UPDATE: Click here for an update to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival contribution drive where I've updated the amount of money contributions so far and the goal to be reached. Thanks for your support!
I've gone back-and-forth on how to do this. In short, last year was not a good year financially and it has put me in kind of a bind when it comes to affording my yearly trips to the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals. Until recently I had decided Cannes wasn't going to be possible, and I would simply focus on Toronto. Missing both was out of the question.
Attending both Cannes and Toronto the past three years has given me a massive head start on the year in film and the awards race, and I want to be able to continue to give you the absolute best coverage I possibly can, but this year I'm going to need your help.
Just below is a contribution/donation button, which will take you to PayPal where you can contribute however much you feel comfortable contributing to help me get to and cover this year's Cannes Film Festival. Whether it's only $5 or $100, every little bit counts.
I would like to thank you in advance for even considering making a contribution for me to cover this year's Cannes Film Festival. Your contribution will go straight toward a plane ticket and lodging.
The rest of my time will be spent in the dark and in front of my laptop bringing you as much possible coverage from the fest I can.
NOTE: Contributions/Donations are not tax deductible and I can only accept payments through the PayPal button at this point.
As for what you will get for your contribution, I can promise all the same extensive coverage and reviews I have provided in the past, though my motivation levels would be through the roof considering your added investment.
I was looking over all of my previous coverage and saw in my first year at the festival I posted 52 total posts, 18 of which were reviews. At 2011's festival I reviewed 18 movies and posted 67 individual posts and last year I reviewed 16 movies out of 61 total posts. All over the course of approximately seven to eight days.
Steven Spielberg is serving as Jury President at this year's festival and we should be hearing which film will be opening the fest within the next few days. Last year it was Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom and the year before that it was Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.
As far as this year is concerned I haven't even heard rumors as to what film may open the fest, which means we may be in for a surprise right out of the gates. It could be Steven Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra, or with with Spielberg as Jury President is there any chance they go for Star Trek Into Darkness? I doubt it, but you never know.
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Donation sent! Good luck with this project! I always loved reading the Cannes coverage and reviews.
Thanks Stephen, you don't know how much I appreciate it and your contribution won't be forgotten down the line!
I wasn't able to donate a whole lot, but I donated what I could. I've been following this site since I was in middle school (which is crazy to think), and it is still one of my all-time favorite sites and just about the only movie news site I go to, and the only site I visit to read movie reviews (even if my opinion often times differs from Brad's...). I dare say it even inspired me to start my website! I know I wasn't able to give much, but I wanted to make sure I gave something to help out a site that's been such a big part of my life and I really look forward to all of the coverage you continue to bring to all of us. It's so appreciated and valued, so thank you!
Thanks Adam, every little bit helps and is very much appreciated!
Is there a deadline for this? I'd love to donate, but it may take me some time to set up what's necessary.
Kessler, I will take the button down just before I leave... So May 10 will probably be the last day to donate. Thanks for your consideration!
Donation sent...it wasn't much but let me know that i'm rooting for you and i hope that you can achieve this and bring us all of the usual juicy details about the festivals...i'm from portugal and i've been following ropeofsilicon on a daily dose in the past few years...sincerely i think this is the only cinema website that i've been doing that, because it is so much complete and trustful...congratulations on both of you for the amazing work you bring us daily...good luck and thank you =)
Thanks Andre! It's a big help.
Donation sent. Really hope you can make Cannes again!
Thanks maja, all the support people are showing is really going to help!
done! hope you get there brad! between the website, and the podcasts you given everyone far more value in entertainment, than what could be donated! lots of exclamation marks in this comment!
Thanks Jamie, saw your donation and it is very much appreciated. All this support is not only going to help me get to Cannes, but my motivation is through the roof!
Done! Not a lot, but I hope it helps getting you to Cannes.
Every donation helps Flo. Thank you so much!
