Story UPDATE Thank you so much, everyone! It's only been a week and already we've  reached our goal. We can't thank each and every one of you enough -  without your help this wouldn't have been possible. We'd love to raise an additional $1,000 to $2,000 over  the coming two weeks to deepen the impact of the campaign as we move  forward.  These additional funds would go toward increasing our  post-production budget for color grading, mixing and music licensing. Thank you again for your help! We are truly blown away and over the moon. Story Set in a dying community on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota, CLARE begins at the start of Clare Barrow’s senior year of high school. Like most teenage girls, Clare is longing for love, acceptance and a sense of purpose in the world. Unfortunately, after her brother’s heroin overdose, she also has to grapple with trauma well beyond what any seventeen year-old should have to deal with.  Feeling alienated and rudderless, Clare leans into her connection with her high school French teacher, Mrs. Larsson, who recognizes and encourages her intellectual curiosity and desire to attend her dream school, Harvard. Soon, Clare is eating lunch with and confiding in her favorite teacher every day. As their relationship develops, the women become inseparable, gradually crossing boundaries that spiral out of control and cause much more harm than either could have ever anticipated.    Sophie Rossman as Clare Director’s Statement I've written a number of features that explore these topics to varying degrees. However, this past summer I sat down to write a feature film called Clare, a coming-of-age movie about a high school senior who -- after the untimely death of her brother -- grapples with grief, college applications, and a perilously inappropriate friendship with her high school French teacher. While not autobiographical, it draws on experiences and memories of growing up in rural Minnesota. I’m currently in development on other projects as a writer, but Clare is the first script I’ve written that I’ve felt I absolutely need to direct.  I wrote CLARE because I wanted to tell a story that reflects an experience rarely seen onscreen. I wanted to tell a story about trauma, one that was honest about how ugly and corrosive it is when you try to bury it. I wanted to tell a story about a young girl who is angry, because female rage is real and justified, even if  society likes to pretend it doesn't exist.  And I wanted to tell a story where the perpetrator of abuse was a woman, because too few films address the damage women are capable of inflicting on other women.  Sophie Rossman and Lizzie Plimpton (as Mrs. Larsson) Nonetheless, it's been challenging carving out a space for myself as a director. Short films are seen as a calling card in our industry, but film-making is an expensive endeavor, and while I would like to direct more often, due to my limited finances it's not something I've been able to do to the extent I would like. The film we shot this past January serves as a proof of concept for the feature, but it also stands on its own as a strong short film.  We've received generous support from the Jacob Burns Film Center, but we still need to raise money for the remainder of our budget.  With your help, we can complete the film, screen it at prestigious film  festivals, and ultimately complete the feature and share this funny, intimate and honest story with the world.  Any and all contributions are deeply appreciated by our team. Thank you. Writer/Director Lauren Minnerath Previous Work  My most recent short film, The Morning After, premiered at the 2018 Cleveland International Film Festival and went on to screen at over a dozen festivals around the world. It follows an interracial lesbian couple as they navigate a tense “meet the parents” scenario the morning after the 2016 Presidential election. Sophie Rossman and Lauren Minnerath on set Timeline January 2020 || Production Production was completed in mid January. February 2020 - March 2020 || Post Production We will be working with incredibly talented post houses in the city to ensure the best final film. April 2020 || Completion We will host a private screening for all our supporters and dedicated cast and crew. June 2020 - November 2020 || Festival Submissions We will submit to the top film festivals domestically and abroad including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Toronto, and Telluride. Early 2021 || Premiere Once the festival acceptances roll in, we will make an announcement about our official premiere.    The crew of CLARE, working very hard in very cold weather Crew Bios Lauren Minnerath was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in rural Minnesota. She is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and currently works as a Brooklyn-based writer/director/editor. Her work has screened at festivals around the world and has been featured.  She is an artist resident of SPACE on Ryder Farm, was featured on the 2018 Young and Hungry List, and placed second on the 2018 Hit List. She is currently developing her directorial debut, CLARE, which was work-shopped at the 2019 SPACE on Ryder Farm Film Lab and participated in IFP’s 2019 No Borders Film Week. She is also developing a project with Amazon Studios.  Lauren Minnerath with Assistant Director Dina Graham Carlos Valdivia is a Brooklyn-based director, producer, and a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He was named one of NYU Film School’s New Latino Leaders by Indiewire and was a 2018 NALIP Latino Lens finalist. His latest short, Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá is now streaming on PBS and World Channel. Recent producing credits include Kimchi, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival; Artemis Falls, starring Adepero Oduye (12 Years A Slave), which premiered at the Atlanta Film Festival; and Codenation, which was commissioned by Google to inspire more women and minorities in tech, starring Broad City’s Arturo Castro. He was a producer on Nordstrom’s “An Open Mind Is the Best Look” campaign, which aired during the 91st Academy Awards, won three Cannes Lions, and has been inducted into the MoMA permanent archives.     Producer Carlos Valdivia Julia Kennelly is a film producer of both narrative and branded content. She has worked for New York-based production companies Archer Gray, Public Record, Anomaly, Broadstreet, Juniper Jones and MikMak, among others. While Julia has produced advertising work written about in AdWeek and TIME, she has a passion for narrative film, and is deeply committed to telling stories about people who are not often visible in the mainstream media. Films she's produced have been in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Outfest and Palm Springs ShortFest. Julia recently produced The Neighbors' Window, which is received the award for Best Live Action Short at this year’s Academy Awards.    Producer Julia Kennelly Karine Benzaria is a New York based producer whose experience ranges from short commercial form to narrative television. A film graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, her mission lies in bringing global stories to wide range audiences through independent film. Previously at W Magazine she's streamlined production for their documentary content, as well as editorial videos featuring the likes of India Menuez, Carla Bruni, and musician Mykki Blanco. More recently, she 's worked alongside Bad Robot and Apple TV on the upcoming series 2020 Little Voice with EP Sara Bareilles. She is a co-founder of Dream City, alongside Julia Kennelly and Daisy Zhou.    Producer Karine Benzaria Zach Stoltzfus has worked as a cinematographer based out of New York since he graduated NYU's film program in 2011.  While his training began in narrative storytelling, his work in documentary filmmaking has influenced all aspects of his work, lending it a more organic and patient perspective.  Films he has shot have screened in festivals such as TIFF, Atlanta, Cinequest, and Palm Springs.  His work has taken his across the world; from Shanghai to Accra, Helsinki, and Rio de Janeiro, he strives to explore the beautiful subtleties of people no matter the location.      Cinematographer Zach Stoltzfus Where the Money is going! Filmmaking, even at the short film level, is an expensive endeavor. We leveraged every favor possible to get us through production as frugally as possible and we’ve raised about half of our budget through a generous fellowship from the Jacob Burns Film Center, but we are reaching out to you to help us reach our final goal. Here is our breakdown of expenses: Talent - $2,778 Production Design - $500 Equipment and Gear - $2000 Locations - $4000 Transportation - $1670 Post Production - $1000 Festivals - $500     Carlos Valdivia, Dina Graham and Lauren Minnerath Why Folks Should Donate Short films are seen as a calling card for aspiring directors in the film industry, but film-making is an expensive endeavor, with short films often costing several thousand dollars at minimum. This can make what is seen as an essential stepping stone toward directing features incredibly prohibitive for those who don’t have the resources to self-finance.  Your pledge will help us pay for equipment, locations, travel expenses, and meals for our cast and crew -- many of whom are just donating their time and skills for little to no money. Risks and challenges There are risks and challenges with making any film, but as Clare has already been shot and is currently in post-production, many of those risks are mitigated. The biggest challenge we face is in not meeting our Kickstarter goal, which would cause a delay in paying for post-production and the remainder of our production costs. We take the completion of this film seriously, and your donation is vital in making this happen. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Story In this in-depth review, Ed from Rushfaster gives a detailed walk-through and demonstrates how the Orbitkey Nest can help you organise – to suit any lifestyle: Nest will help you declutter and organise – allowing you to be more productive and efficient at work.   At Orbitkey, we believe that life’s better when everything has its place. Which is why we designed Nest –  to help you spend less time searching through mess looking for things, and more time on things that matter.  For Press Inquiries — [email protected]   1. Home For All Your Essentials  Comfortably store all your daily necessities inside Nest. Separate the top tray from the internal storage to easily retrieve items while you work at your desk.    2. Always Within Reach  The leather lid serves as a beautiful tray for the things you regularly reach for while you work – maximising desk space and keeping things in place.    3. Always Charged  The wireless charger embedded in the lid will keep your devices charged while you work – so they’re always ready to go.   4. Customisable  Movable dividers allow you to customise compartments to suit your specific needs.     5. Time-Saving Storage  With everything neatly organised in a shallow compartment, you’ll easily locate items in a glance, and know instantly if something is missing.     6. On The Go Access Simply flip the lid open like a book to access your essentials on the go. The foam padded interior will keep your belongings safe and protected as you go about your daily commute.      7. Storage For Cards and Loose Items  Store cards you don’t use often in the lid to free up space in your wallet. Also included is an elastic pouch for smaller items that tend to go astray.      