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Update #6: NEXT STOP: REDCAT
Thanks to your support, our team has just returned from a tremendous SOLD OUT run at Sundance! Not only did we have one of the most fulfilling artistic experiences of our lives (thank you Sundance audiences for that!), but we’ve also had great coverage of ABACUS from Interview Magazine, indiewire.com, and the LA Times — and keep your eyes peeled for more coming soon from Wired Magazine and NPR!
You played a critical part in helping us get to this point, so, again: Thank. You.
ABACUS will now perform this weekend at REDCAT in Los Angeles (Feb 2-4, 8:30pm), and we would love to have you join us if you're in town. If your backer reward includes Early Morning Opera golden tickets, it's on us. Just let me know what night you'd like to come. Otherwise, please hit up the REDCAT website for ticket information: http://www.redcat.org/event/early-morning-opera
If you’re not in LA, then please tell your friends who are — the show has to be seen LIVE, and we’re not coming back anytime soon.
Incredibly beautiful posters, folios, and T-shirts designed by Thirst are headed your way soon. Not to mention a rather serene harmonic chant video...
Hope to see you at REDCAT.
Again, gratefully,
Lars
Press Links:
http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/paul-abacus-lars-jan-sundance
http://www.indiewire.com/article/how-you-can-invent-a-person-in-10-easy-steps
Update #5: HOURS, not days, LEFT for a final ABACUS push
First of all, and very simply, THANK YOU. We are in range to reach our goal.
$16,500+ raised so far from 168 amazing backers — that's you!
$1,700 TO GO.
41 HOURS LEFT and counting down.
I know you're already behind us, and that's why I'm asking you to take a couple of minutes and PLEASE SHARE THIS PROJECT ONE LAST TIME, with your quick recommendation, on Facebook or in a quick email (even to one person who might support the progressive performing arts). As a backer you are in the best position to advocate for others to get on board.
I also wanted to let you know I wrote a blog entry about the possibility of a new renaissance. It's something of a love letter to creative people...such as yourself. So, if you like love letters: http://www.kickstarter.com/blog/guest-post-lars-america-jan-on-his-multi-media-per
And, finally, if you've "upped" your pledge recently to help us close the gap even further, a special thanks to you...
I am moved that you — my friends, friends of friends, and total strangers (nice to meet you:) — have gotten us here.
Gratefully,
Lars
PS: Apologies for this additional email in your life — it will stop SOON, I promise.
Update #4: New ABACUS Video Update — only 10 more days!
Hello Backers & Friends!
77 supporters like you have helped us raise over $6,500 (35% of our goal) so far. And we have 10 precious days left to raise the rest. So, here we go...
We just completed rehearsals of ABACUS in preparation for Sundance, and Paul also took to the streets of LA with his personal Paparazzi, which is a new facet of the project we've been developing. Included is a short video giving you a peak into our work over the past couple weeks — which has made us more excited than ever to get to the Festival.
But, we need your help for as we make a final push to secure the funding to bring ABACUS to Park City. Please share the campaign (via facebook, email, blog, smoke-signal) with any like-minded friends and / or supporters of the progressive performing arts. Tell them about us, and why you got behind ABACUS in the first place.
Many folks may have thought of giving but put it off or have forgotten. Please help us remind them! Thank you again for getting behind us as we enter this crucial final phase of our campaign.
We salute you!
Gratefully, Lars & the ABACUS team
Update #3: ABACUS now rolling in rehearsal!
Dear Friends,
First, THANK YOU for your support. We're off to a great start (45 backers!) because of you. Now we're working to keep up the momentum that you've helped us build.
I'm in rehearsals right now in LA, prepping ABACUS for the Sundance Film Festival with the whole Early Morning Opera crew — half of whom flew in from New York. Below is a 30 second clip to give you a sense of a moment we’re working on about the metaphysical nature of communication...and spinning cameras.
Now that you've joined us, please take a moment to share this project with like-minded friends out there who believe in the progressive performing arts. Please link to us via facebook, twitter, email, blogs, epistles, whatever. We are working our tails off and are honored to have you behind us. That almost sounds dirty, but I mean it anyway.
