To All Those Who Pledged the first time around and not the 2nd time around-
I know I sent emails out before but this is it. I'm posting this update to the original Kickstarter project to let you know that the 2nd Kickstarter project ends tonight shortly after 9pm EST.
http://kck.st/9h4Xsx
It's close! But I just realized that many of you did not re-pledge, meaning your credit card was never charged and we're that much further way from being funded. Many of you have re-pledged (bless you) and many more came in on the 2nd time around as their first experience with Kickstarter. I just figured out that if everyone who hasn't yet done it, re-enters their pledge at the same or greater level as before, we'll be home free! So, please do it now. Go to:
http://kck.st/9h4Xsx

Even if it looks like your pledge level is "sold out," I promise you'll get a DVD or whatever your pledge level specifies as you thank you gift. And if you need one more kick of inspiration, here's the opening of the movie, never before posted:
http://www.vimeo.com/8985052

use "guest" as the password when prompted.

And yes, i know many people don't check email on summer Sunday afternoons and that's why it's even more critical you who are reading this pledge now.

And one more thing, I shouldn't be saying this but a friend who has already given all he can afford has promised to pledge the project balance so long as I pay him back as soon as the money goes through (he needs to feed his children, after all!) So, you may see that the project was successful but the fact is that I will still need to raise more money after this. But the closer we get to the $12,000 target, the more likely it is there will be a premiere at the end of this summer. And from there, the world is our oyster.

Thanks!

Hello Friends-
In the spirit of Easter, we have just re-launched "Last Summer at Coney Island" on Kickstarter. This time, it's going to work! If everyone who pledged before (including you) can click here and re-pledge the same amount (or more) on the new Kickstarter page, we'll get right back to $5100. After that, I can take advantage of a few mailing lists that only became available to me as the last project was coming to an end. I'm sure we can reach the new (and more modest) goal of $12,000.
Here's that link:
http://kck.st/9h4Xsx

So please, make your way over there and while you're at it, copy the above link and spread the word. Coney Island is coming back this year but we've still got to show the world what it was all about Last Summer, and how we got to where we are today.

Thanks again for joining me on this ride!

JL

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you so very much for getting involved with this historic film project. You have stood up and been counted. It really means a lot to me.
As we near the final 24 hours of this Kickstarter campaign, however, I am forced to confront a few realities. First, although more than $5000 has been raised towards the completion of "Last Summer at Coney Island," the full $16,000 will not be raised by tomorrow evening and therefore, none of the pledges will be honored. Your credit card will not be charged any fees or anything at all.

This Kickstarter platform is successful for a lot of people, some of them asking for quite a bit more than $16,000, but every project is different and sometimes it comes down to luck. My dream of finding just 1600 people of the millions who cherish Coney Island to donate at least $10 has been severely checked. My backup plan of finding 1000 such individuals plus one angelic investor to sign on as an Executive Producer is also now sidetracked. But I remain an optimist, as any one who carries the torch for Coney Island's future must be.

My current plan is to relaunch a Kickstarter project page once there is a festival premiere to announce. This might be the kind of tangible incentive that many people need in order to feel like it's real (or something). Film festivals generally give their notice about 30 days before the event. This means that I wouldn't be able to receive funding through Kickstarter until just after the festival premiere, so the first screening(s) will probably not have a sound mix or color correction or the legal use of some music. But the following screenings after that are going to be great! In the interim period, some line items will go onto the ol' credit card, to be paid off by my estate at some point down the road. Or the federal government via our nation's bankruptcy laws.

In the mean time, let's get down to business. Expect another update (like this one) in the upcoming months inviting you to a new "Last Summer at Coney Island" project page on Kickstarter. At that time, I will ask you to re-pledge the amount (or more) that you pledged in the past and, again, to forward the project to as many people as you can think of.