8. Convenient Pen Access  The pen loop on the exterior ensures you always have easy access to a pen when you need it.     1. Dual-Function Hinge Mechanism  Lift the lid or flip it open like a book to access the internal storage.     2. Adjusting Movable Dividers  Easily setup or change your storage configuration by moving and placing down the velcro dividers.     3. Drop Test The secure elastic loop closure keeps Nest in one piece.     4. Everything Stays In Place  Items stored inside won’t move around.    1 x top tray (with embedded wireless charger) 1 x bottom tray 6 x movable dividers 1 x USB-C Cable   Orbitkey Nest compared with Macbook Pro 15" We believe in clever organisation for better living.  Since 2013, we've launched 3 Kickstarter campaigns, with 22,000 backers, raising over USD 1 million.  We love Kickstarter. Not only did you help bring Orbitkey to life, you also allow us to focus on making great products and keep doing the things we love – without the influence of outside investors. We are a team of 14 passionate individuals based in Melbourne, Australia – driven by design, innovation and the idea of better living. This new project is the result of continuous feedback and hard work for the past few years. We hope to have you join us on our journey towards better living. We always try to be conscious of what we’re designing. To focus less on the quantity, and instead focus more on the quality of the small, but considered selection of products. Our hearts, minds and even weekends were poured into this new product, and here’s a small lookbook to give you an idea of how we went about designing Orbitkey Nest. Apart from being a beautifully designed product, we’ve ensured that Orbitkey Nest is crafted from premium materials and will withstand everyday use. We’ve conducted rigorous testing that demonstrate the durability of Nest:  External Fabric Abrasion Testing   Elastic Loop Durability Testing   Elastic Loop Abrasion Testing     Project budget   $24,870 Making $19,550   Taxes & Fees $3,320   Funding $2,000   Last updated February 4, 2020 This is a projected budget provided by the creator and may be subject to change. Risks and challenges There are always challenges and unforeseen obstacles that arise when trying to bring a product to life. However, this will be Orbitkey’s 4th Kickstarter campaign, and the previous campaigns have given us valuable experience in all aspects of bringing a product to life and running a crowdfunding campaign. It has better prepared us in the challenges associated with tooling, production, logistics, communication and delivering a high-quality product. In the case of encountering unavoidable obstacles, we have always handled them swiftly and efficiently, and have always conducted things in the best interest of our backers and Orbitkey family. We always keep our backers updated and with complete transparency. We will do our very best to ensure we deliver what we promise and to go the extra mile whenever possible. Thanks for believing in us! Long-lasting design We've made a commitment that everything we do and build needs to add value toward helping our community live better lives. If they don’t, we should rethink why we’re doing it, and work out a better approach. They are designed with the best materials and built to last – and tested thoroughly to withstand heavy use. We love that we're still seeing plenty of backers from our first Kickstarter campaign in 2013 still using the rewards they received on Kickstarter. Reusability and recyclability Our products are designed to last. However, should you encounter any problems with any of the parts, you can let us know and we'll be able to send you a specific replacement part. For example, the in-built wireless charging pad compartment can be accessed using a small sharp object in the case of it breaking. On top of this, all our packaging material is plastic-free and 100% recyclable. Environmentally friendly factories All our factories have been carefully selected and are partners we've been working with for several years. We have team members on the ground who visit the factories on a regular basis to ensure quality, ethical and environmental standards are upheld. Sustainable Distribution We plan to optimise our shipping routes by utilising sea-freight of bulk quantities to local warehouses and to reduce the carbon footprint of our delivery plan.

In every city across the world, artists often feel overwhelmed, under-appreciated, lost and lonely. Treble Tuesdays aims to change that.  The Beginning  In the summer of 2017, we invited some musicians over to Matt's apartment. We thought it would be a nice quiet "happy hour." We never thought that hundreds of artists would walk through our doors and spend all night meeting, jamming, and exchanging contacts. But that is exactly what happened. And that is how Treble Tuesdays was born.     270 Jefferson Street. Where it all began. Treble Tuesdays quickly outgrew our living room. Treble Tuesdays expands into Manhattan. The one year anniversary of Treble Tuesdays The movement hits Austin Texas thanks to our Treble Tuesdays SXSW Showcase THE EXPERIENCE Treble Tuesdays is designed with two goals in mind: 1. Encourage networking among our attendees. 2. Showcase standout talent to our community and to curated industry guests.   Almost every event features a in the crowd can hop on stage and participate. There is also an open bar (thanks to the support of our friends at Jägermeister.)     Here are a few popular Treble Tuesday themes: Live is a showcase where 10 undiscovered artists perform for 5 minutes each.  Bettle is a bracket style competition between producers.  off the record is a panel series that offers marginalized groups within the music industry a safe space to discuss the issues they face everyday.   The Elberts is an award show that highlights the best people and moments from Treble Tuesdays (Fun Fact...Elbert is the word "Treble" spelled backwards.)  Why We Care About Treble Tuesdays (And Why You Should Too) Since the series started, we've watched our artist family grow, sign with labels, collaborate with marquee artists, and make friends that will support them throughout their careers.  And that is what Treble is all about.  Every stitch of design for our soon-to-launch digital networking platform was inspired by what we saw at Treble Tuesdays. Online or offline, we want to offer every artist a home amid the chaos of the music industry.  Wyclef Jean and Jazzy Amra connecting for a dap at the 1 year anniversary of Treble Tuesdays “Treble Industries has created a movement by gathering young, hip, and culturally aware men and women of all different persuasions into one room,” - Darcus Bease, President of Island Records Why We Need Your Help We want to strengthen our community by investing more into our live team. Treble Tuesdays has always been powered by grassroots support from our community. Behind each one, there are dozens of artists and musicians who pitch in to make it happen. From our host to our sound engineer, to the photographers and videographers who capture every experience, it's the local community that creates the Treble energy.  With your help, we'll be able to keep Treble Tuesdays thriving in the city that started it all.  We want to expose our talent to a wider audience by shooting high quality performance clips.  There are so many iconic performances at Treble Tuesdays. We want to share the most inspiring ones with fans and creators across the globe. With your backing, we'll begin regularly shooting and posting clips like these online.  If we hit our 20K Target, in 2020, we will make sure Treble Tuesdays, just like the way they should be, will happen every month in NYC.  Stretch Goals  If we hit $20K, our next few stretch goals are all about helping us spread the movement across the country.  There are so many great musicians in every town that deserve to be heard. We've seen this firsthand at our Treble Tuesdays showcases in Chicago, LA, Austin, and Miami. Together, we can  bring a place for artists to meaningfully connect to more cities across the country! 40K: We launch a quarterly TT event series in Los Angeles. 60K: We launch a quarterly TT event series in Chicago. 80K: We launch a blow-out showcase in the city that YOU CHOOSE. If we reach this goal, all backers from the entire campaign will be given the exclusive chance to cast a vote on the next place we bring Treble Tuesdays. Whatever the people decide, that's where we're going. Our Reward Menu Throughout this campaign, we'll be curating a broad variety of rewards that cater to different lifestyles and tastes. We'll be adding new ones every week that fall under the categories below. Check the rewards tab for details on all our initial offerings.  Physical Rewards  A signed copy of "Humans in Music," a zine created by our Berlin-based friends at Virtual Love. Limited edition merch from Tangerine House. Treble historians know Tangerine as the artist co-living network that recently joined the Treble family. These throwback tees were created back when we were two separate companies who had just recently crossed paths Rewards For Creators & Industry Professionals For only $5, you'll recieve early access to our new digital networking platform before it hits the world! Through this campaign, you'll have the opportunity to receive A&R reports on our favorite emerging talents across the scene. Gigging musicians, music video directors, managers and everyone in between.   A lucky artist backer will be rewarded by having one of their music videos screened live at Treble Tuesdays. Here's a quick clip of Thomas, a NYC based rapper, premiering his visuals to our community.  Events-Based Rewards During our campaign, we're offering you VIP access to Treble Tuesdays. We're even throwing in a +1. For our most generous backers, we'll curate a private concert inside your home or office based on your musical preferences Risks and challenges We believe there may be certain execution risks in launching the events in new cities. However, this will be drastically mitigated by the extensive network we've built within the industry. We look forward to tapping our collaborators in new cities to launch the Treble Tuesday event series.

If from every little thing that man held dear appeared a deity, the modern pantheon would be pretty peculiar. Today, respect towards nature, human rights and a lot of other things is claimed but really put to the test. What would that dear sought after Respect think about it ? Mind you, everyone’s asking that same question in modern pantheon. Indeed, Respect has been missing for many years. That’s the premise of the story Bleuenn and Pal came up with, gathering 17 comic book illustrators and 16 artists together around them. Has Respect died ? Has he abandoned us ? How do the world and its current deities handle it ? Deus Ex Aspere will be a book full of comics and art on Modern Gods. It will be an approximately 200 pages A4 hardcover book (21 x 29,7 cm) with a golden printed logo on the cover. If we reach the first stage of this project, we’ll add a jacket on the book. Bleuenn and Pal are Collectif HÂVE’s creators, they take care of paperwork, graphic work and organisation. Each comic book illustrator created a 5 to 8 pages comic about Modern Gods.  Each artist produced an illustration that will be put in between the comics to provide you with more interpretations and a nice looking break. You can check their social media accounts by following the links from the collectif's account.

