Methods of Revolution
| Directed by | Alex Hall |
|---|---|
| Written by | Alex Hall |
| Release date | TBA |
| Run time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Other media | Eric's Journal The Digital Fireside Awakening |
Watch
TBA
"An independent film about the struggle to ignite the spark of inspiration and fighting to chase your dreams."—Methods of Revolution Kickstarter
Methods of Revolution is a film currently being developed by Alex Hall. It was first announced on April 26, 2012 and officially funded by Kickstarter on May 27. Its release date was originally set for late 2012, but is currently unknown.
Contents
Synopsis
"Methods of Revolution is an independent fiction film that follows four graduating students in their early twenties as they all reach a similar realization about their lives - they feel like they aren't living up to their potential. They feel as though life is slowly pushing them towards a path that they never expected they'd end up on and the four begin a powerful, introspective journey to find a greater purpose in life."—Methods of Revolution Kickstarter
The premise of the film was kept intentionally vague throughout production so as not to staunch the potential impact on its viewers. Virtually nothing is known of its plot outside of the above quote. In 2020, several elements of the film's material were used in Awakening, leading to speculation that the plots are related and that the film will be canon to Ben Drowned.
Development
Through a series of tweets on April 24[2] and 25[3], Alex Hall teased an announcement to be made on April 26, 2012. On April 26, he officially announced Methods of Revolution and its Kickstarter in a video uploaded to the Jadusable channel[4]. The Kickstarter campaign aimed to raise $9,840 in order to cover production costs. At the time of the campaign's end, a total of $10,107 had been pledged to the project. Casting officially began on July 31. From this point forward, little to no production details exist.
A Facebook update[5] on December 28, 2016 revealed a new release schedule for the film:
- Methods of Revolution: Prologue - April 23, 2017
- Methods of Revolution - Summer 2017
- Methods of Revolution: Analogue - December 28, 2017
The film ultimately did not meet these deadlines.
Kickstarter
The Kickstarter campaign lasted from April 26 to May 27, with a final count of 189 backers. The campaign's main text reads:
What is Methods of Revolution about?
Methods of Revolution is an independent fiction film that follows four graduating students in their early twenties as they all reach a similar realization about their lives - they feel like they aren't living up to their potential. They feel as though life is slowly pushing them towards a path that they never expected they'd end up on and the four begin a powerful, introspective journey to find a greater purpose in life.
At its core, Methods of Revolution is about the exchange of ideas, the encouragement of growth and success, and ultimately coming to terms with the reality of our own fleeting mortality. The film explores the boon of technology, the power of media, and the obsession of pop culture through the eyes of those who have grown up alongside it. Finally, it's about the effort to ignite the spark of inspiration in a generation that has sought refuge in apathy. To put it bluntly, Methods of Revolution is about going out of your comfort zone and grabbing life by its proverbial balls (although it's fair to expect a more, uh, tactful tagline on the back of the DVD).
This isn't some kind of touchy-feely, preachy after-school special ensemble; operating around the cliche of the cheesy "believe in yourself and follow your dreams" message was the absolute focal point of writing this narrative and I believe it has succeeded on all fronts. Methods of Revolution is very much an examination of the state of Generation Y by way of multiple interpretations from each of the protagonists and their own personal journeys.
While it is narrative fiction, Methods of Revolution is very much grounded in reality, and as such the movie is unapologetic when it comes to its presentation. The themes and issues that Methods of Revolution deals with are ones that resonate all too well with emerging young adults in the 21st century, and it only makes sense that those issues are addressed with all the delicacy and tact that would be expected of the demographic.
What is the goal for Methods of Revolution?
Methods of Revolution is a project that I don't want to be limited to just an hour and thirty-odd minutes of entertainment. I want it to be able to genuinely make a difference and impact someone's life for the better. I want it to be able to inspire people who (like myself) have big dreams and big ambitions and motivate them to go out there and pursue them while they still can. Life is too short to be waiting around or putting off your lifelong ambitions another second, and I want this message to impact the viewer long after the credits roll. I want this movie to help facilitate the growth of independent artists, musicians, creators, and inventors across the world. I want this film to be able to assure them beyond a doubt that that their dreams are possible.
How can you help?
As much as this movie is a labor of love from myself; given the very nature of what Methods of Revolution stands for I want to involve the community as much as possible in its production. Because of this philosophy, many of the rewards you earn by giving a financial contribution reflect exactly that. By donating an amount, you will be supporting independent film making and - at the risk of sounding cliche - you will be allowing a young man to not only achieve his own lifelong dream, but help create something that will inspire others to go out and do the same.
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Where can I buy Methods of Revolution and how much will it cost?
When Methods of Revolution is completed and released to the public, it will be released completely free. This was a realization I inevitably came to about this film as early as writing the first draft of the screenplay. I am so dedicated to what this movie represents - not just to myself, but to anyone that has ever had an ambition or passion for something greater - that I believe charging money for this would not only be hypocritical, I feel that it would destroy the significance of what this movie is all about. More information will become available on distribution methods as we get closer to its release, but right now making sure this Kickstarter is a success is my only priority.
