Meet Diana Galimzyanova, Filmmaker

Diana Galimzyanova is a writer and director based in Moscow, Russia. Her four award-winning short films were accepted to more than thirty five festivals in thirteen countries. She is just launching a crowdfunding campaign for her first feature-length film, which will be the first ever female-directed Russian film noir with reverse chronology. Learn more by visiting https://igg.me/at/RussianFilmNoir.

1. How did you become interested in filmmaking?

I've always been interested in writing. Ever since I was in first grade, I would write something, a short story, a play, or even a treatment to a novel. I also tend to think in pictures at least half of the time, but I don't have a real talent for literature; my stories are too schematic. Basically, I'm just writing treatments with tons of details and plot points, and that's why I love writing screenplays because they are like schemes. And I've been a huge movie buff from a young age. So eventually I realized that I want to be a filmmaker to tell the stories I see the way I see them.

2. Have you always liked film noir, and do you have any favorite noir classics?

I've been a fan of film noir for the last ten years or so; it's such an amazing style. My favorite film noir is Sweet Smell of Success, a pure masterpiece of art. I'd say it's one of my favorite movies of all time, not just favorite film noir. I'm also a huge Hitchcock fan, and Shadow of a Doubt is both my favorite Hitchcock film and the second favorite film noir.

3. What's your process like as a writer, and how was it different writing a feature-length film rather than a short?

I usually see the crucial scenes in my mind's eye in all the details then I need to put them into words. Like with The Lightest Darkness, I saw the beginning and the end in pictures, and then I filled the middle with words. I think it was essentially the same with all of my scripts; sometimes I also saw a couple of scenes in between. With The Lightest Darkness, I did a detailed outline for the first time; it was like an investigation and research. I really enjoyed the process, so also I outlined the short script I wrote after The Lightest Darkness. I think I'm going to outline everything from now on.

4. Would you tell us more about your debut feature film?

It's a twisted story about a neurotic private eye who struggles to finish the case. When he takes a train voyage, his own dark secrets begin to reveal themselves. I'm striving to make a real film noir, with all the themes and tropes, not just the chiaroscuro lighting and blinds. So like the best film noir, it's a bit of a thriller a bit of a mystery and a bit of a drama. I want it to feel like it was made in the 40s. Although the film is not set in the 40s, all the characters are dressed in the 40s style and use props from 40s. But they also Skype with each other. I see it as an alternate universe where things are a bit different, like in that show Gintama where aliens invaded 19th century Japan and brought the technologies with them, but there are also signs of 19th-century Japan in that world, like samurais with swords, etc.

5. What is your advice for other women who want to make films with protagonists that more closely represent their lives than the characterizations we see in the mainstream media?

You should fight for your work, even if its a fight with yourself, that voice the tells you maybe I should write my female protagonist as a more convenient character like we usually see in media because the viewer wouldn't get her otherwise. So you start putting on the metaphorical makeup to cover all the imperfections of your female character to make her look more socially acceptable and likable. But this attitude is damaging. Women are all different and diverse, and most of them are not represented in the mainstream media. Luckily this trend has started to change. Now we see more female protagonists that are three dimensional strong vulnerable though flawed empowered. I hope it's just a beginning of the new way.

Thanks, Diana!

Meet Leon Barnard, Inventor and Designer

The inventor and designer of ATRE Power Stations is Leon Barnard, who resides in Surrey, BC, Canada. Leon was a mechanical engineering technician who moved up the ranks to Commodity Manager for a Fortune 500 corporation.

His interests in development of the ATRE Power Station started after a purchase of solar panels which did not perform under short and dark winter days in BC, Canada. He wanted something that delivers power in all weather, 24 hours a day.

Leon is just launching an IndieGogo campaign to fund the production of an Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Power Station. Learn more at https://www.indiegogo.com/at/ATRE.

Leon also has several videos posted on YouTube to give you more of an idea of how this green technology works.

1. For laypeople, could you tell us what Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Electricity (ATRE) means?

If one to watch the video here at http://igg.me/at/ATRE, the crowdfunding campaign site, you can see how the ATRE Power Station uses earth metals shaped by design into an antenna-like array which is then brought into contact with the earth to "electrify" the small galvanic cells at the rate per surrounding temperature. If the temperature increases, the flow of electricity increases, and if temperatures drop, the opposing electron charges in the crystals increase. In each panel, we use batteries to control the resistance of voltage buildup, and from there we derived the name Earth Ambient Temperature Resistant Electricity.

2. What are the benefits of ATRE compared to the green energy sources of sun and wind power?

ATRE Power Stations use water as input source, a relatively free energy source. ATRE Panels produce an electrical current 24 hours a day, independent from sun, wind, or other energy inputs. ATRE Panels do not use oxidation as a process to charge electrons, making this a natural and emission-free source of power.

Since water is relatively "free," and the ATRE Power Station does not need "clean" water, this form of electricity is considered continuous and free.

