 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
May 1, 2015 - 2:09 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Julian K
(Member)
|
I had this email from Bruce Kimmel.
------------------------------------
Hi, everyone! Yes, it's hard to believe but Kritzerland is celebrating its tenth anniversary. We began recording our first album in May of 2005 and it's been an incredible roller coaster ride ever since. Kritzerland has for the last ten years released some amazing CDs (over 150 of 'em). We've done world premiere film score releases by the likes of Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman, Elmer Bernstein, Hugo Friedhofer, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Miklos Rozsa, Dimitri Tiomkin, Alex North, David Shire, Georges Delerue, Michel Legrand, Andre Previn, Henry Mancini, Marvin Hamlisch, Pino Donaggio, Victor Young, David Raksin, John Barry, Burt Bacharach, Dave Grusin and many, many others. We've released scores to such all-time classic films as It's a Wonderful Life, Laura, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Carrie, A Place in the Sun, Heaven Can Wait, Summer and Smoke, How Green Was My Valley, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Love With the Proper Stranger, Summer and Smoke, A Man and a Woman, Bananas, Tom Jones, Casino Royale, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, to name just a handful.
Additionally, we've reissued such great cast albums as A Time for Singing, Illya, Darling, Anya, House of Flowers, Show Girl, the London cast albums of Promises, Promises, Gone With the Wind, Carnival and Camelot, and our brand new remixes of Follies (which Stephen Sondheim called "A miracle"), Promises, Promises and Sugar. In the film musical world we've done definitive releases for Centennial Summer and Stormy Weather and have many others in the pipeline.
We've done amazing projects with Paramount, Fox, MGM/UA and a handful of others, but we simply must get into other studios now and that will take a huge infusion of cash. Kritzerland has one owner and was started on a wing and a prayer. Literally every penny that comes in goes to fund the next projects. And this is, we hope, where you can help us get to the next level in terms of dealing with new studios and licensors. We've created an Indiegogo campaign and let me tell you about it.
We are looking to raise $80,000. That may seem like a lot, but that's what it's going to take for us to step up to the plate at other studios and lock up a lot of projects at once. Waving a big check is what they respond to. We already have many upcoming projects from Fox, but other studios have so many amazing scores that are just languishing that we know you would love - from both Golden and Silver Age. Those who know and love Kritzerland know that we're not about the more recent scores - we leave those pretty much to others. We have contacts now at various studios and they are willing to license to us. We also have other cast album reissues we'd like to pursue. And we'd also occasionally like to get back to doing original recordings. Of course raising even more than our target amount would be incredible and enable us to lock up even more things. The one thing we can assure you is that every penny of what is raised will go into getting projects for us - none of it is salary or goes into anyone's pocket. This is all about getting amazing music out in the world to you, our wonderful collectors.
We have devised a set of perks that we hope will make contributing fun and easy - in essence, on certain perks you're contributing now by making your CD purchases in advance and at a considerable savings and that includes free postage. For the higher perks you get your names in the thank you section of our CD booklets and website, and for those who have discretionary cash to use, you can even become a co-producer or an executive producer who is credited in our booklets. But mostly we hope you'll contribute because you've loved the projects we've done and appreciate the care we put into them. But mostly we hope you'll contribute because you've loved the projects we've done and appreciate the care we put into them. You'll be able to let us know if your interests are soundtrack only, cast albums and film musicals - or both.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kritzerland-10th-anniversary-and-keep-on-kritzing/x/9165600
Even if we don't reach our ultimate goal and beyond, whatever money comes in will go straight to the acquisition of new projects and new relationships with studios and companies.
The future holds incredible possibilities, and with your help we can continue bringing to fruition worthwhile projects like the ones listed above and also the introduction of a new line The Elite Collection. Rather than just forego certain classic soundtrack releases and film musical releases that we know will not sell a full 1000-copy run, we will begin the Elite Collection. This will mostly be limited to the film musicals that many, but not enough of us, love. It would be criminal to let these continue to gather dust, so for these releases we will do a limited edition of 500 copies at $39.98 in special packaging, extended booklets and the full-out treatment they deserve. But please note - those who help fund our campaign at levels where CDs are involved will get those special releases at our usual price of 19.98.