Reaching the Kickstarter goal of $9,840
Meeting our goal of $9,840 means that we will be able to produce Methods of Revolution at the projected minimal costs. This is the bare bones goal for getting this project off the ground. There are certain scenes in the film that would greatly benefit from having a greater budget. These scenes were originally written with a bigger budget in mind (blame the optimist in me), and I have had to tone them down in order to work with the realistic financial goal we've set initially. Quite simply, the more money we can earn, the better we can make this movie.
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How Methods of Revolution aims to help other aspiring artists
One of the main goals of Methods of Revolution is to help similar independent creators and artists out there. Exposure is needed to flourish and in the months leading up to the release of the film, an in-universe message board on the official website (when it launches) will accomplish just that.
PayPal Users
Due to the way Kickstarter is set up, unless you have a PayPal debit card you will be unable to donate directly using PayPal. However, there's an easy way around this. We have a PayPal account set up that you can donate to which will go directly towards the Kickstarter fund. Make sure to include your name as you want it to appear in the credits and a mailing address (if your donation is $25 or more) so you are able to receive any rewards you earn. If you have any questions don't hesitate to send me a message and I will be more than happy to help walk you through it. Thank you so much for your continued support!
Methods of Revolution Kickstarter PayPal Fund:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=749GUNCXVDBGW
Final words from Alex
For as wordy as all of this information has been, it's ironic that at the end of this wall of text there are no words that can even come close to being able to describe how thankful and appreciative I am for all of your generous support. Thank you so, so much for everything. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to finally start making this dream a reality after having worked on this from the ground-up for so long. I have never been more proud of my work than I am about this film and I hope you guys share my enthusiasm from the brief glimpse you've seen so far. Through your generosity, together we can make this film a reality. I dream that this film will be able to give just as much back to the community as they gave helping to create it.
Help Support Methods of Revolution:
The campaign's FAQ:
Why did you decide to make Methods of Revolution free?
I have never been more passionate about a work that I've done before than I am about Methods of Revolution. I believe that it has the potential to make a powerful impact on its audience in a way that is completely unprecedented in mainstream film today. To the majority of those who watch it, Methods of Revolution will achieve what it sets out to do - be an incredible, one-of-a-kind, thought-provoking experience that stays with you long after the credits roll. However for the right person, I sincerely believe that this film could very well be that missing piece of the puzzle - that it could be the epiphany that sets off that spark of ignition they've been looking for - and you can't quantify how valuable that is to someone. I believe in the importance of this film and its message so much that I want anyone who wants to see this movie to be able to see this movie. To me, there was simply no other option.
Can I donate using PayPal?
Due to the way Kickstarter is set up, unless you have a PayPal debit card you will be unable to donate directly using PayPal. However, there's an easy way around this. We have a PayPal account set up that you can donate to which will go directly towards the Kickstarter fund. Make sure to include your name as you want it to appear in the credits and a mailing address (if your donation is $25 or more) so you are able to receive any rewards you earn. If you have any questions don't hesitate to send me a message and I will be more than happy to help walk you through it. Thank you so much for your continued support!
Methods of Revolution Kickstarter PayPal Fund:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=749GUNCXVDBGW
What if I can't afford to contribute financially? How can I help?
If you are unable to contribute financially to the project - don't worry - there are still plenty of other ways you can help out that are crucial to this project's success as well. It may sound trivial to a lot of you - and I used to roll my eyes at this too - but a "like" on the Facebook page or a follower on Twitter will end up going a long way towards helping promote this project. Seriously. It takes three seconds to do and that simple button press means more than you might think. When it comes down to it, however, the most important way you can contribute to this project is through good old fashioned word of mouth - just passing it along to friends and family or sharing the fact that this Kickstarter exists on other social networking sites is without question the best thing you can do to support this.
Why did you choose to make Methods of Revolution?
I've been passionate about filmmaking for the majority of my life and as a result I've entered numerous film competitions as a teenager (most notably the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsZieT4yRM and worked on dozens of film projects growing up. A fortunate byproduct of all of this is I have built up a network of reliable crew members, talented actors, valuable firsthand experience in the industry, and the means to having top of the line equipment at my disposal. I've spent my adolescence gathering all of these resources and now it's come time to utilize them to help make Methods of Revolution a reality.
Why have you been so quiet about the actual plot of Methods of Revolution?
This is a tricky one, and rest assured that as the release date of Methods of Revolution draws closer, there will be more revealed about the plot. The reason why I've kept the plot itself under wraps is because in today's society, the stuff that Methods deals with is sensitive. It has to operate around a lot of disappointing cliches (I say disappointing because it's sad that they're so overused to the point they become a cliche).
Showing the wrong scene or elaborating on the wrong part of the story when it's isolated by itself runs the risk of illiciting a knee-jerk reaction and making some people jump to conclusions and have all kinds of prejudices and preconceptions about the film going into watching the full thing, severely diminishing the potential message and impact it could have on them.
For as empowering and motivational of a message as "follow your dreams" is, it has been done so ineffectively and mediocrely in just about every medium that it's become a total cliche. And that's incredibly infuriating. It was a hard decision to come to - because I want you guys to see exactly why I am so excited about this project - but ultimately I feel like this is necessary to preserve the integrity of the film at this time.
