First off, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American chums. Hope you’re all having a fantastic day.
Having been laid low for the best part of a week with COVID, the crowdfunding campaign for Infernal Creations had stalled somewhat on the runway. Lisa, my producing partner, has been doing her best, but I really haven’t felt up to pulling anything like my weight until today.
So, I’ve been texting and WhatsApping, and, to be honest, really feeling quite guilty about it. Mostly because just next to my computer monitor is our family’s smart meter, a constant reminder of just how expensive life is at the moment. It’s a lot to ask your friends and family for money for something frivolous like a short film at the best of times, but now, it seems almost insane. And yet…
The positive messages I’ve had back from people have allayed all my fears. And I think underneath, this comes down to mimesis. Mimesis, for those who (like me until a few weeks ago) don’t know what it is, is simply the human function of desiring what someone else desires. This can be good or bad. (For a great overview of the work of the philosopher, Rene Girard, who pioneered a lot of the thought around this, check out Luke Burgis’ Wanting.) In this case, it’s good. People want to be part of creative projects. It makes them proud to be associated with them, and are happy to pay money, even in times of expensive bills, because creative people they care about get excited and passionate about creating things.
So, it’s little surprise when the money does start to roll in. It’s also incredibly humbling, so thank you to all our contributors so far. And if you fancy helping out, either financially, or just by helping spread the word, check out the funding page over on Go Fund Me.