3. How did you first come up with the idea for creating your battery design?

My experience with solar panels in BC, Canada on many short and dark rainy days during the long months of winter was disappointing, and it triggered my research to find an electrical source where sun and wind does not matter. I also had the criteria of emission-free power, and a natural and clean form of energy.

4. How big will the power station be, and do you know where it will be located?

The technology is absolutely scaleable, which means that laptop computers, cell phones, and other small equipment could potentially become self-powered with tiny ATRE Power Stations. For the purpose of the campaign fundraiser, the model proposed will be as large as a medium fridge that one would purchase at your local appliance store, but at least at half the cost of your fridge due to the simplicity of the technology used.

My plan is that the initial commercial unit will be purchased like a fridge, installed in a corner of a room, and plugged into the grid--and then you can immediately save on your energy bill. It's a plug and play type of technology.

5. Why did you decide to pursue a crowdfunding campaign for your project, and is there anything else you'd like readers to know about it?

The Indiegogo.com platform requires us to explain the use of the funds and the reasons for the crowdfunding campaign, so you can learn a lot more about it by visiting our page there. Anyone interested in this project can visit the site and watch the videos and visit links to other sites that display prototypes in action and illustrate the design progress for the commercial unit.

Thanks, Leon!

Introducing The ZAP Center Project

The ZAP Center Project is a technology based protocol developed to address the outbreak of significant diseases. The project has just launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund ZAP Centers in Africa (starting in Uganda) where people could receive a series of treatments through what is currently considered to be an "alternative health method." The hope is that through successful treatments documented in medical records in Africa, the use of the method will spread.

The founder and director of the project is Bryan Williams. He has worked in a laboratory setting for over 20 years, and he also has experience working with some of the poorest communities in Africa. He has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of illnesses like Ebola, Malaria, and West Nile Virus. He hopes to help individuals afflicted by these illnesses by bringing this alternative method of addressing their health care treatment.

The methods of the ZAP Center Project are explained in more detail--and with links to several studies--on the Indiegogo page. In short, the project involves the process of blood electrification/purification as well as the use of colloidal silver, high-intensity pulsed magnetic fields, and ozonated water.

Bryan has spent a lot of time researching this project and is very passionate about it. Check out the Indiegogo site to read more about his ideas about the new ways of responding to devastating diseases.

After checking out the site--if you feel it's a worthwhile cause--please be sure to click on the Facebook and Twitter links, and leave some positive feedback concerning this Project. Here's the link: http://golaunchmachine.com/zap/ .

Meet Francesca, ESL Teacher and Creator of MAYI Learn English

Francesca is an ESL teacher with seven years of experience. She's based in Beijing, China. Since she began working with kindergarteners in China in 2009, she's developed some of her own methods for teaching English which are also adaptable for students with ADHD, Autism, and other learning challenges. Francesca has launched an IndieGogo campaign to develop her MAYI Learn English method of teaching.

1. What gave you the idea to create the MAYI Learn English method of learning ESL?

I created MAYI Learn English five years ago when I started to teach English in Beijing, China. I worked for many kindergarten classes and private training centers as well. But I had some difficulties when I got special kids in my classes. And none of classic ESL methods were suitable for them. And I refused to let these little cuties sit in the corner because they weren't capable to follow a classic curriculum.

2. It sounds like there are a lot of parts to your project, including curriculum/learning materials, software, and the magic pen. Could you tell us a little bit about the main parts of your project and how they connect with each other?

Well, in classic ESL methods, you have a student's book and a workbook and a CD. But this is not enough for special children, because the exercises are not enough or are inappropriate.

So my method includes of course my version of these traditional things, but I also created a phonics book which matches with the Magic Pen (electronic pen) and software. There's a unique interaction between them. The App will help students to learn about the sound of the letters. Phonics are very important to know how to read.

The teacher's guide will explain why this exercise is important and how many minutes you have to do it. And how to do it step by step. I also made flash cards but with new genres. Because this isn't patented yet, I can't explain too much. It's bigger than the regular version on the market and more visual.

3. How do you use aspects of MAYI Learn English in your own work as a teacher?

I still use it in my day job. It took me so long to make it because every time I used the school method, I always found something that wasn't functional.

For example: one day at school, one of my students struggled with the letter N. In the books, they had just one page for the calligraphy and one page with three different pictures of words starting with letter N. No CD or DVD was included with this method. And this child was Autistic. I had no idea what to do with him. I was completely lost. And my Chinese assistant told me, "It doesn't matter if he can't do or follow the lesson. Don't waste your time with him." I was choked and angry. And I said "No way, I will never let him alone in the corner." So I used plastic jigsaw puzzles to create a huge letter N. And I passed my hand over it, and he did the same.

I thought at this moment: that's the key. Make it bigger and think out of the box. And I was right. And after that, he wrote the letter N in his book.

4. What do you see as some of the main challenges in teaching ESL, and how does your project help address these challenges?

