Dear contributors,
First, I would like to say, thank you. And I mean that. The support for this project from you, my family and friends has been very, very generous and it means a lot to me. So, thank you!
THE SITUATION:
Sadly, I’ve had to change the nature of my Master’s project and CANCEL my trip to Italy. And here are the reasons why:
- After meeting several times with my graduate advisory committee, it became apparent that the scope of the project (including international travel) was too large to finish this semester and would put my project defense meeting and therefore GRADUATION into the spring semester 2013.
- This would mean paying another semester of tuition (around $1,600).
- I also promised 2 of my committee members that I would be finished this Fall, since next year they start a phased retirement and won’t be as available.
So, in the end we decided that a documentary focusing on mobile phone uses and culture could be done in Utah and get me done with school on time. Also, this will be beneficial because if I do decide to do the Italian portion AFTER graduation then I have had a practice run at filming a documentary right here at home.
REVISED PLAN:
I will still be filming a documentary of a “day in the life” of cell phone use, but focusing more on issues that concern us here in the US. I will still be pulling in the intercultural angle by including interviews of international students and local residents that have migrated recently from other countries.
You all have helped me raise $3,025 of my $5,000 goal, which is amazing! Since I won’t be traveling abroad, I don’t need the full amount, which is why I hid the campaign form public view. But for this documentary in the US, I’ve come to realize that I still need funding. The gas, food, small film crew, DVD printing, and equipment necessary to complete this documentary to professional standards will still cost plenty of money whether I choose to rent or buy equipment. I don’t anticipate that I’ll need the whole $3,025.
YOUR OPTIONS:
Since I have no one to blame but myself for changing the project, I am very happy and willing to refund your entire campaign contribution and will pay out of pocket the 9% commission that Indiegogo.com deducts for their service. (This is a far smaller amount than the $1,600 tuition I’d have to pay to finish the project as planned).
If you still want to help fund my Master’s documentary project then I will keep records of my project related expenses and refund the remainder of the $3,025 after the project is completed. (The individual refunds will be proportionate to the original contribution.)
All the perks are still in place, minus those involving Italy. But DVD copies, “Pets of my Salt Lake Neighborhood” calendar, Executive producer credits, etc are still in place as promised!
So here are your options:
- Craig, please refund my contribution, but I look forward to supporting future projects!
- Craig, please keep my contribution and refund me any unused remainder. You better make this film look AWESOME!
- Craig, please refund me $____ and keep the rest to finish your project. Good luck!
CONCLUSION
I sincerely apologize for putting you all in this situation and take full responsibility. Honestly, I bit off a little more than I could chew in one semester and got a late start at that. My hope is that this documentary will be good enough to enter into film festivals or be aired on the local PBS station, KUED. I would still very much appreciate your support, but I know I pulled the rug out from under your feet and many of you may not have contributed as much if the documentary didn’t involve Italy and the campaign goal weren’t so high. Please trust that if you need/want a refund that I won’t be offended in the slightest! You have already shown that you support me and it’s me who has let YOU down and honestly… I don’t need all this money!
Please reply to this message and include one of the options listed above.
Thanks again for your love and support!
Sincerely,
W. Craig Tovey