Story Wehrlegig Games is coming back to Kickstarter for a new printing of Pax Pamir: Second Edition. From the award-winning game designer of Root, Cole Wehrle brings you into an interactive history lesson about life on the edge of empire.   In Pax Pamir, players take the role of Afghan political factions in the early nineteenth century. For generations the Durrani Empire held the region together. Now, their authority has collapsed. Rivals both old and new have emerged from the shadows. It’s up to the players to see if a fledgling Afghan state might come into being. The core of Pax Pamir is simple. Each turn, players will draft cards from a central market and then play those cards. Cards can be used to entrench your position and grant players access to powerful abilities. Throughout the game players will command mighty armies, direct the subterfuge of their spies, and undertake daring political maneuvers. Players have many tools at their disposal, but the work of forging a new central Asian state is not easy. Players will often need to band together in coalitions. However, only one player will be the winner. As a coalition grows in size, its members will have to fend off internal rivals and secure their own personal dominance. Pax Pamir takes its subject seriously. The game is the product of over five years of research and draws on a wide range of both primary and secondary sources. For this reason, the game may not be suitable for all groups. It offers an extended meditation on life at the fringes of European power and asks the players to understand the many currents that guided the history of central Asia in the nineteenth century. It is also a deeply interactive game where the path to victory often cuts through the hopes of your opponents.  For the first print run of Pax Pamir: Second Edition, Drew and I printed as many copies as we could manage. At that time, we weren't sure if there would be much demand for the game after it's release. The game was a labor of love, and we wanted to focus our efforts on making the best game we possibly could. Neither one of us thought that the game would require a second printing so soon.  But the game's sales after its release were strong, and we began to be flooded with requests for a reprint. Because Pamir is an expensive game to produce, we are once again returning to Kickstarter to raise funds for this new printing. We're happy to report that there will be only marginal differences between the second printing and the first. A few small typos on some of the card flavor text have been fixed and a couple of very minor clarifications have been added to the rules. Neither of these changes warrant an upgrade kit for any of the printed components. There will be only one material change. The laser cut ruler tokens proved to be both expensive and hard to decipher, so, for the second printing, we're swapping them with screen printed wooden disks. Anyone who owns the first printing can acquire these by either pledging at the five dollar level or by adding five dollars to either of the other pledge levels.  We are also thrilled to be using BackerKit again as our pledge manager. Pledge mangers are third-party services that lets you manage your order leading up to fulfillment. After the campaign ends,  you'll be able to see your unique shipping rate and select any add-ons to your pledge on Backerkit.    Anyone who wishes to supplement their pledge with any of the add-ons listed below may add that dollar amount to their pledge or adjust their order in Backerkit after the campaign.  We're happy to be working with Backerkit again to help with your KS pledge and process accurate shipping fees. After the campaign, everyone will be emailed by Backerkit so that we can collect your shipping address and process shipping payment for your finalized order.  We have partnered with several experienced international fulfillment companies to help you get your game as soon as possible. Depending on where in the world you are, we will either ship to you from a partner hub in the US, EU, China, Canada, or Australia. The following is a list of cost estimates for shipping 1 copy of Pax Pamir. Keep in mind these are not finalized yet, and the accurate costs will be calculated in the pledge manager according to your address after the campaign wraps up. Shipping will vary from country to country and be calculated using both weight and size. In general, the more copies of Pax Pamir you order, the more shipping will cost. Additional copies will add another 30-50% of shipping cost to your order.  For folks submitting small orders, like those interested in just metal coins or ruler tokens, shipping will be a fraction of the cost. Depending on your address, most small order shipping will cost less than 50% of the listed rate below.  If your game store is interested in a retail order, please submit a Retailer Deposit Pledge and a fill out this form here!  This offer is only available to Brick & Mortar retail stores. Proof of status will be required. Bulk discounts not available for group buys or clubs.  All retailers will be required to place a $50 deposit on Kickstarter to get access to our Retailer Backerkit platform. Your $50 pledge will be credited to your retailer order. Note, you must be a verified retailer to have access to this order platform. All unverified Retail Deposit Pledges will revert to the standard pledge. If you have any questions about Pax Pamir retailer info, check out the order request link and do not hesitate. At Wehrlegig Games our objective is simple: publish beautiful games with historical themes that treat their subjects and their players seriously. These are games that make arguments and encourage discussion. They don't shy away from difficult subjects. Because we know the audience for such games is limited, in order to make sure we produce games up to our standards we have decided to rely on a direct sales model. The vast majority of all copies produced will be sent to Kickstarter backers. Our games are not designed for traditional distribution or retail channels. This means we can spend many more resources on the game's physical production without having to worry about retail viability. Our next project is the second edition of John Company, which we hope to launch on Kickstarter later this year. Cole Wehrle is a published writer and game designer who currently serves as a staff designer at Leder Games in Saint Paul. Before working in the board game industry, Cole earned his PhD at the University of Texas. His research concerned the ways that the British Empire influenced narrative structure in the nineteenth century novel. He has presented at conferences all over the world and taught classes on a wide range of subjects, from Rhetoric to American Postmodernism. He is perhaps best known for his historical board games (An Infamous Traffic and John Company),for Root, and for his upcoming game Oath. Drew Wehrle is the older of Cole's two younger brothers. He has helped Cole develop every game he has ever designed. During the development of the first edition of Pax Pamir, Drew lived with Cole in Austin, Texas and was instrumental in preparing the game for publication. Drew will be handling all of the business and operational elements of Wehrlegig Games, as well as assisting in game development. He previously managed school programs at Chicago Botanic Garden, and as of early 2020, he now helps manage Wehrlegig games full-time.  Thank you to our collaborators: Abol Bahadori for the action icons illustrations, Josh Berer for the box script design, Alex Singh for the wonderful video, Travis Hill for the rulebook support, Ross Connell for the lovely photos, David Carter for the extra customer service, Ben Kyo and AgentElrond for the digital implementations, and all the Backers that help bring our projects to life.  Risks and challenges This campaign's two primary goals are to raise funds for a second printing of Pax Pamir and provide old backers with a way to get both metal coins and the updated ruler tokens. At this point, all of the files of the game are compete and the majority have already made it through the pre-press process. We hope to begin production shortly after the campaign is over. Drew is now managing this project full-time and will be able to keep an close eye on both the production and fulfillment of the campaign. We have also built a wide network partnerships with folks around the gaming industry, and we have contingencies in place for every element of the project's production and fulfillment. This is the eighth game Cole will have shepherded through the manufacturing process. We have built plenty of padding into our schedule to absorb delays, and we are closely monitoring the global effects of COVID-19 outbreaks on the production and shipping timelines. We are confident that we can deliver this game on time or with minimal delay.    

