Do You "Get" SoGoPro?
Selling oil to the Saudis is easier than raising capitol for movies", a business associate of mine once told me…
he might have been right. If there's anything that I've learned about film financing over the years is that it's
really, really hard to do. Most independent films are made using a combination of financing sources whose
investment return is a distant future hope when the film is actually shot. We are doing it differently.
With that said, the last few years have been kinda crazy… as you all know, the economy tanked…
Wall Street tanked… banks tanked… the housing market tanked and all that abundant cash dried up.
Yep, a lot of the so-called "high rollers" on Wall Street and even Main Street
got caught over extending and well, they're not doing so well at the moment. Actually some of them might never recover…
and they're the same ones who told me over and over that the film industry is sooooo risky.
Hmmmm… really?
Hilarie and I have been working the last few months with a local group here in Wilmington to raise the monies needed for Pedestrian… it's taken some time to develop our relationship with them and build the trust level they need to help us move forward. So, we've slowly put together the financial information they needed and showed them the projected revenue streams and most importantly explained our business model.
As some of you have noticed, we are doing things a little differently here at SoGoPro… we decided to build our brand first… then raise capitol after we knew that we had a following that could support our company. That's the important piece… you guys. Over the last year you've stayed loyal to us, interacted with us and helped our internet presence grow and strengthen .
That's the foundation of our business model… networking for the new millennium using the internet and social media to reach and build our SoGoPro community. No longer are we tied to the old distribution system… we can release all of our material directly via the internet to you all. Over the year, we blogged and vlogged, released a webisode along with music via our own website. We also released our short via the internet to show that it was indeed possible to use these new tools to reach our audience.
It's worked… we have meetings set up with interested investors who actually "get it".…
It is a challenge to explain who we are and what we do to those accustomed to traditional business.
(How many of you also have family or friends that you're still trying to explain the excitement of SoGoPro to?)
The excitement is in the constant rejuvenation and evolution of our team.
Thank you all!
Onward,
kt
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Comments
First off, SoGoPro is a jewel.
How many unknown artists are lurking out there in the most unimaginable places? Artists that have millions and tons of ideas in their heads, but perhaps neither the courage nor the motivation to share their art with others? SoGoPro "provokes" these artists to come forward and share their art.
As far as I'm concerned, I think SoGoPro is genuine, progressive and inspiring. And above all: personal and cozy. And this mix of characteristics is exactly what makes it interesting and unique. Apart from the fact that it creates a pendant to the big industrie, it focuses it's interest on local artists. It focuses on those artists, that sit in their rooms, looking at their walls, hung full of drawings and paintings, graphic novels, stories, short-films, scripts, etc. - and that feel encouraged by people like you, to take more initiative in their art. In the producing, the sharing and in just believing that "their art matters". Because it does.
SoGoPro basically fullfills a basic human need by all means possible: communication and interaction.
So, I don't know if I truly get SoGoPro, but these are the feelings and thoughts that get rejuvenated every time I visit your site.
Let us not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around us in awareness - James Thurber
Sogopro is different (in a good way). When I first heard of Sogopro, I honesty did not get it, but through your blogs I have a deep understanding of what Sogopro is. The interaction with your fans is very appreciated. To take time out of your day to thank us, we should be thanking you guys. You all have created a enviroment where fans can interact with you guys and other fans. Thanks!
B. Nelson
Oh, wow, KT, you have no idea... My family (mother, husband, and brother) are sooo ridiculous! Here is a typical conversation on the subject. "Why do you have 3 T-shirts, a hoodie, a black wristband, etc... with SoGoPro/SoGoPro.com on them and what is SoGoPro?" SoGoPro is an independant film company based out of Wilmington started by Hilarie Burton, who played Peyton Sawyer on OTH, Kelly Tenney, who is a producer on OTH, Nick Gray, who is an AWESOME writer, and a lot of other wonderful people dedicated to producing quality work and letting their fans in on the process at the same time. "Well, what have they done?" They have a web show called F.U.C.T (insert an "OMG" and me explaining the name), they released an 8 minute short film called "The True-Love Tale of Boyfriend & Girlfriend," they are working on a feature film called "Pedestrian," they have a SGP book club which is where I have been introduced to some of the best literature I have ever read, they introduce fans to new musicians, and they are working on a graphic novel etc... "Well, it can't be that good because I have never heard of them." Ok, you aren't a fan of independent film, music, etc... the things that SGP are involved in are things you would consider weird. (this to mom) Evidently you are not Mr. open minded, all musicians except indepndent punk rockers are sell outs, I love Indie movies, especially Tarantino as you claim to be. (to my brother) You don't read because you are too busy, you wouldn't like any books on the book club list, you wouldn't like any movies from the film club, you wouldn't understand what is sooo very special about "The True-Love Tale of Boyfriend & Girlfriend, and I will give you a wrist band if you will please tell people about the company and to check out the website. (thats to the husband).
My family does not get anything, big or small, about SoGoPro, none of my family that is, except my wonderful SoGoPro family!!! People think we are all a bunch of weirdos, and maybe we are, but that is what makes us who we are! If we were like everyone else in the world, we wouldn't have this wonderful, tight-knit community that we have made! I do anything I can to spread the word about SoGoPro and to support the company/community. I have even bought my friends copies of the short film to try and get them in the loop. 1 said "Oh, look, its Peyton and Julian!!! I don't like anything about it except for that." Another said "Um, why is the girl Boyfriend and the boy Girlfriend? I dont get it, i dont understand the purpose of just a narrator and some subtitle thingys." UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to scream at them, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?" However, I refrained and said, ok, thats your opinion and you are entitled to it.
