Fundraising Sucks
I don’t care if this is an unpopular opinion, but I’m sure this is actually a much more common feeling than I probably am aware of myself… FUNDRAISING SUCKS. IT SUCKS. IT SUCKS. IT SUCKS. Yes, I am saying this like a petulant child — stamping my foot on the ground. If you want to constantly sell yourself and then get rejected over and over again, welcome to fundraising. Oh wait, this sounds suspiciously like auditioning as well. The difference is when money is involved, people get weird. Money makes the world go around so coincidentally money is what most people have trouble letting go of unless you can find the perfect combination of passion and logic.
Here is why fundraising sucks. You are not alone.
Transcript
Adam Rani 00:27
What is cracking, we are life on Facebook.
Christine Chen 00:31
Oh, look at that. Look at you. Um, there might be some interference outside in terms of sound. There are kids playing on Sunday duh.
Adam Rani 00:42
If we learned anything in the last 43 weeks of this podcast that is, we cannot rely on your audio.
Christine Chen 00:50
Yeah, we can't rely on anything apparently, you can't rely on the internet.
Adam Rani 00:54
You can rely on me for good lighting? You rely on me for good internet, you can rely on me for a good industrial mic that no one wanted to comment about or give me at least one compliment. Do you know I'm saying and I still I still get shit done? And it doesn't sound like I'm constantly my audio sounds like we're in a wind tunnel.
Christine Chen 01:23
Yes, eventually, I won't one of those eventually. On the list of all the other things I like, like $150,000.
Adam Rani 01:36
Why? Why go? 150?
Christine Chen 01:38
Right. Well, I actually really want 500. But everybody says just think bigger. Think bigger. I'm like, I'm trying to think bigger, but I gotta get the smaller bit first. I can't I want to think bigger. But let me let me at least get the smaller amount. So, yes that's what I want. I'm trying to manifest manifesting and manifesting and pitching my little butt off. I'm very good at pitches now. In fact, I think I should do the pitch live on the podcast.
Adam Rani 02:22
I mean, it's, it's working here. Now. It's up to you, if you want to the pitch.
Christine Chen 02:29
It is part of this part of the process. Yeah.
Adam Rani 02:31
Wait, you want me to do the pitch?
Christine Chen 02:33
No, I had to do it. I mean, for people who want to know what film pitches like.
Adam Rani 02:41
Oh, I see. Yeah, yes.
Christine Chen 02:43
Yes. It's part of the process
Adam Rani 02:45
I thought it was random pop quiz. Like, give me a pitch. I was like no, I'm leaving.
Christine Chen 02:51
Doing a pitch is awful.
Adam Rani 02:55
Yeah, I mean
Christine Chen 02:56
It is not awful, that's wrong.
Adam Rani 03:00
I'm curious why, what? What, what's the thing that makes it so awful? Because I know, but I'm curious.
Christine Chen 03:07
Maybe it's not, awful is the terrible word. It's not a good description. It's just the part that I'm least certain about. Everything else I'm uncertain about. Like, it's funny, I'm in this shouldn't be this way. And I'm trying to get over it. But, you know, you go on a film. So, you have a plan. Technically, there's no certainty there either, right. That's why you're planning for uncertainty all the time. You could literally have a hurricane and or, in the case, I did actually just happen. You could have an ice storm and it could eff up your entire film set. So, there is really no certainty and everything but like, I've just done film sets so much that I can I feel like I can walk in with zero knowledge and still be okay. Does that make sense?
Adam Rani 03:58
On like, a regular set. You mean,
Christine Chen 04:00
on a regular set. I just I worked so much on film sets. And so, it's home. It's, it's, I know if anything goes wrong, I can fix it. When it comes to money. It's just something that I never have full, you know, some people would be like, you know, I'll just ask my rich aunt or a rich. Do you know, how many people talk to this how they funded their first film? Oh, yeah, my rich aunt, you know, I just pitched and just gave me money. Or, you know, I had my dad gave me money, you know, type thing and like, I don't have that.
Adam Rani 04:40
I worked with a director who used his mother or his grandmother's inheritance. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know something. It feels a little, you know.
Christine Chen 04:50
Yeah, but that's, I don't know. So that's, I find that to be extremely difficult and actually followed Jenise on Instagram and she went through this whole process. So, she probably knows, she knows, she's warned me how difficult these processes raising money. You know, you go in extremely positive, and they just keep getting beat down, beat down and beat down, you know, and there's plenty of people who say that they're interested. But when it comes down to committing, nobody really wants to, to, you know, commit. So, it's, it's been a hard process. I've learned a lot. Yesterday, I pitched to my business school professor, and I actually wish I had pitch to him first, he tore my entire pitch apart in a good way, in a good way. It was the most academic, instructional, educational, constructive way, possibly, you know, he, I think he was so fixated on, let me get the numbers, let me show the numbers, let me because that's what investors want. They want to see the money, you know, they think that I forgot to do the other part, which was, you know, tell people who aren't in films, how films are made, how films make their money back, why they should trust me, you know, type thing. So, one of the big, biggest takeaways that I learned was telling a story, when you're talking about your film, instead of, you know, fixating on the of the numbers and where you got this estimate from and everything. Yeah, Jenise said that she went through it a few different times. And man, it's like, I feel like it's an initiation, it's like, you haven't, you're not a real filmmaker until you've had to ask for money. And it's, it's, I've been avoiding this process for so long for because it's, it's so I think what I think about it, what, in the end, what I don't like about it is this lack of control? Like, you, it just feels like, your entire destiny is at the hands of somebody who can just do this, or this, you know, like, it's, it doesn't matter how much experience you've had, it doesn't matter that, you know, you done every job on the site, it doesn't matter that you've prepped and that you've done the schedule, and that you know, what you're doing and everything, literally somebody else who has no experience, can, can get that funding, you know, and I think that's the, that's the part that's difficult is because, you know, I'm a control freak, just a little bit, I admit that. And this is the one aspect that just literally have zero control over and it's, it's weird to be like, just let the universe come to me. And it'll all be okay. And like, let's just manifest it and positive vibes, like, I am a type A personality, I, I'm a major type A person. I know.
Adam Rani 08:24
I want to use the energies of.
Christine Chen 08:26
Use the energy in my magnetic pool. Yes. And then I know, and maybe that's why I'm just I just, I am a type A person. And I've gone through life with the principle that if I work hard enough, I can do it.
Adam Rani 08:48
Took the word from my mouth. I was just gonna say that
Christine Chen 08:51
Exactly. If I do the homework, it will be fine. It probably
Adam Rani 08:56
It has been this long since you put in that time, Christine. You know, look at the filmography underneath your belt. You know, I'm saying like that. Now. You got, I mean,
Christine Chen 09:09
So, it is even more frustrating. I just, yeah, I love my friends to death. And I congratulate them on all their successes and things that they've had access to, but like, I was just like, I had a friend today that I pitched you. And, you know, congratulations to him. I'm so happy but I'm feeling super petty today. And he's like, Yeah, I haven't like, you know, been on a feature set and while and like somebody reached out to me and said, hey, you want to direct a reenactment about this, like Chinese story and, and like, here's a million dollars.