Story Hey there, welcome to my Kickstarter! Let's just jump into this then..  So, What's This All About?! Check out this video for answers to your common questions. Further details are all written below. ☺ Now that you've (hopefully) watched my awkward video, I'll explain a little more about my book and this campaign. I'll keep it as short and sweet as possible, but I am a writer. I backed quite a few campaigns myself and I know you want to just click the pledge button and move on (please feel free to click that button at any time). ☺  Below, I hope to answer every question you might have about this campaign - in the briefest way possible. ☺  What's it about? This book is about a child who wishes to be a unicorn, only to discover (with Mom's help) that the unicorn they seek to be resides within. Written in nameless narrative, any child can put themselves into this story because every child wishes to be magical, mystical, and rare! But, every child already is, and sometimes they need a little help discovering that. So do many adults, for that matter. (So this book is for those adults too!)   The Character Originally based on my daughter and her own wish to become a unicorn, the character was initially modeled after her. When I read my manuscript to her, she said, "It's a good story, I like it, but this book has only a girl in it - what about all the boys that love unicorns too?" Now, I've done my very best to raise my daughters without gender stereotypes. Boys can wear pink. Girls can play football. Boys can do ballet,  wear nail polish, and sport a skirt if they want to - and girls can have short haircuts, play video games, get dirty, and flaunt a 3-piece suit. Play, toys, colors, fashion...nothing has or belongs to one gender - especially unicorns. So, I was very proud of this observation and sought to remedy it. My first immediate thought was to make another book with a boy and a unicorn, but not only would that take cost twice as much to produce - it goes against the very idea of not genderizing. So I decided to make a character I haven't yet seen in children's books - a child without an explicit gender. With brilliant multi-colored hair, a quintessential hoodie, comfy sweatpants, and culturally ambiguous - this child is for all children. While gender identity is never mentioned in the book, the illustrations show a child that is neither male nor female, and no he/she pronouns are used.  This child is Non-Binary. This character isn't distinguishably male or female, but has both masculine and feminine qualities. (This is not true for all who identify as non-binary. That's just this particular character) Their room is genderless, with toys, activities, and colors for both genders (because toys, activities, and colors ARE for both genders).  In addition to a non-binary character. My illustrator and I have done our best to consciously illustrate children of diverse ethnicities, genders, and abilities.  The Message The message of the book is simple: You are a unicorn. OK, maybe you aren't a mythical horse with a horn and a pair of wings. But, by definition: u·ni·corn /ˈyo͞onəˌkôrn: something that is highly desirable but difficult to find or obtain - You are that. There is only one you. All the qualities a unicorn possess - beauty, power, strength, etc. - all of those qualities are within you. And that's the message of the book.  Who's it For? This book is for all the little boys that like unicorns. It’s for all the little girls that like unicorns. It’s for all the little girls and boys that identify other than their assigned gender at           birth—that like unicorns. It’s for all the adults that struggle with their identity and need a reminder that they are valid—who also like unicorns. And it’s for all the people who don’t know they are a unicorn. Book mock-up to give you an idea of what it'll look like as an actual book! Speaking of who it's for (YOU), let's discuss You for a moment, and WHY I need YOU. This book will not be made - hardcover, beautifully illustrated, full of magic to warm your heart - unless you back this campaign. I know, I've been there , you think "Well, I'm sure there will be enough other backers to see this through - my contribution won't matter." But, the truth is, I need you to a part of that - it's the collective, united support and financial backing that's going to make this happen.  OK, down to the Nitty Gritty of this campaign. FUNDING...  "I'll just wait until the book is made and buy one." I'd be all for that plan, except that the book won't be made without a successful (meaning FULLY funded) campaign. And I've got 30 days to make that happen! Producing a book costs money. Producing a picture book costs quite a bit of money. (illustrations, layout, formatting, etc. - there's a full list further down) It costs a lot more money than I thought it would cost - but that’s usually the way of things when you want a QUALITY product. I’ve spent many, many hours reaching out to illustrators after looking through tons of portfolios and paying for samples to see if they could bring life to my very specific character and ideas. Quality illustrators are not cheap - nor should they be for the service they provide - a service each and every one of us has appreciated both as children ourselves and as parents watching our children get lost in books. I actually lucked out in that my illustrations are only costing me around $5000 total, for this book. (some illustrations cost upward of $15,000-$20,000 total! Yeah, seriously. But the results are amazing!) The bulk of the cost for my campaign is in printing and shipping. Finding a quality printer took more hours I've lost count of. But, I found one: A mentor and fellow self-publisher,  built a business for us indie publishers that provides services for printing, shipping, warehousing, and distribution. (For this first run of prints, due to the additional cost of warehousing and distribution - the "warehouse" will be MY house, and the "distribution" will be yours truly + some help from the oldest little - don't worry she'll get extra pay  and no labor laws will be broken.) This campaign is completely transparent. These pledges are going straight away into the production, printing, and shipping of these books. Printing/Shipping: $7300 or more. Finish illustrations: $5000. Kickstarter fees: $1370 $30USD (the base level reward) includes the shipping costs via priority mail in those nifty padded envelopes - estimated via USPS. Likewise, the additional price for shipping has been estimated for International orders. These aren't the only expenses. Additional expenses (before, during, and after production) include: editors formatting copyright license filing for an LLC  marketing & promotion  advertising isbns  fonts (prior to this I didn't know you had to pay for fonts either!)  shipping supplies   printing & shipping MORE books because these will sell out  other things that I know will come up but can't think of right now  More than just the book, your money goes to support a dream and (hopefully) growing business. ::insert inspirational music:: In all seriousness and sincerity, these pledges and your support are like the water that allows a seedling to grow into an oak. I just need a little support breaking through the soil. My goal is not to have the joy of saying, "I'm a published author." My goal is to create and provide quality books (plural - because it's only just starting here) for children and adults alike to enjoy. That's why I'm opting for hardcover books that will stand the test of time. I want you to receive a book that looks as beautiful and professionally done as any other book you'd pick up in a Barnes & Noble or other book retailer. And since I’m “All In” I’m “going big or going home” and printing 2000 copies of this first run.  All of the rewards are up on the right on your screen, and they are all pretty self explanatory. Books & some cool extras. But, there's one reward that requires a little more explanation. For $250 your child's likeness can be illustrated in the book. If you choose this reward, you'll need to send me a picture of your child with a few extra details (like their favorite colors or favorite outfit so that it can be incorporated into the character) and they will appear in the book, in the same style as the rest of the book. If you choose this reward, know that it isn't going to be a photocopy of the photo you send—but stylized portraits are a specialty of my illustrator and she's going to do an awesome job - your child will be able to point to the character and say, "That's me!" Stretch Goals: A stretch goal is an additional goal set for a campaign in case the campaign exceeds the initial funding goal. Usually a project creator doesn't share this until the initial funding goal is reached, or near being reached. It lets backers/pledgers know that, "Hey, we don't have to stop here! We can shoot for the stars and  *this* is what happens if we exceed our goal..." I'm not waiting for that! I'm letting you know right now that if I exceed my goal (and I REALLY hope I do), all additional funds go into those additional costs listed above ANDstraight away into making my next book. You've hopped on this book-making train and it's going to be a great ride! I have several more manuscripts written, but the very next book in line is called, All the Feels. Sample image for a spread in "All the Feels". I've since completely reimagined the illustrations for this book and I look forward to moving forward with it after we succeed in making "I Wish I Were a Unicorn" a real book! All the feels  is a children's book about recognizing, accepting, processing, and allowing ourselves to feel ALL emotions and the feelings associated then them. Anger, Fear, Joy, Sadness, Envy & Peace. Teaching children how to recognize their emotions and process their feelings early on allows them to grow into healthy, balanced adults. And I don't know about you, but I've met my fair share of unhealthy and imbalanced adults. So, let's start at the roots. All of my writing/books has this concept (of starting at the roots) as its chief aim, and I'm super excited about all my upcoming ideas, projects, and products to share with you! I hope you are too. Supporting and contributing to a successful campaign means other books to follow— with titles and stories aimed to break gender stereotypes, with gender non-conforming child characters, racial/cultural diversity, and emotional health. (Another small section here briefly explaining the rewards - physical book, e-book, worksheets, coloring pages.) If you have any questions about the Kickstarter rewards, how crowdfunding platforms like this work, or anything else, please shoot me an email at [email protected] You can also find me online my at my website,  Facebook,  Instagram, or Twitter.  Want to Read a Little More and Find out WHO You're Backing??! Most project creators put this part further at the top, but honestly, my writing, my work and the impact I hope to have come before who's behind the book(s)/writing. But, if you'd like to know a little more about me, here goes:  I'm A.K. Neer. The "A" is for my first name, Akili (like Achilles without the ’s’). I’ve been creatively writing since I was in elementary school. Being an author has always been a dream, but one I didn’t plan on accomplishing until much later in life. However, after having my first daughter (now 11 y/o), and my experiences in motherhood with her—I started writing my very first children’s books when she was 2. (Prior to that, I wanted to be the next Tolkien or Robert Jordan!...OK, I still do.) My experiences with her lead to a grand idea for a series of children's books. I wrote those ideas down as soon as they came to me—but those ideas sat on a shelf (literally, in a notebook) for about 8 years. I stayed at home with my daughter for a few years (homeschooling), went back to school and work—life happened. Lots of a life. A lot of lows (a lot!) lead to a lot of highs, and a lot of lessons were learned, but my notebook stayed on the shelf…even through several moves, being boxed and unboxed many times. I thought the rest of life had to happen first before I became the author I longed to be.  (Fast forward...more life...yadda yadda...)                      I had a second daughter, and I’ve been at home with her for about 3.5 years now. She is neurodiverse ☺ (meaning she has autism), and returning to work took a backseat to her care. I’m in a lucky enough position to be able to do so. But, I still have dreams and goals, and being an author is truly my biggest one. Except now it's no longer a dream. It's a goal. So, that’s what I’m trying to do. I want to provide books to the world that I don’t see on the bookshelves when we go to local bookstores or large book selling chains. I want create characters and send messages to children that I feel are lacking in the current books that are on those shelves. And I want to show my children that you can accomplish your dreams and goals – no matter your age, no matter your circumstances, no matter any number of perceived obstacles  – with the added lesson that sometimes it takes a tribe to help those dreams and goals come true, and that's OK. We're all connected, we're all the same, and ultimately, we're all unicorns. (The aforementioned books that started this whole journey are still on a shelf, in a special spot, and they will be published in the future as well.) ☺ When I'm not writing, you can find me spending time with my family, meditating, dancing in my underwear, kayaking, rolling around with other people's dogs (until we get our own), eating an ice cream cone, painting, or doing any number of things that spread positivity and make me (and others) happy.                ❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧ This project could absolutely NOT have happened without my amazing illustrator, Natasza Remesz! Natasza and samples of her artwork. Natasza is an extremely talented and passionate 29-year-old illustrator, originally from Poland, currently based in Scotland. She’s been drawing since–according to her family­–she was able to hold a pencil. She attended a high school for fine arts, and after that, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland.  Now she is living her dream working full time as an illustrator.  When she’s not drawing, she enjoys dancing (latin, african and afrocuban styles), making her own clothes and accessories (mostly for cosplays), and she’s a hugh fan of RPG board games. She's the only daughter of her mother & father, but has 3 younger half-sisters (the yougnest is only 5 years old!). She loves her "patchwork" family. ☺ She loves to travel and while she's currently based in Scotland, this period of her life is slowly ending – and the next stop – Croatia! That's it! That's us, and that's the project. I thank you, genuinely, for your support. (And for reading through all of this.)                                   Stay up to date with the author, campaign, and progress by liking and following       Author A. K. Neer on Facebook. Advanced SKETCH of cover concept. Risks and challenges For you, my wonderful backer - there is no risk. If I don't reach my goal, your credit card won't be charged at all. I've done my best to foresee any delays and the date I set for book arrival is set with that extra cushioning of possible challenges! My hope is that it will actually be available BEFORE October, but I can't guarantee that. The biggest risk here is for me - and that's because it's ALL OR NOTHING. I don't raise every penny of these funds through this campaign, this book doesn't get made and I go back to the drawing board. So thank you SO much for your support of this project. I cannot wait to share this book and many more with you.

