CouchSurfing: The Movie on hold until we find the right sponsor – YOU?! - 11/16/09 10:40 AM
Reel Recognize Real Productions was commissioned to create “CouchSurfing: The Movie” almost 2 years ago. I interviewed the founder of CS, Casey Fenton, for “Think Big Period”, the documentary on the mind-set of entrepreneurs and revealed an original idea/take on CouchSurfing and how RRR could capture the uniqueness of his hospitality phenomena he created almost a decade ago. Currently the CS collective is trying to get their 501(3)c status (non-profit). It was recently decided that the project would have to be put on hold so they can focus 100% of fulfilling their non-profit status goal OR if Real Recognize Real can find our own sponsor(s).
I ended up CouchSurfing with CouchSurfer and famous Indie Film Director, Arin Crumley, in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I reminisce on how dedicated I was to my mission to create CouchSurfing: The Movie… Here is the VLOG that reminds me of my “mission” and the adventurous enthusiasm that lead me to this point on the journey.
Why a documentary on Couch Surfing?
Couch Surfing.com has gained international popularity since its inception almost ten years ago. The breakthrough concept of Couch surfing, elicits great curiosity and interest amongst all who hear about it, making this a very attractive documentary concept. Couchsurfing can be compared to eBay before it became popularized as many thought sending packages in the mail was dangerous; now it is commonplace. This same way, Couchsurfing, which seemed like such a radical concept, has become the primary way to travel while forming life-changing bonds for over a million members. Couch Surfing.com has been approached with a plethora of advertising and sponsorship opportunities over the years, but it is not until NOW, with the creation of “Couch surfing: The Movie”that they are allowing you to have the opportunity to be the FIRST sponsor in the history of Couch surfing to associate your brand with their name! Even in the recession, CouchSurfing has only become more of a popular way to travel with a growth rate of an average of 14,000 new members per week .
SYNOPSIS: Three CouchSurfing Missions!
We will choose three contrasting characters from three countries to travel internationally using couch surfing as a platform to fulfill their missions. To emphasise the global nature of Couchsurfing- and the film – we will select a range of ages, nationalities, genders and viewpoints. We’ve are currently in the process of getting the global community involved to vote on their favorite submissions through www.csthemovie.com, submission site. This is ample advertising space, as the million members will receive multiple newsletters to their personal e-mail account urging the international community to interactively submit 2-3 minute videos applying to be in the film. These videos will be displayed through the YouTube channel (add link to www.youtube.com/reelrecognizereal.com) , and will be passed around virally via facebook, myspace, websites, and on their personal CS: The Movie profile.
SAMPLE: Here is a sample of a surfer I met, Mike Fried (last name pronounced “Freed”) whose idea embodied the whole idea of the CS Mission! He’s planning on starting the trip in the New Year, so there is still time!!
Mike Fried’s Mission: – Achieve a healthier lifestyle by biking throughout Asia for a cause, a non profit, that aids childhood obesity! Before, my exercise regiment has consisted of me walking to the subway – so biking across Asia, where I don’t speak the language nor am familiar with the culture, but I’m so enthusiastic about the challenge! Growing up in a closed, Orthodox, Jewish community, Couchsurfing helped me questioning the basic fundamentals and realize how much more to the world there is to offer! Now I’m a City Ambassador who has hosted Muslims, Christians, atheists, and been all over the world, meeting Buddhist monks, etc – Vote for me on my life changing journey!
WANT TO BE A SPONSOR?
If you are looking to affiliate your brand with this premiere demographic market as we begin our multi-media viral marketing campaign, please contact us to tell us how we can bring notoriety to your business!
The grassroots promotion alone will be worth the value of sponsorship, however, we are offering multiple levels of exposure:
~ advertising space on www.csthemovie.com, directors blog followers, message boards, and film promotion.
~CS Newsletter – which reaches the personal e-mail of the loyal million+ members.
~“CS Collective House” – the head quarters and base camps located in ideal locations over the world.
~Fund-raising galas – banner/mention in any promo around the world.
~Trailer- The 5 minute trailer, which will be heavily promoted world wide
~Advertising in the movie – product placement , graphics in place of previews, credit mention
~Film Festival marketing – Sundace, Tribeca, and any of the other film festivals entered
If any of you reading this see the potential of this epic film and have any ideas, support, or leads they want to offer, I am open and appreciative! I welcome ANYONE with passion, the opportunity to join us in being an instrumental force in creating this epic movie!
OPEN INDIE.com reaches its sponsorship goal and will now revolutionize INDIE self-distribution! - 11/16/09 10:20 AM
Reel Recognize Real staff member, Turiya Dawn, interviewed Arin Crumley, pioneer in the self-distribution method days before Open Indie was trying to get pledges to reach their $10,000 goal by using a unique sponsorship raising site called www.Kickstarter.com. They’re called pledges because money is collected only if a project reaches or exceeds its funding goal before time expires. For example, since the OPEN INDIE project’s funding goal is $10,000 and only $9,999 is pledged when time expires, no money is collected. Zip, zero. Also, no rewards will be delivered. No funding, no rewards. Everyone walks away as if nothing happened.
Two days left and OPEN INDIE was short almost $2,000. It was not looking good, so RRR decided to take initiative and try to help spread the word of this G-E-N-I-U-S idea!
Three reasons the Kickstarter program does this:
It’s less risk for everyone this way. If you need $5,000, it can suck to have $2,000 and a bunch of people who expect you to be able to complete a $5,000 project.
It allows people to test concepts (or conditionally sell stuff) without risk. If you don’t receive the support you want, you’re not compelled to follow through.
It motivates. If you want to see a project come to life, it helps to spread the word.
Enough suspense, OPEN INDIE surpassed their goal with less than 24 hours left on the clock with hundreds of sponsors from all over the globe.
Arin Crumley, co-director of Four Eyed Monsters has now co-founded OpenIndie & will use it to distribute his upcoming feature film at the same time as it’s festival premiere.
WHY OPEN INDIE IS IMPORTANT:
3,666 feature films were submitted to Sundance last year and only 178 got in. Source.
Only 10 films found distribution at Sundance 2009. Article
Ondi Timoner, filmmaker of Digg & Join Us donated $100 to sign up her new film We Live in Public on OpenIndie.
In 2008 Mark Gill declared the sky is falling on independent film. Article
Ira Deutchman manages a network of 65 digital theaters & donated $100 to help build OpenIndie.
Its not everyday you get to interview one of your heros. Its even more rare when that person completely interrupts the interview they are doing to recognize your talent and professionalism…then furthermore answers the question you adamantly requested the interviewee to ask with hilarity and ease — perfect for doc… I was just following my purpose and my enthusiasm and the energy just radiates and those who follow their purpose and very tuned to the frequency I suppose… After this interview a link and opportunity was made. I have the open eyes, ears, and audience to propose a documentary along with collab on other video endeavors of KRS and his entourage…. Now I just must find the inspiration for the idea!
This is a behind the scenes interview in North Beach, of which clip may or may not be used for the upcoming documentary “Think Big Period” explaining the mind-set and drive a true entrepreneur must embody. “Every great achievement was once believed impossible” and Ayouba explains his story of coming to America and how those with vision and drive must focus on the dream ahead!