What's the status on the production?
Methods of Revolution is currently in pre-production. The script is completed and production is slated to start this summer in the Midwest, with the finished product itself having a release date set for late 2012. To keep tabs on the production, the Twitter account will provide constant on-the-set updates (and a few bonus extras) once production starts. If you're a fan of seeing the behind-the-scenes on how movies are made, I highly encourage you to check out that account.
Can you give an example of how the message board will work for the website?
For the sake of example, let's say that an independent band wants to get their name out there, they'll email a designated mailbox on the website. They'll describe their band, give out their website that they want people to visit, and send a picture that they want to be used along with any suggestions they have for what they want their advertisement flier to be like. Every Wednesday the cork-board is updated with new fliers and postings, and if theirs is selected to be featured, on the board there will be a flier that might say "[Band name] preforming live tonight at Humphrey's Theatre!" with their submitted picture on it. People on the Methods of Revolution website and viewing the cork-board can then click on the flier and will be taken to that band's website. This basic example is applicable to almost anyone, but with little variations. A blogger, for example, might have a featured blog post of theirs mocked up as a newspaper article and thumb-tacked to the cork-board instead, an artist might have a mock flier for their art exhibit that links to their website, and so on and so forth.
The campaign's updates:
Project launches: April 26, 2012
Update #1: 4/26/12 12:51pm
April 26, 2012
Wow, I didn't expect to have this kind of turnout on a slow Thursday afternoon (quite frankly I expected that it wouldn't pick up until around this evening or Friday). We're a little under an hour in and we're already 1.5% funded towards our goal of $9,840. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far and everyone who has helped support us on Twitter/Facebook in the first hour. I'll be making frequent updates as time goes on, and we'll see if we can't spice up these updates with a little more community involvement.
For continual updates on the Kickstarter and production, be sure to follow our Twitter account.
- Alex
Update #2: 4/28/12 1:44am
April 28, 2012
I was getting alerts on my iPhone all night and was on cloud nine driving back home. Donations have been coming in like crazy in the past few hours, which can only mean that the word is starting to get out about the existence of this project. Thank you to everyone who has been sharing this link on their blog, Twitter, Facebook, or just by word of mouth; you guys are making this happen.
And what's more, Methods of Revolution now has two new Associate Producers on board. I am so excited to know that they are apart of this and I cannot thank everyone enough for their continued support so far. It's empowering to me in such a profound way just knowing that there are people out there who are just as enthusiastic and excited about this project as I am and believe in what it can offer as much as I do. I won't let you guys down.
We're sitting at a whopping 12% of the project funded at the end of Day 2, exceeding my expectations tenfold, and we've set a great pace for the following month. We have had a tremendous start, but we've got a long road ahead of us if we're going to make our goal. I'm confident that we can achieve it. We can make this project a reality. And to the men and women in the trenches who are spreading the word about this project, you have my undying gratitude. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone.
- Alex
Update #3: Start of a new week! Details about the website and the path to our success
April 30, 2012
Hey guys, Alex here hoping you guys have an awesome week. We've got a great week ahead of us filled with a ton of new developments and upcoming announcements about the project. Without a doubt the most exciting of all these announcements is the launch of the official website. The website will act as a central hub for information, production details, and a ton of ways to network with the community (including the cork-board mentioned in the Kickstarter) that you guys will really get a kick out of.
We're about on track for Day 5 with our funding goal, although I'm expecting things to really kick up this week as we start getting the word out. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far, your support has been incredible. To everyone who has helped spread awareness of this on Twitter/Facebook or shared this with your friends and family, thank you sincerely.
And if you're on the fence about contributing, I hope you decide to take the step forward to help out. I can't emphasize enough how passionate I am about making this film a reality. Methods of Revolution isn't a sequel, it's not a remake, and neither is it a reimagining of any kind of existing franchise. The movie has no strong name brand association or corporate backing attached to it. Because of this, there is no way in hell Hollywood would ever give the green light to make this kind of movie. But I believe that its this kind of movie that needs to be seen right now, especially with the way things are now in the world today. I truly believe that this movie will be able to not only have an impact, but make an incredible difference for our generation, they just need to be able to see it.
Update #4: Refer-A-Friend Campaign Announcement
May 7, 2012
Hey guys, Alex here.
I've been having a tremendously busy week working on networking this film and this Kickstarter. I've got several interviews with various local publications and magazines lined up this week, so we should be seeing a boon in support as the week progresses. I want to thank you all for your continued support on this and sincerely hope that we can redouble our efforts for the road ahead. We're declining a bit in our progress (as Kickstarter projects tend to do around this time after the initial burst of donations), so it's more important than ever to get the word out there and do your part. We need every bit of support and contributions that we can get, which brings us to our main announcement of this update:
Refer-a-Friend
To help promote growth and awareness of this project, I'm launching the Refer-a-Friend campaign. This is my way of being able to thank those who show their support by sharing this project with their family and friends, who might not be able to financially contribute to the project themselves. It's relatively straightforward and the rules are simple: Starting today (5-7-12), if you make a financial contribution to this project and send me a message saying that you were referred to this project by someone, they will be eligible to receive a special referral credit.
