I’ve written before about using the Internet to produce a film project. My friend Andrew Lavigne is a filmmaker in Vancouver who has done a great job of leveraging social media and the Web to produce his documentary film, “With Glowing Hearts.” Andy’s film has its first screening February 12th in Vancouver.

You probably don’t know Jocelyn Towne. I didn’t know her either until about 2 weeks ago, when I came across a tweet about her. You see, Jocelyn is making her first movie, called I am I. And like all independent filmmakers, Jocelyn’s first step is to get some financing.

Enter Kickstarter. For those who are not familiar, Kickstarter is an online fundraising tool for creative projects. It’s all-or-nothing funding, meaning if the project doesn’t raise its entire goal, it raises no money at all. That might seem like a down side, but it’s not. As Kickstarter states in their FAQ, if you set a funding goal of $5,000 and you only raise $2,000, then nobody pays. That way, you don’t launch a project with partial funding, and have the expectation from your backers that you’re going to build a $5K project with $2K. Makes sense.

Anyhow, the good news for Jocelyn was that she already had a funder, who was willing to give her $100,000 to produce her film – IF she was able to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter by January 6th. Now, before you go getting all “must be nice”, I should probably say that yes, as an indy filmmaker just starting out, she’s fairly well connected. Her husband is actor Simon Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowitz on the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory. Helberg is acting in the film, along with another popular actor, Jason Ritter. So, the skeptics out there might begin to say things like, “Well, it must be so easy for her then…she lives in Hollywood, AND she’s got fame and money on her side.”

Not so fast. Any way you shake it, $100,000 is a lot of money to raise in a short amount of time for any indy creative project. Jocelyn might have a few leverage points the rest of us don’t have, but when push comes to shove she’s in the same boat as everyone else trying to get a creative project off the ground. And you know what? You’ve got leverage points too, so let’s forget the celebrities and just focus on that.

My point is, you can have all the celebrity in the world involved – but there’s not a soul in Hollywood or Vancouver or anywhere else that will give you a dime for your project if nobody is interested in seeing it. Ultimately, in order for anyone to fund anything, you have to get them interested. You have to get them to care.

That’s why am I so enamoured with this project – because once you get inside it, you can’t help but care. I’m watching closely as it comes together, and I’m learning a lot.

Find your big voices.
During the Kickstarter campaign, Jocelyn and her gang worked their butts off to get people to care about it. Did they leverage people on the project with large, committed followings on Twitter? Sure they did. But like I said, we all have our own leverage points. Maybe you have a friend or family member who has a large voice in their particular community. I know people here in Ottawa who have large voices in the music scene, for example. Other friends of mine know people in the political scene who can get people to pay attention. You don’t have to know a celebrity to get attention on social networks. Find the people who know and trust you who just might be able to speak into the community you’re trying to attract. Oh, and by the way, having a big voice doesn’t necessarily mean having a huge following. It just means having a following that’s paying attention.

Make it super personal.
OK, so I checked out Jocelyn’s project. I read the synopsis. I watched her behind the scenes video, and after hearing her talk about how much she wanted to make the film, I was intrigued. I made my way to the Kickstarter donation page, and then I saw it. A big, long list of donation amounts, and a whole pile of things that people will get depending on how much they give. Denominations range from $1 to $10,000 and payoffs include everything from a mention on the film’s web site to Jocelyn and cast members attending a screening in the donor’s home town. We all know that incentive is key, and this crew have it mastered. I decided on the $20 denomination (it might have been $50 or $100 but, you know, holiday bills and all!), and when I saw that for that amount I’d get a DVD of the completed film, I was pleased.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

I pledged my 20 bucks through Kickstarter and put it out of my mind. I figured, come January 6th, if the film is financed, that would be great, and sometime in the next couple of years I can expect to get a DVD in the mail. Sweet.

Then about 20 minutes later, I received an email (via Kickstarter) from Jocelyn herself, personally thanking me for my donation, and for my retweets on Twitter. It wasn’t a form letter, it was a personal note, from the creator of the film to me, and only me. It was genuine and sincere. Now, I could see the $1,000, $10,000 or even the $100 backers getting a personal note. But gosh golly almighty, I only gave $20!

There are about 900 backers on the film altogether, and I’m happy to report that Jocelyn DID raise the $100,000. Amidst the excitement of the campaign, it appears that Jocelyn also took the time to personally reply and thank each and every person for their donation. That is admirable. She’s also reached out to me and many others on Twitter to say thanks.