The most challenging part for me as a teacher is to change people's minds. It's not true that if your child has fun during the class, then he or she will learn nothing. Education must have real innovation and not just for classic students but also for gifted "babies." And I also want to continue to improve my method for English speakers in the future.

5. Why did you decide to utilize IndieGogo to help fund your project, and what will supporters of your crowdfunding campaign receive in return for their support?

I decided to use the IndieGogo crowdfunding website because every school where I worked before wanted to use my method, but their management was unacceptable for me. Then I decided to launch my campaign.

My backers will get my method + T-shirt + electronic pen or CD/ DVD. And they will have their names and pictures into the books + credit in the App and DVD.

The magic pen is a pen that I handcrafted by myself for my ADHD students (it's a prototype). I made this pen to let my ADHD students have a stronger focus. If they hold the pen for a long enough time, then the pen will change color and the ink as well.

If I receive enough pledges to open my own training center, then the backers' names will be on the glass wall. I said IF. And it will be like this for each center that I will open in the future. This is my dream!

Thanks, Francesca!

Meet Jeremy Boyum of Shadow of Whales

Shadow Of Whales is an alternative indie-pop band with a passion for creating music and spreading hope through friendships. What makes this band truly unique is the experience that all the band members have had in aggressively seeking careers in music with their previous bands. They are all songwriters, they all love music, and more importantly, they all love people.

The band has a new single coming out July 15, 2014. Keep up with their comings and goings on Facebook and Twitter. Our interview below is with Jeremy Boyum, bass player with the band.

1. When did Shadow of Whales get together, and what inspired the name of the band?

We have been together since August of 2013 (roughly). The name of the band came from a dream experienced by our piano player, JD Vazquez. He was walking through the city one day when a shadow came over him. He looked up to see ginormous whales flying in the sky, one of which was blotting out the sun. JD said it was the most humbling feeling he ever had awake or asleep--to be in the presence and shadow of such a large, gentle creature.

2. What's the band's process like for writing songs?

We kind of have to take it day by day. Sometimes Josh will record something on his computer, and we will all come together and take a listen and tweak it. Other times we will be at our scheduled practice and come up with something on accident. Then there are times that we literally will schedule a writing session and the whole purpose will be to create music together.

3. For people who haven't heard your music before, how would you describe it?

I used to describe it as a mix between the Killers, Switchfoot, and Panic! at the Disco. However, there have been people that have said we sound like the Beatles, and others that say we remind of them of One Direction (hough I'm not really sure how). We've had reviews that have called out Franz Ferdinand as a relatable artist as well.

4. I love that your IndieGogo campaign has such a specific focus. What made you decide to do a campaign to buy a van, and what has the response been to the campaign so far?

Well... Mainly because we just really need a van, haha. We've been taking two or three cars to each one of our shows. Some of these concerts are long distances such as the concert we did in Lubbock earlier this year. Gas costs a lot of money as it is, and it costs a lot more when you're multiplying the amount you're paying by three.

The response has been overwhelmingly humbling. We've had a lot of close friends donate and a lot of fans donate and help spread the word in creative ways. We tried our best to provide really good incentives, even to the point of doing ridiculous things like squirting lemon juice in our eyes, or drinking a gallon of milk and running a mile. We've even offered that we will play anywhere in the U.S. for one of our incentives, and we've had people graciously donate to that and to a lot of our incentives. We are about 25% towards our goal and a little more than 25% through the campaign's timeline, so we're on a great track!

5. What would you say is the hardest part--and what would you say is the best part--of being an indie band?

The best part? Gosh, I don't even know! Playing music with your best friends? Playing music with your best friends for your best friends in the audience and having a heck a lot of fun? Meeting new people? I don't know--there are so many awesome things about what it is we do. (Not saying we're awesome, but that it's awesome to be able to do it... Also, we're awesome #jk).

We get to travel and meet the coolest people in the company of each other, and not only that but we get to play music and jump around and pound our instruments until we're completely out of breath. It's the best!

The worst part? Probably the ever-increasing, overwhelming amount of discouragement that is constantly being thrown in our faces. Even if there was nothing from the world, as an artist you are constantly evaluating yourself: I missed that note, I'm out of shape, I feel insignificant in this role, etc. Top that off with all these bands that talk about how they make no money, or how record labels are taking advantage or yadda yadda. It's hard to hear that your heroes hate where they're at, when simultaneously you want to be where they are. Now add negative, non-constructive feedback from any one person. We've received feedback regarding our music that stated "it's not what I'm into," and that's all right, but when it's more of a "get a life" or "you suck," that's not helpful at all. We brush it off as best as we can, but I'd be lying if I said it never got to us.

What keeps us going are each other, our awesome team here at home (parents, significant others, friends), and our amazing fans and supporters online and at our concerts. These are the most encouraging people we have in our lives, and they keep us going.

Thanks, Jeremy!