Adam Rani 09:47
What?
Christine Chen 09:48
And I'm like, one white male doesn't speak a lick of, you know, Chinese whatsoever. How. But it's fine. He was very nice. He asked me to ad and like I appreciate it so much. And I appreciate these opportunities. That opportunity. it's just slapped in the face like is such a slap in the face. Like, oh, white male that knows zero about the language about the culture about, you know, everything in here like, here's this amazing opportunity. You know? I mean? Yeah,
Adam Rani 10:30
Yeah, no, I hear you. It feels like you're, you put yourself out there so much to the point where I mean, it feels like you're sick of yourself.
Christine Chen 10:41
Yes, I'm sick of myself. And then they get this.
Adam Rani 10:45
Yeah, I hear you.
Christine Chen 10:46
But no. Like I say this, because I'm just venting. But
Adam Rani 10:53
I hear you. Yeah.
Christine Chen 10:55
I absolutely support all my friends were able to get these incredible opportunities. And hopefully I'll be in a place one day that I can give somebody with a cool opportunity as well. You know.
Adam Rani 11:07
yeah, no, no. And there's and there's nothing wrong with feeling a little a little bitter about it, you know? Because
Christine Chen 11:16
Trying too not be bitter.
Adam Rani 11:18
Yeah, saying bitter is the wrong word. Um, so yeah. When you feel like, because I relate it to me when it comes to basketball. When I played basketball, I literally trained every single day, I trained every single day, I was trying to be the best. In that position. I was playing center. this kids who never played basketball, but just has athletic genes, just like natural, athletic, athleticism. He's tall and he could, you know, even though I was tall in my team, I was still slow, nonetheless. And he was able to go up and down the court lightning fast. And of course, my coach is gonna put him in and put me at the end of the game, you know, as like a filler. I was just a benchwarmer for the first two years of basketball. Yeah, and it's not, I'm not trying to. I don't know, I'm not trying to be that, you know, influential fuckin positive coach here, Tony Robbins bullshit. But it is true to a point where you have to understand that there are going to be times where somebody's just going to surpass you, and you have no clue who they are. They have no experience in the field that they're that they're in. And they kind of just got it handled easy. But here's the rub. Just five years later, when that kid who I just talked about just surpassed me, went through a hole. He lived in the projects. He had struggles beyond belief. And I just misjudged him. I just and it's not that he, you know, is this person, this glorified amazing guy. He isn't, he's still an asshole. But he was a guy who knew what he wanted. And in I know, it's, it's a different circumstance with than your friend who just basically got a phone call, and just kind of got it dropped by his feet, you know, which is, listen, that's, that's a great. But what comes with that? You know, I mean, like, if you're gonna really have that, and you're gonna, this is gonna be your baby, this is going to be your project. I mean, you have to be. Here's what I don't get with directors and writers who aren't invested in the work they're putting in.
Christine Chen 13:44
Right.
Adam Rani 13:45
Does that make sense?
Christine Chen 13:46
Oh, yeah, same I AD plenty of people like that.
Adam Rani 13:50
Then the director doesn't want to be there. It's just like, wait, I thought this is your dream.
Christine Chen 13:57
I AD so many people in this position, where they just look like they're having the worst time on set. And I'm like, Dude, they didn't come prepared, or they didn't think of their shot list until the night before? Or like, they didn't even read the script? That was one of them. Um, yeah. And it's stuff like that. That like, drives me up the wall. Um, but yes, Jenise was saying that it's an up and down battle news. There are days I'm like, I got this I'm going to get the money and I cracked the pitch. Yeah. And then it'll be like three pitches later on. And I'm like, oh, God, I don't get the money. And I don't know if I will. And time is ticking. And people are asking me is this happening, and I want it to happen and everybody else is excited and I'm excited and I know everything is going to be okay once I have the money. Like it's stressful. my really good friend also production Camille co-writer today was like, hey, you're gonna go see a film screening. I'm like, there’s life beyond getting money for our film.
Adam Rani 15:20
What are you talking about there's only?
Christine Chen 15:24
There is no other life for me right now. Yeah, I literally wake up, eat pitch, wake up, eat pitch, I am an effing pitching machine right now and it is killing me inside.
Adam Rani 15:37
But I will say though, just like me in how I am you rather torture yourself with work. Sometimes, I mean, it's not like you, you want to torture yourself. That's the wrong. That's the wrong way of saying it. But it's like you have so much focus on your work as it is. Yeah. That's noise. It's just like everything that's going on outside. It's just like, Listen, I'm, I'm, I'm more, I'm more invested in my story. And my reality. That's why I like I'm growing to appreciate writing more and more, because it is sort of my own world to just escape from, especially with the shit that's going on today. Just like, Fuck this. I'm going to my Yeah, go into my world, even though you know, it might be dark and scary. Reality is also dark and scary. Yeah, just like any journey.
Christine Chen 16:34
Just I have a comment, which is really important. Gensi went through this. She's a local filmmaker in Baton Rouge. And I helped her a little bit on her film. And I remember her, like, just stressing about this. And, like, I knew it'd be stressful, but like, you don't really know. You're in it. Because he just mentioned that she was told that she had pitch 100 times in order to see any fruit. Well, I'm pretty sure I've pitched like half of that at least now. So hopefully that means I'm getting closer.
Adam Rani 17:14
That's just so I mean, yeah, all any work requires practice for sure. I'm pretty sure pitching is no different.
Christine Chen 17:22
Oh, definitely. Me my pitch now is so much better than what I was before. That's for sure. Yeah, so much so much more. Better than that. Because, you know, you learn to you get a question. You're like, oh, shit, I never thought of that question before, let me go research that. And presenting even information is all there the deck, there's a way to present it in a way that is easier to digest. You know?
Adam Rani 17:50
Yeah, instead of like some crazy ass recipe. Yeah. So
Christine Chen 17:54
just learning that, that it's a conversation and I'm having to go back to my roots of sales from a long time ago with Cutco knives. Now I'm treating it instead, you know what I'm doing it instead. Instead of, okay, I'm gonna keep using dating as a metaphor because I understand it so well with pitching. It's like you can't go in expecting every single person. You're going to find the one all the time like that's or like we find somebody that you think thinks fits the profile perfectly. You cannot just assume they're the one is gonna, you will scare the shit out of them. You will literally like scare them away. Which already, so
Adam Rani 18:46
I'm scared.