Brad, I'm very sorry, I would really love to help because this is my favourite website and I really want you to be able to make it to Cannes and TIFF, but I just don't have the money right now.
No problem, RyGuy, I totally understand.
Hey Brad, I know this is a bit off topic, but when can we be expecting your review of Oz: The Great And Powerful?
By the way, over in the comments for your box office wrap up from yesterday, there was a whole debate about whether Identity Thief was a good movie or not that I think would be interesting for you and Laremy to disuss on the podcast..just an idea
dicuss*
discuss*
Boom. Sent. I almost felt like I needed to, seeing as how it was Brad's review of Killing Them Softly that first brought me to RoS. I need RoS to represent in Cannes! The coverage is invaluable. Keep it real my friend.
Thanks AS. Saw your donation in the system and hopefully we'll find more gems this year!
Done. It's a reflection on the quality of the site and writing and not reporting unrelated celebrity gossip or every rumors that other sites report as news to attracts clicks. Keep up the good work and looking forward to reading about Cannes in the only movie site I check. My other source of movie news and info is Empire so you are in great company.
Thanks flerk, and thanks for the kind words!
By the way. Could you confirm it went through? I was sent the the "No problem" site in stead of the confirmation. If not, I'll try again.
Hmmmm, that shouldn't have happened. Yeah, it went through.
Ugh, I had the links backwards. Thanks for letting me know.
Cool. Have a great trip!
I sent a donation, but not sure if it went through.
It went through, just saw it pop up in my email. Thanks so much M!
You're very welcome, have fun for me :-)
I read in an earlier comment you are taking this down on May 10th. I am short on money right now but you can definitely expect my donation in April :) I absolutely love your website and would like to hear more about your experiences in Cannes.
I'm in the same boat. . .I barely have enough money to get home once the school year ends, but once the paychecks start rolling in I'd love to donate a little.
No problem Fox, I understand entirely, thanks for the consideration!
Thanks Nav and there is no rush and I appreciate the consideration.
I was thinking a little about this donation and I just wanted to say an idea I just got.
I am fan of quality content and internet is making it easier for people to write to a public and at the same time causing trouble for the writers financially. More and more publications are going under because there is so many free websites out reporting news for free. While this is great as it gives access to many people who wouldn't have access otherwise to news, quality content is also suffering as they cannot sustain. Newsweek is just online now and that reflects this new economy. Ad-based sites can work, but most of them publish sensationalistic news, rumors and gossip to attract clicks.
RoS is a good example. Quality content, non-sensationalistic news run by you Brad, who obviously love film. Now, turning RoP into a subscription based website would be bad economy until a set number of subscribers are achieved, but a donation run like this for an expensive trip (lodgings in Cannes under the festival cannot be cheap) on a yearly base and/or on other occasions should be a great way for readers like me to happily pay for quality content. I'm pretty sure there are more readers who would like to support an independent news outlet run by passionate people.
Yeah, that's why the subscription model I'm putting together is going to provided added benefits, but allow those that may not want to subscribe right away still a chance to take advantage of the site in the same way they have. It's all about providing something people see a benefit in and that's what I'm trying to do as much as possible. I have a couple new things on the way that I am putting together, but it's a slow process when there is just one of me.
That's also why the donations that have come in already are so amazing. The support people are showing already is just awesome and incredibly motivating.
I must have missed you are putting together a subscriptions model. Sounds great. Looking forward to see what happens.
I just want to piggy back on what flerk posted. I am so grateful for all of your efforts brad! I visit RoS at least once a day! I find the community aspect of your site to be both informative and, well, for lack of a better word, entertaining!
I am more than happy to contribute to your endeavors that bring us reviews and news and thoughts on film and the industry. My donation is purely to help you promote these aspects of the site and, in essence, the art of film making.
It has been a dream of mine to attend this film festival for years. I will live vicariously through you as you travel to Cannes! And of course look forward to your reviews and news throughout the event.
Cheers mate!
