Kickstarter

Well my friends!

It's a long story~ and I'm not going to bore you with the details.

So the skinny is that we shot the first segment of this film in Maui this past spring~ and I am thrilled to finally share the first 3 minute preview of the film. ENJOY!

as always~ I would love to hear your thoughts~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Hu1KeizJs

Because they are on their way.....along with the posters for those who chose that option. Before I start: I want to remind you: send your addresses! And your photos!

Hello People of the Planet! So much to share!
So we are moving right along~ it's been a month of doing all of the really fun activities that come with launching a project: writing sponsorship letters, creating visually stunning overviews, seeking sponsors, developing outreach plans, developing media partnership...that's right, me and Luna (that's my cat) have been getting crazy on the computer.

The thrilling news, in case you missed the last update, is that we now have a fiscal sponsor and also received a seed grant from the Baum Foundation. (This means that all future donations can be made as charitable donations and will be tax deductible.)

And you are the first to hear (literally) that today we came to life in the social media spheres:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PEOPLE_PLANET
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php...

(I used different profile pictures~ feel free to tell me which one you like best...)

These information sites should serve as inspiration central: There will be updates and the likes, but also amazing stories from around the world that are rolling in about people healing in the presence of the natural world. Please join, and invite your friends.

The other news (big breath) is that I also settled on how many stories we are going to tell~ 24.

24 you ask??? WHY so many??? Well, if you would like to see the overview of the project, as backers, I would love to share it with you. Don't hesitate to ask and include your email.

So! Be well! Fill in the address info if you haven't already! Join me in the social network space! And feel free to chime in about potential sponsors!!

Sending all good things,
Leah

Hello People of People and the Planet!!!
In how many ways do I want to thank you right now?? The video says it all so I'll keep this note short and sweet~

Just a little heads up on what's happening next:

1. You are going to receive a request for your address via kickstarter~ please fill this form out so I can mail you your gift (everyone will get something~ the video will explain).

2. Please send an image of yourself~ one that you want at least 10K people to see. As I mentioned a few updates ago, I am going to put a photo of everyone who supported this first round of sponsorship into our first video! That's right~ you're going to be in our movie. So when you get a moment, please send a high resolution photo of you. Here's an example of how your photo will appear in the video. (Please note that I made this video, and the video you backed will be created by a highly skilled editor and will actually look... much better than this example).

Once again~ thank you for having the chutzpah to jump on board to a project when it is in the conception stage. You just backed the pilot designed to bring in the big bucks~ and I'm really not kidding when I say I couldn't do it without you.

Until the next update,
Leah

Wow~ 12 hours to go. THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to this project! I have some exciting news, which is that People and the Planet has been selected by The Baum Foundation as a recipient of one of their grants. I'm thrilled to pieces because 1) One of their specialties is to launch new initiatives, hence, they will help us build the strong pillars that will support the initiative's long term goals. 2) We have a fiscal sponsor! That's right! That means in the future, when people write us huge checks, they will be able to make make charitable donations!

While thinking of edgy subject title that would make draw in a last crew of backers for this project, I considered “This is your last chance to save the Whales” for a fleeting second…as a way to remind people that there is just 12 hours before 8:16pm on October 5th to donate and get your face in our first People and the Planet video (it’s about people healing in the presence of whales).

I didn’t use the “Save the whales” lingo because…that’s the antithesis of what People and the Planet is about. It isn’t about using the language of saving, securing, or conserving, it’s about using the language of love. (Yes, you read that right).

Jacques Cousteau says, “We protect the things we love.” So why not use love as the path to language, story, and our online outreach strategy? For those of you who are already on board, a reminder of the benefits (that’s right~ and this is when the bribery begins if you are still toying with the idea of jumping on board) since you can get some awesome gifts when you donate (but go now, the campaign ends at 8pm on October 5th)

A few more details about how much money is needed...3k puts the deposit on the boat we will film on in the Dominican Republic, 12K secures the productions crew.

Backer Gifts include: a signed copy of the poster above by world renowned whale photographer, Bryant Austin; post cards from our shoot in the Dominican Republic; dinner with Bryant, your name in our book, and your photo in our video (check out a little example below). (If you want to see how it will look in the actual video~ here is a mock up).

I've also opted to put a photo of EVERY SINGLE PERSON who donates...(I can't put that in the 4% backer award~ but I swear upon my chinny-chin-chin that I will put everyone who contributes photo in our video as a way to send a message to the world that these are the people behind these kinds of stories.

Thoughts? Questions? Answers? I love hearing from you.

All the best,
Leah

Great Scot, There is so much to say! If you want the full monte update, check out the video update here.
But for sake of brevity~ lets chat about the question of the hour: to put long term emphasis on crowd funding...or not to put emphasis on crowd funding!

In the full monte update you'll get to hear about a few awesome developments... which has led me down the path of pursuing grants to fund our February launch and looking for businesses I can sell advertising space in our videos...but the truth is….my heart remains in the foundation of where this project was born…

I believe our modern mythology is broken and that it’s time for all of us to reclaim the way the media talks about our relationship to the environment. It feels like there is an endless supply of stories about how people are destroying the planet. There are not enough stories about how people are healing the planet, and being healed by the natural world. And I believe in my heart of heart that there are a LOT of people who want to hear THESE stories, who want to be a part of building a bridge of information to stories about people are healing through their connection to the natural world. (I know I know...it sounds woo-woo. But I promise...it will make sense when you see it.)

I’m still dreaming that people from around the world will add their names, faces, and dollars to this project so that at the end of the day, we can say that WE were the ones behind shifting our cultural narrative to that people can be good for the planet…just let us show you how...

So what do you think about this? Picture a website that tells you the next 5 stories we are going to tell, and then people can support the stories they feel most passionate about....what do you think???

Ok~ with all that said... Below is an example of what it might look like when we feature the people who contribute to producing these films. Remember, this is just a proof of concept…a little something to show you what the brain is thinking about. I would love to hear your feedback.

Tell me what you think!! Inquiring minds want to know....