Christine Chen 18:46
So, there's an art to it. You have to like, need it but not you have to be like, I'm just testing the waters. And you know, I have so much faith in myself slash like, I don't need this money. Even though I do. Just like I don't need I don't need you. But I want a relationship but if you don't want me, it's fine. You know?
Adam Rani 19:14
Yeah, you have to play like this weird
Christine Chen 19:17
Courting. Yeah, apparently you had to be standoffish to get the money.
Adam Rani 19:25
Yeah, it's just it's so gross. I'd rather I'm such a bad liar. I'm such and I've done
Christine Chen 19:39
well, I'm terrible. It's like I've done yeah, and
Adam Rani 19:41
I also sold shit that I didn't believe in. You know, I'm saying especially working retail. I've always sold shit. I never really believed it and I just had to bullshit through my teeth. You know? And I'm bad at it. I'm not good. I'm totally I'm not good. And so many people tell me I am good. And I don't, I always get inside my own head. Because I always make that an expectation of mine to just always be honest. Sure. Because if you're not going to be honest with yourself, and you're not gonna be honest with the person who you're talking to, what? Pardon my French, what the fuck are we doing here? Like, we you and I are wasting our time if we're just gonna be like, hi, isn't this great? I'm having a great time this pandemic has been special. I want to kill myself saying that, you know, I mean, like, it's not true. And you know, it's not true to that's the other side of it to the other people are just like, Yeah, this is bullshit. I don't know why I'm here. But yet, you're still having this conversation with me. I mean, it's just, it's a never-ending fuckin cycle. And pitching is no different. You have to lie to a wall? No, no, let me take that back. I know about your product, the product you want to make, which is the story you want to tell. The other people aren't? They don't know. They don't, they don't know how they're gonna be, you know. So, for me to sell myself. And then for me to try to win that other person. I'm sort of just like, Yeah, it's like trying to go for a supermodel. You know, you mean, it's just like, you're just trying, you're just trying to ours, like, Listen, I'm going to put all my eggs in one basket, which is going to be this supermodel. And if she doesn't like me, I'm going to kill myself. I mean, it's so you, you go off the deep end, or at least I do. And I always have that expectation of the best, you have the best no matter what, always get the best always get the best chance out, you know, instead of just thinking retrospect, or introspectively. And think of what do I want? Right? And even though I need money to pitch for this, and I need I need to invest in this project. I'm not going to sell my body. Does that make sense, I am not going to sell my soul?
Adam Rani 19:45
Sure, there's a right. Yeah. No.
Adam Rani 20:08
because I just it feels like, you know, actors would audition, too. I know, there's, it's a soul sucking thing. Like it stinks. Especially if you mess up lines and stuff. I can only imagine what some of these fucking people have to go through.
Christine Chen 22:29
Man, you are right. This is just like auditioning. But they do it. They have to do this for the entirety of them.
Adam Rani 22:36
And they have to wait nine hours outside of a fucking lobby with 20 other people that look like you are going through this role. It's so fucked up. It's so gross. Pitching. I'm not gonna say it's no different. But there's a lot of similarities. Trust me.
Christine Chen 22:55
Oh, it's super similar. It's scary how similar it is. I'm like, I don't want it. Yeah, but I want my movie done. Trying to like it. I'm trying to see it from a positive perspective. But, you know, I'm getting to reconnect with friends that I haven't talked to in a while. I'm bothering all my business school friends. Within that I haven't done a good job to, you know, I'm pretty bad at staying connected. So this has been a nice like, hey, let's, let's be get connected. And let's talk through everything.
Adam Rani 23:35
Talk it through yeah. You just said it. It's just talking things through just because I have someone else's perspective. Like, you've blown my mind with a different perspective, too, especially on set. It's like, well, why don't you just do X, Y, and Z? And I'm like, I just my head just explodes. You know? Because even though it's so simple, you are just.
Christine Chen 23:56
That is what the professor did to me. When I pitched him. He said, why don't you do this? And I was like, to change my pitch for the night in my life. For the 100th time. I swear, I have changed the script this this pitch, like, so many times, so many times.
Adam Rani 24:18
Change the Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, how you're saying how you're pitching.
Christine Chen 24:26
Not the script, the pitch deck.
Adam Rani 24:28
Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I'm like, wow, you're really making drastic decisions.
Christine Chen 24:35
Right now, it's, it would be a terrible thing to do.
Adam Rani 24:39
No, it's um, it's your script is ice sculpture. You know, I mean, like, don't chisel it anymore. You're gonna break it?
Christine Chen 24:47
Yeah. I like our script. Team or I like everything about that. Everything is in place except this one minute. Not so my new detail
Adam Rani 25:00
And then that minute detail is one that kills you
Christine Chen 25:03
I know, so freaking close is really stressful but the positive is I will be doing a crowdfunding campaign. So, for anybody who's out there who wants to support us you should look out for the crowdfunding campaign we're gonna we're gonna attach funding campaign so we're gonna attach it to the same URL that our current websites on. So, when it's live we'll he should be able to just go to Erzuliefilm.com and it should just go to redirect you to the crowdfunding campaign we're doing it for students sparkle be my first time doing seed and spark. It's been a wild the last time we did like a true crowd. The last night of crowdfunding was for fun employment. So, I mean, I attend persecutor, yeah, yeah, I tended to like get Reelisms and stuff. But that wasn't really like this. Last time we did crowdfund for a movie. It was my first feature. And that was in 2000. In there. It was crazy.
Adam Rani 26:05
The year I graduated.
Christine Chen 26:08
It is 2021 right now.
Adam Rani 26:10
Yes apparently.
Christine Chen 26:14
What year is it? So it was eight years, eight years.
Adam Rani 26:19
Yeah.
Christine Chen 26:20
Damn. Yes. It's been eight years since the last pitch. 8 years since the last pitch, guys.
Adam Rani 26:27
And Christine hasn't aged a day, she just looks like she can. She has no problem stabbing somebody.
Christine Chen 26:39
Oh, yeah, I look like I can kill someone, because I probably could.
Adam Rani 26:44
Listen. I don't want to say that, that I know how you feel. But I do understand the circumstances and in the way you feel, you know, I mean, like, I understand this, like, the hair pulling over.
Christine Chen 27:00
Yeah, I just feel powerless.
Adam Rani 27:02
And the fact that you don't really have much power in this sort of you
Christine Chen 27:06
There are so many people are so nice and positive. They're like, you're gonna get funding no problem. Like, where is it?
Adam Rani 27:13
Yeah. Yeah. I hear you. Because it's, it's nerve racking. You know, you people always say to me, it's just like, you’re gonna do great things. It's like, like, what? What do you mean, stop giving me empty promises or empty advice?
Christine Chen 27:34
I can get it which, you know, I thank people for having the faith in me to say that, but yeah, so, so many people are like, oh, you're, you'll be fine. You're going to get the money.