Rules
- Must be a legitimate name, no screennames or aliases please.
- Contribution amount must be $10 or higher.
- Contributors are only eligible to refer the name of one (1) person.
- You only need to be referred once to receive a referral credit. Although I'm not anticipating this, if I see that the same person is consistently referring multiple people to this project, I will make an exception and come up with something further for that person to show my gratitude for their dedication and support.
Referral Rewards
- Your name will be listed in the credits of the movie under a unique "Thanks to our referral/supporters" heading.
- Your name will be displayed on the formal "Thank You" page of the official website.
- Again, if your name frequently keeps coming up as referring multiple people, I will come up with a suitable bonus reward for you to show my appreciation.
I want to include everyone in this as much as I can, and I hope that by launching this campaign this will help include all of our supporters - regardless of financial backgrounds - in this project. If you have any further questions about this, don't hesitate to message me. You guys are doing great work and without you this wouldn't be possible. Thank you all so much.
Website
As excited as I am about the website launching, making sure this Kickstarter is a success is my number one priority (without the Kickstarter, there is no film, and no point in having a website to begin with), so I apologize that the website is taking a bit longer to unveil than I originally intended. It's a one man band over here on my side and I've got my hands full typing up press releases and general marketing, so believe me when I say that I can't wait until I can pay people to do this kind of stuff for me because having to juggle it all isn't easy. I am running into a few issues on the html side of things (that's what I get for trying to do it myself, haha), but we should have those cleared up shortly. Thank you for your patience and hope you guys have a great week. Stay tuned for more coming this week.
You guys are awesome.
- Alex
Update #5: New video launched
May 11, 2012
New video created to give a bit more of a perspective on the cause of this film and how it relates to my other work. If you're on the fence about supporting this project, you need to watch this.
Update #6: The Message Board explained (how Methods helps out other artists/entrepreneurs)
May 12, 2012
Today's update gives an explaination of how the Methods of Revolution website aims to help other aspiring artists and entreprenuers network and get more exposure. Thanks for all your support guys!
Update #7: HUGE announcement!
May 15, 2012
Some extremely exciting news today with the status of the Kickstarter funding! With these new developments we are a lot closer than we thought! Watch for more!
Update #8: This is the final stretch. We CAN do this.
May 23, 2012
Guys, we have made miraculous progress in such a short amount of time. As of now we are sitting just shy of $6,000 raised for this film thanks to some extremely generous people.
This is it guys.
We are so close to reaching our goal.
We can do this.
We need everyone to push as hard as they can in the next four days. Tell everyone you can. Share this with everyone you can. Encourage your friends and family to support this - even if its just contributing a dollar. If everyone who viewed this page contributed just a dollar we'd meet our goal and exceed it easily. I have devoted myself this past month entirely to this project, to this cause. I have endured countless nights with little to no sleep, dedicated my every waking moment to spreading the word about this project, networked relentlessly with hundreds of people, powered through the rejection and the setbacks - all to get to this point. This has been more than my full time job - for the past month this has been my life - and I've invested so much in seeing Methods of Revolution come to fruition because I believe in it so completely.
I know that this is something that will give back to the community who has helped produce it. I know that to the right person this will be missing piece of the puzzle. I know that this film can and will make a difference to hundreds of people out there and improve their lives. I know that this film will help someone find their voice and follow their dreams who otherwise might never do so. This film needs to happen. This message needs to be heard. This can make such a difference in the right person's life and that cannot be stated enough.
Any avenue you can exhaust, any resource that you might be able to tap into, any network that you think might resonate with the message of this film - now is the time. It's coming down to the final hours for this Kickstarter and we need you.
Right now, we can see the finish line. All of us - every single one of us - need to band together to push forward in that final stretch. If you believe in this film, if you can see the potential that this has, if you know that this can make a difference, I'm calling on you all now to help me see this through. Let's stand together and do everything that we can to make this come to life. I know we can do this guys. I've worked, endured, and bled for this project and would do it again in a heartbeat and I know there are people out there who believe in this project as much as I do. I've talked at length with dozens of you through Kickstarter/Twitter, and you all know how significant and how important this project can be. The time has come now to make one last push towards the finish line. We are so close to victory.
Let's make a difference, let's take the first step.
We can do this.
- Alex
Update #9: 50 Hours Remain
May 25, 2012
We have 50 hours left until the deadline ends. This is it guys, it's now or never. We need your support more than ever in this final stretch. Any last efforts to share this to your friends and family, any last attempts to raise awareness, this is the time to pull out all the stops. We can accomplish this together, we are so close to our goal.
I'll be making another update later today posting the schedule for the telethon we have planned for this weekend to try and raise the remaining amount of funding. We need everyone's help to come out on top and I know we can do this.
Let's make a movie.
Update #10: Schedule for the Telethon
May 25, 2012
The schedule of events for this weekend.
Note that some items are subject to change depending on time and availability. Several guest commentators are omitted due to not having a specific timeframe set to appear.
