You know, ever since the dawning of the whole crowdfunding thing, the way people make money has truly changed. I remember when it first started out, some people would crowdfund their lunch, and stuff like that. All of that was pretty funny, I thought. I mean, hey, if somebody wants to give you money to buy your lunch, good for them and good for you! But, there's a lot more devious activity going on within and without all of that. This is especially true when it comes to creative projects. I mean, how many supposed creative projects have been set up to receive money and then were never completed?
 
I mean, just a couple of months ago, somebody set up a GoFundMe account for the great actor, Mickey Rourke, because he couldn't pay his rent. I even thought of giving some money to the dude. But, as it turned out, he had nothing to do with it and refused any of the money. Somebody, somewhere on his team decided that it was a good idea to set up a page, get some donations, and maybe or maybe not give it to him? I don't know what ever happened to all of that money that was received? For those of you who care, I suppose you could search that out. But, there's an ideal example of money going to who and why?
 
Certainly, there’s also been those cases of people supposedly raising money for an elderly individual or perhaps an unhoused individual and all kinds of money was raised. But, that person never received a dime. The person who set up the account kept it. Some people have even gone to jail over that kind of a scheme. That's kind of messed up. But, to the point of this piece, that's all part of the reality of this reality. You give money to who? You give money for what? And, whatever becomes of the money you give?
 
As I'm obviously very involved in the film industry, I've watched as this crowdfunding process has taken place and really bloomed. I mean, a lot of money has been raised for a lot of films. And, some of them have actually been made via these crowdfunding sources. I've donated money to some projects that have actually been created. And, I was happy to do it. But, from the moment this whole crowdfunding thing launched, I've also watched some people do some pretty dastardly deeds in regard to films and filmmaking.
 
I know I've spoken about this before, but one of the first examples I saw of this was when this very established filmmaker set up a page in association with all kinds of promises about what the project would be. They collected money. And, then nothing. Finally, when a lot of people started contacting the man about the project, he did go and shoot one of the most low budget, impossible to watch, twenty-minute features I have ever seen. And, I mean this guy is a very high-end independent filmmaker. The truth be told, why did he do crowdfunding? He needed an operation and he didn't have health insurance. So, where did the money given to the movie go? Not to the film.
 
Recently, I've watched as this one actor, and I guess you could call them a filmmaker, begin raising money for the sequel to a project that they raised a lot of money for a couple of years ago. I saw the feature that was completed. Personally, I didn't really like it. Very generic. But, that's the reality of films and filmmaking; some movies you like, some movies you don't like. And, everybody's taste is somewhat different. But, they did complete the film. They did get it distributed. Though the donators to the project never made any money. So, they got someone else to pay for the film and then they got to keep all of the money that was made from the film. Not a bad deal; right? But, for who?

This is what I always question about the whole crowdfunding game. But, nonetheless, that's the name of the game.
 
Recently, I took a look at their crowdfunding page for the sequel to the movie they're making and they have already raised a lot of money for it. Good for them! But, one of the things that just incensed me beyond belief, is that they are charging someone, or many people, fifteen hundred dollars to be an extra in their film. Yes, fifteen hundred dollars for a person to be an extra in their film! And, I use the term, "Extra," here as that is what they are calling it on their crowdfunding page. That role is now more precisely understood to be defined as, "A Background Performer," within industry circles.
 
Plus, as an, "Extra," there's no guarantee that person's bit part will even make it into the final cut. Nonetheless, they are asking fifteen hundred dollars for that honor. That is beyond wrong!
 
It just is unbelievable to me that they would even do something like that. Plus, the person paying that money would have to be in the L.A. area even to take part.
 
Sure, they get to be on the set with somebody that maybe they really like or admire. …Somebody that they have hoped to met. But, charging someone fifteen hundred dollars to do that is just wrong!
 
Now I get it, a lot of people don't know about the Hollywood game. The fact is, if you come out here to Hollywood, there's several extra casting agencies. You go sign up with them and they will put you in real movies, TV shows, and commercials. Plus, they pay you. It may not be a lot of money, but it's at least minimum wage. So, you're going to be making money for your time and performance. But, to ask people to pay fifteen hundred dollars to be an extra in their movie, what kind of a person does that?
 
Now, I'm not disparaging this person, because they have had a very successful career and they have made a name for themselves and provided a lot to the grander martial art community on the whole. No hate here! But, it was just a few years ago when they were selling their old tennis shoes on eBay. No lie! Plus, they’ve sold a lot of their other martial arts memorabilia in various places. Now, they are frequently taking trips around the world. Not only for seminars but for elaborate vacations and posting photos from them on the socials. Meaning, now that they've discovered crowdfunding, they are living a grand life. Doing this as they ask some poor soul to pay fifteen hundred dollars to be an extra in their movie. I'm sorry, that is just wrong on all levels!
 
Personally, I've never turned to a crowdfunding source to fund any of my Zen Films. I pay for everything out of my own pocket. That way, I don't owe nobody anything; monetarily or karmically.
 
Speaking of karma… What is the karma in all of this?
 
You know, I guess that goes to the reality of the reality and the truth of human existence in all of this world based upon crowdfunding. You ask people for money. But, for anybody who understands anything about karmic reality, the minute you take anything from anybody, you owe them something.
 
Some people are willing to give people money. Some people are happy to take it. That's all well and good. But, when you're doing something so reprehensible like charging a poor soul fifteen hundred dollars just to be an extra in your movie, that is just all kinds of wrong!
 
On the grander scale of life, we all do what we do to make a living. Some of us, make our living via creative methods. I believe, that's great. To each their own. But, when you're taking money from someone else to fund your reality, creative or otherwise, all you have done is created an entire realm of karmic debt. No matter what you do in life, no matter what job you have, no matter what creations you create, that is the reality. Take, and you will owe somebody something. Give, however, and you make the entire world a better place. But, be careful who you give what to. Because by giving to someone who is unconsciously taking, that may also create for you a world of karmic debt.