TWO DAYS LEFT. 83% FUNDED. We've Reached 9 Episodes... and Can Still Make 12! A Special Offer from RIFFTRAX! A First Look at the Snowglobe + New Mission Patches! Plus: New Bonus Challenges and Add-On Rewards!
almost 3 years ago – Fri, May 07, 2021 at 03:36:36 AM

 In Today's Update

•  Progress Report: We've got 9 NEW MOVIE SIGNS + 83% of our final goal!
•  Tonight's Livestream: Join us for Zombie Nightmare at 5pm PT!
•  Ultimate Challenge: Unlock DOUBLE CLASSIC EPISODES!
•  RiffTrax to the Rescue: Bonus rewards for Levels 35+
•  Season 13: Joel reveals the first two movies!
•  Reward Previews: First look at the Snowglobe + Mission Patches!
•  New Add-On Rewards: Check out the full list!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again.

As I hope you know, we've got just over 2 DAYS LEFT before our Kickstarter ends, and before that happens, there's still a lot to share with you... and a lot of our goal left to finish.

If you joined us last night for Werewolf, and a visit from our old friend Bill Corbett, then you already know that we made a few big announcements, so I'll tell you about those in a second.

First, though, I want to make sure you know that our final #MakeMoreMST3K Livestream Riff-Along is happening tonight at 5pm PT / 8pm ET, when we'll screen one of Jonah's all-time favorite episodes: Zombie Nightmare. 

Jonah, Baron, Hampton and Rebecca will all be there tonight, so it should be a good hang. And I don't know for sure, but I've heard that a surprise guest might be stopping in after the movie, so I hope you'll stick around to see who it is. 

And in case you forgot, you can join the screening on YouTube, Facebook or Twitch.

If you haven't got our Kickstarter open on your screen all day long, like I do, then I've got some great news for you:

During our livestream screening last night, we reached our third goal... which means we will officially be able to make 9 NEW EPISODES... and that I'll host a new episode for the first time since 1993!*

*Granted, I did appear for a cameo in Soultaker. But, I wasn’t invited to riff, so I’m not counting that one.

Anyway, it's really wonderful to know that we'll be able to make at least 9 new episodes for you... and that we still have just over 50 HOURS LEFT to hit our FINAL GOAL!

(Although, if you look at our Kickstarter page, did you notice that the countdown timer changed from "days" to "hours"? I told you this week was gonna get intense.)

So, let's take a look at how we're doing:

As you can see, we're still managing to hold onto our lead over the original Kickstarter... and even though it's gonna take a real push to reach our final goal in time, we still have a chance! And hey, Chance is my middle name! 

(Actually it’s Gordon, but you get the gist.)

Also, even though we didn't QUITE finish Bonus Challenge #7 and reach $4.5M by midnight last time, we did get there before I woke up this morning. So hey, I'm going to count that... which means that we've FINISHED Bonus Challenge #7, and that the Classic Episode rewards will now include TWELVE FREE CLASSIC SHORTS!

(See? You want to keep me in a good mood, because good things happen that way.)

We're not done yet, though. We've still got two "open" Bonus Challenges to finish:

•  Bonus Challenge #4: If we reach 25,000 backers by the end of tonight's livestream, everyone getting a T-SHIRT REWARD will be able to choose between two designs and get the option to upgrade and get a hoodie instead.
•  Bonus Challenge #8: If we can reach $5.0M before our Final Countdown Telethon starts on Friday at 3pm PT / 6pm ET, we'll unlock a DOUBLE POSTER REWARD, which means everyone getting the poster reward will get two new posters instead!

Also, to keep us on track for the last 50 hours, I'm going to add a few more bonus challenges:

•  Bonus Challenge #7b: If we reach $4.7M before midnight tonight, we'll upgrade the Classic Episode reward again, to include 16 BONUS CLASSIC SHORTS! 
•  Bonus Challenge #7c: If we reach $4.9M before midnight tomorrow, we'll upgrade the Classic Episode reward a fourth time, for a total of 20 BONUS CLASSIC SHORTS! 

And, to get us to the finish line, I've got one last "Ultimate Bonus Challenge" for you...

•  Bonus Challenge #9: If we reach our final goal of $5.5M before the Kickstarter ends on Friday at 8pm PT, we'll DOUBLE THE CLASSIC EPISODE REWARDS! 

So yeah, if you're getting 5 classic episodes right now, you'll get upgraded to 10... and if you're getting 10 classic episodes, you'll get upgraded to 20. 

(If you got the "5 Episode" or "10 Episode" Add-On Rewards, that'll count too.)

And you know, we've added so many bonuses to the reward packages that it's probably a good idea to update the "reward guide" we shared a few weeks ago. 

Here's what's on the table:

So yeah, there you go. 

As you can see, a lot of extra goodies have been added to these reward levels since we started this Kickstarter a month ago, so I hope all of these rewards are as exciting to you as they are to me. But we’ve also got...

A Special #MakeMoreMST3K Offer from RiffTrax

If you weren't watching our Livestream Riff-Along of Werewolf with Bill Corbett last night, you might have missed the big announcement he made:

To help us reach our final goal and #MakeMoreMST3K, our friends at RiffTrax are adding even more bonus rewards to our Kickstarter pledge packages.

