

{EDIT: After watching your reel, obviously you should know all this. You've clearly worked on some good budget films. You need your promo material to looks as good as the films you've acted in. Solid reel. Good stuff.}

Is this JCF first feature? Do you guys have any shorts online?
 
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Fair enough. Thanks for the feedback.

We're very happy about the animated promo that gets across the idea of crowd-funding. Indie film-makers aren't our target here, but rather folks that like cool projects and have never heard of the idea.

The "fund the apocalypse" series aren't meant to be visually dazzling - just little attention-getters, easy and free to put together. Just for the facebook crowd.

One thing about this whole project - and unlike other crowd-funding projects - it's not an investment, and we're not looking for large investors. We are looking for 300k through advance ticket sales, a store, and other methods, though we won't crash if we don't raise the entire amount.

But yes, this will be our first feature. And you're absolutely right, we'll be a lot better off once we get "bigger" shorts out there, and a trailer.

We started completely from scratch, which is part of the exercise. We're happy about our progress, yet aim to get bigger and better as move forward.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughts, man! Feedback of any kind is always appreciated.
 
300K is a lot of money to raise (no matter how you do it) for a production company without a single feature under their belt, and low quality promo material.

You may seriously want to consider making a feature for 5-10K first and see how that turns out. If it's good, you will have a feature under your belt, some good production clips, and more experience. Right now, it's going to be hard to get anybody to jump on board without any previous work. And how do you plan to sell 1,2,300K in tickets? Good lord man, that's like a mini-theatrical release. A store as in shirts and shwag? That's a lot of shwag.

I really do wish you luck, I just want to tell-it-like-it-is. Anyone else on the boards agree with me, or do you think it's a goal to reach for?

As harsh as this all may sound, we're here to help.
 
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Harsh is fine, we're used to it. And we really appreciate you taking the time to think and articulate your thoughts on this.

Definitely don't want to try to pull off a feature on 10k. But a high-quality trailer after we raise 20k is well-worth it (wouldn't spend all 20k on the trailer, of course, but would want to spend some resources in order to match the quality of the feature).

Our store won't be up for a couple of months, but we hope to include a lot of themed post-apocalyptic relics from Eastern Europe (from antiques to bizarro electronics that you would never find in the US). One of the many threads of the web we're extending.

But, mainly, it's the pre-sold tickets we're after. We're not insane - we know it's a lot to ask for - but therein lies our labor. The fact that we've had as much interest and support as we have so far indicates there's still a lot of work ahead, but it's not impossible.

But again, no such thing as bad feedback or a bad idea to us. Other film-makers aren't our target audience (especially those that would rather spend the price of a ticket on their own project), but the circulation of skepticism is useful.

So, for that - again, cheers!
 
I have to agree with M1chae1.

300k is a sum, that would, from the standpoint of an investor, rely on previous work, showing that you can indeed work with a budget. I believe, that the mentality would suffice as to that of your audiences, too. You have to believe that the majority of your audience would be lovers of film/film-makers, there's never been so many "film buffs" turned film-makers. The digital era has diminished a barrier, that you seem to be somewhat neglecting.

Through ticket sales, and the distribution of, let's say, you'll travel a lot, sell tickets where you can, Independent DVD stores, Small cinemas, publicity from your local radio stations/newspapers, social networking via film forums and sites along the obvious.

The above just a sample of combined methods, of the sum you are trying to accomplish. Can you possibly suggest, without the "buzz" of a festival circuit, generated by a solid short, or 5-10k feature, that "labor" is the "key"? In this age, I can offer an opinion for what it's worth, that it simply is not.

A first feature, to be at such a budget, initially, is something I'd personally look upon as potentially damaging to the experience, you're entering the prelim Olympic double-breast stroke before you've indeed learned to swim in the feature pool.

EDIT.

*The above, is as i know that you state to have "connections" not dismissive of your capabilities on a feature set, merely the "togetherness" needed of a group, to accomplish, first time, a feature of the stature to gain a "Cult following". Perhaps it's me, but I wouldn't dare jump into a feature, without working with the crew for a long time, i have to trust everybody i work with. Working on 5-10k budgets, shorts, anything as long as you guys are together, that you progress, is ideal for what you're displaying, as a unity funding.

I'm again, not ravishing the essence of negativity, a pessimist is a title I'm yet to own. Be it that I'm conscious of time, I cannot see, in the current climate, a first-time feature gathering a budget near your target.
 