Note: The photo of the band in action above is by CeeCee Hood.

Introducing EmployThis, A Solution for Jobseekers

Here's a new idea for job seekers: a website called EmployThis will allow you to easily organize all your job-related files and access them from any computer or mobile device. Who hasn't started a job application process, gone back to refer to something from an ad, and found that the ad is no longer online? EmployThis keeps everything you need in a central, easily accessible place.

Currently, EmployThis is in the development phase, with a working mockup of their job map tool available on their website. The organization is currently seeking funding to complete their project through an IndieGogo campaign. Check out their IndieGogo site for lots more info about the project, including a couple of interesting videos that show you how their tools are meant to help job seekers.

In addition to being a cloud-based and mobile-ready system, EmployThis also has a graphical interface that is very easy and intuitive to use. There's also an anonymous forum where job seekers can safely vent and share stories about their job search process.

EmployThis needs to raise $50K to get their project up and running, and they've only just launched their crowdfunding campaign. The people behind the project really want people who are seeking jobs to be able find an employer more easily. The company's message is essentially that they want job seekers to know that there is help! By prepurchasing access to the full EmployThis suite of tools during the IndieGogo campaign, people can get great discounts.

Introducing MyPowerPebble, a Portable Phone Charger

MyPowerPebble is a useful and nice-looking phone charger that fits easily into a pocket, purse, briefcase, schoolbag, glove compartment, or any other small space. It's round, smooth, and shaped like (you guessed it!) a pebble, and it gives you three to five hours of talk time or up to twenty additional hours of music. If your phone is about to die, and you're in the middle of an important conversation, you can simply plug your phone into MyPowerPebble and continue your conversation.

There are other backup power supply products for phones, but MyPowerPebble distinguishes itself by its sleek and customizable look. There are a variety of packs of skins you can buy to make the case look just the way you want.

This product has already been molded, created, and tested. It's in production now, and the company is ordering the very first shipments to arrive in the United States. If you're interested in trying it for yourself, there's a unique way to support this innovative product and be among the first people to own and share MyPowerPebble with others. The company has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds in order to take the handy device to the next level with distinctive packaging made for big chain retail stores. Supporters of the campaign can receive MyPowerPebble and various skins--there is even an option to receive custom-branded products so that you can distribute MyPowerPebble as an innovative way to promote your own brand.

It's great to see a new product which is not only useful but also has a fun and classy look!

Introducing The Mumpreneurs Networking Club

You may not have heard the term, "Mumpreneurs" before, but you know the concept: a mother who is also an entrepreneur. The Mumpreneurs Networking Club is a group in Great Britain whose members coordinate business networking events meant "especially for mums and female entrepreneurs." The Mumpreneurs have a variety of meeting locations, and local mums can attend a meeting for free to decide if they'd like to join the club.

By attending networking events with other women in business, members of the MNC often see tangible results, such as new clients, friendly support and advice, and increased self-confidence. Lucy Ames, an artist who attends MNC meetings, described the group by saying, "There is such a diversity of knowledge on offer and so much energy in the group that it is quite unique."

By the way, dads and non-parents are also welcome at MNC events. To get a taste of the MNC, you can subscribe to their monthly newsletter; back issues are also posted online.

The mums of the MNC are currently engaged in a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise money to continue growing their organization across the United Kingdom.

The motto MNC uses on its website and elsewhere is: "Never underestimate the power of a good gossip!" By utilizing word of mouth marketing and one-on-one personal connections, the group is proving that good news travels fast when it comes to local businesspeople finding work and support by forging relationships with other businesspeople in their communities.

Meet THUNDERCLAP, Musician and Performer

THUNDERCLAP is originally from the Chippawa, Niagara Falls. He's performed hundreds of times all over North America and Europe. The strength of this performer's originality was honed as a practicing method actor. His approach is honesty without a preconceived outcome, a pinch of poetic justice, a grand gesture or two and voila! one hell of a strange, operatic minstrel that will leave you scratching your head.

Currently in the process of fundraising for his debut solo album, Hellbent on Success, THUNDERCLAP has launched an indiegogo campaign which has raised over $3700 as of this blog posting (June 5, 2013).

For samples of his music, check out his pages on SoundCloud and MySpace. If you're in the Brooklyn, NY area, hear him in person on June 13 at the Northside Festival at Pete's Candy Store.

1. How does your experience as a method actor influence your work as a singer/songwriter?

Well as much as I used to think that I was writing lyrics that really meant something to myself and perhaps the general listener, I was wrong. Only after being told by an acting teacher that I in essence sucked (and actually an art teacher years before that), was I able to be educated to why I sucked and and how to not suck. I now can really distinguish. and plot how I want a message to affect the listener in the most substantial way possible. It might sound overly simplistic, but in the film Walk the Line, Sam Phillips gives this pivotal speech to a young Johnny Cash. That speech really sums up what I learned as an actor. That same principal applies to all artistic mediums.