Adam Rani 27:47
which I mean, I know. I know. But it is true, though. You do figure it out. Especially you are being an AD. You've you figured it out. Even though you've probably hit problems where you're like, guys, I don't know how we're gonna get ahead.
Christine Chen 28:05
Just pretend. Yeah, I'm just doing what? I just I'm just pretending we don't have a problem. I'm just smiling. Nothing's nothing looming for like it. We're all good.
Adam Rani 28:17
We are like the Stepford Wives.
Christine Chen 28:18
All we have everything is fine.
Adam Rani 28:21
Everything's fine. But that's, that's the deal. Right? It's just like, if you if you succumb yourself to nothing but despair and anxiety and stress, you're gonna start to emulate that. And then you're gonna start to see that into other people. It's like, the world's burning and Everything's fucked. You know? It's just like, well,
Christine Chen 28:41
but that's it. Yeah, you're right. I mean, the positive thing is everything that has to do with my film songs, funding.
Adam Rani 28:50
not to say that your feelings aren't valid. They are. Yes, they absolutely are. Your frustrations and anxiety. Yeah, I would be too. I wouldn't be sleeping. I don't know how you're sleeping. Like it this this entire process it to me, it doesn't sound like it's so crazy trying to explain this to a therapist, you know, I mean, like, no, I love this gig. It's just like there's these trials and tribulations where you feel like you want to, you know, sort of people just wants to scream you just want to fuckin you just want to throw in the towel.
Christine Chen 29:28
All the time. All time I'll be like really stressed out and I'll get this one message and it's just timing. It's nobody you know; nobody knows what I'm dealing with. So, I'll you know, the first time I had spent like, weeks on this pitch you know, I sent it out and pitching million times. And finally, I had my co-writer was like, hey, I'll help out. Was the page I said to her. The first thing she says is why is this picture that and I'm like I'm gonna fucking kill you. I love you. But the last thing I care about is the picture.
Adam Rani 30:10
I need you to take a walk.
Christine Chen 30:12
Like, you don't know what you don't even know. You don't even know what I've gone through you carry that was the picture I understand it was it's because we all want it to be better thing but it's just it's just fine because it's like I've been beat down a million times with this pitch and then like she sees it for the first time this the first thing you notice is like a picture not what she expects it to be like. You want to take a picture?
Adam Rani 30:45
Go do it. Yeah.
Christine Chen 30:49
these my problems right now. So,
Adam Rani 30:52
Yeah. Geez, as my therapist gets so wide.
Christine Chen 31:00
I know. Normal people are like you crazy. Yeah, I mean, yeah, they make money so much faster.
Adam Rani 31:09
Explaining this to anybody. It's like any other venture. It's the same thing for fucking doctors. You know? I mean, being a doctor sounds like a nightmare to me. But to other people who are doctors are like, no, I'm saving lives, dummy. Shut up. You know, I'm just like, Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't say, you know, you just you sort of learn and you need to live and filmmaking. I'm not trying to compare it to being in the medical field. Jesus Christ. Who am I fuckin God? No, I I'm saying that. Filmmaking is such a love hate relationship, just like how it is for me with writing that I there's certain days where I'm like, I don't want to fucking come near you. And then there's other days where like, I really miss you. Oh, yeah, it's so crazy. It's really strange. And you know, even the days after a film, shoot, I look like I died. Because I'm just laying horizontal for the next 48 hours because of a 50-day shoot or whatever. You know, it's just like, Yeah, you know, you just, I love the business so much. To the point where I'll keep coming back. Probably for the rest of my life. That's how fucking crazy I am. Sure, but it's, it's what I love. And it's what you love. And you know, we find a way through it. But man, there's gonna be days where we're just like, Listen, this is fucked up. And let me tell you why. You gotta have that ability to do that. If we're just gonna be walking around just being like, I am so thankful of my life. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't trust you. And get out of my face. You know, I'm saying it is because if you weren't stressed out right now, Christina be like, Are you on drugs? What are you doing?
Christine Chen 33:01
Gensi here, alright, now I, it's, I'm in it. And I'm like, I don't see the light in she, she made she did it. And she raised the money. She paid everybody and she made the film. It's almost there. And she has a screening to take a look and of the cut so far to like, what badass. I'm, I'm like, I don't see that. Every day I feel like I'm drowning. Every day.
Adam Rani 33:35
Yeah. Yeah.
Christine Chen 33:38
And my nature is I try to be as pleasant as possible. But most of the times any little thing like ticks me off. Oh, yeah. Just like, take the rock. Guess where I was like, can be like very here. I would have like shoved
Adam Rani 33:57
man. Yeah, that's the thing. Like I've even talked about with my therapist. Like even my even my therapist was just like, why don't you take a walk? And I'm like, you take a walk. She's like, see my point? And I'm like, Yeah, I do.
Christine Chen 34:11
I need to bring her on. We should bring her on as a guest, too. And then it'll be over, both of the filmmakers who've invested in this trade shitty story Oh my God, why is it so hard? I'm like oh, I can't
Adam Rani 34:31
If it came to you easy, would we be having this conversation we would be having, we wouldn't be having fun like this the way we are now.
Christine Chen 34:39
I guess I thought that it would be like easier because I have a business degree. You know, so like I know how to make a pitch deck. At least I know about business things I know why people mess and how those that money works and I know like how to make a pitch deck and all I guess like, that's why I just thought that oh, you know, it should be easier because I have this kind of leg up.
Adam Rani 35:07
Um, yeah, of course. And it's always best to be prepared. Like, don't get me wrong like even though we're talking about how it's just like, be yourself, just be prepared. You don't want to be an idiot and just walk in and be like, hey, guys, give me money. Why? Well, I'll make it a kick ass movie. That's why
Christine Chen 35:24
Apparently, that works for some people.
Adam Rani 35:26
Some people of course, like Martin Scorsese.
Christine Chen 35:29
If you are male it works.
Adam Rani 35:32
Well, yeah, yeah. I mean, I can't argue because I mean, I don't I don't know how it is. And I don't I don't want to say that.
Christine Chen 35:41
They just, they just give you million-dollar budgets.
Adam Rani 35:46
I'm sure there's bullshit.
Christine Chen 35:47
It is just like left or right. Like, yeah, here's a million-dollar budget for you. Here's what you've never made a film. Totally cool. Here you go. Here's the money.
Adam Rani 35:56
Here's 30 million.
Christine Chen 35:57
Yeah, here is here's $4 million. You don't have to raise any money. It's cool. The bank is endless. You want to go over schedule. No worries.
Adam Rani 36:06
It doesn't make it seem that way. They do. They do somehow make it seem like everything is like an endless money pit.