(Editor's note: this schedule has been lost to time.)
Project funds successfully: 189 backers pledged $10,107 - April 26, 2012
Update #11: A Revolution is Born
May 28, 2012
I apologize for the delay in posting this update, after the telethon we were completely exhausted and I'm writing this update immediately after waking up from sleeping for 16 hours.
But more importantly, we did it. We overcame the odds against us and we achieved something remarkable. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has shown us support and who has allowed this project to come alive. I cannot express how thankful I am and how much it means to me that you believe in this project and its potential as much I do, and I promise that I will not let you down. You all have made a huge difference today and the significance of that impact will become more and more apparent as time goes on and as we get closer to releasing Methods of Revolution late this winter. You have made this dream come alive, each and every one of you reading this, and you have my infinite gratitude. Thank you to everyone who contributed, thank you to everyone who did their part and helped make people aware of this project, thank you to everyone who has given their support. Especially to the handful of donors who have generously contributed a sizeable amount of funding - I truly believe that you were the ones who ultimately ended up saving this project and started that snowballing effect for us to make it to the final leg of our journey. I'll be reaching out to you all personally, professing my own gushing praise and appreciation for your support. Thank you all so much.
I hope that this project's success on Kickstarter, despite the odds stacked against it, serves as both an inspiration and meta-example of what Methods of Revolution represents. We worked hard, we never gave up, and look where it got us. We aren't superhuman, there was nothing magical about this project's success and there is nothing special about us; anything that we have achieved today can be replicated by anyone reading this - we are people who had a passion and a belief that we will succeed, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. We were determined to meet success at any cost, and because of that, we succeeded. I hope that someone out there is moved enough by this success and begins to dream with a newfound sense of confidence. This is among the things I wanted to convey with Methods of Revolution and the fact that even the origin story of this project is a miraculous meta-example of that only helps strengthen the film's message.
There are a million and one things I need to do over the next few days, so expect a lot of email responses, website updates, and additional videos coming up in the following days. I can't get to everything or everyone at once, but rest assured I will eventually.
I will be making updates next week about casting, shooting scheduling, and holding open auditions. I encourage anyone who has a passion about acting/composing/or any skills you believe to be useful to strongly consider taking that first step and seeing if we could use you. I want to be help include as many people as I can in this production, I want to help try and give as many people as I can their own kick-start just as they have so generously given me.
You guys have taken the first step. We have done it. Now the real work begins.
Let's make a movie,
Alex
contact@methodsofrevolution.com
http://www.twitter.com/findyourmethod
http://www.twitter.com/alexanderdhall
Update #12: Update 9/25/2012 - Production Status and Youtube Updates
September 25, 2012
Hey guys, Alex here.
This past summer has been extremely busy for me with the film, and ironically despite the workload there's nothing really worthy of note to share that I think would be particularly interesting to you all. I could drone on about the incredible amounts of behind-the-scene work, casting, negotiating, and pitfalls and road-bumps encountered during the whole pre-production process of a movie on this kind of scale, but I think it would make for a boring read. On paper, these things all sound compelling - and five months ago I would have totally agreed - but actually going through the motions and putting in all the actual work is not nearly as glamorous (damn you Entourage). It's kind of funny. Fortunately the boring, meticulous pre-production detail phase is on its way out the door and we can start ushering in a much more dynamic and involved stage of the production of Methods of Revolution.
About the Production Process
As always, I appreciate your patience and understanding. Don't mistake that for some half-assed PR babble on my part either; when I say that those two traits are by far the most valuable and important support I can get right now, I absolutely mean it. There is no elephant in the room - I am 22 years old and while I've earned my share of accolades, I am not a Hollywood veteran director with extensive experience of the ins and outs of making a full length feature film of this caliber. I've made movies and created stories before - and have been humbled by the amount of success they've had - but I never have attempted something on this grand of a scale before. This is new territory for me, and it's exciting and intimidating at the same time.
I've always been a firm believer in learning by doing; in taking the first step and putting yourself out there. It's about accepting that you'll eventually find your footing, and not being afraid that you might make mistakes until you do. There are many things I've learned and many things I'm still continuing to learn as I keep my nose to the grind stone. I'm fortunate enough to be working alongside an experienced and enthusiastic crew that lend their wisdom and experience to the production. However, despite all this, it is still my first time producing and directing a huge film of this caliber and I'm not afraid to admit it. There are mistakes that I have made and there are mistakes that I will make during the production of this film due to the very nature of having to learn the proverbial ropes and intricacies as I go. The making of Methods of Revolution itself draws so many parallels with the film's overall theme that it bleeds into the very essence of the story, giving it a unique perspective that may not have been even achievable had I handed the reigns over to an experienced Hollywood director.
Production may hiccup here and there, there may be unforeseen obstacles or setbacks that end up causing a delay. I know there is a lot of excitement surrounding this film and I. I will never sacrifice quality for convenience, especially with how important I know this film can be. If a conflict arises during post-production weeks after shooting - say something doesn't mesh well in the pacing of the film or that an important scene isn't hitting the right notes - it's not out of the realm of possibility that the cast/crew end up getting called back out to the set weeks after the fact to get it right. Of course these are just hypotheticals and odds are we won't run into those problems. I can't guarantee that production will be completely smooth sailing and hit every deadline, and given the context it would be absurd to do so, but I can promise you is that in the end there will be a finished work that I'm proud to call my own.
