Kickstarter

Hello. I am Mara Eve Robbins, and I live in Floyd County, Virginia. And I am Parv Sethi, and I live in Radford, Virginia. 

We are both artists. 

A couple of years ago we decided to collaborate on a project together about art and artists who make their home in this unique mountain setting. After brooding for a while about how we’d like to approach it, we decided to simply ask some of the questions that we are the most curious about when it comes to art—things like: “Do you work better in solitude or in collaboration with others?” Things like: “What do you notice as an artist that you feel often goes unnoticed?”

We sought out working artists of all kinds—musicians, potters, painters, poets, photographers, dancers—and we expanded our definition of art to include things like the healing arts and social activism. We asked our questions, as well as we could, in the spaces where they felt the most comfortable, where they lived and worked. Often they were the same places. 

We spent over a year collecting stories, videotaping narratives, and photographing these remarkable people as they participated in their lives. We then spent hundreds of hours editing the footage into what has the potential to be a truly incredible film. And we are ALMOST THERE.

But we need your help to produce it. Making DVD’s is an expensive process—and we are artists, so we’re not rich, go figure. Specifically, we need this funding to allow for us to meet the following costs:

• Final HD editing with industry-standards for color-correction, audio mixing and screening masters,
• Mastering and duplicating professional-quality DVDs (we already have had the first draft of the DVD design done by a member of our team - Leigh Rainey, free of charge to help keep costs down to the minimum),
• Purchasing the many reward items from local artists and packaging and mailing them to backers,
• Licensing of music, and
• Publicity for local screening events (even if just the cost of printing high-quality, posters with visual appeal).

We simply do not have the funds available to make the film we want you to experience. We do, however, have some really cool T-shirts we’d love to give you. We have –or we WILL have, we hope—a groundbreaking film you can watch on DVD. We have pottery and meditation cushions hand crafted by some of the artists you will see in our film. We have some opportunities for you to participate in this vital experiment in creativity, if you are able to help us bring it to life. Please, if you possibly can—help us bring this to life.

If we do not reach our goal, we will not be able to carry this project to completion. 

When we found out about kickstarter, we began to realize that our film could potentially reach a wider audience than we had initially anticipated. Perhaps there is a way! Perhaps we can find people who, like us, know how much art matters and are invested in supporting artists in whatever way they can. Not only will this film allow a person to experience the life of an artist in a way that has rarely been shown before, it will also give the artists in this film greater visibility, allowing them to better support themselves and their families through their art.

Floyd County is a place that values art in a way that not all communities do, and can truly support artists as they grow. We are asking you to support us as we grow. This is a local film with a global message. Thank you so much for reading this, and considering our project valuable. Thank you for knowing that art matters, and that “A Matter of Art” deserves to make its way into the larger world. Thank you.

Parv Sethi & Mara Robbins

Description of rewards [listed below are descriptions, photos and videos of the different rewards we are offering, if you have any questions please contact us and we’d be happy to answer them].

1. Every little bit helps. Pledge $1.00 and you will receive our heartfelt thanks.

2. Pledge $5.00 and you will receive e-mail updates twice a month and a shout-out on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

3. Pledge $10.00 and you will receive e-mail updates, shout-outs PLUS a five-minute excerpt from the film.

4. For $20.00 you will receive a DVD copy of the documentary or A Matter of Art T-shirt. T-shirt also available in black with white text, choose a size: S, M, L, 2XL, all shirts are heavyweight quality, screen-printed and 100% cotton.

5. For $35.00 you will receive a DVD copy of the documentary AND a T-shirt.

6. Pledge $50.00 and you will receive a signed copy of the documentary, a T-shirt, PLUS an 8 x 10 signed Parv Sethi photograph (Please select one from the five shown below).

Choices of 8x10 photographs of artists featured in this film, all photographs taken and copyrighted by Parv Sethi:

Photo # 1 (Emily Williamson)

Photo # 2 (Leia Jones)

Photo # 3 (Michael Kovick)

Photo # 4 (Jayn Avery) 

Photo # 5 (Matt Memitt)

7. For $100.00 you will receive all of the above, plus your name will appear on the exclusive DVD credit list.

8. Pledge $250.00 and you will receive all of the above, an extra 8x10 Parv Sethi photograph (please select two photos from the list of five shown above) and the choice between an original piece of hand-crafted pottery by featured artist Jayn Avery or a meditation cushion created by featured artist Elisha Reygle.

