Crowdfunding Archives | Otaku No Culture

Reopening “Code 8” to Crowdfunding & Expanding it to Release 2019

maxresdefault By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

When not busy with CW’s Arrow, Stephen Amell and cousin Robbie (in other projects) are having fun in the independent movie scene. Fans do not see them working together often, and I for one am curious in how the 2016 crowdfunded sci-fi thriller, Code 8, will expand from a short (available on Youtube, or continue reading to view here) into a full-blown movie set to release in 2019. Principal photography has begun in Toronto.

The original product offers fantastic social commentary worth examining. The feature-length version will no doubt add to it, but kicked up a notch with some top notch special effects work.

People interested in helping further the budget can contribute on Indiegogo. The original campaign reopened (so folks can own the DVD/Bluray of the original short or obtain a few of the perks like t-shirts, hoodies or autographed scripts) as production continues until mid-July, 2017, with a release (handled by Elevation Pictures in Canada) in 2019. with XYZ Films handling foreign sales.

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Crowdfunding & Bringing Families Together in According to Camden

According to Camden According to a Camden is a short film seeking crowdfunding by a group of talented filmmakers who also see themselves as nerds. Some of whom are going into their third year (or are alumni) of the Motion Picture Arts Program at Capilano University in North Vancouver and this project is taking place in between terms as a project. For executive writer/director Maelina de Grasse, she’s bringing years of her talent (having been in live theater as one of the dancers in Kaleidoscope Theatre‘s Rocky Horror Show) to a story she says is an honest and earnest piece of her heart.

“It’s funny, I don’t think I realized just how close to it I was … until I got to the point that I was pitching it for Off the Grid [a film program from May-June which allows students to turn their ideas into reality], at Capilano University,” said de Grasse.

She had to break down what the film was about. The idea did not come until after the script was done, and it looked at the themes of loneliness and isolation that many people — not just nerds — feel. She specifically wanted to explore the constant trials of figuring who you are and who you want to be in this crazy and confusing world.

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[Trailer] Crowdfunding Ocassus – A New War on Earth

Hints of what was to be a fan video predating the alien invasion in Macross (Proyecto Valkiria) can still be detected in Cesar Turturro’s Ocassus. This director and executive producer’s original idea to make a fan film was shot down by the Zentraedi forces over at Harmony Gold and in re-imaging his idea, he’s come up with a better story that mixes in traces of District 9 in a war-torn world with Pacific Rim in an epic fight within an action-packed feature-length film which includes a theory that these giants once walked amongst us long ago. Ancient Alien theory is always cool, and perhaps these creatures were once the Nephilim of lore.

This project is seeking crowdfunding to finish the movie. This film is at a halfway point of being done. Ideas need to be expanded upon and the hope is to bring in some added names to give it the recognition this movie deserves. The hope is to have this made for release by the Summer of 2017.

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Can QuietOn’s Earplugs or Kokoon’s Headphones Satisfy a Grouchy Geek?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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Can QuietOn’s earplugs be a geek’s convention-going dream piece of travel equipment come true? This Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign has been extended by 20 days and I’m stepping up on my soapbox to scream, “Heck yes!”

Many of us can relate to the pains experienced when sharing a room with friends or traveling miles and not getting any nap-time due to the noisy environment around us. Come night-time, I’m sure a few us had the misfortune of dealing with a freaking loud snorer. Earplugs can work to block some noises, but they are not effective when the noise drops below a tuba. While riding in certain vehicles, some of us need blissful silence to nod off.

There’s plenty of commercial headphones which does the trick of blocking out the noise of either, but that depends on how low the rumble is or in how baritone the offending person can get as the sound echoes in the room. Bose’s QuietComfort series does the job quite well, but they are not designed for extended use. Because of its high cost, to break them will set anyone back $300 USD every time. Side sleepers are out of luck when certain materials used in the making of a headphone are prone to pop or break during sleep.

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Another crowd-funded product, the Kokoon, is due to ship at the end of this year and it does more than offer noise-blocking in a sturdy design to roll around in. This device is a wireless headphone (using ONKYO technology speakers) and an EEG (brain) monitor. Not only does it detect when to best adjust the volume, it doubles as an alarm clock! But its $229 USD price tag may not be for everyone.

I have gone through plenty of cheap $25 phones over the years in my attempt to mute out noisy roommates only to find it broken the next day.

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There’s a new Lightsaber Kickstarting, and it’s child-proof!

No die-hard Star Wars fan can be seen without either a lightsaber in their pocket or a Han Solo blaster in their holster especially during a fan gathering. For me, it’s a simple Darth Vader key that I wish would activate for real to melt the build-up of ice on any keyhole so I can get inside. Until that idea surfaces, the choices of lightsabers are limited to what Ultrasaber or Saberforge produces. They create customized hilts for Jedi or Sith to carry. When the illuminated blade element is touted to be durable enough to fight with, eventually through wear-and-tear — and eventual overzealousness of a swing occurs — they will crack and eventually break.

Calimacil Weapons is looking to change all that. They manufacture items safe for Live Action Role Playing (LARP) use and their range of items are not limited to swords, daggers, hockey sticks or crowbars. They have a Kickstarter campaign running until November 30 to build a kid-safe, foam-based lightsaber. With this product, it’s safe to bap people on the noggin, whap them on the knees and stab the blunt end onto skin. A welt is most likely going to form on the latter battle-technique (lightsaber fighting takes its inspiration from Kendo and fencing) but for people who really get into the fighting spirit, none of the other light-up blades can take the pounding that Calimacil is advertising about their product.

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Lazer Team: First Trailer!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The company of Rooster Teeth — which has over 8 million YouTube subscribers and has produced the ever popular Red Vs. Blue (a comedy series based on the HALO video game) — released the first trailer of their first feature film.

The film was financed by a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo and it will see release sometime this year. It’s a sci-fi comedy that will see present-day Earth under yet another alien threat. The good news is that a protective alien race has sent a super suit for a special individual to combat this threat. The bad news is four complete morons discover the super suit after the delivery is interrupted. With the fate of the planet in their hands, is Earth doomed?