It may have been a roundabout way of explaining how important your guys' patience and understanding is, but I wanted to convey the full picture to those who were looking for it. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone out there bearing with me as we create this film together.
What's in store for the future: Youtube Updates
Speaking of moving, I'm moving to St. Louis this week to work on the film full time (although it will still be shot in Indianapolis) and next week I'll be making a few announcements about the film and start the push for more involvement with you all - but that's a secret for now. What I can say right now is that I've been pitching around the idea of doing a weekly (or even twice a week) five minute Youtube video where I'll give out an update on the progress of the film, talk about anything that's been on my mind for that week (news, etc.), and answer any questions that you all send in. The goal with this is to keep in touch with the fans a bit more, start building up a presence that's a little more personable than walls of text, and provide frequent updates about the behind the scenes process of what I'm going through making the film. As always, if you guys have any suggestions or ideas, I'm always interested in hearing them.
Closing Thoughts
Although I emphasis the intense amount of work that needs (and still needs) to be done - and while it is emotionally exhausting and overwhelming at times - I totally don't want anyone to walk away with the wrong impression. Being able to create this film and work on it from the ground up gives me such a profound, intrinsic sense of reward and accomplishment that it supersedes any hardships I encounter on a day to day basis. I know the work I'm putting it is going to pay off in a big way not only to myself, but to a lot of people. Hearing how excited some of you are for this film only helps strengthen this resolve.
Thanks again, you guys are awesome.
You can always find me on Twitter and ask me questions directly - http://www.twitter.com/AlexanderDHall
P.S. Apologies for any typos, it's the early hours of the morning and I'm up late packing for the move in five hours. Have a great Tuesday!
Update #13: Backer Rewards (T-Shirts)
January 21, 2013
We're in the process of shipping out the backer rewards over the course of the next few months, and we need T-shirt sizes from those who have pledged the $50 (or more) tier for their exclusive contributor T-shirt. We're sending out emails to everyone who has reached that tier or higher, but if you've changed email addresses recently or if your old email address is no longer active, feel free to email me with your full name, pledge amount, your t-shirt size, and your old email address at contact@methodsofrevolution.com.
Thanks for your support and keep tuned to the Jadusable Youtube account for more video updates soon.
Update #14: "...And Flint Struck Steel" Website update
January 24, 2013
Launching the first of many promotional supplements expanding on and tying into the film "...And Flint Struck Steel" is out in tandem with the still-in-progress resdesign of http://www.methodsofrevolution.com
These short pieces are meant to provide some context for some of the main characters and expand on what they were like prior to the film. As usual, it's safe to expect that there will be a few hidden narrative beats sprinkled in throughout these that may prove rewarding in an easter egg-esque way (say that three times fast) to those who can connect the dots when the film arrives later this year. Anyway, check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more content coming soon on the website.
Cheers,
Alex
P.S. Also if you haven't yet, make sure to get me your t-shirt size asap if you're pledged $50 or more. Still waiting on a few more people to get back to me. Thanks!
Update #15: Methods of Revolution posters (Images!) and other backer reward updates
March 23, 2013
Methods of Revolution Posters Arriving!
We just got back one of the prototype film posters for Methods of Revolution.
You can check it out on my Facebook page here!
We're still playing with the general design of it, as its a prototype (and I hastily threw up a quick picture of it before heading out to an event), so we're open to feedback.
To All Backers:
We still have NOT received the completed surveys from several people who have donated $50 or more - this is REALLY important - we need those to be able to send out your backer rewards and to know what T-shirt size you want.
Please make sure you are checking your email address (the survey would have been sent out to the email address you registered your Kickstarter account with). People who have donated through PayPal will be contacted separately. If you have any questions or feel you may no longer have access to the email account you registered your Kickstarter account with, email contact@methodsofrevolution.com
Also, we have another website update coming at the end of this month, so stay tuned!
Thanks everyone!
Update #16: Methods of Revolution Update #16 from Eric's Journal: The Second Step
March 8, 2014
There will be some changes going on the Methods website over the next few weeks as the weather starts to (finally) clear up and we resume production, and to kick us off this is another excerpt from Eric's diary and you can begin to see the gears start to turn in his head as he talks about what he views the current state of affairs for Generation Y are as they start moving out into the working world.
http://www.facebook.com/AlexanderDHall
I posted this on my Facebook page, seeing as how that's generally become the main avenue for people to be able to get in touch with me and check the status of the project. If you would like to be in more direct contact with me, then I encourage you to like the page or drop me a line some time. I frequent my Facebook much more often than I do Kickstarter. As for this journal entry, this one is a two-parter, with the conclusion coming next week.