 Songs for a Sloth is a feature-length comedy. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Maxwell meets a talking sloth in his dreams and becomes obsessed with saving the animal’s habitat in his waking life by returning to his first passion of music. If you're someone who believes that it's never too late to go after your dreams in life, big or small, then this film is for you. Also if you like sloths, puppets, sibling rivalries, video games, paintball, original music, inventions, paintings, laughing, and/or crying, then this movie is also for you.  Songs for a Sloth mirrors our years long journey to get our film made. The protagonist, Maxwell, a former musician, justifies returning to his passion to further a cause championed by his late father. But can he do it solely for its own sake? Beyond all the comedy in the film is the heart, the central question our protagonist asks, that we all ask at some point...  Do we only have a small window in life to go after our dreams and, if we think it’s closed, can we reopen it?     Richard Hollman is an actor, writer, musician, activist, improviser, and teacher living in New York City. Off-Broadway: Cherry Lane, Playwrights Horizons, La MaMa Etc., the Lucille Lortel, the Public Theater. TV: Law and Order, As The World Turns, All My Children, and Guiding Light. Additionally, Rich performs with the touring company of the premiere musical improv group, Baby Wants Candy. He was a TEDx speaker in 2017 and is the founder of the charity, Care Packages for the Homeless. (AEA, SAG-AFTRA).  Brian McCarthy is a New York City actor and improviser. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia where he graduated from T.C Williams High School. He studied fine art at James Madison University, and still enjoys painting from time to time. Some of his favorite roles have been Randy Chilton, in "The Americans,” Jimmy, in Jim Jarmuch’s “Paterson,” and Paul Davis, in “Blue Bloods.”  Ava Eisenson is a NYC based actor. Recent theatre credits include: "Diaspora" by Nathaniel Shapiro, directed by Saheem Ali, "the giants" by Matthew Jellison and directed by Isaac Klein and "Old Love New Love" by Laura Brienza, directed by Nancy Robillard. Recent tv and film: "Dietland" , "FBI" , "The Kitchen", "The Hunt", "Y: The Last Man" "The God Committee" and "Milkwater". Ava is also helping workshop a few projects including her Dad's solo show about his life as a magician.  Arian Moayed is the co-Founder of Waterwell, a civic-minded and socially conscious theater and education company, as well as a Partner at the for-profit Waterwell Films. Recently: The Courtroom, a reenactment of deportation proceedings in active legal spaces. At the Waterwell Drama Program, over 250 students per year receive world-class arts training all free of charge. With Waterwell Films, Arian has written/directed the Emmy-nominated, short-form thriller, The Accidental Wolf, which stars Kelli O’Hara. Notable acting credits: The Humans (Drama Desk Award), Guards at the Taj (Obie Award), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Tony nomination), Succession (HBO), Inventing Anna (coming soon on Netflix), and the titular role in Hamlet (Waterwell).     We (Bradley Hasse and Richard Hollman) met in 2015 while making a short film and bonded over our mutual desire to someday make a feature film. After many years of trying to make it happen, but finding every excuse not to (the perfect script, securing financing, taking time away from paid gigs, growing families... basically summed up: LIFE HAPPENED), we thought our time to do so would never come.   Then in the Spring of 2019 we decided to just go for it.  No more excuses. If not now, then when? "Let's just gather what resources we have NOW and make it happen." We set a date to shoot, THEN began to write the script. After cranking out the first version followed by dozens of revised drafts, and juggling our other jobs and responsibilities, we actually pulled it off and completed principal photography of our film in only 11 days on a shoestring budget in the first few weeks of July. We were half way there….   They say write what you know.    Bradley Hasse is a writer/director with a distinctively inventive and absurdist creative vision. The Young Director Review: “seriously wacky, totally weird and rather wonderful.” An ADC Young Guns X and FABRICA fellowship recipient, Brad has filmed in over 20 countries in pursuit of all varieties of stories and content for clients that include Duracell, United Colors of Benetton, AutoTrader, Listerine, Yahoo!, MTV, Travel Channel, and music videos for RJD2, Gramatik, Straight No Chaser and Moby. Songs for a Sloth is his feature film directorial debut.  Pudding Boy is a full service creative agency that fuses experienced project management with diversified talent. Founded by Grayson Ross and Joe Labbadia, the company services a wide array of highly acclaimed media outlets to develop, finance, and produce commercials, broadcast promos, short-form media, branded digital content, and other forms of post-digital productions.   Andy Whitlatch is an NYC based Director of Photography. He has worked in over 10 different countries shooting documentaries and commercials. Some of his credits include "Writer's Block", a Film Shortage Daily Short Pick and an official selection in over 10 festivals including New York Short Film Festival and Seneca Film Festival. His work appears on The Atlantic, Amazon Prime and Netflix. Nelson Patton is a NYC-based instrumental duo of Dave Nelson and Marlon Patton. Inspired by ambient minimalism, polyrhythmic composition, and orchestral sonorities, the pair met at the University of Georgia where they played in jazz ensembles together in the Athens music scene. With experience in the classical, jazz, and indie rock scenes, both men are accomplished sidemen, session players, producers, and engineers.     Post production is what turns footage into a movie. So while it sounds exciting that we shot a film, what we really need help with right now is getting this film finished and out there to the world. Be assured that your help will go toward a product of the highest caliber.  Indie films often disappear in the mass amounts of media that is out there.  We have a positive, absurdly fun, heartwarming, and meaningful story here and we would like to share it with the world. Here's what your donation will help cover: Post (including color correction, sound design & mix, titles, closed captions) Promotional costs (including artwork and design) Festival entry fees  PR to help get the word out   Distribution (it's 2020 and self distribution is always an option, but there are fees associated with getting the film ready and delivered for each platform)    About a decade ago, I was accepted into an artist residency abroad in Italy. While there, I was making strides towards working in feature films - a lifelong dream of mine. When my father was diagnosed with cancer I put those plans on hold and returned stateside to be closer to him.  One thing led to another, and that dream of directing movies got pushed aside. I felt like a train had left the station and I failed to be on it. When creating Songs for a Sloth, both co-writer Richard Hollman and I had similar feelings - like we lost our way over the years - and we wanted to make a film that discussed this theme. I didn’t realize how cathartic the process was going to be though. While I was happy to get to express some of the emotions I had over the years through the protagonist, the act of creating the film itself proved to have the real power for me. I’ll never forget that feeling I had the morning after we wrapped. While previously focusing on how slowly it was taking me to take the next steps in my career, at this moment I only felt gratitude that the first step was finally taken.  This achievement was something to celebrate, and for the first time in a decade I felt like I was finally back on track.  While we approached this topic overall with levity, I’m also hoping that the audience is moved enough by the story that they take inventory of some of their own dreams that may have been sitting dormant for years, and that watching the film inspires them to once again pursue the goals in life that make them happiest. It's never too late, even if we get there slowly. Also, the other bit of inspiration is that I hang out with talking sloths all the time, so that’s probably worth mentioning as well. -Bradley Hasse        Risks and challenges A lot of time and resources went into this project. If we don't raise enough funds we risk not getting the film out into the world. Hidden in obscurity forever. Brad and Rich will lose touch and one day when they are 90 years old and they happen to scoot by each other in their self rocking Tesla rocking chairs, they'll recognize one another and go "hey, aren't you that person that I once made a movie with? What ever happened to that? Only our mothers got the opportunity to see the film, but it was so good. I wish more could have seen it and that we could have made more after that." And they'll sadly know that if it only were for a successful Kickstarter campaign, that the fate of the movie and their lives would have been different. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO BRAD AND RICH. Donate. Help them succeed and get this movie out there, followed by many more uplifting films in years to come.

