The hard truth

Hello, everyone. First of all thanks everyone for coming and seeing this page even if its for Faking it and not neccessarily for my stories. My hope is after you see the Faking it items you stay and read the stories and buy them. That’s what we all want, not just me.

This brings me to to Faking it. There is something everyone, including myself has ignored. We all love great stories. We all love our favorite actors and actresses, showwriters and authors. However, they have the need to be paid too. This isn’t going to be a screed about copyright, IP etc. Nope. My beliefs on that subject don’t belong here. Nor do anyone elses.

Over the course of time since I proposed the kickstarter I have done research on it. I discovered several details I will share. Before I do, I need to make something clear that I didn’t before. I can’t lead the charge. Kickstarter needs a person or company to have a bank account on file for the money.You aren’t paying them, you are paying the person who launched in exchange for access, gifts, perks etc.

I don’t want you to pay me.  I honestly don’t want that responsibilty. Plus, I don’t have the time to shepard this. I have very personal life issues that take presedence over this show, over my writing and other things I value. These have to be addressed. So I apologize if I gave the presumption that I would do the kickstarter. The I, ‘I’ meant was the faking family as a whole. Not me.

I wanted you to know it could be done and what to do. So here is what I learned:

1. If Netflix etc doesn’t take on Faking it as a orginal, the only course left is that of self production. This isn’t simply hard. Its monumentally hard for someone who isn’t in the industry. There is SAG to deal with, contracts, sets, cinematography, makeup, wardrobe, lighting and scripts. Above all else we would need production rights. Those belong solely to Viacom. A contract would have to be signed. One that involves purchasing those rights.
2. Without anyone else, the kickstarter would have to either go the route of Anaxar (do it as a fan film production with the possiblity of seriously angering Viacom) or going the route of actually buying the catalog from Viacom (parent of MTV). Doing this means effectlvely removing all 38 episodes  from them to where? A website someone would have to run 24/7. It would eat serious bandwhich with is also lots of money. this website would have to handle the streaming of the videos in multiples. I have a background in computers. This alone costs $1000s.
3. I believe the catalog would be worth 3 million if I am correct. I have tried to get a straight answer, no one either actually knows or simply wont answer. However, based what I know from friends who do make stuff and what I have seen, Its would cost about $50 grand per episode.That breaks down to $2500 a minute. Why do you think that most online only items like Verizon’s sposnsored ‘Relationship Status’ was on 7 minutes long. (If you love Rita watch them)
4. This isn’t impossible. I just lack the skill or resources to do it myself. Thats why I posted it on my wordpress blog. In hopes people like you and others who do have the resources, live in Hollywood or have contacts can help. I live in Houston, trying to get a job in the aviation or computer industry. Right now I work for a big box chain.

This is where you all come in. Of the people I have talked too about this, most are upset that show is gone and that they want a finish. Few want a book, they want at least a movie or another season. Ok, I agree. How much DO YOU want that movie?  Many have asked what can they do to help? Here you go:

1. If you have a netflix account, go to their customer care and tell them you think they need to have Faking it as a part of their lineup. They are listening intently about this. If they see an audience and believe it will help their bottom line, they will take it. Even if its just to rub MTVs nose in failure. People need to keep pressure on them and they will agree. The thunderclap was a success. However, pressure needs to be maintained. Otherwise, it fades away.
2. Search for faking it on netflix. This is a trackable metric to them and it counts.
3. If you know someone who works in the movie industry, ask them about shows, collect information. Faking it is cheap to produce because its basically just five peoples lives. The wardrobe was from Forever 21 and other mall based stores. The hardest part is getting Bailey, Michael, Gregg, Rita (who apparently hates social media) and Katie in one place. If you know someone who has a SAG-AFTRA account that would be a plus because that would be needed to contract Rita and Gregg’s agents. (the rest are on social media and love the community and support this. This is not to say Rita and Gregg don’t they are just silent about it)
4. Kickstarters need concrete details. http://ift.tt/WQMZvj shows what can be done and how expensive it was. Thats without rights. The show will be impossible to do with Rita and Katie. So both have to be on board or its all for naught.
5. http://ift.tt/1U5rCk8 This article also shows what a kickstarter can do. “The 30-day campaign to raise the funds launched May 17. It had raised $255,853 from 3,273 backers as of 1 p.m. on Saturday, its 17th day.” Note that: 3,273 people raised $255,853 dollars for  Kickstarter Lullaby 
6. Go to that link above, it is the best example of what is being done. Exmaple and ask yourself how much can you afford?  The largest backing group pledged $50.
7. This brings this back to me. I have nothing to offer Faking it related.All of it belongs to MTV.

This is my last post on Faking it. I completed my short story ‘We saw the dream’ and its on Wattpad and Fanfiction.net I might after everything in my life has settled add on. I set it so if I want to or need to I can. However, it works as a much better ending that the one given. No cliffhangers. Why can’t I right more about Karma and Amy now? Outside of rights issues, there are in 2016. My stories are in 2007-2010. I might in the future, just not now.