"Contrary to what we’ve been traditionally taught, success and failure are not two intrinsic concepts that are forever meant to be diametrically opposed to one another. Success begets success, and failure begets success. As long as there is progress, one will continue to teach and build off the other, and over time both feed into the health of your desired goal. The only proverbial anti pathogen to the well-being of your potential is inaction, and yet that single noun is the embodiment of dozens of causes that are crippling to the psyche in nature. Inaction, right down to its core, is the antithesis of creativity and progress. So let’s get down to the point here – how do we fight it?"
Update #17: The First and Third Days of Methods of Revolution
April 29, 2020
The dreams have stopped. You are awake now in a strange hotel room. How did you get here? What is this place? Where are you? All you have to go off of is a man over the radio calling himself Abel - who cryptically outlines the rules of this place for you. But can you even trust him? Time operates abnormally here and object permanence is not what it should be. What's more, there is an entity that unrelentingly patrols the hallways - only known as the Jailer at this point - that cannot be harmed, reasoned with, or destroyed by conventional means. It clearly must be avoided at all costs. In your starting room you notice that several items have been left behind by your predecessor. What could be the significance of these? Welcome to Methods of Revolution.
In this interactive film, viewers will be able to determine the direction of the story and how it evolves. Join thousands of others and start following the film here on the official discord.
Additional resources:
http://www.patreon.com/user?u=312799
http://www.youtube.com/Jadusable
http://www.twitter.com/AlexanderDHall
Update #18: Update
November 2, 2022
I think these past two years have been poignant reminders that life does not wait and that we should not make assumptions about the future; that sometimes we can fall victim to waiting on the perfect storm of events to happen in our lives so much so that we can find ourselves paralyzed.
When I made Ben Drowned, the overnight success of it and the amount of internet fame set my expectations too high of what was possible for a twenty year old with no connections to the entertainment industry. I thought that because I had such a massive success in my first creative outing that I would be able to manifest this film on a shoestring budget. I knew that I had a network of contacts that I made throughout my time competing in the 48 Hour Film festival, I had a brilliant script, a message that resonated with everyone I showed it to, and I knew in my heart that I had a calling to uplift and inspire change. However, I found myself overly optimistic on what was feasible - that just because I wrote an overnight success there was no indication that this success would be easily repeatable. Unfortunately I would have to find that out the hard way at 21.
As I'm sure everyone is aware there is so much more that goes into making an independent film than just having a good script and having cast & crew eager to work for you - and oftentimes it's the technicals completely unrelated to the "art" part of making a film that can swallow the whole thing. After the first attempt to get the film off the ground missed its mark, Methods of Revolution took on several iterations and I found myself in the throes of an incredible writer's block - constantly trying to reinvent this idea that I had, throwing out the old scripts and creating new ones, reinventing characters, changing the very nature of the story. My deterministic attitude to help inspire change and make good on the vision I had for this project kept me continually trying to make it a reality (as I'm sure people that have followed me for a long time are aware of - there would be a big push on Youtube about new developments and then radio silence). My consistent struggles at manifesting this film would prove to be a powerful and painful lesson, as time went on Methods went from being something I couldn't wait to produce to being a burden that I was ashamed to have hanging over me. I was frustrated that I had gotten too ambitious as a young man and I was ashamed that I was letting my supporters down. I'm sure plenty of you out there with writer's block can relate, it's not a particular fun feeling.
Eventually after another rewrite I showed my hand and started Methods in 2020 as a branching story path in Awakening. I felt that I would leave it up to the fans to decide if they wanted to see more of Methods or more of Ben Drowned. The beginning of Awakening's writing style was much in line with what I had planned for Methods, in fact I'm sure you can probably guess which bits were lifted directly from some of the first iterations of Methods,. This time, instead of it being a movie I opted to make it into another ARG. However, as part of the nature of these interactive stories you have to adhere to the will of the players/viewers and when presented with a choice the viewers overwhelmingly opted to continue playing the video game instead of exploring the Hotel limbo that Methods was initially taking place in, so the story shifted directions. Part of me wishes we could have stayed in the hotel a bit longer but looking back on Awakening as a whole I wouldn't have done it any other way - the way they story evolved with the community was absolutely beautiful and provided a huge relief to the stress and uncertainty of COVID and the lock-downs. I am grateful for every minute spent, every overcaffinated late night, every reaction video, everything. We made some wonderful memories that year amidst all of the chaos.
The concepts introduced in 2020 and the nature of the Eternity Project and how Methods ties into it are something that interest me greatly, but I want to re-examine it on my own terms going forward and not feel like I am beholden to it. That may not make a lot of sense, or maybe it will - but I hope that you are able to understand.
To everyone that supported me in this project I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart, and for those that were waiting on the initial traditional "movie" to come out proper I'd like to offer a complete refund on the pledge you made. Over the past few years I have privately given out about two dozen refunds to those that have DMed me and asked, and for those who had made considerable pledges I've gone so far as to take the initiative to reach out to them specifically. To be eligible for a refund you'll need to message me on Kickstarter that you pledged with & your pledge amount. If you've donated to me via PayPal then provide a receipt to me (alexanderdhall13@gmail.com). I will be financing these refunds out of my own pocket, so depending on the volume of requests I should have everything processed by February 2023.