Christine Chen 36:14
I just been on so many sets where operates that way. And I'm like, yeah. Oh, how? It's always been. Sadly, it's the majority of these film sets are run by
Adam Rani 36:27
And some of the directors who just can't get through the day. It's like, oh, we'll just we'll just we'll just get some reshoots, and I'm like, we'll just get some reshoots. Are you fucking high? You mean? Are you talking? Just like I will just spend another fuckin however much to get two days and get 50 people to work here on set for reshoots. And like, what are we, fucking Hollywood, like, get the fuck out of my face. So ridiculous to me. And so, and there's a few people who do that. Like even though I don't work nearly as many sets as you have. Christine, I've definitely worked in enough sets where I see shit like this. And I'm like, oh, you have no preparation whatsoever and shit was just given to you. Fuck you.
Christine Chen 37:15
So many. Big F U.
Adam Rani 37:17
Listen, though I have I have worked with directors that have completely earned it. You know?
Christine Chen 37:25
Completely earned it, that's for sure.
Adam Rani 37:26
And producers that I've worked with that I'm just like, oh, you know the business and you love the story. You love the storytelling of this entire thing. That's who I appreciate who I love. You know, like you and Kelly, Roxy, all those people. You know, they just they are people who are invested in the story, rather than just being like, well, I mean, Martin Scorsese is directing it, you know, it's just like, Shut up. Do you want to work with that person or not? Be the best you can be. You know, and don't bullshit yourself and don't bullshit other people.
Christine Chen 38:04
You know, I I'm about to make a statement that I feel like extremely controversial.
Adam Rani 38:14
I don't want you to be nervous about it, though. Don't you know, if you don't want to say it, don't say it.
Christine Chen 38:19
What I feel like a lot of I say white people are able to succeed those because they have very supportive infrastructure. Their families are supportive.
Adam Rani 38:36
What kind of infrastructure?
Christine Chen 38:39
Multiple levels, community infrastructure, they've got family infrastructure. And I mean, this has to do with like, like, I love my family and parents and whatever. But like, if I were to pitch this to them, they'll be like, get the fuck out my face.
Adam Rani 39:02
Yeah, same with my family. they will be like what are you doing? Shut up, you know? Yeah.
Christine Chen 39:06
What is this? When are you gonna get a real job? Yeah, exactly. And it's like, so it's sucks but like, I don't have that.
Adam Rani 39:17
Yeah, and it's it Yes, but that's what makes the story a little bit better. You know, I mean, it and the fact that you can get this all made and we are still I mean, you still follow through to the end with Erzulie Then you literally got a movie that can give the middle finger to every one of those idiots you know I mean that's what you want.
Christine Chen 39:45
Honestly that would be my dream, it would we make this, get the money then a \shit total money and I could go and say this.
Adam Rani 39:58
Absolutely, yes. I wholeheartedly agree with you because those people are would you say would they make it? You know, I mean, those people who were just kind of handed a silver spoon from the beginning to
Christine Chen 40:15
I mean, there are people who are able to have there are you know, I will mentor respect there's some people who, you know, know that they have that privilege, but they take that privilege and run with it, you know? Exactly. I don't think privileges anything to, you know.
Adam Rani 40:32
But privileged can tell a good story.
Christine Chen 40:35
Sure. Yes, this is true. If he can't tell that story. They can't. guarantee you that story? That's more pilot it is. The privilege can't tell if it's or it's more privilege cannot guarantee
Adam Rani 40:47
Yes. If the movie is called Wall Street. Yeah. I'm kidding. No. But um, yeah, no, you're right. You're 100% right. I agree. I feel like you know, privilege. It could be the death of a good story. But you there's, there's so many variables, especially if you know what you're doing if you know what you're doing. That's different. Because if you truly know the film industry and how it works and how it operates, like a Christine Chen would or Kelly Pena would or whoever, Roxy Camille, those people understand how it is to run a film set, rather than people who are just, you know, handed the, the director credit, and just show up on set and be you know, with fuckin, you know, a nice outfit, you know, looking like a, like bringing a suit or something, you know, knowing full well, we're gonna shoot outside in the blazing heat. You know, I mean, like, there's some people who were just not prepared for this and cut out for it.
Christine Chen 41:48
I know. I'm more than prepared for what,
Adam Rani 41:51
you're not only more than prepared, but you’re also made for this. You're by proxy. Christine, you are made for the film industry. And you're made to be a storyteller. You know, just like how everyone who I've worked with you who you've introduced me to. They are also likeminded people like Christine, where, you know, they also want the same thing you want. And that's just to tell a good story to just make dope, pretend. But I hope I'm not losing you.
Christine Chen 42:25
Yeah, no, no, you're not. I am thankful that at least the way I deal with stress is becoming over overly productive. So, I've been I've been.
Adam Rani 42:37
I don't want you to burn a candle at both ends. You know, I mean, Christina, I
Christine Chen 42:41
am right now. Um, I've been haven't been able to sleep very much and work till three 4am But Brad's music video is looking sick. telling him that because he's on the podcast, just want to know that. Yeah, I've been editing that because I can't, my brain won't shut down and stress on my mind. So, I spend the nights editing away in the quiet of the night, because it's oddly comforting, because it's like there's no rhyme or reason to editing. And that's what I love about film set. You put in a you get b Right. I put a suit here and I edit I can control I cut it and I made this piece of art.
Adam Rani 43:33
You get what you give.
Christine Chen 43:34
You get what you get, this pitching thing man.
Adam Rani 43:38
It doesn't feel like that.
Christine Chen 43:41
Right now, it does not feel that way. I feel it's fishing. I'm literally fishing
Adam Rani 43:45
I'm yeah, you're on a dinghy by yourself. Yeah,
Christine Chen 43:50
I'm fishing. I'm just waiting and waiting
Adam Rani 43:53
Imagining you fishing is the funniest fucking thing.
Christine Chen 43:56
Officially that is what it is. I'm literally fishing I am because I
Adam Rani 44:02
know how impatient you are. So, you can we just fly in a fish? It's just like, they live in the water Christine. just get on my hook. I don't give a shit.
Christine Chen 44:16
As why I love and hate fishing. Like I love it when I catch something, but I hate it.
Adam Rani 44:21
I know. I know. That's why I kind of like writing in a way because it teaches you sort of to be patient. You know, I mean, for me, it taught me instead of just me just putting in the work constantly. Yeah, I can take a step back. And I can say, oh, all this shit is bullshit. I don't like anything what I wrote, and I think I'm a garbage writer and then and then and then and then what happens is I see it and I'm like, Oh, that's not that bad. Sometimes I just need to take a walk. Sometimes I just do something so dumb, like cook myself some food, you know make a pizza and I come back and I'm like, Ah hard on myself. Like I think That's fine, or yeah, I get that aha moment where I'm like, oh, this works. I know it. I'm going for it, you know, and I just I run with it.
Christine Chen 45:09
Well see that's within your control, though. That's why I'm like, I don't know about like, that's, that's you put in you what you needed was a mental break. He did that. And then you got this like that's within your control?