Overview Climate change is expected to accelerate the loss of species as land, sea, and freshwater habitats face damage and loss. This is especially true for cold-water fish such as salmonids. This imminent crisis not only concerns biologists. Human beings have been closely connected to the diversity of various species spiritually, culturally, socially, economically, and personally.  The Great Salmon Tour aims to engage people in the conservation of biodiversity of salmon by allowing them to experience the diverse bonds that exist between salmon and people. Every fish has a  story – a story that is inseparable from our lives. Whatever that story may be, the Great Salmon Tour seeks to tell it through film, oral history recordings, social media, and publications. We have a series of species and locations that we plan to visit. In 2020, we journey to uncover the legendary Atlantic salmon fisheries in Maine and the ongoing efforts to save the species from going extinct, visiting salmon cartels in Spain, and documenting reef netters of the Pacific Northwest. Our Story My first job after moving to the U.S. from Norway was to work on the recovery of salmon populations in California for the National Marine Fisheries Service. One day a coworker asked me about the European Hucho hucho species.  Although I come from Europe, I drew a blank. “The large river salmon,” he said. At that time, I just started learning about the many types of salmon in the Pacific Northwest, and I was intrigued.  As far as I was concerned, Europe only had the generic salmon and brown trout, and this new genus spurred my interest in the diversity of these widespread species. As I learned more about the various species of salmon and the existential threats they face, I decided that I wanted to see them all and explore the status of these fish around the world. However, I soon realized that there was another story that needs to be told –that the story of salmon is as much about people as it is about the fish. There has always been a deeper connection between people and salmon that have gone beyond nutritional or economic needs. This bond consists of cultural and spiritual values, local knowledge and practices, traditions, and social identities. So, when we lose the biological diversity of salmonids, we lose not only the fish species but also our own cultural heritage. So, I created the Great Salmon Tour to see all the salmon species and explore the deep cultural and personal connections that people have with these fish. The goal is to engage people in the conservation of salmon diversity through the Great Salmon Tour expeditions. In 2010, we visited Tanana Village along the Yukon River in Alaska to experience salmon subsistence fishing; we journeyed across Mongolia to see the mythical taimen salmon; we spoke with fishermen on the last small boat fishery for Chinook salmon in California; and we discovered an inspiring story of conservation of softmouth trout in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Afterward, we gave lectures about our findings from our tour in universities and non-governmental organizations in the Washington DC area and West Virginia, published an article about the biodiversity of salmon and their connections to people based on our expeditions, and we produced documentary videos. This time our goal is to explore and document the stories of fish and men in Washington, Maine, and Spain. What is the Project About? Ultimately, it is about conservation of salmon. It is about understanding our own heritage and documenting it before it is lost, and it is about our future. It is difficult for the general public to be concerned about a species that they do not know. It is particularly hard to engage them in conservation of non-exotic species, such as salmon fishes. Also, given the availability of aquaculture fish in restaurants and markets, the general public is less aware that many of these species are critically endangered. Telling the story of salmon and what it means to various communities will increase awareness about the diversity of salmonids and show that their loss will have a direct impact on us, human beings. We believe that focusing attention on the diversity of salmon and our connections with them will help in the conservation, protection, and recovery efforts of these species. And we will put a limelight on the issue by telling the stories through multiple media and venues.   What We Will Do Expeditions In 2020, the Great Salmon Tour will visit Maine, USA, and the Autonomous Region of Asturias, Spain, to make a documentary about the native Atlantic salmon and what happens when the salmon runs are lost. Through our visits and interviews, we will compare the two cultures and their similar traditions linked to the Atlantic salmon runs. But the current conditions are not the same between the two places. Fishing for native wild Atlantic salmon in the U.S. became illegal when the Maine salmon was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. The situation in Maine is an illustration of what people and communities lose when the salmon runs disappear, and it is a stark warning of what the future for Asturias may be if the Spaniards do not find a way to manage sustainable runs. We are excited about continuing our project and expeditions. We will also travel to Washington to learn about and document salmon reefnet fishing. Wild Pacific salmon reefnet fishing is a historical Pacific Northwest fishing method- the oldest known salmon net fishery in the world. Once practiced throughout the Salish Sea by its many indigenous peoples it is now only done in three places through a cooperative effort between Lummi Nation tribal members and Lummi Island Wild. We have already cultivated connections and logistical support for each of these locations, but traveling to these sites will ultimately depend on our funding efforts and practical considerations. To tell these stories, my team and I will contribute a significant amount of personal assets, such as equipment and time. Thus, our first goal now is to cover the basic expenses for travel and logistics for team members who will undertake this work. You as a Participant The project will allow you to be a vital participant in this tour through film, photographs, and articles. We will keep updates about our journey on social media and our blog so you can interact with us as we prepare, plan, and travel.  Oral History Importantly, the essence of the Great Salmon Tour is the recognition that biological diversity is intrinsic to the vitality of human culture and human history. Therefore, we will videotape stories of individuals, families, important events, and everyday life of communities tied to salmon to create oral history recordings. The recordings will be loaded on the Voices of the Fisheries and other historic societies repositories where they will be available for researchers and the public. They will also be available on our website. The timing of this project is important; the recreational fishery for Atlantic salmon in Maine has been closed for over 20 years; the Atlantic salmon in Spain is on the southern edge of the species distribution and is threatened by climate change; and it is unclear if the young generation is interested in continuing the reef netting in Washington. Thus, the fishermen are getting older, with only a few remaining individuals that can share their experiences. This is a unique time and opportunity to capture their stories, learn from these case studies, and celebrate their knowledge to garner continued support for efforts to restore and conserve salmon. Films A video camera will be our primary equipment during our travels. We will produce short videos while traveling and longer documentaries once we are back home and in our editing studio. This will allow us to build an archive of high-quality visual materials about the entire experience. We strive to represent the uniqueness of the salmon fishes and people in stunning places that we will be visiting. Videos will be shared on our website and via social media Presentations People do not care about something they have not heard about. So, we spread the word about intricate ties between salmon and people by giving presentations at schools, universities, organizations, etc. Following our expeditions to Alaska, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mongolia, and Virginia, we gave presentations at university classes, local American Fisheries Society charters, Café Scientifique meetings, and other venues in D.C., Maryland, Minnesota, and West Virginia. We will make a new round of presentations following our expeditions to Washington State, Maine, and Spain. Publications We will write about our findings about fish and men on our website and external publications. We will also produce our own magazines covering the great salmon diversity, which can be purchased online but you can be one of the first recipients of our original three first magazines as a prize for your donation!   What We Need & What You Get We need funds for travel expenses to and from our locations, on-site logistics for two team members who will undertake this work, and a translator in Spain.  We also need to update some of our film equipment. At last, we need funds to create a professional and interactive Great Salmon Tour website. Please rest assured that whether or not we reach our ambitious goal, all contributions will only go to the development of the project. We send a postcard with hand written personal thank you to all of our supporters. We also have cups and t-shirts to share. Or maybe you want to be recognized as a golden sponsor or producer of our films? There is a perk for that. And let us know if you have a business you want to promote and we can add your logo to our sponsor list that comes with the material we produce. If you like to read. Then our magazines are for you. Understanding Salmon as Food. Restaurants commonly advertise just salmon on their menu despite that in the U.S. alone there are six different species of fish called salmon and that each species is unique in the flavor and texture of its flesh. Adding the other salmonid fishes such as Artic char, steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout, etc. and you have the possibility of a gourmet fest. Our “Understanding Salmon as Food” magazine introduces you to the gastronomic variation that meets you once you journey beyond farm raised Atlantic salmon, explains the biology that affects the differences between the species in the quality of their flesh, and gives you a series of recipes from around the world to explore. This is a must book for anyone claiming to be a foodie, chef, or salmon connoisseur. The Diversity of Salmonid Fishes. ​Though biodiversity has become a familiar term in mainstream media, it continues to be an abstract concept for many people. However, sallmon and trout are nor abstract. There are nearly 200 species of salmonids, and the planet is very close to losing several of them. The salmon diversity magazine discusses in engaging ways biodiversity in general and salmonids in particular, presents the reader to many of the salmon species out there and the threats they face, and tells captivating stories of loss and conservation of biodiversity. Tales from the Great Salmon Tour Expeditions. Between 2010 and 2012 I traveled several places to document salmon and what these fish means to people. I met fishermen from the small boat salmon fishery in California to learn what Chinook salmon means for them, traveled to Tanana village along the Yukon River in Alaska to experience subsistence fishery for salmon, drove across the roadless Mongolian tundra to find out how Buddhism helps conserve taimen salmon, and I visited researchers in Bosnia-Herzegovinia to find out how small fish farms and local pride may help with recovery of the endemic softmouth trout. I also drove up to the mountains in Virginia where I joined a local fly fisherman to find native brook trout. Stories from these trips and the experiences I had are collected in The Great Salmon Tour 2010 magazine. The Impact The concept of biodiversity can be abstract. Nature programs on TV and environmental organizations often give the impression that biodiversity is just about endangered animals, such as elephants or rhinos, in exotic places. Therefore, many people think of biodiversity as something remote, but not necessarily something close to where they live or as an integral part of their diet or lives. The Great Salmon Tour brings the concept of biodiversity home by demonstrating that biodiversity is not only about exotic animals in faraway places, it is also about something as familiar as the fish in your local river or on your dinner plate. Telling the story of salmon and its deep meaning to people and communities will raise awareness about the threats facing salmonid fishes and what their potential loss may mean to us. Your support will help raise the awareness that will result in conservation, protection, and recovery of these species. It will also result in support to local communities striving to preserve their local knowledge, practices, and social/cultural systems. Preserving the connection between people and fish will help leveraging efforts to conserve the ecosystems that salmon fishes depend on. As we lose salmon species and populations, we also lose our own heritage. We will provide the oral history recordings to various historical societies where they will be archived and made available to both the public and researchers. Thus, by supporting this project you will help preserve local knowledge and practices, traditions, and social/cultural systems for future generations. From 2010 to 2012 we covered several species and communities. Following our expeditions, we gave presentations at universities, schools, and non-profit organizations. We created films and published articles about cultural and social connections between salmonids and people in online magazines. In our upcoming expeditions, we will continue to build on the work that we started in 2010. We believe this effort will have a real impact on the conservation of salmonids and you can help in it.   Risks and Challenges There is a risk that planned locations may not be easily accessible, for example, some of the locations are remote and may require special logistical planning. There are a number of factors to incorporate in these decisions, including weather and available resources, but I have successfully overcome and negotiated these obstacles in previous expeditions. Please, let us know if you have photography, film, or computer equipment in good condition and not outdated that you are willing to donate to The Great Salmon Tour. We may have use for it.  We would especially appreciate donations of a wireless microphone systems or a GoPro camera. We will need to rent a car during our expeditions. If you have a free upgrade coupon or something similar that you are willing to give away, please, send it our way. Got extra frequent flier miles? Yes, you can transfer them and we would be happy to accept. Past Expeditions We still have interviews from our previous trip to Mongolia that needs to be translated and transcribed. Please, contact us if you are able and willing to translate and transcribe the video interviews.

