Hello, all -- I am expecting Mariner footage to arrive very soon, and you can expect that to become available for $10 and up tiers (raw footage for the current project) soon. I have some exclusive content coming for $5 tiers very soon, I think you will be impressed. I've been monkeying around with the new 'Starlight' model from Topaz. It's very hit or miss, but when it hits -- boy does it hit hard. It makes some of my 35mm stuff look like it was shot on 70. Not a cure-all yet, but boy was I impressed.
ON FUNDING: We reached $3,784.74 with the June contributions, and I covered the remaining $~216 out of my end to put in a request via Colorlab. I also have great news on this front: I recently became a certified independent NARA researcher. Among other things, this allows me to order 5 low-res digitizations per month. I know it sounds silly to get excited over, but this means I now can order 'screeners' for items I am on the fence about. Actually getting a free preview of some of these film reels is going to save this operation THOUSANDS in the long run, because I've been spending a lot of money on guesswork. We drop these $4,000 orders, and maybe ~50% of the footage is in the 'really good' category? If the film is damaged, out of focus, or who knows -- we can maybe save our precious dollars for something better. I am constantly looking for ways to stretch our budget. For example: The footage I am receiving for this project, I will be able to trade with some industry archivists for other footage I can use for future projects. A little Mariner-ASTP swap, perhaps? I just want you all to know that I am doing everything in my power to reduce the financial footprint of these films, to maximize your generous contributions throughout these last months and years. I do not take your trust lightly, and I fight for every last minute of material I can get.
ON SCRIPT: I have the intro complete, and we are smashing our way through. Based on my current predictions, the script will be done possibly up to a week ahead of schedule (before July). Some of you said that you wanted some focus on the early, early JPL days -- you got it. We're going all the way back to GALCIT.
ON FOOTAGE: Ordered, and on its way. 9 reels, over 3 hours of raw material. Primarily Mariner spacecraft construction and JPL during flyby moments/mission highlights. Some onboard Atlas stuff. All amazing.
EDITING: No change since last update. My 3 interviewees are slow-rolling it a bit, I had hoped to have our interviews done by now. However they all have their list of questions, and I still think that we will be able to acquire the audio before the final editing process begins in July.
All signs looking very healthy for a July release, but I am going to remain conservative and caution you all to EXPECT an August release. (Let's say 8/10). If it comes sooner, then that'll be a lovely surprise.
Thanks so much for checking in, and I will be back in a couple of days with some Patron-exclusive content for the $5-and-up tiers, and the full raw footage for the $10.
-Jackson