For those of you concerned about this marking the end of my writing career - don't worry. I'm not done creating by a long shot, but in order to create freely again I need to get this off of my back and I can't do that until I know that I've done right by the people that supported me. I will attempt to revisit this in the future - as trying to inspire and motivate others is something that is near and dear to my heart - but I don't want to be confined to having the next project I make "Methods" related. If it turns out that way, great, but I want it to be borne from a natural desire to create it rather than one propped up by guilt. I feel like having to adhere to that in the back of my mind has stopped me from writing anything beyond Awakening, and I have too many stories I want to tell and life is too short. If you have been satisfied with the output in 2020, even though we didn't get fully into Methods, that is perfectly fine and you are obviously not required to ask for a refund. However if you would like a refund that is also perfectly fine and the main reason why I'm writing this post.
I do look back on 2021 as being an end of an era in a lot of ways, but it doesn't all have to be bittersweet. New horizons can also mean new skies and as an artist I look back on that chapter in my life as an important lesson in my creative process and development. As I go into my thirties I carry with me the wisdom of this experience with Methods, the memories of creating Ben Drowned and Awakening, and the knowledge of how to do better. But first and foremost, in order for me to do that I need to know that I have made whole the fans who have supported me in the second most important creative endeavor of the 2010's. Finally, I want to earnest apologize to everyone for not being able to deliver on this project the way I originally envisioned it and I hope this gesture goes a little ways towards making this right.
Thank you,
Alex
The campaign contained the following pledge tiers:
- $5 or more: Your name will be listed in the credits under the heading "Thanks To" and your name is also displayed on the formal "Thank You" page on the official website.
- $10 or more: Your name will be listed in the credits under the heading "Special Thanks To" and your name is also displayed on the formal "Thank You" page on the official website. Replaces Reward #1.
- $25 or more: All of the above, a DVD of the finished movie (with special behind-the-scenes features and commentary).
- $30 or more: All of the above, your name listed in the credits under the heading "Key Contributor" and your name is also displayed on the formal "Thank You" page on the official website. Replaces Reward #2.
- $50 or more: All of the above, a special, limited edition "Methods of Revolution" contributor t-shirt (only available through this reward).
- $100 or more: All of the above, a special, limited edition "Methods of Revolution" movie poster signed by the cast and crew (only available through this reward), and a special personalized video thank you from Alex and the crew with their own commentary that's exclusive to this reward and will not be featured on the DVD.
- $250 or more: All of the above, a signed copy of the "Methods of Revolution" shooting script, you will be listed as an Associate Producer in the credits.
- $300 or more: All of the above, you will be featured in an on-screen, speaking cameo alongside seven others during a pivotal scene at the end of the film. No traveling required. Must agree to sign an NDA. Only 8 spots available.
- $500 or more: All of the above (excluding any limited rewards), an invitation to come down and spend the day on the set, includes a lunch with the cast and crew (travel expenses to Indianapolis not included. Must be available during our shooting dates and they are subject to change), depending on the day there's the possibility of being used as an extra.
- $1000 or more: All of the above (excluding any limited rewards), a full Producer credit, a speaking walk-on role (or we'll work with you to get your likeness in the project), a fist bump from Alex
- $1500 or more: All of the above (excluding any limited rewards), an Executive Producer credit, a speaking walk-on role (or we'll work with you to get your likeness in the project), a fist bump from Alex, and you get to name one of the three main characters (must be a believable name; if your initial choice is naming a character something like Hulk Hogan we'll have to work with you until we can come up with something that we both agree is reasonable)
The Digital Fireside
- Main article: The Digital Fireside
On April 23, 2019, Alex Hall introduced The Digital Fireside, a podcast intended to be a component of the greater Methods of Revolution work. Hosted by Alex Hall and Luke Cureton, it ran for a total of 22 episodes, with its final episode released on March 10, 2020.
Promotional material
On May 11, Alex uploaded a video titled The "Truth about Jadusable and Methods.wmv," in which he describes that the content in the film will not necessarily be connected to the ARG. The next day, he uploaded "The Message Board Explained," which helps describe the message board mechanic to be introduced on the upcoming website for the film. The website, methodsofrevolution.com, was officially launched on May 15. The same day, he uploaded another video titled "An Important Announcement," in which he describes that once the Kickstarter campaign reaches $7000, an interested party will provide the remaining funds needed to reach the goal.
Alex held an AMA on May 12, in which he discussed the nature of the project at length, as well as the future of the ARG. At 6:00pm on May 25, Alex began a 40-hour-long endurance stream on the BroGaming Twitch channel, ending at 11:00am on May 27, the day the Kickstarter ended. During the stream, titled Methods of Revolution Weekend-Long, 36 Hour Endurance Run Extravaganza, he played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and several other games. The stream, now lost, contained the following description:
- "The endurance run starts at Friday 6pm EST and ends at Sunday 6am EST."
Gallery
Kickstarter images
Facebook images
Notes
- Each of the videos uploaded as promotional material for Methods of Revolution have been removed from Jadusable's YouTube channel and re-uploaded by the Jadusable Archive channel.