Overview   This fall, we have an incredible opportunity to assist in long-term bird conservation research in the lowland rainforests of Borneo. Many vulnerable bird species depend on this area of Borneo for their habitat. Unfortunately, illegal logging, hunting, and wildlife trade have degraded it. The goal of this research is to work with local conservationists to better understand the requirements of sensitive species and inform best management practices in remaining protected areas.​   BIRD  RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN SARAWAK, BORNEO (FALL 2019)   Short Summary The lowland rainforests of Borneo are among the most diverse and imperiled habitats on Earth. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed nearly 30% of the 415 resident bird species in Borneo as either Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. The most significant threats are habitat loss from illegal logging, hunting pressure, and wildlife trade. Protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries now serve as vital refuges for threatened bird species. Although protected areas exist, managing them is challenging because fundamental information is lacking for nearly all Bornean birds. Very few published studies on the behavior, diet, or life-history on Bornean birds exist. Almost 30% of Bornean species have no detailed nest description, and less is known about the biology of these species outside of the breeding period. This project is a five-year collaborative research and teaching program focused on the conservation and ecology of birds in several current and proposed protected areas in Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). Our professor, and ornithologist, Alison Styring, Ph.D. and ornithologist, Dan Froehlich work with colleagues from Sarawak Forestry and Louisiana State University to assess avian diversity and conduct detailed studies on avian life history. They also train local students and conservationists in field methods relevant to the study of birds. The anticipated outcome of this research is to gain a better understanding of the role of protected areas in preserving avian biodiversity, identify management needs for rare and threatened species, and establish a framework for long-term research and monitoring at the protected areas led by Malaysian researchers, students, and citizen-scientists.   The Students  As students in conservation biology, we are thrilled to participate in important, hands-on work with Alison and Dan, and local scientists and technicians. We each have specific skills and experience to contribute and will learn field techniques, conservation management, and community building. This will prepare us for graduate studies and careers in conservation biology. We have committed to work full-time for six weeks as contributors to this project. Please consider supporting our work as students and members of a broader research community. Our travel costs are not covered by grant funding. Anything you contribute is greatly appreciated!   Phil Hyde Phil completed his BS in Ecology and Environmental Science at Evergreen State College in 2019.  He conducted undergraduate research on the effects of urbanization on bird diversity in the Southern Puget Sound Region of Washington State, United States. He is trained in Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) bird-banding protocol. Phil chose his academic direction based on a calling to protect nature and wildlife and is pursuing a career in conservation biology.   Laura Giannone  Laura is completing a BAS in Sound Engineering and Acoustic Ecology at Evergreen State (2020). She is a field recordist, field technician for Quiet Parks International, freelance sound engineer, and intern with Northwest Soundscapes. Since winter 2019 she has assisted with University of Washington researcher Lauren Kuehne's study on the impact of flights over the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Laura helps with citizen science workshops to teach local volunteers to process acoustic data and acoustic analysis. She worked as the lead editor for Quiet Planet (2013-2016), a library of wilderness recordings. Laura is developing waterproof housing and C cell battery holder modifications for ten Open Acoustic Devices' AudioMoth recorders so they are ready for heavy rainfall and extended stays on trees in Borneo this Fall.     Bow Tyler Bow is completing a BS in Ecology with an emphasis in Ornithology at Evergreen State College. He is an experienced bird-bander, field technician, and avid hiker. Bow is particularly interested in avian vocal behavior, migration, and population dynamics.  He studied conservation biology at Navopatia Field Station in Sonora, Mexico (2018). Bow trained in Monitoring Neotropical Migrants on their Winter Grounds (MoSI) and MAPS bird banding protocols. He is pursuing graduate studies in ornithology as an avenue towards conservation work. Bow is currently studying alpine bird populations in Washington State and preparing for Bornean bird ID by studying species characteristics, vocalizations, and assisting with acoustic tests. Bow’s passion for the Pacific Northwest mountain environments drives his interest in protecting wilderness.    What We Need Funds raised through this campaign will assist in paying for: Airfare ($4,500) Travel costs ($1,500) Funds will be utilized regardless of whether the total fundraising goal is met. All funds raised will go toward the above categories with priority on airfare.   The Impact As a contributor to our campaign, you will be helping us access this once-in-a-lifetime volunteering opportunity and enhancing our potential to make meaningful contributions to this research.    Other Ways You Can Help Share our campaign on social media! 

We are fighting against one of the biggest challenges which teenagers are facing in Ghana, poor sexual health. A huge amount of adolescents aged between 12 - 19 have faced issues like early and unintended pregnancies, HIV/AIDS/ sexually transmitted Infections and sexual abuse. With YASH project, we aim to bring sexuality education to local schools and organisations in Ghana with the goal to increase their human sexual rights for information and equation and therefore significantly increase their sexual health. Our crowdfunding goal is 5000€ but as it is a flexible goal we are happy if we achieve a goal of 2000€ which enables us to create the updated study materials and organise YASH education in schools and afternoon programs. The more money we get the more schools and organisations we are able to take on board. Organising comprehensive YASH program for one institution costs around 600€. YASH is an art based sex education project delivering sex education in multiple different ways for the most vulnerable adolescents in our planet. We concentrate in urban slum areas in Africa starting from Ghana’s Capital city’s Accra’s neighborhoods Nima and Jamestown. We are looking to educate school students and teachers in primary schools, vulnerable adolescents who don't go to schools in afternoon programs in cooperation with local NGOs as well as organise sex education workshops in the project areas among the professionals from healthcare, social work, politics and education. We have created the study materials for the program in cooperation with a local organisation using trusted research methods and by testing the materials in practice. Throughout the time we have modified the materials to serve  the needs of these local communities.                                                                    1. We believe the change starts with empowering individuals and vulnerable communities . YASH offers support and guidance for the most vulnerable adolescents in our planet to give them stronger life skills for their future and to enable their human sexual right to information and education. YASH involves the local communities in every step of the project.  YASH does always cultural research about every community it works in and aims to respond to their individual needs.  YASH's core value is to be community-orientated by working directly on the grassroot level with the local families and professionals. 2. High-quality education is the most important thing driving the healthy development of our humanity. Communities, where sex education does not exist, are often struggling with problems such as teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, sexual abuses, and poor sexual and reproductive health. Sex education is the number one prevention tool for these issues.  3. Sexuality education promotes sustainability. In the neighborhoods we chose to run YASH in we have rapidly growing populations while the living conditions are remaining poor. Reproductive health plays a big role in increasing these people’s life quality. When a big percentage of girls drop out of school at an early age it creates a bigger gender gap with an impact on the whole economy of the country.          With the first YASH project in 2017, we created the first versions of all the YASH education materials, educated 120 children in a primary school, organised one workshop to train 5 teachers to use our sex education materials  and organised an 8 weeks long afternoon program for 12 adolescents. The money we are raising this time goes to the creation of the study material and to the project operational costs, like transport, internet, electricity and classroom rental. Salaries will not be paid and all the workforce in the project will work voluntarily.  Organising comprehensive YASH program for one institution costs around 600€.  The amount of money we are able to raise in this crowdfunding will have an immediate impact on how many organisations we will be organising YASH project for. Our crowdfunding goal is 5000€ but as it is a flexible goal we are happy if we achieve a goal of 2000€  We will go to organise YASH project in as many institutions as the budget allows us. These institutions are primary schools and local organisations working with adolescents.    Each institution we work with will: 1. Receive our study curriculum and study materials. 2. We will organise workshops for the professionals in these institutions and l walk them through how to use the materials step by step 3. We will organise comprehensive YASH education project for their students 4. Follow up and help them to continue organising sexuality education in the future. Our main goal is to implement comprehensive sexuality education in these institutions permanently.                                                                                                                                             Bachelor of social services, a  visual artist  and the founder of the YASH project. While my career has kept me involved with art and videography, my studies brought me to Ghana for the first time in 2017, where I worked on my Thesis on sexual education in cooperation with SCEF, a local NGO focused on the same topics. As my work evolved, we decided to test what we learned in the local schools and organisations and that is how, following very successful results, YASH was born.   