2. Would you tell us a little bit about the breadth and depth of collaborative work that goes into making a solo album?

Quite often over the year that we've been recording, constant eureka moments have come upon us. In light of this, my veteran engineer Gene Hughes keeps reiterating that the learning and eureka moments NEVER stop. And although we have producer Spookey Rubens officially at the helm of this project, the collaboration between Spookey, Gene, and myself is unselfish, fun, and magical. Again, unending eurekas blanket the recording experience of this album.

3. As someone who has funded a lot of the expenses of producing your album (not to mention many other artistic projects!) on your own, what inspired you to reach out to do some crowdfunding through indiegogo?

Believe it or not, where I'm from, I'm probably the first person I know that jumped into crowdfunding. I heard about it, and I acknowledged to myself that my knowledge of marketing and wide social media networking would probably be well put to work on such a project. And I keep telling people: If I only had one dollar pledged to me, it would have been worth it, for the marketing campaign that I launched has had a large wide spreading impact, the value in this as an entertainer is invaluable!

4. What helps you stay motivated, day in and day out, to keep producing your creative work?

As naive as it might sound, at the end of the day my foundation of belief is this: everyone has some value to add to the world, so the creativity I produce "is not for me, and it's not from me." My creative output hopefully serves someone in some way positively in their lives. This reason I give might sound like a "put on," but it's not; it's honestly what I deeply believe. I'm simply a conduit which ideas travel through, and blast into the atmosphere. Boom, spray, twinkle!

5. For people reading this interview who aren't familiar with your work, how might you introduce them to it, and could you recommend a link or two they should start with in terms of getting to know you and your music?

I was spotlighted on a holland based TV show that delves into my life in Niagara Falls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjsWcfaWN_o

AND there's a lot of content to view in the media section of the indiegogo campaign itself.

For starters, here's the intro video I made for the indiegogo campaign:

Thanks, THUNDERCLAP!

Meet Curtis James Salt, Independent Filmmaker

Curtis James Salt is a independent filmmaker in Boston, MA. For samples of his work, check out his page on Vimeo. His credits include directing/producing the New England Film award winning documentary The Reality Behind Closed Doors. Most recently, his feature length script Adonis is currently in the top 100 scripts (for Drama) at the Filmmaker's International Screenwriting Awards. His newest endeavor is the fantasy Mosden that is currently in pre-production.

For information about the crowdfunding campaign to help support the production of Mosden, please see the IndieGogo site for the project. See also the Facebook page for Mosden.

1. What is the meaning of Mosden, the title of the short film you're working on?

The title "Mosden" actually refers to the name of the fictitious language that all the characters speak. Early on in the script, the main character Canvas (played by Matthew Eriksen) discovers a mysterious note left for him alongside a box of colored pencils and a mirror. The note's message reads "Mosden" and that's the first time you actually hear Canvas speak. So it seemed appropriate to name the language after that message. Some of the language is made up from scratch while the rest is a mixture of Latin, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Cantonese, French, and more; all sliced up together so it feels somewhat universally familiar in nature, but also very organic. Currently I'm working with each actor on tailoring the vocabulary of the language and finding what sounds most natural for them to speak; then translating the words on the page from English to Mosden.

2. In exploring the experiences of a character named Canvas, how does your film work with the idea of creating art as a metaphor for creating other experiences/meaning in life?

[Laughs] Your question is incredibly close to being "on the nose." You follow Canvas from his inception, or what some of us refer to as his "birth." He has to teach himself how to walk and talk. Eventually he acquires the box of colored pencils and learns whatever he draws on the walls becomes real. This is where the audience can start to dissect the metaphors hidden within the story if they choose. For example, the first character Canvas creates is RED (Olivia Moriarty) who he has to then teach everything he had to teach himself. Red in return falls in love with him. The next character created is GREEN (Harry Aspinwall), who is very bitter and envious of their relationship. It quickly becomes apparent that the art/characters Canvas creates represent either an aspect of the human psyche or characteristic of how we perceive things. Eventually he creates his opposite, BLACK (Cezar Constantine) who is the literal definition of malice; who in return creates his own art/characters that conflict with Canvas until the climax of the story. The ensemble of this cast remain very "one note" and true to their color(s), whereas Canvas becomes fleshed out and whole, learning from each of them. In the end I hope my intended message becomes very clear; nothing in life is ever just black and white. (I also promise this movie doesn't end as a dream or an acid trip!)

3. What would you say distinguishes experimental fantasy film from the more narrative filmmaking that viewers may be used to seeing?

Knowing that you're creating a project with a macro budget practically forces you to be experimental in order to achieve your ultimate vision. This can hinder a lot of filmmakers and tends to make them play it "safe," which I feel nine out of ten times results in an end product that's all too familiar to today's audiences. I think embracing the notion that you have to get creative allows you to start to think outside the realm of more conventional storytelling.

