Hey All,

Just returned from a wild traveling adventure during which I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Laura and her dad on their boat/home in western Holland and talk with them more about the plan for Maidentrip. I am now more excited than ever about the film and Laura's intregral participation in the production process. She is a smart, dynamic young woman who is not only a born sailor, but also a self-taught guitarist and gifted painter! We are excited to incorporate these other talents into the look and sound of the film.

Lots of exciting stories and updates to our production plan and allocation of the Kickstarter funds, but to keep some of Laura's information secure for the next month or so, certain updates will be sent directly via email. All backers will be included on the email updates with the email you provided to Kickstarter. If you would like to be added to the list at another address, please email maidentripfilm@gmail.com with your email address as the subject of the email and the body left blank.

Check out some photos from my 60 mile solo cycling trip and visit to Zeeland here.

Tot Ziens!

Jillian

And by WE I mean all 96 of our current backers and our totally amazing production team!

This is just the beginning of a great adventure and I'm thrilled to have all of you along for the wild ride!!

Will send a longer update tomorrow but just had to say something before this brilliant moment passed!!

Karaoke celebration in t-2 Hours. Perfect timing!! Looking forward to seeing everyone there with their singing voices all warmed up for a wonderful night!!

Everyone who can't make it, we'll be celebrating in your honor!

DREAM buttons all around!!

Here we gooo...

Jillian

we've introduced a new $1 reward (that will also be optional for all rewards greater than $1!)...

a limited-edition (Kickstarter exclusive!) Maidentrip DREAM button!

Laura's dream of sailing around the world inspired our dream to make this film! And you've all dared to dream along with us. So thank you!! Please let this be a token of our appreciation.

Here's a sneak peek at the first phase of button designs. Any favorites of the designs so far? Let us know which you like best!

Wow! I am humbled and inspired by the tremendous support Maidentrip has received over the past few months!! We are currently the 14th most popular film project on Kickstarter...and moving up fast!! With just 9 days left I just want to say thank you...again, and again, and again.

To celebrate how far we've come and to create even more excitement around the last few days of our Kickstarter campaign, we will be hosting a Karaoke party at 2nd on 2nd in New York City on Wednesday June 9 from 6 until whenever we lose our voices!

We hope you'll come if you're in the area. If not, we hope you'll spread the word about two new rewards we've added in honor of the event...

Pledge $1 or more
DRUNKEN SAILOR • exuberant appreciation! • 1 complimentary song at Maidentrip's Karaoke/Kickstarter Party on Wednesday June 9, 2010. (If you can't make it, or you're a sailor who doesn't love to sing, then a song sung in your honor!)

Pledge $50 or more
ROCKIN' THE BOAT • song of your choice rewritten in your honor and performed at Maidentrip's Karaoke/Kickstarter Party on Wednesday June 9, 2010! If you can't attend, we will send you the new (and improved) lyrics to cherish forever! • also includes "special thanks" credit on film + website and maidentrip postcard of your choice •

We're so close and more determined than ever to reach our goal and produce a beautiful funding trailer for Maidentrip!! Thanks for supporting us all the way to the finish line.

Jillian

HUGE THANKS to all our backers so far!! Thanks to all of your support, Maidentrip just passed the $3000 mark (60% of our goal!) AND it is the 17th most popular film/video project on Kickstarter this week!

Keep spreading the word about our "$1 AND A DREAM" fundraising challenge!! The $1 pledges are already working to build our popularity and make us more visible to Kickstarter visitors!! Help us get all the way to the homepage by letting your friends know about the project and the $1 AND A DREAM Challenge:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php...

Thank you again for becoming a part of this journey!! We're so glad to have you aboard.

-j

Just want to make sure everyone knows exactly what the $5000 will be used for! (In case you don't want to read the crazy long thing on the main page :-P)

The money will be used EXCLUSIVELY to produce the 5 minute trailer/sample for the piece that will represent the look, feel, themes, characters, story arc, and objectives of the film to grant-giving organizations and other prospective sources of support/collaboration on the feature length film. The total budget for the trailer is actually $10,000**, but we've managed to secure half of that in in-kind donations of equipment and services from enthusiastic friends, supporters, and collaborators!!

Also want to make clear that the money will NOT be used to fund my upcoming trip to meet Laura in the Netherlands. I will be self-funding that trip, as my visit to her will actually coincide with a personal trip, so will not be a specifically production-focused adventure. That said, it will provide an opportunity to get to know Laura in her environment, talk with her more about the film, and devise a long-term plan for our collaboration to bring her extraordinary journey to life onscreen. I am looking forward to the trip and the time with Laura and will send updates every step of the way!!

**The budget for the trailer is not posted publicly but we're happy to share it with anyone who's interested in how it all breaks down!! Please send us a message through Kickstarter if you'd like to check it out!

Laura is really excited about the new website and the proposal we sent to her! I will be paying a visit to her and Guppy (her boat!) in Zeeland (not to be confused with NEW Zealand...and yes, I made this mistake!) in late June--I will do my best to send live updates from this adventure!

I am looking forward to finally meeting Laura in person before she sets sail in July, and to sailing a bit! I am also excited to visit Zeeland, a place I never knew existed...it's an area of the Netherlands made up entirely of islands connected by dams and bridges. I've attached a couple pics. It looks AMAZING!! I am going to bike (the most practical mode of transportation there) from Hook of Holland to the island where Laura lives (a distance of 50 miles!)...I hope I'm prepared!!

THANK YOU a million times for your support of Maidentrip!! It is incredibly thrilling and encouraging to see how this story reaches and inspires people! Keep dreaming and keep spreading the love!! 16 days left to reach our funding goal!!

Art Director Leah Koransky created an original typeface for Maidentrip completely by hand. It was too late to add to some rewards but any contribution $28 or greater will receive a font file of the typeface (PC or Mac friendly!)