First time commenter. I first heard about your podcast from the FilmDrunk podcast and now to both faithfully every week. I donated because I really really enjoy the podcast and am greatly interested in reading Laremy's book.
I hope I crushed this comment.
You definitely crushed this comment! Thanks so much for your donation and support.
Done, as the first movie website I started following I felt I had to put up something for all the hard work you put in.
Not that I don't trust you or anything B-man, but say you end up short despite the donations to make the Cannes trip, are you going to use the money for the website or perhaps another film festival trip? Just curious :)
Thanks Adu and as for the money, it's all going toward the Cannes trip, which I am convinced now I will be taking.
That's fantastic...congratulations.
That's great Brad, can't wait to hear about all the great films you will see there.
A bit low in the cash department at the moment, but once I get paid sometime in the next week, I'll gladly contribute. Hope this all works out, Brad - you always keep the site worth a hell of a lot more than a single donation could ever account for.
Thanks Mason and thanks for your consideration. All the support so far is amazing!
Donation sent. Looking forward to the coverage!
Thanks Garrett!
I can't pay via web, but I've got an ace up my sleeve in the not too distant future
I have been following Rope of Silicon since late 2008 I'll definitely help. Just let me pay my bills and then I definitely contribution when I get paid because I love reading your reviews at Cannes and you definitely deserve it. The deadline is on the May 10th you said I will contribution before then for sure.
Thanks for the consideration Fan. It's appreciated.
Dang auto correct I meant "contribute" not "contribution".
It was not a lot, but hope my donation helps. Thanks for all your great coverage, keep up the good work. Have a great trip.
Of course it will help, every little bit counts and is appreciated. Thanks so much Art!
Hey Brad, I would love to donate some money but I don't have a credit card yet. Any other way I can send you the money?
I'd love to donate but I like Pete I can't use a credit card yet. Any chances of donating some other way?
Unfortunately, right now this is the only way I have going. Thanks to both you and Pete though for the consideration!
If that's the case, then I can only wish you good luck. I enjoy your site and I hope it stays for a very long time. I recommend your reviews to my peers as well. Hope you get what you need from the readers!
here is hoping that one day I get to go to Cannes like you will this year ( I am sure you will make it) ! I just hope the donation is directed to you correctly - not sure how these things work from over in India! Good Luck!
Hey Viral, yup, it goes straight into a PayPal account and I will be using it directly toward the Cannes trip and like you said, looks like that trip will be made this year. Thanks so much for contributing every donation goes a long way.
I'll hopefully be able to contribute very soon, for I get payed in a few days. I'm really looking forward to your Cannes coverage, Brad!
Thanks for the consideration Xarnis!
Hi Brad, ofcourse i am going to donate something for this Cannes trip!
Hope you'll have a great time and we'll get some podcasts from there.
Donation sent, it wasn't much but hope it will at least by you 5 espressos for a day. i'm just a student so can't help out a lot. Have fun in Cannes
Every contribution is appreciated Cordia, thanks so much for the donation!
Will hopefully be able to send you a donation some time in April, would love to help you out as Ropeofsilicon is definitely my favourite movie site, but I am only a student. I will try though! Also, when some people ask for donations on sites, they put up a meter toe thing with their final goal at the end and the percentage they're currently at. This probably helps encourage people to donate too. Just an idea! Good luck Brad!
Appreciate the consideration SohoDriver and the idea. I'll definitely do an update and was actually working on a meter of sorts just like you described.
Best of luck Brad, will be following your Cannes coverage from start to finish. And I just get my credit card by next month and help you out.
I gotta say, as a loyal follower of this website, it's awesome to see all the support out there!
I see you took my advice, John? You should've given me a shout out for giving you the idea :P Nah, just kidding. But I told you people would donate if you gave us the chance!! :) Let's hope this works!
Ha, it was you Newbourne!