With Mosden, I gave myself the challenge of trying to create a short film that appeals to a worldwide audience. So I watched a lot of movies that I love and inspire me (The Cell, The Fifth Element, Moulin Rouge) and examined what made them so appealing. Hopefully, if I did my homework correctly, you're going to get something extraordinarily unique. It's much simpler to summarize Mosden as an experimental fantasy, then to also add it's a comedy, musical, drama, fairytale, and did we mention that it's very abstract? [Laughs] Once again, I swear it's not an acid trip.

4. What are some of your personal goals as a filmmaker?

Never to compromise. Always collaborate. Remember that you might not always be right and to listen to your actors and crew. It might sound ambitious of me to say, but I always want to work on a project that I'm passionate about, opposed to doing it just as a job. I would love to get discovered (as I think most do) and be able to make movies that can appeal to a much broader audience and someday hopefully work with the people that inspire me. Regardless if a movie I work on is seen by 10 people or 10 million, I always want to provide an experience that makes people forget that they're watching a movie. Any filmmaker that is able to achieve that is a true master at their craft. Thirty years from now I hope someone can tell me that I inspired them. My all time favorite quote (from Moulin Rouge) represents my love and approach to filmmaking the best, "Why live life from dream to dream and dread the day when dreaming ends?"

5. In addition to contributing to crowdfunding campaigns, how can viewers help support independent filmmaking--and why is it important that they do so?

I think filmmakers today are both blessed and cursed by influence of social media. Crowdfunding didn't exist when I was a kid, unless you went door to door. Thanks to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and more, your voice can either be heard or lost amongst the sea. I compare crowdfunding to playing the lottery. People gamble on playing the odds, and you just hope that they're in your favor. When a person is lucky enough to "win" because of people who believe in them, people get discovered! Amazing stories get told! Original pieces of art get created! A majority of the movies, directors, writers, actors you see and love, would not exist today if it wasn't for independent filmmaking and the support for it.

Thanks, Curtis!

Meet Koni and Windi of GAWK Apparel

GAWK Apparel is the dream of two sisters, Windi and Koni, who live together in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Specializing in screen printed t-shirts, GAWK stands for Grand Adventures of Windi & Koni, and is symbolic of their unusual journey in life, from growing up apart to getting to know each other and now starting a business together. Windi and Koni grew up without really knowing each other at all, each being raised by their father, Koni in Oklahoma and Windi in California. It wasn't until their mother passed away on February 17, 2007 that they began to get to know one another.

They plan to start out by selling screen printed t-shirts and other apparel through their Etsy shop, as well as through selling products in person at arts events. They hope to expand into custom and wholesale orders. For now, they are funding the start of their dream through a campaign to raise $2000 on Indiegogo; as of March 2, they had reached 10% of their goal.

Keep up with their latest grand adventures on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook. The interview below is with Koni.

1. What made you decide to start a screen printing business?

Windi and I have both always been really interested in art. Myself digital art and graphic design. Windi is more of a pencil and paper sort of girl. We've done a lot of things where she draws something on paper, and I scan it, clean it up in Photoshop, add backgrounds, etc. We've also both always been interested in clothing design. We both altered our clothes when we were in high school. Put on patches, restructured t-shirts, etc. It just makes sense to put the art we make together on clothes. What better way to do that than screen printing? We can put just about anything on pretty much anything. It gives us a lot of creative liberty.

It's just time to do our own thing and build something that is ours. We have the space to do it. Where we live is the perfect location. Everything in life is pushing us in this direction.

2. How do you get the ideas for your designs--would you say you have certain subjects you especially like to include in your designs?

We're very random and anything could inspire us. The cat with a mustache design was inspired by our cat, Phoebe. She has a mustache, so next thing you know we have a mustached cat design. I also have three kids and they spout off random nonsense things, like kids do, and it makes me think of ideas. Most of our designs will most likely be animals doing human things or having human features. It's just silly and fun to see animals acting all people-like.

3. What are the challenges and what are the fun parts of starting up this new business?

The biggest challenge would have to be figuring out the financial aspect of everything. I've been going cross-eyed with tax laws, comparing wholesale supplier costs, and researching what other screen printing companies charge for custom orders, etc. We have to make sure we are going to cover costs, make a profit, but be within the industry average pricing.

The fun part is the excitement of doing something that is ours! We are starting this business. As long as we stay within legal guidelines, we can make and do whatever we want. That's exciting. Seeing all our friends being so supportive and excited, too, is really fun. I didn't expect people to believe in us to the extent they do.

4. Do you envision most of your sales coming from online customers or from customers you meet in person, or both?

At first they will mostly come from online. It will probably take us a little bit of time to get the hang of everything, as far as packaging, seeing what designs are most popular, etc. Once we have those things mastered, we'll start making more sales in person. We want to work booths at trade shows and art shows and eventually set up a small store front. We also want to do custom orders and bulk orders. Most of those type of orders would probably come from local sports teams, schools, and groups. So, as the business grows, more business will start to be offline sales.