Additionally, I’ve learned that as a group, the film’s Kickstarter backers will be getting regular updates on the film’s progress via email. People who gave $20 or more will have access to a password-protected area on the I am I web site to get behind the scenes footage. In other words, we’ll be part of an “inner-circle” of the film, so to speak.

What does this say about the filmmaker? A lot. It tells me that this is much more than just a “take the money and run” situation. This is about building a community of supporters that are much more than just wallets.

What’s the payoff to Jocelyn and her film? Well, you can bet that when the time comes for the film to be released, me and about 900 other people are going to be doing whatever we can to spread the word about it, because we’ve watched the story unfold all along. We’ve been there from the start. And that level of loyalty, when you’re trying to get any creative venture off the ground, is GOLD.

We can learn a lot from watching how other people develop their creative projects. I know I’ll be keeping a close eye on this project as it ventures forward, and drawing as much inspiration and as many lessons as I can.

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There’s a lot of cool stuff on the Internet. In any given day, the things I see amaze, astound, fascinate, and blow my mind, often all at once. I laugh hysterically, cry uncontrollably, and have just about every emotion in between. Today, I want to share with you some of the people I’ve seen doing really cool things online.

You know, we can read books, attend webinars, and consume blog after blog with people telling us how to tweet this or market that. But I learn the most from watching what others do. I’m hoping that by passing on some of these links you can learn from them too.

With Glowing Hearts – The Movie

I’m lucky being in the business I’m in, because I get to work with all kinds of smart and talented people. One of my favourite people to work with is Vancouver-based film director Andrew Lavigne. What’s Andy doing on the Internet that’s cool? He’s making a movie about it.

This ain’t no “The Social Network“. Nope, it takes a look at social media in a whole new light. With Glowing Hearts is a documentary about social media creating social change. Here’s a snippet from the synopsis:

History has shown that poor and marginalized communities stand to gain the most from leaps forward in the democratization of information, so the excitement in areas like Vancouver’s maligned Downtown Eastside about the possibilities of Web 2.0 and beyond is palpable.

This is a story about putting technology in the hands of homeless, poor and marginalized people and letting them tell their story through their own eyes. They have given these people a new way of sharing with the world, by given them access to tools like cell phones,  cameras, video streaming, and the Internet – things that many of us take f

or granted.

The result is compelling, and anyone who is involved in media or content creation needs to see it. The film is currently seeking a distributor, but it is available for screenings and you can pre-order DVD and Digital copies. You can also support the film with a small donation and actually get a producer credit! Go check out the web site at http://wghthemovie.ca for trailers and more information.

OttawaTonite.com

It was born out of frustration with the lack of arts and entertainment information in our community. It grew into a central hub where artists, performers, and those who are passionate about the arts could share informa

tion and experiences. Ottawa Tonite, founded and lead by local arts passionista Cheryl Gain, is much more than a listings site – with over 30 contributors from all walks of the arts and entertainment world, it gives you a back stage pass to what really makes artists tick, and what compels people to enjoy their work.

It’s a marvelous example of a thriving, hyper-local online community. And although the co

ntent of the site really does focus on the Ottawa area, there’s something for anyone who is passionate about the arts.

The Big Bang Theory

It’s no secret that I am a HUGE fan of the TV sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. In a sea of badly written, corny, wastes of perfectly good video tape, this show stands out – it’s clever, witty, brilliantly written, and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters.

What is even more interesting about the show is, some of its stars and behind-the-sc

enes people have active Twitter accounts. And cooler than that, these celebrity tweeters actually appear to have fairly interesting lives!

Cast members Simon Helberg (Howard), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) all regularly tweet. Sometimes their tweets are just plain funny. Other times they are posting photos – often behind the scenes of the show or their press tours, and yes, sometimes what they had for lunch. They also talk about their table reads, rehearsals, and the taping of the show on Tuesday nights, interspersed with very un-annoying pitches to watch the show.

Behind the scenes BBT tweeters include several writers, and Executive Producer Bill Prady. Bill is magnificent on Twitter. He talks about what’s happening with the show, and regularly answers questions from fans. One night a few weeks back he did one of the best 15 minute rapid-fire Q and A sessions I’ve ever seen on Twitter. He easily answered 200 questions (complete with RTs) and actually seemed to be having fun doing it. Take that, Kevin Smith.

