FILM PIONEER GEORGES MÉLIÈS'S LONG-LOST AUTOBIOGRAPHY

HOORAY! (please read!)
almost 8 years ago – Sat, Apr 28, 2018 at 04:16:34 PM

Dear Backers, HOORAY! We did it! Thank you so much! I'm thrilled that you have all allowed me to make this book happen and even more thrilled to now go and actually start pulling it together. Thanks also for the kind messages of support.

I've been slightly flooded with messages this afternoon, many asking the same questions - so I thought I'd send you all the answers...

1. "I want to put somebody else's name in the book rather than my own" That's fine. A survey will be sent out to you in due course asking you to confirm what name you want in there. That will be the time to do that.

2. "My card got declined but I still want to be a backer!" I don't have any control over the money collection process but just click 'Help' on Kickstarter and they can sort you out.

3. "I'd like to buy multiple copies" I'm using the Backerkit service for completion on this project. As part of their service, they allow me to offer you "add-ons", which are bonus products. There'll be some fun stuff there but I'll also be offering you the chance to add extra copies of the book and box set on to your order at a discounted price.

4. "We didn't reach the stretch goals, does this mean we won't be getting the lenticular print and slipcase?" Sadly, it does.

I think that's about all for now. I'll keep you updated as we go along the process of assembling the book.

Thanks once again,

Have a great weekend!

J

THE END.
almost 8 years ago – Fri, Apr 27, 2018 at 01:58:40 AM

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A Terrible Night/A Wonderful Sale
almost 8 years ago – Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 07:11:22 PM

Hello Backers,

It looks like today is going to be the day we officially hit 300% success - I'm still so amazed by this and am continuing to enjoy the messages you're sending and the conversations we're having. One backer, having seen the card game film I posted previously, when Méliès 'became' Méliès - as in, when the elements we most associate with him started appearing in his films.

I'd say it was in this film from 1896 - A Terrible Night in which Georges plays a man who just can't get a good night's sleep thanks to a rather large bedbug.

 There is actually some contention that this might not be the original film and instead be a later remake by Méliès himself - even if that is so - the film featured simple, yet fantastical, effects, a narrative and some crazy comedy.

In other news, I'm having a sale. I know this project has, along with many of you who have supported my past projects, brought in a wave of first-time backers who are unfamiliar with my previous work. So, for 24 hours, I'm running a 50% OFF EVERYTHING SALE at my online store - there you can pick up my previous books, the remaining Kickstarter-only special editions of those books (images below), DVDs of my documentaries and other bits and pieces. Use the code 50OFF at the checkout, everything will be dispatched immediately and I'll be sticking a little surprise freebie in every package. CLICK HERE:

https://www.jonspira.co.uk/store

That's all for now, have a great weekend and please do continue to spread the word.

All the very best,

Jon

The Magician
almost 8 years ago – Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 12:13:39 AM

Hello Backers,

I'm absolutely stunned and gratified by how well this campaign is going. It's been wonderful learning how much love is out there for Georges and your enthusiasm has really been fantastic.

Obviously, we've smashed the target so the book will be published no matter what but I'm still working hard to get the word out there. The more money we can raise, the better the book can be - I'm now able to hire a fantastic illustrator, which I'm really excited about, and to put more resources into the design and scope of the additional content which will accompany the memoir.

People have been asking about stretch goals, so here we go...

1. IF WE HIT £50,000 TOTAL - ALL BACKERS GET A FREE LENTICULAR MÉLIÈS PRINT.

2. IF WE HIT £80,000 TOTAL - ALL BOOKS WILL COME SLIPCASED

For those of you unaware of lenticular printing - that means that the print will either be a motion one (which 'plays' an animated sequence as you tilt it side-to-side) or it will be a 3D design with great depth as you move it around. I haven't decided which it will be yet, but it will be super-cool no matter what.

The slipcase is a biggie and it's something I've always wanted for the book - it will be a quality hardboard and cloth-wrapped cover to match the book itself.

The only way we can achieve this is with YOUR help. Word-of-mouth is the greatest resource for a Kickstarter campaign. Every post you make on social media makes a huge difference. Plus, if you use the hashtag #meliesmemoir you'll also get a Méliès moon sticker in with your package. There are almost 500 backers, if everyone brings just one person to the campaign, we're basically there and everyone gets free stuff!

I also wanted to clear up some confusion that I've been made aware of - when I announced that Graham Humphreys was going to be producing a print for the wooden box set, some people asked "What about Nick Rhodes, who you listed in the reward section" - well. you get both! I realise that I haven't actually told you about Nick Rhodes, so now is that time...

I've been wanting to work with Nick for a while now since he created one of my favourite ever film-inspired screenprints - this one for the movie KES (if you haven't seen it, just put it right to the top of your list):

I also love this print he made for John Grant's Royal Albert Hall show a couple of years ago:

You can see more of his work at switchopen.com. He tells me he's really into Victoriana and can't wait to get to grips with Méliès as a subject. So, it'll be very exciting to see what he comes up with.

If we hit the £80,000 stretch goal, I'll commission a third artist so the box set will have three different prints in there.

I want to share another Star Film with you before I go.

This one is The Vanishing Lady.

Méliès made many different types of film but one of the most recurring styles is that of his 'magician' films. Georges was an illusionist before film took over his life. He operated and performed in the Theatre Robert-Houdin in Paris. (Fun fact: Houdini took his stage name from the great illusionist Robert Houdin who the theatre was named after.) Georges was always a showman at heart and he made many films to screen at the Theatre of illusions which he could perform thanks to the magic of celluloid. Obviously, this looks pretty ropey nowadays in terms of magic but it remains a wonderful document of a moment where cinema was still a sideshow attraction, but the man on the screen with a little beard is not long away from really discovering its storytelling potential.

 That's all for now. I did want to ask a quick favour - if anyone has contact details for Guillermo Del Toro or could even just let him know about this campaign, I'd be very grateful indeed.

Thanks all, please remember to keep spreading the word.

Halfway point!

All the best,

Jon

Everything old is new again.
almost 8 years ago – Sat, Apr 07, 2018 at 12:54:43 AM

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