5. How did your relationship as sisters evolve into a business partnership, too?

Windi has lived with me for two years now. We didn't know each other growing up, so we don't have the typical sister relationship that other sisters have. I don't have a typical relationship with any family, so I don't really have a personal understanding of those relationships. Because of this I never know how to answer these types of questions.

A majority of the time she has lived with me it's been very financially stressful around here, and everyone is just doing what we can do to keep the bills paid. We have all that space in the garage that isn't being used. Both of us have been out of work for months now. It's been rough. It just made sense to start doing something together to turn our financial situation around. If no one wants to hire us, fine. We'll make our own work. Sitting around and waiting for things to get better won't help anything. We have the skills to make it better, so we are.

Thanks, Koni!

Meet Lyndol Keith Woodruff, Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Lyndol Keith Woodruff is an actor, comedian, and entertainment entrepreneur. Originally from Dallas, he moved to Hollywood in 2003. He is a skilled communicator and networker--and a student of personal growth who has a vision of putting the heart back into entertainment, which he calls his "Mission with NO Intermission!"

Lyndol is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

I love this role! It is simple and fun. My job is to connect with people. Find out what is important to them, what moves them, what excites them. It is important for me to understand other people's desires and vision so I can figure out a way to connect it to what we are doing if it makes sense, that simultaneously moves our vision and their vision forward effectively, collaboratively.

2. In your career, how have you combined entertainment with entrepreneurship?

At the heart of being an entertainer, I am here to connect people to inspiration, new ideas, concepts... and I realize more and more that it's almost the exact same thing that I do as an entrepreneur. I connect people to opportunities, to possibilites, so I find it intriguing that being an entrepreneur and an entertainer, these things go hand in hand. They both rise out of my desire to connect with people and have fun!

3. What drew you toward working on an online TV show?

Awesome how this happened. I was representing Hunter as a singer/songwriter and brought Kent Jacobs to the house to see him perform a single we were working on. Little did I know, Kent had just partnered with YouTube and Machinima and he told Hunter and I we should have our own webseries on his new network, NOW TV Live. We had all kinds of ideas, so Kent urged us to start our own network focusing on transformation, so we partnered with him, and here we are.

4. How have you utilized your experience with networking to find collaborators for Eye Level TV?

My brain has this special function of taking a look at what people naturally do well, and figuring out how to implement their skills and resources into what I am doing to help us both move forward. I have a unique way of understanding two visions and how to connect them.

5. What does it mean to you to bring a sense of heart and mission to entertainment?

Bringing a sense of heart and mission to entertainment is to own your greatness, own who you are, authentically... 100%, caring for others, cooperate, collaborate for the greater good. Empowering people, by highlighting how powerful our choices are.

Thanks, Lyndol!

Meet Hunter Wade, Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Hunter Wade is a musician, speaker, writer, and actor on a mission of inspiring the world to a higher potential. He has formally studied Music Therapy as well as Sound Engineering, been featured on ABC's Lost, played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and released two independent albums.

Hunter is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

As the Chief Inspiration Officer, it's my job to hold the subjective vision. I am forever keeping my sights on the BIG WHY behind all we are doing and inspiring others back to that regularly. It is also my duty to stay fresh, keep current, and to continue to challenge myself to grow personally as well as professionally. I stand as an example of what is possible when we choose to believe!

2. What are some qualities you're looking for in choosing artists to feature on your online TV show?

When I am scouting talent, the first thing I notice is rather subtle to most people. I am getting a sense of a person's "come from" or their underlying intention. I am less interested in the packaging or look than I am in the heart of the artist. Transparency, authenticity, confidence, and creativity come together in an intriguing way to create something tangible--yet, I am more interested in the subtle energy I feel in a person's presence. You could say, I like to feel their "vibe" but that's fairly hokey. ;)

3. When did you first start thinking about starting an online TV show, and could you talk a little bit about your process of bringing this idea to fruition?

I actually decided to launch a network that focuses on responsible media long before I ever imagined any specific show concepts. The idea initially emerged when I was 18 and really solidified in conversation with my best friend Jason when he and I had an auto-glass company in AZ about 14 years ago. My path from AZ to launching this network certainly wasn't direct. Without going into too much detail, I'd say the process of bringing this to fruition has involved a LOT of surrender, an immense amount of persistence, and an intense willingness to be uncomfortable!

4. Why did you decide to reach out for funding through Indiegogo, and what are some other opportunities you see for other people to collaborate with you on this project?

I decided to use the Indiegogo campaign platform as a way of reaching a larger audience with our mission. This is totally about YOU! So I wanted to attract people who share the "Giver's Gain" philosophy and give them a platform to share their message with the world. There are so many opportunities to get involved with us. We work with a "Find a Need and Fill it" philosophy. So basically:

Get out there and make a difference with your talents.
Share about EyeLevel and KNOW that you are an important leader of this movement.
Employ the philosophy, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission!"

