Less than 3 weeks to go…

With less than 3 weeks to go in the Roll with Jen  kickstarter campaign, we are 43% funded.  Not too shabby at all, but my fundraising-savvy friends tell me it is time for me to take it up a notch in spreading the word about the next phase of Roll with Jen.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the campaign or spread the word to your friends and network.  I am amazed and grateful to all of you.  Here is the quick lowdown on this exciting project:

Project:  Roll with Jen is shooting a pilot centered around unique food, lodging, and adventure.  Our first stop is Japan.

Who’s coming:  I am bringing along a talented production team from Seattle and my buddy and local food expert, Taichi Kitamura.  Taichi is a fun-loving & nationally accredited chef/co-owner of Sushi Kappo Tamura, which was recently named one of the top sushi restaurants in America.

Trying to get a handle on the best way to hold onto Mr. Prawn

Isn’t shooting a pilot sorta’ crazy? Yes, but that is how I like to roll. It has been so much fun launching the Roll with Jen blog and most recently, the iPhone app. The natural next step is for me to move into video, and what better to share my experiences with all of you than shooting in a country that has such a unique culture and incredible food?

Isn’t it hella’ expensive to shoot a pilot?  Definitely.  There is a lot that goes into making a successful production.  There are pre-production costs such as hiring a local fixer in Japan to negotiate venues on our behalf, script writing, bringing on local Seattle talent to shoot and produce  the project, and production equipment rentals (cameras, lenses, sound equipment, Hello Kitty backpacks, etc.).

Some of the post-production costs include hiring a writer, film editor, sound designer, motion graphics & animation, and licensing music & stock footage.

These talented production guys are graciously working with me for a hugely discounted price, since they believe in our project and are really excited about shooting in Japan.

The kickstarter project will help offset the cost so thanks for your help.  A fundraising dinner may also be in the works so stay tuned for more details on that front.