Bachelor of social services, human rights activist and project manager of the YASH project. I'm born in a small coastal city called Tiko in the southwest of former British Southern Cameroons. I'm passionate about making the world a better place. I m committed in the mission to achieve a more fair and equal society closing the gender and race inequalities in the world.  Bachelor of social science, the founder of the Street Children Empowerment Foundation and the main partner for the YASH project in Ghana. I founded and lead the Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF) in Ghana and I am passionate about Safeguarding, human rights, and human development-related areas.         YASH is aiming to achieve high goals in 6 months' time with a relatively low budget.  YASH is prepared to extend the project for a couple more months if needed without needing a bigger budget.  YASH is a development cooperation project, working within different cultures. When cooperating between  different cultures there is always a risk for misunderstandings, especially when dealing with difficult topics such as sexuality. YASH is designed with cultural sensitivity to respect the local culture and will try to avoid harmful misunderstandings and cultural conflicts by simply listening, reflecting, collecting feedback, and keeping calm in difficult situations.  Karolina Lahti is also more than happy to reply to any questions you may have. You can schedule a Skype call with her or reach out through an email [email protected]

Story Help us fund our video campaign to make climate action the #1 issue this election! (ARCA) is  non-partisan group of concerned artists who've come together to create dozens of messages that show Canadians how to put pressure on their leaders to make climate action real.  Over 100 Canadian artists have donated their time and resources to create a funny, inspiring, campaign of videos to sound the alarm over our climate crisis. All we need now is your help getting them out there!  This election is critical; our next government is in a position to determine the future of our planet. We need to make sure every single Canadian politician knows that in order to win, they need a real plan for climate action.  Getting the message out isn’t free! We need to buy media space, so we can preach beyond the choir and speak to people we might not normally have access to. That’s where your donations will go-- to get the message on billboards, movie screens, and social media news feeds across the country. And while Elections Canada is threatening to make climate change a partisan issue, we’re a third party advertiser, and can say what needs to be said.  Please help us sound the alarm, and get real action underway.  PS: We are collaborating with Tree Canada and all donations over $50 dollars will get a tree planted in your name!

Overview   Grow the perfect indoor garden without any hassle with Nature Box - the smart, simple and sustainable way to bring fresh, organic greens and flowers into your home. ✅Automated Watering & Lighting ✅App Control and Reminders ✅Soilless Nutritional Substrate ✅Organic and Non-GMO ✅Swappable Refill Packs *On mobile, click “READ THE STORY” to learn more about Nature Box Indoor Garden. Nature Box is the future of indoor gardening. Compostable and replaceable plant pods grow your favourite flowers and herbs (or anything else with the simple push of a button). And all of it, from the lighting to the watering, is automated to give you the best possible growth on your indoor garden while being eco-friendly.     Nature Box is designed to provide you with maximum return on an indoor garden for minimal effort. You’ll save time and energy by not having to weed, fertilize, water, or worry about lighting for your indoor garden as the Nature Box is totally automated. And it’s so small it can add a splash of green to any indoor space, from your home to your office to your art studio.             Nature Box is totally automated - from the lights, to the watering system, to the nutritional release in the soilless substrate. Each system runs automatically with minimal upkeep and effort from your end to maximize the growth of your plants in an eco-friendly way - all you have to do is refill the water tank and Nature Box will do the rest. Using Special Glow Lights to optimize the rate of your garden growth, Nature Box is automatically set to be on for 16 hours and OFF for 8 hours ON (the optimal amount to maximize the growth of your plants) so you don’t have to worry about turning them on or off each day. You can also extend the light handle as your indoor garden sprouts to promote healthy growth in your plants.   With the auto-watering system you’ll only need to add water every 2-3 weeks to the Nature Box. It will distribute the water as your garden needs it for maximum growth. And when the internal water is low your app will remind you to add more water to the system.   The Nature Box App will remind you when to add water. You’ll even be able to write about your plant’s growth and share it online and compare with others growing their own Nature Boxes.  We will be offering 24/7 customer support through Facebook, Messenger or through our email!In the future we are planning to offer support directly through our App to better help you grow your indoor garden.   Nature Box is extremely clean and very organic. Its soilless coconut fiber substrate ensures there’s no dust, pest or dirt making it ideal for indoor gardening. And each seed is pesticide and herbicide free, non-GMO and carefully selected to provide a beautiful look and taste when fully grown.   Nature Box uses a soilless substrate made from organic coconut fiber that is packed with formulated, slow releasing plant nutrition, making it more affordable so you can grow your indoor garden without the need for soil. After years of research our team made the soilless nutritional substrate to provide high value and growth for a decent price - and we will be patenting it very soon!   You can choose what to grow in your Nature Box in the future - either edible or ornamental plants.The base Nature Box arrives with a packet of Basil, Mint and Dill seeds but you can decide from various options and grow a diverse garden in your home soon.    With Nature Box’s easily interchangeable Refill Packs you can switch out plants in no time at all with no dust or messes occuring. Grow anything you’d like from Basil, Dill, or Mint. And we’ll be adding even more options for your Nature Box in the future!   Note: 3 Refill Packs contain seeds of basil, mint and dill.   Nature Box is totally automated - from the lights, to the watering system, to the nutritional release in the soilless substrate. Each system runs automatically with minimal upkeep and effort from your end to maximize the growth of your plants in an eco-friendly way - all you have to do is refill the water tank and Nature Box will do the rest. Using Special Glow Lights to optimize the rate of your garden growth, Nature Box is automatically set to be on for 16 hours and OFF for 8 hours ON (the optimal amount to maximize the growth of your plants) so you don’t have to worry about turning them on or off each day. You can also extend the light handle as your indoor garden sprouts to promote healthy growth in your plants.   With the auto-watering system you’ll only need to add water every 2-3 weeks to the Nature Box. It will distribute the water as your garden needs it for maximum growth. And when the internal water is low your app will remind you to add more water to the system.   The Nature Box App will remind you when to add water. You’ll even be able to write about your plant’s growth and share it online and compare with others growing their own Nature Boxes.  We will be offering 24/7 customer support through Facebook, Messenger or through our email!In the future we are planning to offer support directly through our App to better help you grow your indoor garden.   Nature Box is extremely clean and very organic. Its soilless coconut fiber substrate ensures there’s no dust, pest or dirt making it ideal for indoor gardening. And each seed is pesticide and herbicide free, non-GMO and carefully selected to provide a beautiful look and taste when fully grown.   Nature Box uses a soilless substrate made from organic coconut fiber that is packed with formulated, slow releasing plant nutrition, making it more affordable so you can grow your indoor garden without the need for soil. After years of research our team made the soilless nutritional substrate to provide high value and growth for a decent price - and we will be patenting it very soon!   You can choose what to grow in your Nature Box in the future - either edible or ornamental plants.The base Nature Box arrives with a packet of Basil, Mint and Dill seeds but you can decide from various options and grow a diverse garden in your home soon.    With Nature Box’s easily interchangeable Refill Packs you can switch out plants in no time at all with no dust or messes occuring. Grow anything you’d like from Basil, Dill, or Mint. And we’ll be adding even more options for your Nature Box in the future!   Note: 3 Refill Packs contain seeds of basil, mint and dill.   Compatible with most sockets - some countries may need an adapter to fit prongs.           We, long-time friends Fan and Sasa, came together over a shared inability to keep herbs alive year-round and we realized all the smart soilless gardening devices currently on the market were either too expensive, too impractical to use, or only grew ornamental flowers. After realizing there was a market need for a smart, simple and renewable automated indoor garden the two of us decided to come up with our own design. We were joined by Jabuko and Hikmet, and together we have created the Nature Box.    How many different things can I grow with Nature Box?Right now you can grow Basil, Mint and Dill. We will be offering more options in the future. If I have questions how do I contact you?You can reach us 24/7 at our email [email protected] as well as on Facebook or Messenger. How can I contact your team?You can contact us at [email protected] How many countries do you ship to?We are offering global shipping to all of our backers. Can I change my address before you ship?You can log into your Indiegogo account and change your address. If you encounter any issues contact us at [email protected] How can I cancel my order?You can log into your Indiegogo account and cancel your order or if you encounter any issues contact us at [email protected] Can I claim multiple perks?Yes, you can claim as many perks as you’d like. Do you offer refunds?We will be offering refunds while the campaign is active. After the campaign ends we will not be offering refunds.