I turn this over to all of you to make the dream real. Push hard. Be prepared to give up time, effort and money. Use those connections you have. To save Faking it you need a team. However, I can’t be a part of that team anymore. I will be there in spirit though.

However, if you want to help me, here are some links:

 

1.  This is my first novel of the series ‘Midnight train Song’ It reveals the origin of Tom. The book is also on Amazon in paperback.
2. The second novel “Song of Betrayal” from Barnes and Noble, Amazon in paperback (yes, it is THAT much and I still make nothing off it) and Ibooks.
3. The third novel (which is technically the fourth but Song of Restoration is held up) Homecoming Song also on Barnes and Noble.

I actually make royalities off the 99c ebooks. Amazon I dont. For the record because of My deals with them, that is the real price of books not the deeply discounted one everyone pays.

Thanks everyone for reading. This blog will now return to informational posts about mermaids trying to take over the world with their beauty, music and talents. Just now that two of them are girls going to Clement who have a unique bond of love.

 

Saving Faking it

Ok, so today it was announced by Viacom that Faking it wasn’t renewed because it had such poor ratings according to them. They said that only 330,000 people watched this season. Regardless of the reasons, there is an outpouring of people who don’t want it to die.

I am one of them. However, we can be angry or we can solve this problem. I have a solution as do others. However, I can’t do this alone. My voice here and on line is small because I write. I am not famous. This is a controversial subject that generates backlash.

Nevertheless, this is what I propose and what I plan to do.

I will start a kickstarter to move the rights to us. Apparently people don’t understand what rights mean or simply don’t believe its possible. They are wrong.

1. MTV/Viacom owns the rights. The rights are the ability for Katie and Rita to be Karma and Amy, the names of the places like the ‘brew and chew’, Hester Hight etc. This does include the distribution of the show and the media itsself.
2. We don’t need that. We need the right to make more of Faking it and the right to use the intellectual  property which is exactly what Faking it is to the people who run Viacom.
3. Right now, I believe the writers of Faking Dan steele etc and carter have ideas and plans for Faking it. However, they work just like the guy at the mcdonalds, starbucks target Forever 21 does. This was their job and they were all fired effectively. So this could mean they would be rehired to finish or it can mean we get their stuff only.
4. This isn’t an easy thing I am suggesting. Its a hard, expensive thing That could cost hundreds of thousands. I know that sounds intimidating. But numerous other shows have been produced on Kickstarter. The best example is Veronica Mars. The entire movie budget was funded by 91,585 backers who pledged $5,702,153 to help bring this project to life. http://ift.tt/1dN7Npc also showed that people who love a show can donate to make a copy. This is done so well that Paramount is suing because it looks and sounds better than their once. Problem is they don’t have the right to do it. That’s why I am posting this.
5. So we need to collect the money and then a person we all trust can go to talk to MTV and sign rights transfer documents that would have MTV effectively sell the rights we need to a company that we the fans own.
6. I can set up the kickstarter page and be the tip of the spear but I would need assurances this is a waste of my time.
7. So what needs to be done and how much would it cost?  That depends on what we want? Do you want one final 20 minute (thats how long the show is without commercials) show that gives us #karmy? Or do you want a book?
8. A show requires the sets and clothes, cinematographers etc plus paying Katie and Rita for their time,. This requires scripts to be written and scenes to be show. This would be in the neighborhood of $100,000. (check the axanar link)
9. A book would require significantly less Like $10,000 to secure the publishing rights to use names and locations. I have no issue doing that myself. However, I would be willing to defer to others would be willing to do so. (thoughts on this later down)
10. Once the money came in then the shell holding company can post the video on Youtube so everyone can see and prizes can be had.

Ok, thats all I can really explain. I haven’t heard back from Carter on how much an episode actually cost. I believe it was $45,000. I am going to set up the Kickstarter but I dont want to do that until I have an idea where the money goes. That money has to have a bank account to go into and it can’t be my personal one. This would be you alls money and I am not like that. You are all family.

So here is what I need. I need responses. I need you to comment on what you are willing to do. We need people to are skilled in these areas. People who live in LA. I have 860 following me. I have 50 people who read my fan fic.  The truth is I don’t have the resources to do this alone. I can barely get my own stuff done because its so damn expensive.

MTV doesn’t think anything will change. They don’t care because they know money runs everything so we need to step up. Give up that frappucino or that pair of jeans to support the show.

This here is the saddest part. If nothing changes then I will still continue to include Amy and Karma into my stories. However, they won’t be in any story that I publish for profit. I will create a short story that will effectively wrap up what Carter et all were doing. It will live on Fanfiction.org so you all can read it but thats the best I can offer.

So For this to go live I need you all, are you with me? I need about 100 responses to start the ball rolling. If you have any question ask me. I will answer it.

Thanks. Michael Schade @thunderclap twitter @michael_thunderclap instagram Thunderclap@gmail.com I am the mod at r/fakingit on reddit.com