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on March 20, 2011
Michael Kershner
backed a project
Mouth to Mouth - A Web Series by Kyle Olson
MOUTH TO MOUTH is a new comedy series that follows the tale of CPR instructors living in Los Angeles, California. Check it out!
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103% funded $3,095 pledged
- 51 backers
- Funded Apr 17, 2011
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on July 16, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #12Published in Alpha Sigma Phi Newsletter
Post CommentZack and I met the first week at American University because we were living right across from each other. We decided to pledge the same fraternity along with a lot of our other friends on our floor and have been great friends ever since. We decided that one way to get the word out to a large community would be to spread it throughout our national fraternity. A few days ago an article was printed in our national newsletter about our project and here it is for everyone to see. We ended up getting a couple of donations from fraternity brothers that went to other schools that we had never met before, which is what this project is all about. Spreading the word to the world!
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on July 14, 2010Funded!
Mike & Zack's Righteous Journey by Michael Kershner
My great-grandfather returned to Poland in 1920 to save his family. We're going to trace his journey, document the trip and turn it into a screenplay.
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118% funded $9,481 pledged
- 140 backers
- Funded Jul 14, 2010
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on July 12, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #11Jewish Genealogy Convention
Post CommentIt’s been a crazy 72 hours here in Los Angeles. We’re down to crunch time with the Kickstarter fundraising, and while we’ve already reached our minimum, we’ve pretty much blown through the budget already between airfare, camera equipment and a laptop to edit it.
Yesterday we had the honor to participate in a presentation and excellent discussion on crowd fundraising at the IAJGS Conference on Jewish Geneology (which is going on all this week). Roberta Grossman, a talented and accomplished documentary filmmaker, showed a great clip from her newest project “Hava Nagila - What Is It?” Roberta raised money for the project in a similar manner, using IndieGoGo.com, and seems to be having a success with it.
After Roberta discussed her experience with IndieGoGo and developing and maintaining email contact lists, Mike and I talked a little about Kickstarter. We showed the short teaser we cut for the conference and showed our original Kickstarter pitch video. We stressed the importance of face-time in a pitch video, as well as making sure the pitch and rewards for the project were personal and inclusive of the potential funders.
The audience was comprised primarily of filmmakers and writers looking to pursue similar projects. Afterwards we had a lively discussion afterwards about the best was to use these micro-financing sites to maximize donations and create a supportive community around the project. In fact, a number of those in attendance are presenting there projects at the conference this week as well, so we wish them well with that.
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on July 12, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #10Dust of Europe Teaser
Post CommentHere is the first trailer for Dust of Europe. We cut it together for the Jewish Genealogy conference we spoke at yesterday. We wouldn't have been able to do it without all of your support.
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on July 7, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #9Held Seven Weeks By The Bolsheviki
Post CommentOn July 10 1920 Joseph Selig Kershner left New York for Europe after learning that his wife's family was in danger in their Polish homeland. After a grueling four month journey, that included seven weeks in various Soviet jails and dungeons, Joseph returned to Ellis Island in New York harbor with 18 Polish Jews who would make America their new home. The following article ran in the Wednesday, November 10th 1920 edition of The Burlington Free Press, Joseph's home town newspaper, just four days after his arrival back in America. I have transcribed the article and included a high-resolution scan of the article from microform. This isn't the whole story, but it provides useful insight into Joseph's journey.
HELD SEVEN WEEKS BY THE BOSHEVIKI
Joseph Kershner has Thrilling Experience in Getting His Wife's Family Out of Polish Russia - Accomplishes Mission, and 11 Reach Burlington
Captured by the Bolsheviki, held prisoner by them for seven weeks and later freed on the arrival of the Polish troops are some of the experiences of Joseph Kershner of 192 Park street, who yesterday returned with his wife's family from Polish Russia.
Mr. Kershner reached New York Saturday on the S.S. "Zeeland" with his wife's family consisting of eleven persons and arrived in Burlington at an early hour yesterday morning.
Mr. Kershner left New York on July 10 last on the S.S. "Kroonland," going direct to Southampton, England, from which place he sailed to Danzig, the new Polish port. From Danzig Mr. Kershner went to Warsaw, arriving there July 28. The city at the time of Mr. Kershner's arrival was in serious danger of being captured by the Bolsheviki, and he was warned by the American consul not to attempt to go into the interior where his relatives were. The city in which they resided was Wladiner-Wolinzk.Mr. Kernsher, in order to reach Wladiner-Wolinzk, had to pass the Bolshevik lines and upon arriving at the city of Wladiner-Wolinzk was forced to remain concealed in the cellar of his relatives' home during the night of August 7, while the Bolshevik troops were storming the city. Later that night he was found by the Red soldiers and was brought before the Red commander and, according to his story, he was there put through a "third degree." He exhibited his American and Polish passports, but Mr. Kershner alleges that they were ignored by the commander who ordered him to be under arrest. Later, he was given the freedom of the city but was not allowed to leave it.