Would love to hear that you wanted donations to reward one of your readers at random to go to cannes a guesthost as a writer/viewer.. that would be a greater thing
Geez, I should have thought of that myself! Might I offer my services as a translator, luggage carrier and general food hopper and espresso deliverer?!!
Not much. But being an avid reader of the site from long time a small amount from my side. All the best.
Thanks so much neofiles, every little bit counts and is definitely appreciated!
A donation and some greetings from portugal. Been following this site for a long time now and it is always a pleasure to support cinema journalism of quality!
Thanks Telmo, I appreciate your contribution!
I can't remember the first time I visited Rope of Silicon (it might have been as early as 2008, since I remember reading some sort of article about Cloverfield), but I don't believe that I started coming here and commenting frequently until I read your Cannes review of Drive. (Maybe it was a little earlier than that, but somewhere around there.) RoS has since become one of the few respected movie sites that I visit daily, and frequently at that. (What else am I going to do while I am bored to death in school? XD) Brad, I really enjoy reading your reviews, and your coverage of Cannes over the past few years has been one of the best features of the site. My favorite aspect though still is the interaction that you allow for between the different users. It's one of the reasons that I try to comment so frequently, as I feel as though I have found a site where I can engage in serious discussions about movies.
While my donation wasn't much (considering I am still in high school and money is tight), I do hope that it helps and contributes to RoS remaining the great site that it is (and that the transaction went through properly).
Every little bit helps Criterion and you've become a staple in the comments. Thanks for continuing to visit and I appreciate your contribution!
Done! I didn't donate much but as soon as I read this article I didn't think twice and I knew that I needed to help you. I don't comment as much as I would like to, but I've been an avid follower of this site for 5 plus years now. I absolutely appreciate the hard work you put into your articles and reviews; overall I simply admire the quality you always offer when you write. I check this site on a daily basis, and I must say your reviews are spot on. I hope you've received my donation.
I got it Noe! Thanks so much for contributing!
I always go to this site, its been years. Finally got a account tho. Donated what I could :)
Thanks Raul!
I'm so glad you're getting so much support. I bet you're beating yourself up for not thinking about this idea yourself. I really hope you get to the target goal! Can't wait to see those Cannes reviews!!
Donated what I can, Brad. But you and Laremy made my summer in Austin much more fun so I owe you for that. Haven't commented on the podcast but don't worry I still listen and check the website as often as I can. Good luck. :)
Thanks Harry, appreciate the help and yeah, you have been a little quiet lately! :)
Brad, you should make one of those fundraiser thermometers that shows the donation amounts in increments with the top as your goal amount!! Im only kidding, mostly!!
I'm actually putting something together for Monday. After the support this week I have been pricing out the trip and have a goal in mind and even plan on a thermometer type graphic... :)
Well done. I'm so happy to see all the support. Don't for get to include some juicy details about the great wine and food and wine along with your reviews :)
Brad,
i wish you well and you've a great site but you're slowly killing it ,can't get past pop up adverts these days ,now yoiu want donations to fund trips and are talking along the lines of subscription basis .
Don't go and spoil it all for the sake of making money,you have your adverts,is that not enough ,a good brand will survive because of its customers not in spite of them.
He's not asking for charity here, he's asking us to fund the content on this site. If you didn't like his past Cannes coverage and don't have any interest in him covering it again, then by all means, don't donate. But if you're like most of RoS readers and really enjoy those Cannes reviews, then you should help make them a reality.
You're criticism is really ridiculous. In fact, if you enjoy the Cannes reviews, and don't want to chip in, you're allowed to do that too. He's not forcing anyone's hand here, he's just asking for some help to be able to entertain us all with more content.
You are entitled to your opinion after all I see this was your idea so I'd expect you to step in and defend it .
As soon as I see the words 'subscription model ' the writing is on the wall so to speak and I think it's a shame . It's obvious to all of us who visit that the advertising has ramped up a fair bit around here lately so would have thought that would be enough to stave off the need to charge for some subscription model .Obviusly not.