I co-produce a TV show, so I’m taking really good notes on what The Big Bang Theory is doing to promote itself using social media. First, the cast and crew are all interesting in their own right. Second, they all care about the show, and want to share with the audience what it’s like to be part of it. They do this in a very unobtrusive way. Their content is not in any way contrived, and they all seem to be doing it because they want to, not because it’s their job. They are proving to the world in no uncertain terms that you don’t have to be a theoretical physicist to understand how Twitter works.

Here’s a list of all the cast and crew on Twitter if you want to give them a follow.

There are people all around you doing cool stuff with this technology – you only have to open your eyes to it. These people have a tremendous amount to teach us – so watch, listen, and learn!

Who do you learn from? Share their story and link below!

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UPDATE: The winner of the tickets to Shmoozefest is Patti Church! Congrats!

Stay tuned – at the end of this post I have a great giveaway!!!

I am extremely fortunate to be involved in many amazing projects right now. In addition to my day jobs, which allow me to work with amazing people like Mark Saunders at Saunders Farm, film director Andrew Lavigne, and the awesome staff and students at Algonquin College, I also am privileged have numerous side projects on the go with fabulous folks at United Way/Centraide Ottawa, TEDx Ottawa, OttawaTonite.com, and SAW Video Co-op.

All of the projects are distinctly different, but they all require me to be able to do one thing well – ask for stuff. It might be someone’s time, it might be goods and services, or a favour – any way you slice it, it requires the ability to ask of others and do it well.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to ask – and it can really mean the difference between getting what you want and getting doors slammed in your face. Over time, I’ve learned that asking is an art. Here are a couple of the things I’ve learned.

Visibility is key. Everyone hates cold calling. I despise it. And, I don’t find it to be very effective, either. If the person I’m asking has no clue who I am, why would they even consider what I’m asking for, when they probably have 100 other people that they actually know asking for stuff? Unless it’s the deal of a lifetime, I probably don’t have a shot.

What does it take to get on someone’s radar? Well, it takes time, for starters. And, it also takes a good balance of not trying too hard with putting yourself out there as a real person.

Social media tools are a great way to sneak onto someone’s radar. The occasional retweet, promotion of that person’s stuff on your personal blog, or a few good recommendations of that person’s work can go a long way to start to build some visibility. Here’s the key though – it has to be 100% GENUINE. I’m never, ever going to promote someone’s book just to get noticed. I am doing it because I actually believe in the author’s message. There’s a big difference between a light tap on someone’s office door and barging in. Knock lightly. Ask politely. You may have to do it a few times. But in the end, it will get you noticed in positive way, rather than a negative one.

Short, sweet, and what’s in it for me. As this blog has become more popular, I’ve started to get more and more requests for my time. I get several emails per week now asking for me to review something, or write something, or meet someone in person. I appreciate all of the people reaching out to me. How do I determine what I’m going to pursue and what goes in the trash can? It’s all in the approach.

If someone sends an email that is short, succinct, gets to the point (i.e. the “ask”) right away then I will read on. But there’s something that’s key to a good “ask”. Tell me what is in it for me, right off the bat. If I can see how what you want jives with what I want, then I’m definitely going to take notice. If what you’re asking is all about you, then there’s no value for me. We’re not a fit.

When I ask someone for something, the FIRST thing I do is figure out how to make what I want about them. It sounds counter intuitive, but if you put some thought into it, it will work. Don’t suck up. Flattery, when it’s over the top, just makes people uncomfortable. State why you’re contacting the person, in two sentences or less. Then ask. Then tell them why this is a great opportunity for THEM. I guarantee you’ll at least get a reply if you stick to that formula.

The best way to get people to listen to your ask is to be real. Be gracious. And above all, be human. Connecting with people is not about kissing up, and it’s never contrived. Never have an ulterior motive. Connect with people first because you want to. Then figure out if there’s a way your goals can jive with theirs. Then, and only then, ask.

What about you? How do you ask?

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

In keeping with the theme of this post – I have two tickets (thanks to Stacey Diffin-Lafleu) to give away to the United Way’s Shmoozefest 2009 on October 21st. It’s a great event with all kinds of opportunities to connect with amazing people in the Ottawa business community. If you want to be entered to win, simply reply in the comments with “I wanna go to Shmoozefest, Suze!” and I’ll enter you in the draw. I’ll draw the winner on October 15th. Good luck!

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