Adam Rani 45:25
You know, that's true. Yeah, that's in that in that case? Yeah. That sort of kind of broke down my example by Yeah, because 95% of the time, I don't know what I'm talking about, ladies and gentlemen. And that's the podcast. Okay. It is what it is. So, um, yeah, no, I agree with you. I agree. I guess your because I think I think that's my problem, too. I think I have a control issue. Because once I have that control thing, which is my writing, I feel like I can do fundamentally whatever I want. But to certain limit, you know, where I know, in the circumstance of the story, what can I do to get myself out of whatever situation, you know, but there's some days where I just don't want to touch my script at all because of life or, you know, whatever. You say, I still circle back to it, even if it's like, 2am. Like, I'm like, so far off the beaten track. I'm just like, you know what, I want to go back to my script, you know, and I get this this aching feeling in the back of my head, just wanting to go back to the script and just finishing it. You know, it's like an it's like a leech that I can never get rid of until I finish the script. Sure. I know.
Christine Chen 46:39
I mean, that's the bug, the film bug.
Adam Rani 46:42
Yeah, it is.
Christine Chen 46:44
It is a problem. We are addicted.
Adam Rani 46:48
Yeah. And I usually take that out with my writing, and I watch a ton of movies, read comic books and eat a ton of pizza rolls. You know, that's how I that's how I deal. It's really weird. It's very strange.
Christine Chen 47:02
You know, I think the universe is telling me something what one of my pitches got rescheduled, which means I can actually go to Gensi screening I believe. You ever saw me take a break?
Adam Rani 47:12
Take a break Christine, yeah dude.
Christine Chen 47:16
You literally have been, like, freaking pitching machine. The kid. You know, I woke up this morning. I pitched, ate and then pitched. Fix the pitch then pitched.
Adam Rani 47:30
And then you pitched some more. Yeah.
Christine Chen 47:32
And then I edited in between so I don't lose my mind.
Adam Rani 47:35
I mean, that's great, Christine, but you know, I don't want I don't want you to bury yourself where you don't appreciate the good shit in life. You know? I mean?
Christine Chen 47:48
Yeah. Yeah. Jesse. I'm coming. I'm coming. I need it. My pitch got rescheduled/ So might as well. Yeah. Yeah. I'm human for once and not a pitching machine.
Adam Rani 48:07
Being Human.
Christine Chen 48:09
Yeah, right now I'm right now I am a computer right now. I am a set of slides. Right? Yeah, right now. I'm like, Hey, guys. Yeah. Hi, guys. I am a filmmaker who make you feel.
Adam Rani 48:27
sort of you get inside your robotic head and you just kind of sit there for a little while. It's almost like you put your brain in autopilot. You're just like, oh, I'm just gonna do my thing. Now, you know, and not worry about the shit outside. And then I'm kind of neglecting my friends in the process. And my family.
Christine Chen 48:46
No. Yeah, at work I go into, like a zone. And then I don't say yeah, how long I worked out of the zone is I've noticed that, like, the friendships are usually, the closest are the people who like insert themselves into my life so that I like, notice that I have friends.
Adam Rani 49:07
Yeah, no, I have people like that too. Yeah. Thankful for those. Yeah. Because you kind of go about life and you sort of don't realize like, oh, yeah, I have a life outside of this. And there are other people especially like.
Christine Chen 49:23
There is a life out there Adam? Stop lying.
Adam Rani 49:26
No, I know, but I know, that's how I feel all the time. To my friends. And one time a friend from high school, she was talking to me, and my buddy was like, like, I was talking about like a moot, like, like a project I worked on, and it was like I was whatever. Do you ever take a break from movies? And I'm like, what do you mean? And she was
Christine Chen 49:48
Yeah, what do you mean?
Adam Rani 49:49
She was like, what like, do you what do you do that isn't movies? I'm like I just sit there and I'm like, I watch them. And she was like, no, no Talking about anything outside of movies and I'm like, now I can feel like garbage Shut up. Like, I love movies, and it's gonna be the rest of my life and it is what it is. But she has a point. I need to. And that's why I've been like doing other things that kind of still exercises in my brain, like drawing. Like I'm getting back into that. And that sort of calms me down in a way creatively. And even
Christine Chen 50:24
I edit Oh, wait, that's movies will shit.
Adam Rani 50:28
Well and drawings movies, too, because I'm drawing storyboards off my fucking stool. Is it really drawing? Yeah. You know, I mean, I'm bullshitting. Bullshit. So, I don't know, man, like I just I try to do my best.
Christine Chen 50:43
I take walks.
Adam Rani 50:45
I take walks too.
Christine Chen 50:46
But when I take walks, I think about movies.
Adam Rani 50:50
movies, especially the music I listen to, I think about scenes that I would use.
Christine Chen 50:54
I listen to music to think about more movies, and how that music will go to the movie.
Adam Rani 50:59
Yeah, I yeah, I just have a whole cut in my head based off of
Christine Chen 51:03
What's wrong with us? And what is wrong with us?
Adam Rani 51:07
I think what, what the best thing about us is that we're so imaginative, but the worst thing about us is that we stink at trying to reach out to people. Oh, I'm bad. But listen, I try to do my best, you know, and there's other people who have reached out to me, and I'm like the fuck don't you know, but then they come back at me like, Oh, Mr. Film guy here fuckin wants. Friendship time. Are you kidding me? And I'm just like, right? Yeah, you gotta. Now you want friendship Time. Fuck you. I'm just like, alright, you know, I didn't know. Because I neglected that. When I was working retail. I was so miserable working retail, that I had nothing but time for my friends. Like I just I was like, oh, yeah, no, you want to hang out and go to a bar every single day after work? Yeah, let's go. Let's do it. You know, I don't care. And that's those were the days where I was drinking heavily. And I was just hanging out with friends go to bars, and you know, get fat. Just like, oh, just eat food, it just, it just gets bigger and bigger. And then I slowed down the drinking. And then I started writing more. And then I started. I don't know if that was a result of that of me slowing down from drink, but I reserved more time for my thoughts. And once my thoughts go wild, I'm writing. You know, I'm getting back to that script, or I'm doing something creatively, like I'm drawing storyboards of some shit, because I can't take myself out of that zone. Video games, sort of take me out of that zone. But even then, like that only lasts for a couple of hours. And then afterwards, I'm like, I should work on my screen. You know, just go back to the office and work. It's not a great life over living. Listen, we might be single for the rest.
Christine Chen 52:58
I always say that. Every day, every time I wake up for a set at like, 5am I reevaluate my life decisions.
Adam Rani 53:09
I take a shower, and I'm like, Am I doing the right thing?
Christine Chen 53:12
Do I really need to be doing this? This is my life.
Adam Rani 53:17
But then I go back to the same conclusion. Christina is like, oh, no, this is everything I have. This is everything that I want.
