Alternate Business Plan

Because we're trying to keep the momentum going while looking for funding, instead of just sitting around while September gets closer, I guess you could say we're flying by the seat of our pants, but definitely not flying blind. We'll be making adjustments as necessary. For instance, the design of the secondary characters might be kept more simple than they otherwise would be, and they might not necessarily be full puppets (every movable piece on it's own layer). Fortunately with Flash, it is easy to re-use some assets for various characters, while just making small tweaks to shape and color.

The more things fall into place with the hiring of the writers and animators (and exciting progress is being made), the easier it will be to raise money. I've become aware of a tax incentive that rewards investors generously for investing in film projects that mostly use American production staff.

I'm hoping to have the first episode finished by early August, and to find a distribution company or a connected representative to help me market the show to international markets. Hopefully something happens there, but I'll also be putting the first three or four (or perhaps all 10) episodes up on Youtube, Google Video, etc for free in a medium-low resolution. Fans will have the option of buying hi res versions from itunes, and my website will allow people who pre-order the Volume 1 DVD to sign in and watch streaming high quality episodes before the DVD is shipped in December. My web site will also have every episode in medium-low quality, and we'll have banner ads and perhaps video ads on the site.

I will also be negotiating non-exclusive deals with web sites like AtomFilms, BlipTV, and several other web sites that have ad sharing deals.

Then of course there is the DVDs, sold both in America and internationally. I have confidence that Jonesbury will be able to attract a following that will want to support the show. I will also be selling T-shirts on the web site, and will have fan forums where people can talk about the unfolding mystery, and this will increase traffic and ad revenue.

When the show is about to debut in September, I will be sending sample DVD's of the first two or three episodes to influential blogs and magazines, with custom press releases to maximize free promotion of the show. The participating blogs will mention the web site, and perhaps include the first episode embedded into the blog page.

I also hope to recruit a few students at a few large universities to hand out fliers promoting the show, as students are returning to campus or coming for the first time. This could pay off greatly, and college students will likely be a big part of Jonesbury's audience.