From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you all for the outpouring of support, links, volunteerism, tips, and friendship that you've sent toward the project.  It has been an amazing response, and frankly, we're floored by it.  We ended up just $975 shy of an unbelievable goal….which means we should be able to cover all the budget additions, and make an extraordinary documentary.

We've been working on the film quietly, secretly, for almost two years, now -- and to see and feel such enthusiasm for it cheers us in a way we can't even describe. Thank you!  You have put a huge vote of confidence in the project, and we are going to do everything we can to live up to that trust, and make a great film that all comics fans will enjoy. 

• EDITING: We've hired our full-time editor, and he in turn is getting crack-a-lacking reviewing all 230 hours of footage. Fred and Dave and two research assistants are also reviewing the footage, pulling out gems and insights that'll be the heart of this movie.
  
• ANIMATIONS: The call has gone out for indie and small-team animators to submit their reels, and the submissions we're getting are ah-mazing.  We'll be hiring in the months ahead, as the editing outline starts to take shape.
  
• ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS: This coming week, we're traveling up to Santa Rosa to interview the wonderful Jeannie Schulz, and there are more to come in the weeks ahead. We'll try to keep you in the loop with fun travel updates and pics, as we conduct these final rounds of interviews.
  
• MUSIC: We couldn't be more excited about Stefan Lessard ("Dave Matthews Band") writing the score for the film.  Not only is he an incredible, incredible musician, he's a super-nice guy. We can not wait to hear that final score in the film.
  
• RESEARCH: In the next few weeks, we're also researching older newsreels and films that profiled cartoonists of yesteryear.  Things like MGM's 1945 Passing Parade newsreel, "People on Paper", which profiled the top cartoonists of its time (that link is down at the moment, but it's an amazing reel when it's up).  So we'll be diving into the film archives of UCLA, the Getty, the Paley Center, the Smithsonian, and others. It'll be the first time Dave can put his two (otherwise useless) Masters degrees in cartoon history to use, frankly…much to his mother's delight. BUT! We can also crowd-source this aspect of the project: If you know of any film strips, news reels, classic profiles, and the like…please forward on the relevant info to us: fred@fredschroeder.com and dave@davekellett.com ...with huge thanks!
  
• WHERE WILL THIS FILM BE SEEN? This is a great question, and the honest answer is: There are nothing but good options for it, going forward. We've already had interest from distributors and the like in the US, Canada, and internationally, but we may yet take an unorthodox path.  We'll be taking plenty of meetings in the next few weeks and months to determine the best course for the film.  It's exciting! And regardless which way we go, our backers will be the first to know.
  
• TIMELINE: The biggest question for backers of the film is, "When can I see the film!" So! ...With the addition of more interviews, which will add a few weeks onto the process, we're shooting to have the film wrapped up in first quarter of 2012.  That's not 100% gospel, mind you, but it's the goal we're shooting for.
  
• FRIENDSHIP: We're also planning to drive to all of your houses and individually take you out for pizza and high-five you prodigiously for a couple of minutes, just to show our thanks. It'll add a 10-20 months onto the project, but it feels right. Feels good. You guys have been amazing.
  

Joking aside...thank you again for everything you've done. It's amazing.  You're helping to make a really special film come to life. The next few months are exciting!

Dave 'n Fred