 

9. Pledge $500.00 you will receive all of the above plus BOTH the mediation cushion and the pottery.

 

10. For $750.00 you will receive all of the above, four signed 8x10 Sethi photographs (please select four from the five shown above), and an original, handwritten poem by Mara Eve Robbins. Mara is a phenomenal poet and you can view a spoken word performance of a poem that Mara wrote as a tribute to this project titled - 'A Matter of Art', here: 

 

11. For $1,000.00 you will receive all of the above plus all five of Parv Sethi’s signed photographs and the opportunity to participate in a truly unique poetic experience as explained here: 

12. For $1,500.00 you will receive all of the above plus ten copies of the DVD and your name as associate producer on the DVD. (limited to five)

13. Pledge $5,000.00 and you will receive all of the above plus two VIP tickets to the documentary screening where you can meet the artists featured in this film, twenty copies of the DVD and your name on the DVD as an honorary executive producer.

14. Pledge $7,500.00 and you will receive all of the above plus we will come to you and do a special showing of the film followed by a presentation by us at a venue of your choice – it can be your home (so you can invite all your friends!), an arts organization, a museum, a school or university. (Sorry but we can only offer this reward for a venue within the United States.)

 FAQs:

1. How exactly does Kickstarter work?
Projects chosen for Kickstarter are only funded if 100% of the project goal is met within the time-frame specified. This means that for our project goal of $15,000 - even if $14,900 is raised by the end, our project will get $0 because we would be short by $100. So if you like this project and its creative rewards, then please help spread the word so we can meet our funding goal and you can get your rewards.

2. Can I buy more than one DVD @ $20 each?
Yes. You can buy as many DVDs as you like by pledging multiple times at the $20 level.

3. How will the money be spent?
Every dollar received will be spent a 100% on finishing this film. A list of the specific expenses involved is provided above.

4. How frequently will I receive project updates?
We are very close to finishing this film and therefore if funded, a lot will be happening very quickly and we will be keeping you posted frequently so you can feel ownership in the project and share in our excitement as we close-in on the finish line! At the minimum you will receive updates twice a month.

5. Will the DVD play in countries outside of the United States?
Yes.

6. Can I have the DVD be mailed to another person as a ‘Gift’? What about ‘Gifting’ other rewards?
Absolutely! Any of the rewards can be gifted to someone you like, anywhere in the world. Just let us know their name and mailing address and we will do the rest. We will also be sure to let the recipient know that the gift is from you, with oodles of love.

7. I live in [insert name of your country here], what about mailing fees?
If you live outside of the USA, you will pay a bit extra to cover mailing fees. Please see the reward descriptions for specific amounts - they vary with the reward level.

8. When can I expect to receive the rewards?
All rewards will be shipped by end of September, 2012. We told you we were very close to finishing!

9.  I love this project, so how can I help it succeed?
Tell all your facebook friends and other social networks about this project. Send the project web-link to them and/or post the link on your facebook wall/home-page/website and so on. Tell them that you highly recommend getting this powerful film. Tell them how for just $20 not only will they be getting a very inspirational film but they will also be helping all twelve of the artists featured in this film - make a living and get more exposure for their work.

10. Is there any other way (outside of this kickstarter project) to buy the DVD?
No. We are offering this film only through Kickstarter.

11. What happens if the project goal of $15,000 is not reached?
Then our project will be dead in the water and we will all be very sad. Life is too short to be sad so please help us succeed and share in our joy!

12. Can I still contribute to this project even after the project goal has been reached?
Yes, absolutely. Want to infuse a boost of inspiration in your employees/co-workers/school teachers - buy a 100 DVDs and spread the love. Or 500! Sky is the limit.

13. I have a question that is not listed here – how may I contact you?
Please message us through Kickstarter. We are living and breathing this project right now and promise to give you a very prompt reply. You might freak.

14. Can I use the DVD as an awesome stocking-stuffer for Christmas or a Just-Because Present?
Yes. Just-Because gifts are mission-critical as we all strive to make this planet a more joyful place to call home.