We are always striving to find new ways and new avenues for film music releases and theater music releases. When Kritzerland began, we were at the forefront of labels who refused to have conventional distribution - we kind of were amongst the leaders in that regard because we knew the big music chains were on their way out. It was scary at the start, and many told us we were being really stupid, but in the end, they all followed us to this brave new world. The soundtrack and cast album reissue market, whether straight reissues or even world premiere releases, has always been a niche market. The challenges are many, the profit return isn't huge but has kept us going and with your help will keep us going well into the future. We meet challenges head on at Kritzerland and I, as the owner, am known for being relentless in getting projects I really want. There are many other film music labels nowadays, but we have what I hope is a unique presence and a unique vision and from the beginning we've gotten amazing response to what we do. And now, it's time to take Kritzerland to the next level.
We understand how many of these campaigns there are and how many are asking for your dollars. Again, we've tried to make the perks make sense - for most of the perks you're not just getting a cup or a thing, you're getting actual product and at a savings. We hope that's what sets us apart a little. And we completely understand if you aren't able to help, but you know what - you still can. If you love what we do, just spread the word on Facebook and Twitter and all over social media. It's easy to share right from this very page. Together we can do this and together we can all win the real prize - the music that has shaped our lives. Thank you all so much in advance.
One final note: We're told by the Indiegogo experts (yes, there are Indiegogo experts!) that the first two days of funding are the most important, as they set the tone - people tend to fund faster if the first two days are very healthy. So, please, if you're leaning towards helping do it in the first two days. Do you know that if only 1000 people on our mailing list of close to 3,000 did the $100 perk, which is a great money saving deal, we would be well over our goal! But anything works and it's a dream that is completely possible. So, here we Kritzerland a GoGo!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kritzerland-10th-anniversary-and-keep-on-kritzing/x/9165600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I contributed $100. It's worth it, to maintain further releases.
With minor exceptions, Kritzerland is just about the only label doing Golden Age nowadays.
And the perks look like fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'll follow John's example on this. Time to put my money where my mouth is. I'm sure there'll be releases I'm less interested in, but there will, no doubt, be others that no other label would touch.
Onward and upward, Kritzerland. (And I'd be happy to contribute to any crowd-funded soundtrack project that anyone else would like to float.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi all - someone beat me to it so we can just use this thread to chat about things.
So, first things first - yes, if you contribute you get free postage.
Next: In regards to whether the six titles (or however many) are the next six releases - my concern, of course, is that it would be hard to keep track of stuff if we end up with 1000 people doing the $100 perk. However, what I can say is, if a release comes up and you don't want it, if you e-mail us well in advance we can probably figure it all out and let you forego that release.
Next: We could have been in at Universal last year, but it's very expensive there and we just couldn't do it. So, yes, we will be looking at starting that relationship along with trying to get in other places - certainly we've talked to them but have never been able to walk in with sufficient cash to make them listen.
Next: I think everyone here after ten years knows where Kritzerland's heart lies, which is in Golden Age and Silver Age through the mid-1980s. But, as you also know, if I hear a score from later than that and I love it, we do it (Soren Hyldgard's music and Wallander are two examples of that). We're also committed to not letting those amazing Fox musicals die and if you read the campaign you'll see what our plan is for those - while those will now be more expensive, donating now ensures you'll get them at our usual price.
Next: As someone has pointed out, there is no good time to announce a crowd funding campaign. Period.
Next: We knew in advance some would deride this, just as we know that some will be happy about it and understand it - horse racing. This has been in discussion for a while now and we've spent a lot of time thinking about it.
Next: Henry's question - I believe you can donate as many times as you like.
If I've missed anything let me know and I'll be happy to answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
