Kickstarter

I have scotch glass with the words "Optimista or Pessimista" inscribed above and below a line that marks the shot level.  Depending how I pour that day may say something about my mood.

It's a perspective thing, isn't it: Do I see the glass as half empty or half full?  Well, this past week, our Kickstarter campaign was all about that perspective.  Actually, let me re-phrase that: Last Thursday, you -- all of you very generous people-- pushed us past the half-way mark to our goal funding Howard's Brain.  Thursday night, I raised my glass to all you optimists out there.

It's quite an achievement for only 12 days and I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who's contributed to and believed in Howard's Brain so far.  

I've never told him this but I think Howard is an optimist by nature -- but a fragile one.  Of course, Howard's dealing with a lot these day so he's entitled to a bit of nerves.  Personally, I'm comfortable living on the margin and I think I do some of my best work when the odds are running against me.

All that said, I'm really looking forward to this next phase of our Kickstarter campaign.  Now we are half-way to our goal and there is no turning back.  I'm looking forward to the next week and what insight my scotch glass will reveal.

Thank you all so very much.  Our glass is overflowing.

There is a song I like called 5 Years Time by the band Noah and The Whale.  It's a bright little pop tune about a guy and his girl and where they might or might not be in 5 years.  Here's the refrain:

In five years time I might not know you

In five years time we might not speak at all

In five years time we might not get along

In five years time you might just prove me wrong

I suppose that 5 years is a good enough benchmark for love and a lot of other things in life.  For people diagnosed with FTD, five years could be a lifetime.  A big part of why we're making Howard's Brain is to help spread awareness about FTD so that five years from now (or less we hope) we will be close to finding a cure.

Today, I just want to say how thrilled I am with everybody who's given to our Kickstarter project.  It's only been 5 days since we launched and you've all helped us move closer to our goal of finishing the film, spreading awareness about FTD and being in a much better place in 5 years time.

Thank you all for that.

Fans of Howard's Brain,

Well folks, it's just a day into our KickStarter campaign and we're really encouraged and overwhelmed by contributions from all our early supporters.  Howard continues to film himself virtually everyday -- in fact I just received another 12 hours or so of new material from him.  Along with the 100+ hours we have already, it's no stretch to say this film is going to be an epic by any standards.

Of course, that was always the goal: To chronicle a life touched by FTD -- in a real and personal way -- and to let others with FTD know that they are not alone. 

I look forward to what the future brings for this project and for its mission to help raise awareness of FTD.  Thanks to everyone who's helping.