Mr. Kershner stated that the condition of the Bolsheviki was indescribable, as both officers and men were without necessary clothing and only a few of them were fortunate enough to have a pair of shoes. Mr. Kershner was ordered to report to them twice while they occupied the city. In the early part of the Bolshevik occupation Mr. Kershner stated that a thorough search was made of all houses and stores in the city, and that many articles were stolen by them, such as clothing, shoes, food and the like.
During the Bolshevik occupation Mr. Kershner had an opportunity to see and to note the actions of the Red troops with each other. He stated that there was no saluting between officers and enlisted men, and when they were addressing one another, instead of using a title, they would use the word "Comrade."
Conditions grew so bad that bread made of oats, rye and corn by the inhabitants was selling at ten rubles per pound, about 25 cents in American money, and was very scarce at that.
The Poles, when they advanced upon the city, were accompanied by and aided by veteran French troops, who, according to Mr. Kershner, were very conspicuous, owing to their light blue uniforms and blue steel helmets. The city of Wladiner-Wolinzk was easily captured by the Poles and French from the Bolsheviki, according to Mr. Kershner.Shortly after arrival of the Polish troops, Mr. Kershner, with his relatives, moved by wagon to Warsaw, where, aided by the American consul, he at last, with a great deal of difficulty, succeeded in getting accommodation on the S.S. "Zeeland" and sailed from Antwerp, Belgium, on October 27, arriving in New York on November 6. Some little difficulty was experienced at the immigration station on Ellis Island in the passing of Mr. Kershner's father-in-law, who is an aged man. This was, however, accomplished and Mr. Kershner, with his eleven relatives, arrived in the city yesterday morning.
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on July 6, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #8Please help us in this last week of fundraising!
Post CommentI can't ask for any more support from anyone seeing this update, because you have already done more than I could have ever asked for. But I am going to ask you for some help. We can't spread the word alone and I need your help, it is our last week of fundraising and we did hit our goal, but it was well below what we need to finish this project, because we never thought we would get this far. Please tell everyone you know and all those people you have already told and have said, "oh it sounds wonderful," but haven't supported us, ask them again for me. It is very easy for everyone to let emails and websites fall into the far depths of our email accounts. Emailing or telling people in person one more time, during this last week of fundraising won't hurt or annoy anyone. Here is the link and thank you very much for your continuing support.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaelkershner/mike-and-zacks-righteous-journey
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on July 5, 2010
Michael Kershner
backed a project
HAPPY - A Documentary by Roko Belic
HAPPY is a feature documentary that takes us on an incredible journey around the world, exploring the power and mystery of human happiness.
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109% funded $36,238 pledged
- 377 backers
- Funded Jul 10, 2010
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on June 27, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #7We got in the Cambridge Chronicle!
Post CommentI just found out from my mother that we were written up in the Cambridge Chronicle in the Thursday, June 24th edition. We are on page 13 and it talks all about our project. I also found out that they posted it online. So for all my supporters from the Boston area, if you can get a June 24th Cambridge Chronicle, you will see the article. It is thanks to all of you that we got in the newspaper, because without this project getting so big, we never would have had any interest. Here is the link online to the article if you do not get the paper.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/features/x564349954/Guest-commentary-I-know-where-I-came-from
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on June 26, 2010
Michael Kershner
Posted project update #6We did it! But we are far from finished.
We reached 100% yesterday morning after a burst of amazing donations and I woke up to a few excited texts from Zack, saying why aren't you answering, we hit 100% funded, how can you be sleeping. Little did he know that I had worked 17 hours the night before until 4am that morning. When I awoke I saw his texts and immediately called him elated. Both of us said that we couldn't believe this happened and that this entire process has been incredible and inspiring.
Thank you to everyone that has donated, we are so happy that you could be a part of this journey. This is not finished and our goal of $8000 was a low estimate of the cost of the entire project, because we had no idea where all of this would go. We want to ask you for a little more help in spreading the word to all of your friends for these last couple of weeks. We need to raise a good bit more and we know we can, we just need people to keep up the great work and ask people to check out our project and donate even $1, because as you can see every dollar adds up.
We are very busy the next couple of weeks with planning and writing, but will update you with everything that is going on. Thank you again!
Post Comment
Michael Kershner
Santa Monica, CA
I am a cinematographer, photographer, writer and beach lover.
Congratulations Michael and Zack! I can't wait to hear about your adventures in Europe.
Jane