Christine Chen 53:23
Its everything. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I'm like making peanuts. Like, is this my life? And I think if I had more money, I just make more films.
Adam Rani 53:36
Yeah, I mean, that's why it cracked me up when I was working retail when people were all about me back in 2008, when people were freaking out about losing money and stuff like that. People were building like, 401 k's and investment and golden shit. And they're like, aren't you worried about retirement, Adam? And I'm like, I hope I die on the film set. I'm kidding. I'm kidding, by the way. But i That's my whole goal is to die doing the thing that I love doing so much instead of doing the things and I'm like, ah, I wish I did X, Y and Z. Right before I leave the world. And if I haven't done X, Y and Z, the fuck is the point of all this, you know, I mean, and I'm just wasting my life working you know? Um, yeah, that's always the case with any sort of creative endeavor, you know. Yeah. It's alright.
Christine Chen 54:28
We just need to mentor ourselves that we have a problem. We do have a problem. We are.
Adam Rani 54:32
Oh, Christine. I am. I have more than I am a problem. I am a problem. I am the problem. I'm kidding. But I'm I am so I'm so complicated that I'm impossible.
Christine Chen 54:50
In other news, I got an email.
Adam Rani 54:53
Well, I mean, listen, if we know anything on this podcast is that we love to read email.
Christine Chen 55:00
It's a good one ah in route was a semifinal as a core finalist in Atlanta Film Festival. So that's good.
Adam Rani 55:09
Oh, really? That's good.
Christine Chen 55:10
That's good. Yeah, so hey, good news. Stay positive.
Adam Rani 55:15
Fantastic news. Yeah, fucking Christine, she is not happy about it. She's just like, yeah, good news. Anyways, moving on.
Christine Chen 55:23
Where is the money. Is there 1300 scripts 650 or features they only picked to get to the core file is 130? So that's good.
Adam Rani 55:35
That's amazing, dude.
Christine Chen 55:37
So, they're not done yet there. We just made it to the quarterfinals. So now they're gonna they said that you're choosing semifinalists and finalists and stuff now so.
Adam Rani 55:48
No, that is amazing. We are approaching an hour so we can take this bad boy in for a landing. Christine sounds
Christine Chen 55:55
Good. Hey, we at least had something positive towards the end. It feels like I'm
Adam Rani 56:03
Wait our podcast wasn't positive.
Christine Chen 56:08
It was me bitching most of it.
Adam Rani 56:15
But I don't know. I mean, I think this was a fun Podcast. I know Christina is in a miserable Hell. I look forward to doing these podcasts with you
Christine Chen 56:26
I look forward to it all the time. Yes. And then you're worried about like, oh, no, I just wish I had something like super exciting inspirational and say like, hey, you're gonna raise the money to
Adam Rani 56:42
Every single episode of any podcast if you give me one podcast that was always gonna be positive no matter what, in every single show every single podcast. Then you I take back everything that I say. But there has been no fucking podcast has ever had one episode, where they're like, No, everything's great. And we're fine. We're, we're fantastic. You know, I'm just like, no, I got COVID Christine is stressed out. And I think you know, what are we? What are we doing? Oh, perfect. But we're gonna have some of these episodes that listen. Ride or die people if you're watching this.
Christine Chen 57:24
It is real, it is not sugar coated. This is real life.
Adam Rani 57:27
Nothing is sugar coated, and they know the viewers know.
Christine Chen 57:30
This is film makers. This is our podcast edition raising money.
Adam Rani 57:37
Yeah, we're gonna be we're gonna be complaining talking shit. But then on the other side of that we're gonna have some cool shit to say. No matter what. You know? Yeah, we stumble on that. We're not planning this. It's not like before the podcast Christine's like, I have a list of topics that we should talk about. Now. We're going straight into what we want to talk about, you know, and whatever we want to talk about. You know, everyone else who's just like, you guys should have an agenda, shut up. No.
Christine Chen 58:04
Our agenda is movies, our life is movies. Always movies. Somehow it comes back to movies. We are movie making machines right now I am a pitch making machine.
Adam Rani 58:22
She is a pitching machine and I'm the procrastinator.
Christine Chen 58:27
I just trying to write my script. Why do I do this to myself.
Adam Rani 58:31
Because you love it, Chrissy.
Christine Chen 58:39
I want to see how many episodes it will take until we get to guess what guys were funded. Should we take bets.
Adam Rani 58:50
What do you mean? Like Wait, how many episodes is
Christine Chen 58:53
how many episodes? Cuz it's been like three so far. Right? Three of me bitching.
Adam Rani 58:59
Oh, well, listen, you say bitching, but it doesn't sound like that to me. It doesn't sound like that. If you were truly bitching, Christine it would be like woe is me all the time and that shit will just never ever go my way and I'm just it's just the way it is. It's just like if that's gonna be the podcast I want nothing to do with it but I'm still sticking around it and it's not like that at all.
Christine Chen 59:25
I'm still will be fourth being positive channeling inner unicorn magic.
Adam Rani 59:33
You are unicorn magic too.
Christine Chen 59:38
Yes, it will come getting the money
Adam Rani 59:44
In the wise words of Charlie Sheen. You got tiger blood. You know, I mean, it's just like you push through anything. Christine? Even if the if even if the shit is so tough. You still push it through. But you always do this though you always you always say that. Like, yeah, no, I just keep bitching and I keep complaining. It's like that none of that's true. You're not really doing that. You're just voicing. I'm doing the valid excuse that you have in your head.
Christine Chen 1:00:10
Voicing my inner rage.
Adam Rani 1:00:12
You are venting your inner rage and listen, inner rages had to be vented. You know, sometimes a therapist might be better than a podcast.
Christine Chen 1:00:21
It is not the same? Oh shit.
Adam Rani 1:00:26
Oh, I think it is the same. I think it's the same. I think it's the same, sure.
Christine Chen 1:00:32
I think I need to do the elevator pitch really quick, then that will take us to the landing.
Adam Rani 1:00:40
Get in for the landing.