Gratefully, from one visual animal to another,
Lars & company
Welcome to rehearsal:
Update #2: Incredible New Posters for ABACUS @ SUNDANCE are in — vote!
The brilliant designers at THIRST, who are developing our graphics for Sundance, have just proposed a series of six posters that we would mount in sequence over the 10 days we're at the festival. Take a look at how they evolve by scrolling down, AND, let me know which one you think we should print as the Poster reward for our awesome backers contributing $125 or more.
This is a democracy (mostly), after all.
We've got 26 fabulous backers already, who are each helping us bring our brand of progressive-minded performance, media, and graphic art to Sundance. We're on a roll, but we need your help to keep spreading the word. Please share our campaign with your likeminded friends and enemies. THANKS BE UPON YOU. In war and peace, Lars
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Dan Evans on December 9
Since there are 10 backers, how about 10 unique prints… one at each of 10 stages of fragmentation…randomly selected? And if that fantasy doesn't come true, I vote for #5… the tension of knowing it says something but not being able to read it.
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217
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$18,550
pledged of $18,200 goal
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 10.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
We'll thank you personally on the "Visual Animals" blog where photos and videos of our Park City public choreographies — flocking Paparrazi, Steadicam-dancing, as well as staged protests and press conferences — will be uploaded daily.
Pledge $8 or more Pledge $8 or more
An ABACUS postcard mailed to you from Sundance during the festival, with snow rubbed on it.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
We will include your name, or the name of someone you choose, in a harmonic chant during one of our choreographed protests on the streets of Park City, UT, or as a response to a question during a staged press conference. We'll post video containing your name online and send you the link. Perfect for perplexing your friends.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Postcard Set of 5 "Pre-Data Visualizations of The Natural World” — images taken by Paul Abacus during his stints as a park ranger in White Sands (NM) and Dry Tortugas (FL) National Parks + all the above.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
A lovingly-authored DVD of ABACUS filmed live + Two hand screen-printed 'golden' tickets good for any future Early Morning Opera performance after Sundance. We will honor them wherever, whenever.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
ABACUS or Early Morning Opera hand screen-printed T-Shirt. 100% cotton, Alternative Apparel + the Postcard set + yes, the harmonic chant of your name.
Pledge $80 or more Pledge $80 or more
Small-batch crafted 36-page ABACUS folio designed by Rick Valicenti, 2011 Cooper-Hewitt Design Winner, featuring ABACUS text, visualization stills, and nifty printing techniques. A steal for design aficionados.
Pledge $125 or more Pledge $125 or more
ABACUS AT SUNDANCE 24 x 36” poster (limited edition of 100) designed by 2011 Cooper-Hewitt Design Winner, Rick Valicenti.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All of the above: Postcard set, DVD, two T-shirts, Folio, and Poster + Two VIP tickets to ABACUS at Sundance. Performance tickets, people, not plane tickets. We wish.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Your choice of an 18x24” archival C-print (each a limited edition of 10) from Paul's "Pre-Data Visualizations of The Natural World" series, taken during his stint as a national park ranger.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Paparazzi Camera used in public choreographies at Sundance (from a limited edition of 10) hand fabricated from vacuformed acrylic by Lars Jan + 8x10" photo of your camera in action at the 2011 Sundance Opening Party + all of the above.
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
A presentation by Paul Abacus and Lars Jan at an event of your choosing in LA or NYC ...on any topic of your choosing. (Please add $500 for anywhere else in the contiguous US or not super-distant parts of Canada)
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
'Executive Producer' credit on ABACUS at Sundance 2012 + everything described above.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
A personal appearance by Paul Abacus and Lars Jan anywhere on any of the six natively populated continents + all of the above, except the mailed postcard, which we'll just bring with us to save money.
Project By
Connected as Lars America Jan (679 friends)
Lars is the founding artistic director of Early Morning Opera, a multi-disciplinary art lab based in Los Angeles that specializes in live, cinematic performances about America right now. His genre-bending original works have been commissioned by EMPAC & The Whitney Museum. Lars is a 2011 TEDGlobal Fellow and has amazing collaborators.