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I think you are shooting for too big, too fast. Why may I ask do you want to make your first feature for 300k? Why is that your goal? Where did you pull that figure out of? Do you plan on shooting on 35 or digital? Will you have name actors? It's a union shoot I imagine, so you will be paying cast and crew a union minimum. Will you rent the equipment, or find someone with the equipment?

These are just a few questions I'd very much love to hear answered. Not because I want to show you up, but I truly am trying to understand why an actor who's done a few decent low budgets, now wants to make his first feature at six figures.

My best friends production company (Scorpio Film Releasing) has made their past three features for under 10K. The last one (which looks the biggest) has the lowest budget, costing us a total of 7K...not only that but it's a late 50's period piece. This already has offers from distributors to pick it up, and will most likely break even on the opening weekend at one single theater. How will it be picked up? How are all our films picked up for national distro? Because the director is working on his 9th feature film, all micro budget...and he's made a name for himself. It takes time, but he didn't rush in to get rich. He had fun making film, and worked with talented people who all believed in each other. Are we better than you? Of course not.

But...

Jumping right in to a six digit feature for your first time is like Frodo taking on Balrog without Gandalf. I hope you have the ring of power. :)

Right now, your goal of 300K is not being supported by the right marketing material, nor a previous catalog for people to see what you can do. And to hope for advanced ticket sales to reach six figures isn't based in reality.

You've come to the right place. I hope you get some great advice. I don't want you to listen to me alone...you should be leaching everyone's brain.

Do you know people in the business from acting that are leading you in this direction? Or is this from your own mind alone?
 
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To answer a few of your questions...

Our budget is posted here. All the details for our ideal of 300k. If we're able to raise about a 3rd of this, we can still shoot a film that meets our standards - but we're aiming high for now. Our thinking is it's better to raise 1/3 of your ideal budget and still be able to make a top-notch film, than to raise 1/3 of your low bar budget and be struggling and scrapping, make a lesser film.

Personally, I've never seen a feature film shot for under 20k that looked good to me (no offense to your friend's company - I've never seen his films). My kneejerk criticism is that they tend to call on too many favors and amateurs. They feel micro budget. The idea is to avoid that as much as possible, and circumvent the struggle for distribution after the film is made (as our audience will already be in place).

I'm an actor and writer with dozens of IMDb credits here. I'm producing this one, but that's where my expertise ends - it's not a one man show. I'm not a director, nor do I intend to direct it. I have a short list of directors that I know and have worked with that are interested and willing, but I'm not inking contracts until I can get more of the budget together.

I have other irons in other fires, and earn most of my bread and butter screenwriting. But this particular script, which I've had for nearly 10 years now, felt most appropriate for an unusual approach like the one I'm taking now. I have a couple more scripts that would line up next, but I'm definitely not suggesting that this approach is appropriate for everything.

But thanks again for the no holds barred reaction!
 
Groovy man. I'm sure you have stings to pull and tricks up your sleeve, and I wish you the best of luck. If you need talent, call me. :)

You didn't answer most of my questions, which I'm genuinely looking for an answer to. But that's cool man...I dig your gumption.

Good luck. I just wish you had something I could see already completed which showcases your ability to put together a feature--this is coming from an investor/producer standpoint.

Cheers.

www.michaelreedactor.com
 
Thanks for the blessing.

Sorry you didn't feel that all of your questions were answered. But man, we put a lot of love and labor into the site, http://jumpercablefilms.com, and believe that 99% of the questions people have are answered there. Just don't have the time/need to rehash everything on this particular board.

We're always grateful for feedback, and appreciate people sharing their thoughts with us. But we also have funds to raise and a buzz to generate - can't stop and get into a big wrestling match over our concept with everyone who raises an eyebrow. Not saying that's you, just saying that since day one on rolling this project out, there's been those who have a "who do you think you are - knock it off and get out of town" attitude towards us, and those who are excited about our initiative and want to see it succeed. Obviously, we're better off concentrating our efforts on the latter.

Sense of "group togetherness" and more impressive trailers or shorts are absolutely great ideas, and there's no disagreement there. As we move forward, we do aim to generate that.

300k is a lot, but it's our aim. That's the film we want to make. And so far, our supporters are those who would much rather see a 300k film than a 5k film. Not saying there's other ways of going about all this, but this is our way and we're working hard on many fronts to make it happen.

If you build it, it WON'T come - but good things happen only when you take the puck to the net.
 
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