Christine Chen 1:00:43
Here it is. I'm Christie Chen and filmmaker for making films since 2008. Very, very long time when I'm not directing and making films, I'm a first assistant director full time, which means I control the scheduled time and everything, which means you're the film's going to be done. And I'm finally ready to make a film. It's called early. It's about mermaids, who everybody fucking loves mermaids is going to sell because everybody loves mermaids about for women who meet a murderous mermaid, and it's we're shooting it in 12 days in Louisiana, all we need is literally $300,000 to make the film, it's gonna be awesome. Because the cast is done. And they're awesome. The crew is done. They're awesome. Not all they're awesome. I've worked with them for many, many years. So, it's like, I can't pick people who are nice, who are good at their jobs, and who are going to rock it. I'm so excited. You know, the part that sparks joy for me is whenever somebody texts me with the prop, they made the tail they made, you know, like, I cannot wait to celebrate the skillsets of this incredible team. And really, all I need is this money. You know what's crazy, I did the hardest part I have guaranteed effing distribution, you know how hard that is to get you non film people. That is the hardest thing to do when you have a film is get legit distribution, and I have it. I have it because somebody approached me and said, hey, we love your work. We've seen your work since you didn't know anything. And now if you bring us this job, now we can sell it because we know you make good stuff. So here is our promise of intent to distribute your film. So, for all you guys out there,
Adam Rani 1:02:35
I'm sold, you got 500k for me,
Christine Chen 1:02:37
right, right. And tax incentives, guys, for your businesspeople out there, if you can write it off. Oh, you know, yeah, in Louisiana, if you invest, you can get an angel investor credit tax 25% So that means if you invest $10,000 You get 25% of that $2,500 back immediately. Not only that, but I also live in Louisiana, so I qualify for 40% of the movie tax rate, which means 40% of the money that I spend in Louisiana comes back as well. So, I can guarantee investors their money immediately. And the entire film could be written off as an expense. Because IRC when anyone says that you can write off an expense, which that means if you make a shit ton of money, or you want to go down to a lower tax rate, you just need to invest in my film. And then you will save yourself a lot of money, the end. Erzuliefilm.com And if you don't have online just go donate on my Kickstarter, my crowdfunding campaign that's coming out next week. Crowdfunding campaign Erzuliefilm.com Please, please help me get the money.
Adam Rani 1:03:55
We want to make this shit happen.
Christine Chen 1:03:59
It's going to happen we've been prepping it is happening. Things are happening.
Adam Rani 1:04:03
Things are happening. We're going to get moving.
Christine Chen 1:04:06
I am not crying, not crying at all. I am super happy.
Adam Rani 1:04:14
When you bring it like that, yeah, that's too much. Now hold back the right listen. The last five minutes was amazing. Until you just said that when you said that then it was just like okay. Now you suddenly just want to kill yourself.
Christine Chen 1:04:35
Just believe in me.
Adam Rani 1:04:39
We all believe in you, Christine. I believe in anything. Did you listen to me or no? There are so many assholes out there who have all of the money in the world. They just sometimes just don't give a shit about people like me or you. You know I mean we just, we believe in you, Christine, I believe in you.
Christine Chen 1:05:08
Thank you.
Adam Rani 1:05:08
You should believe in yourself too, by the way, because you're yourself is the most important, Christine of all, you know, I'm saying, so believe in yourself once and you know.
Christine Chen 1:05:19
I'm going to get some money. Mark my words is gonna happen.
Adam Rani 1:05:23
You're not only will get the money, Christine, you're also gonna make a good fucking movie/
Christine Chen 1:05:26
Even if it means like donating my blood.
Adam Rani 1:05:30
You're gonna you're gonna get a bitchin movie. This is gonna be a crazy ass movie. And I know I'm just saying that because I'm your co, but I truly mean that. I truly mean that. I think this this movie is just gonna be fucking rad. It's gonna be fun. It's fun to you. I mean, it's not like, yeah, it's not like you're shooting a fucking CNN documentary. What are we doing here? It's just like, we're making a fun story. Shut up. Like, this is gonna be great. You guys invest. Do it.
Christine Chen 1:05:59
It is so funny. Carl was like, the harder this is the more you just gonna cry when you are on set, on day one. I'm like, oh, man, Carl, you don't even know. I'm up on set. Just start crying. Like the moment. I'm just gonna, like the just thinking about it makes me cry. Like, it's like it. I just know. It's gonna be awesome.
Adam Rani 1:06:23
And well, yeah. And to prevent you from crying, all you have to do is just look at me and you know us. Okay, God, Jesus Christ. That fucking behemoth who hired him again. Jesus Christ. Hi, I'm Adam. I'm the cohost of the get Reelisms podcast. Um, all right.
Christine Chen 1:06:46
Erzuliefilm.com
Adam Rani 1:06:47
Erzuliefilm.com invest, how much, what's the minimum they can do?
Christine Chen 1:06:54
For the crowdfunding?
Adam Rani 1:06:56
Yeah.
Christine Chen 1:06:57
Oh, just $35 guys are the minimum. Yes
Adam Rani 1:07:00
Guys and then you can have a presence in the history of the making of Erzulie who doesn't want to be a part of history. That's what movies are. Fundamentally. Yeah.
Christine Chen 1:07:12
Only $35 and you can be a part of the film.
Adam Rani 1:07:16
And your part of the film, ladies and gentlemen, come on, getreelisms.com for the podcasts and for the book. Get it today. Erzuliefilm.com invest in that $35 You guys come on. Let's.
Christine Chen 1:07:32
And if you want to listen to me pitch and cry. Pitch and cry, you see how I did that.
Adam Rani 1:07:38
I loudly i this. This is the reason why I need a new cohost because he doesn't fucking listen to me. She even though Adam just went into a whole 10-minute diatribe on how the podcast is so fucking fun. And how this episode is great. And also, the last 43 episodes we've done, including the unemployment podcast recipes, and we I've been having fun every time since then. And then you have fun. I always have fun. And then you I have to yell at you to tell you that we are having fun and more and more that Christine isn't having fun, but I am so gonna be torturous for Christine, then it's way more fun for me.
Christine Chen 1:08:23
Yes, yes. No, I am having fun. I'm very. I'm privileged to be in this industry to be able to work full time in it. So, at the end of the day. That's the message.
Adam Rani 1:08:38
I hope I hope you're happy that you're on a podcast with a cohost who is a schlub?
Christine Chen 1:08:45
Believe in your dream’s guys okay, we're going up deep and I'm losing it guys, just losing it.
Adam Rani 1:08:55
At least be happy that you're on a podcast with me and that we're doing this together. You miss me and I miss you.
Christine Chen 1:09:04
I do miss you. I do miss you. That's why I want to get this funding so that we can be on a set together and work on
Adam Rani 1:09:11
But I am doing this podcast.
Christine Chen 1:09:14
I love this podcast
Adam Rani 1:09:21
I listen. No, I know you. I know you. And I have I have a great time doing this podcast too. I really, I really do even though there was two weeks where we had no podcast. I had to because I fucking died. So, you know it is what it is. But ladies and gentlemen, that's been the Get Reelisms podcast. Tune in next week we're gonna have another episode um yeah, yeah. And Christine still gonna complain how she just always complains. Yeah, so it's gonna be a never-ending cycle. I'm kidding you guys. This has been the Get Reelisms. Thank you so much for tuning in Facebook. We love you Instagram we love Oh, Actually I think it's a grim I fucked up but whatever it doesn't matter anyways ladies and gentlemen, Get Reelisms podcast.
Christine Chen 1:10:08
ErzulieFilm.com
Adam Rani 1:10:10
ErzulieFilm.com crowdfunding Yes $35 You guys do it. Now. That's been it.