When we see you taking the ball and running with it, we are likely to offer you a formal position with the company. In fact, two others have jumped in, found a gap in what we are doing, and filled it in with their skills--and now they hold equity in our company. That's Giver's Gain philosophy in action!

5. What are some of your personal goals in terms of expressing your own sense of purpose through music, performance, and other forms of art?

I want to be in musicals, sing at Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl, get a Grammy or 5, be the voice of a cartoon character, and remake Mary Poppins as Burt the Chimney Sweep. I want to share and be known for developing a new vocal style that incorporates chanting--I have been perfecting this style for 15 years. People who have heard it become entranced and freak out a little because it is very powerful and unlike anything we are accustomed to hearing. I believe with all of my heart that I have been given a very powerful gift that can be used for global transformation, so my deepest aspiration is to listen with an open mind and heart for the call of inspiration to lead me into the highest and best use of these gifts. I am ridiculously grateful to be living this adventure in this time with all of you!

Thanks, Hunter!

Meet Lester Sumrall, Filmmaker and Minister

Lester Sumrall is a third generation minister and visionary. For almost 20 years, he has shared a message of destiny, purpose, and hope in 38 countries of the world. In the early 1990s, Lester gave up a college basketball scholarship, a journey which took him to Scandinavia where he attended Word of Life Theological School in Uppsala, Sweden. Upon graduation, Lester travelled alongside his grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall, doing ministry and relief work around the world. In 1997, he founded Lester Sumrall International, and has since continued in the legacy passed to him to serve humanity through relief work and hope-filled media projects. Lester Sumrall is currently based near Chicago where he lives with his wife and children.

Lester is currently working to finish Fearless Faith, a film about his grandfather. Having traveled all over the world with his grandfather and again after his grandfather's death, Lester has gathered all the necessary footage to create a film which gives a comprehensive perspective on his grandfather's work and the many people his grandfather inspired. In order to complete the film, Lester needs to raise funds to pay for professional editing and marketing and has set up a campaign on Indiegogo with a $25,000 goal (which amounts to one-fourth of the funding needed for this last phase of film production.

As February 2013 marks the 100th birthday of the late Dr. Sumrall, the theme of the fundraising campaign for Fearless Faith is Give 100,: 100 minutes of prayer and/or 100 pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars or more. Learn more on the Facebook page for Fearless Faith.

1. For those readers who might not recognize the name, Dr. Lester Sumrall, could you tell us briefly who your grandfather was?

My grandfather was a family man; being his namesake, we shared a very close relationship. He was a sincere man of faith. As a young man he was supernaturally healed of tuberculosis by faith in Jesus. This divine experience led to him becoming a true believer. He traveled the world on the verge of WWII. He also dabbled in journalism as he reported on his travels, basically an antique blog. Later in life he was a local pastor to some, and he pioneered in media by founding a broadcasting network that at one time was the 10th largest shortwave radio network in the world, eight full power television stations, and two local fm stations. Near the end of his life, he founded a global feeding network that shared relief and hope with hundreds of thousands of people. All in all I was really inspired by his faith-filled mission and obedience to his higher calling.

2. How many years have you spent and how many countries have you visited shooting footage of your grandfather and people around the world who have been influenced by his work?

I worked with my grandfather 17 years ago on the idea for this project, but almost three years ago in 2010 I started the Fearless Faith Project. Since then I've visited Asia multiple times to retrace his steps in the Philippines and Hong Kong. I also retraced his steps in Israel. Footage from interviews in China, Russia, and Sweden will also be included in the project.

3. On the 100th anniversary of your late grandfather's birth, why do you feel it's especially important now to share his legacy with others through the medium of film?

My grandfather's life and legacy of faith is important to me for a variety of reasons. Why share his story? Because I believe that others will find it inspiring on their life journey. My desire is to inspire many to find and fulfill their God-given purpose.

4. How much time and funding do you anticipate it will take to complete the editing of Fearless Faith--and then to market the film?

We anticipate it will take about six months and $100,000 to finish editing and start the distribution of this film. We have requests to bring it to Sweden, Russia, China, Brazil, Canada, and all over America.

5. It seems like crowdsourcing is a good fit for your project, given your grandfather's connections with so many people. In addition to visiting your Indiegogo site, how do you hope that people will help you in finishing this film and in continuing your grandfather's work in the world?

Yes, crowdfunding is a great fit for this project. If everyone does something, it helps. Crowdfunding is a great alternative for us because my grandfather had ministered in 119 countries and had authored many books over the years, so he became well-known in certain circles. We are hoping to finish this project by everyone who appreciated his life and ministry to give 100 whatever (pennies, dollars, etc) to celebrate his 100th and to share the campaign with 100 friends. Through this project I believe that we can share a life story that will inspire people all around the world.

Thanks, Lester!