If you'd really like to just get this over with and have your pledge count for all the mounting costs currently facing the production, I won't stand in your way. You can send a check or money order in any amount to the following address:
Creative Arson Productions
35 Crown St. - #1E
Brooklyn, NY 11225

If you would like the tax deduction, make your check payable to "The City Reliquary" and write "Last Summer at Coney Island" on the memo line. If you don't need the tax deduction, you can make your check payable to "Creative Arson Productions, LLC." Either way, you will receive a receipt in the mail certifying your contribution AND any pledge rewards that you would have gotten through Kickstarter.

Well, this sure has been an interesting experience and this sure has been a long update entry, so I'll end here.

Once again, endless thanks for your generosity and faith. We'll get there yet.

take care,

JL

In other local news, check out my friends' documentary project on another Brooklyn boondoggle: the Atlantic Yards project. They've been following the story for years and recently raised their post-production funds on Kickstarter. In the news today was the city's handing over of the remaining parcel of land on that site to the private developer who has managed to swindle everyone. Read all about it and the whole story on their project page and in their UPDATES:

http://kck.st/cvOlPi

PS: One week to go for "Last Summer at Coney Island."
Be proud of your involvement in making this happen. Tell a friend so it really WILL happen!

Major thanks to everyone who has given so far. Ten days left to go on Kickstarter! If you know anyone who has always wanted to be an executive producer on a documentary, now's the time to make an introduction. If you know anyone who cares about Coney Island and independent film, now would be the time to encourage them to help make this movie a reality.

And do notice, I've added some more rewards and reward levels on the page.

While you're here, please enjoy this advance DVD extra. It features "Shorty," a true Coney Island character who was manager of the Astroland kiddie park, telling me a bit about his pre-Coney Island past. Also featured in the clip is Astroland's insurance inspector. Nice guy.

Please enjoy this scene featuring Gerry Menditto, long time manager of the Cyclone Roller Coaster.

Less than 3 weeks to the deadline and we've still got to raise $14,000 for this film to get completed. Yikes!

Hello.
Yesterday I attended a press conference at the New York Aquarium where the city's interim plan for Coney Island was unveiled. Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Councilman Dominic Recchia, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (all pictured below) were joined by State Senator Diane Savino and the city's Economic Development team in introducing the new amusement park that will be installed over the next couple years and last for an estimated 10 years, before infrastructure is improved, money is raised, and a new developer is identified to build out the City's grand vision for the area. You can read all about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/yjuf32v

What does this mean for the much anticipated documentary, "Last Summer at Coney Island," you wonder? Well, it provides an ending of sorts to a story that could go on forever. My film is about the conflict over Coney's contentious revitalization and, if all goes to plan, the new parks will bring new energy and attractions to the amusement zone. (Which doesn't mean it's no longer a contentious issue, just resolved...for now.)

It also means that this Spring, Coney Island will be back in the news in a major way, and what better time to bring out a film chronicling how we got to this point? Please take this opportunity to forward the Kickstarter page to anyone you can think of who might be interested in supporting independent film. Perhaps your company would like to make a charitable donation? All contributors will be thanked in the end credits!

Thanks.

Here's an excerpt from the rough cut featuring Dick Zygun of Coney Island USA and the annual Mermaid Parade, "the largest art parade in America."
Enjoy!

So, I could sit here and tell you what's happening in Coney Island and what the film covers but there are some great articles out there that do a superior job of explaining it all. Here's a short list:

1) an interview with Dick Zygun of Coney Island USA
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/12/interview_dick.php

2) Times article that preceded the City Council rezoning vote
http://tiny.cc/MHRvH

3) NY1's scoop on the new (temporary) ride operator in Coney. (the city has yet to officially confirm this news)
http://www.ny1.com/7-brooklyn-news-content/top_stories/112303/-i-ny1-exclusive---i--city-names-coney-island-amusement-operator

Thanks to everyone who has gotten involved thus far. As I write this, we've just surpassed 10 per cent of the funding goal. So is the glass 11% full or 89% empty. Well, both. But I do need to surpass the $16,000 goal in order to pay all the post production costs so please do whatever you can to convince your friends, neighbors, sponsors, whomever you know to visit this sight and pledge today!

I'm looking forward to sending out those beach umbrellas...