By RAY KELLY
Nine months after the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign raised $406,405 toward editing The Other Side of the Wind, producers have clued contributors in on the status of the much-delayed project.
The producers in an email to donors today did not comment on Wellesnet’s recent report that they have partnered with Netflix nor did they get into specifics. Instead, they reported on high stakes, confidential talks with distribution partners interested in Orson Welles’ unfinished movie and explained their silence.
Here is the text of the email message from producer Filip Jan Rymsza to contributors in its entirety:
Dear Contributors,
Since the end of our Indiegogo campaign on July 6, 2015, we have been diligently exploring means of distribution for the film, so that it can be seen in the best and widest way possible. Naturally, our conversations with potential partners have been confidential, making it impossible to provide you with the timely updates you all deserve. We have been very close, at times a week or weeks away, but, through no fault of our own, those weeks turned into months.
I would like to address a few points:
- First and foremost, we are working tirelessly to finish the film.
- The perks you selected will be delivered as promised.
- We have not received any, formal refund requests and fielded only one such inquiry.
The intense attention the film has received and our long silence have fueled rumors and false news stories, which threaten to jeopardize our plans. Even this update, which is admittedly long overdue, and the frustration being voiced by some fans, however justified, will likely create even more unwanted press … but I owed it to you to break our silence.
As our new partners on this 30-year journey to finish Orson’s final film, I know we all have the film’s best interests at heart. We could not have come this far without your support. I greatly appreciate your patience and hope to share our exciting plans as soon as I am able.
Sincerely,
Filip
During a two-month period last year, 2,859 people contributed to the campaign, which had initially set a $2 million goal. Donations ranged from a few bucks from casual fans to $50,000 from Dean DeBlois, director of Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. Donors were offered perks, ranging from Blu-ray copies of the completed film to a coffeetable book to tickets to the world premiere.
Under its posted terms of service, Indiegogo, which receives a cut from the donations, takes no responsibility for refunds or perk fulfillment after a campaign ends and suggests that donors contact campaign organizers with concerns.
In recent months, 20 contributors have complained on the Indiegogo website about the lack of communication from Rymsza and fellow producers, Frank Marshall and Jens Koethner Kaul. Wellesnet has also heard from fans upset about the lack of communication, which may be due to the drawn out talks between producers, Netflix and Sasha Welles, who represents his aunt, Oja Kodar, a co-owner of the film.
Sasha Welles recently told Wellesnet he was never involved in the Indiegogo campaign, though some fans haven mistakenly thought he or Kodar were participants.
“I had never heard of Indiegogo until Filip talked about their plan to get financing through them. I was still unclear on the workings of it all but it wasn’t my deal,” he said. “I would have never accepted to be involved because I am not a producer – I am selling; therefore I could never promise anyone any rewards the way Filip did.”
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