The important thing is that I understand SoGoPro, I love SoGoPro, I have thousands of people who understand the passion I have for SoGoPro, and I will AlWAYS support SoGoPro in any and all endeavors they may/will embark upon because We are a team! We are a crew! We are a community! And most importantly, We are a FAMILY!!
So, to Hellick and the rest of the SoGoPro team/crw/community/family, I would like to say thank you for all you do and for giving me a place where I fit in and a place where I don't have to explain myself because you already know! I love you all!
xoxo, Carah :)
no thank you's needed. Sogopro is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time and it has seriously changed my life for the better. This company has opened my mind to new and exciting ideas and I am constantly telling people about sogopro. Sogopro is literally the first thing i think about when I log onto my computer, Its like a drug (that won't kill me). I love every single person that is involved with sogopro because everyone is sooo amazing and I am thankful to no that people like this actually exsit.
xxx
wc
SoGoPro has literally changed my entire prediction about the future of the Entertainment Industry. Until I stumbled upon this amazing place- (or rather, the vintage SGP blog)- I had been stuck in the "old" way of things. I had somehow come to terms with the middleman and understood that if you wanted "in"- you needed to literally know a handful of the right people. DVDs/CDs were always so ridiculously over priced, commercial radio was fixed to play certain people- and we, the audience, were stuck waiting for the next release with very little knowledge of how it all came to be.
This was discouraging for an Entertainment lover like myself, because I firmly believed there could be another way. I felt the barrier to entry was unfair and completely unrealistic to a certain degree. With so many people in this world with so much talent, why was this industry so focused on a couple? Why couldn't we, the audience, decide or contribute to what we wanted to see/hear? ...Why the ego and greed?
Why the isolation?
Not to mention, SGP does something noone else does- they have rooted themselves in Wilmington with hopes of contributing to the already amazing artistic atmosphere there. SGP strives to bring the beauty of NC to everyone. I feel as though that in itself can bring any viewer to actually take time to appreciate the setting not just the story. Personally, I can't wait to see where SGP films in ILM... It's just exciting!
I have always wondered what the future would bring- and SoGoPro fits the mold of what I was hoping for all along. A new approach, detailed attention to most/if not all supporters- and passion. SoGoPro is about more than a journey- it's about courage and determination to recreate Entertainment in a way we haven't seen, ever. That's something to be proud of, and it's something to aim to participate in.
I support SoGoPro in so many ways. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't find myself here, hanging around with amazing people all over the world- and there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not completely inspired by SGP. I am in love with SGP and everything it strives for.
Everyone and anyone who knows me, knows what SoGoPro is- and while they may not show their faces here as often (or if at all) as Id like them too, there is still a huge web of support building here in Massachusetts.
I am proud to "Get" SoGoPro and will be here til the end.. (which will be never. ahem.)
<3
Kendall
You are doing things differently because you are different. And it is exacly the reason why I feel admiration for you and I love you... SOGOPRO team.
I believe in you and want to be here, to follow your projects, to encourage their achievement and help you so far as I can... notably in buying merchandise from my lovely team.
I join Ashley on her round of applause! Clap clap clap!
Kisses from France,
Lonae.
•"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!" - Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 1
Yay! I'm not that awkward person who's the only one clapping! :)
it must have been difficult to start up sogopro, but in the end all the effort will be worth it :)
i love it
:)
True that, so many friends and family members are still asking me why, why, why?! Because its awesome, and it makes me feel important, and included. Plus, it's what i love.
Thankyou soo much for sharing, it means the world! i really hope pedestrian is a huge hit, and doesn't go the traditional route, i know you have a solid fan base and sogopro team so you're pretty much set in, a bunch of countries! Thanks again, i love SGP!
<3 Loren
"How many of you also have family or friends that you're still trying to explain the excitement of SoGoPro to?"
you can say that again! and thank you! you've brought us sogopro. and I am truly happy to be lucky enough to have stumbled upon you all! Besides, I believe different is better so you go right on ahead and do that!
Oh don't even get me started on that one... In the Netherlands there's no big film business. So to get people interested (who are not even involved in film in the first place) is a hard job. But as I discovered two weeks ago - sometimes people actually do listen! :) I've got deep respect for what you're doing and how you're spreading the word yourselves. It's difficult, but if you wouldn't have done it the way you did, I wouldn't be here right now. You deserve those interested investors and they should be interested! You have done an amazing job the last year and you have already changed many lifes. Let's change more :) Kudos to all of you!!!
~ Hanne
It can sometimes be a battle to get people to really listen and understand. But once they do, they realise what a treasure this place is.
I love that you guys aren't doing things conventionally. No matter how difficult it may be, the returns in the next few years will pay off on all that hard work.
-Alina
Be a DO-er!
Yes it has been a bit hard to explain sogopro to my friends and family, but I hope they Love you guys as much as I do. And I'll try my best to keep spreading the word to as many people as I can. Keep up the good work!
Lina:)
Yes it still is difficult explaining to people what exactly SoGoPro does, but when I do explain how you guys take a different approach they all agree and think that it's a very neat and wonderful thing that you guys at SGP are doing. I love introducing SGP to many different people, and I'm so glad that I'm part of it and actually "Get" SoGoPro. So, Thank You! You're creating one of the most loyal and must I say coolest! fan base ever! I think everyone deserves a round of applause! *clap clap clap* :)
Ashley :)
Thank you soo much for sharing with us! I love sogopro. And i'm thankful that you guys didn't take the "traditional" route. In a way, you guys provide a heart for the internet world.