Gary, I'm sorry but you are a little uninformed in this case. The site has endured financial issues over the last year-and-a-half. Unfortunately, if I have the same kind of year I did last year, or worse, in 2014 there may not be a RopeofSilicon to visit.
I'm equally sorry you don't trust me when I say I need the financial help in this case. If you read the site as often as you seem to, and looking through the comments it appears you've been visiting for the last five years at least, your trust is something I would hope I have gained. I'm sorry that's not the case.
I will try harder in the future to earn your trust and perhaps you will soon see value in what I do. If not, I understand. Thanks for visiting.
I have noticed more pop up ads. And yes, they can be bothersome. But its funny how perspective can change ones opinion about the "why" of advertising. The amount of revenue such ads actually provide seems ambiguous to me. Maybe frustrated users know more than I do.
Every time I receive your daily newsletter, I think to myself "Brad must do nothing but write articles and watch movies. A ton of movies"!! I think, "how does this guy earn a living? He must never sleep. He must have no social life"!!
I have no idea whether these thoughts hold any truth. But I sure am glad you put forth such a stellar effort to produce this site. I find it to hold an incredible amount of diverse topics. Many of which I thoroughly enjoy.
Well done you! Keep on keepin' on, Brad!!
When you say "pop up ads" are you referring to actual new windows opening up or the flash ads on the bottom of the page? To my knowledge there are no actual new window, pop up ads that open and there shouldn't be.
As for the rest, I stay busy, and over the last three years have started finding a balance between work and my personal life. I appreciate your comments though lalecture and I've enjoyed your contributions in the comments. Thank you for visiting and joining in the conversation. :)
Yes, I was referring to the "flash ads". Which I just figure are very small price to pay for the pleasure of the content and community the site provides.
And the ads worked on me! I ended up watching a few trailers as a result! Maybe I'm just a sucker!
Im glad to hear that you are recreating Brad!!
Brad
Thank you ,this isnt a question of trust ,yes i may be uninformed but now i know a little more . You've a great website ,theres probably a ton of people who visit without ever making any comment and i dont see anything wrong with that.
I've been zipping around here for many years,have recommended it to countless numbers of people,who have added it to their list of sites. . There is a lot of competition out there in movieworld without subscription models , i just fear it isnt the way to go in this sector.its way too transient unless one contributes on a regular basis of course.
Its a very fine balancing act and i wish you continued luck.
The competition without subscription models are all doing the same thing... Subscriptions will not be for content and interaction you can get anywhere, it will be for content you can't get elsewhere. My assumption is you come to this site not because I report the same news as others, but for other reasons, whatever they may be. I am also working on additional features not currently available that will be available to subscribers only. For the most part, 98% of what is free now will be free once subscriptions are made available.
I only ask you trust me and if you like what I do, perhaps contribute to the cause when the time comes so I can make it even better. If you decide not to subscribe, for the most part, the site you have visited for the last five years won't be any different than it is today. I understand everyone believes everything on the Internet should be free and is disposable, my goal is to change that way of thinking in the future, at least as far as this site is concerned.
Thanks for taking the time to respond though, I appreciate your input and am always open to hearing opposing viewpoints when it comes to this. Like you said, it's a fine balancing act and I'm hoping to do something a little different down the line and my goal is to make sure the readers of this site feel they are heard and respected... especially if I'm going to be asking for your money. Stick around, I hope you like what I have in store.
I'm a poor college kid just eating ramen noodles but I'll try to donate soon... don't pay attention to the haters Brad, you run one of the best movie sites out there, you write really great reviews, you live blog all the different awards ceremonies, daily news, and all for FREE, and people are really going to complain about a few ads. They're idiots. Hope you'll be able to get to Cannes!
I'd prefer to send you a check. Could you provide me with an address.
Donation sent. I can't wait for Cannes. Keep up the good work.