So now, if you pledge at Level $35 and up, you'll also get all of these extra rewards:

If you want more specifics about those bonus rewards, you can read the details here.

And, just as exciting, the RiffTrax gang have also issued their own Bonus Challenge, to unlock a reward that I know a lot of MSTies have been hoping for:

That's right, y'all:

If we reach our final Kickstarter goal of $5.5M, our friends at RiffTrax will host their own live event in the Gizmoplex for all backers at Level $35 and above, complete with a screening and live discussion.

So yeah, if you love MST3K and RiffTrax, your rewards just got even better! 

Or, if you haven't seen what Bill, Kevin and Mike are doing with RiffTrax, these download rewards will give you a perfect way to find out more about that. 

Also, if you look, you'll see that all of these rewards – and the RiffTrax Bonus Challenge – are already in the reward chart that I just shared with you. It's all coming together! 

And that's not all we announced during last night's livestream...

The Next Two Movies on MST3K!

If you stuck around after Werewolf last night, then you'll already know this... but for everyone else, I also shared some news I've been promising for the last few weeks:

The first two movies we'll be riffing in Season 13 are  Robot Wars (1993) and Demon Squad (2019)!

Robot Wars is a Charlie Band feature that was clearly designed for cable, but the producers really decided to go for it anyway, and created a low-budget film with scope, attitude, and some nice stop-motion robot vehicles that occasionally fight. I gotta tell you that for a few minutes, it starts feeling like The Love Boat... if the “Love Boat” was a giant mech that was fighting another boat that was also a giant mech, and they were both sinking. And on fire.

Our second movie, Demon Squad, screams "indie feature." The producers work hard to create a film noir/fantasy vibe, without ever once acknowledging Ridley Scott’s seminal Blade Runner. It appears to take place in New Orleans. It also has more than its fair share of After Effects lightning bolts and purpley, swirly clouds from another dimension, and basically looks like the producers got a lot of their friends and family together and glued costume shop masks onto their faces. But the real attraction is the star, Khristian Fulmer, and his on-screen “Girl Friday,” Erin Lilley, behaving like they have history and chemistry.

Also, if you join us on Friday for our "Final Countdown Telethon," I'm pretty sure we'll be able to announce another new movie... and it's one I think a lot of you will be excited about. Also, I think it's probably the movie we'll use as the PREMIERE EXPERIMENT when we launch the Gizmoplex toward the end of this year.  (We just cleared it today, and I can’t wait to tell you about it!)

Speaking of the Telethon...

Save the Date... and Send Your Letters!

As you know, our #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter ends this Friday night at 8pm PT / 11pm ET... and just like we did with the #BringBackMST3K Kickstarter, we want to end with a "bang." So...

Please join us for our FINAL COUNTDOWN TELETHON livestream on Friday, starting at 3pm PT / 6pm ET.

I'm telling you now: even if you haven't been able to join any of our other livestream events, I really hope you'll make time to join us for this, because our first telethon was a pretty memorable experience – and also, the last few hours of the Kickstarter will be really intense, especially if we still haven't reached our final goal of $5.5M. 

We've got a lot of fun stuff planned for the evening, including a special "Jackbox Rematch," and we've also invited a lot of our friends to stop by, and maybe do some magic or play some tunes. I think Jonah will be taking song requests, and we might do a little riffing.

But here's the thing I really need your help with:

For our Final Countdown Telethon, we'd like to revive our VIEWER MAIL segment... and we need your letters, drawings, stories – or even video questions – for Cambot to share on Still Store. 

Now remember, in these segments we love to feature the work of children... so yeah, if you've got kids that like MST3K, please encourage them to draw a few pictures or send in questions for Tom and Crow. And if you don't have kids, but want to share your own MST3K artwork, stories or questions, we might include a few of those too. Oh, and if you send in a video, please make sure it's less than 60 seconds, or we won't have time to show it.. 

Anyway, that's the plan... so if you want to be part of the telethon on Friday, I hope you'll email us letters, drawings, stories and questions to [email protected] by 10am PT on Friday. 

More Reward Previews

In yesterday's update, I showed you the design concepts for our T-SHIRT and POSTER rewards, and I'm pleased that most of you seem as excited about them as I am. Gary Glover, Todd Nauck, and Mike Norton are all incredibly talented artists, so I feel really lucky that they were willing to help us create these rewards for you.

(Also, for those of you who asked: We can't promise anything, but we'll try to offer the 3D MOON shirt in a second color, if that's your preference as well. Truth be told, I eat with gusto, and I sometimes spill when I'm wearing light colors. So, I feel for you.) 

But listen, as you know, this Kickstarter is almost over... and we still have a few more reward designs I've been waiting to share with you.

First Look: MST3K Musical Snowglobe

The first one is for our MUSICAL SNOWGLOBE, which – I think I already told you – might be the reward I'm most looking forward to this time around. And to start, here's a concept sketch that the amazing Mike Norton did for us, to help communicate what we're imagining to our manufacturing partner – which is pretty much how our creative process always starts, whether we're building a set, a miniature model, or a snowglobe:

It might be a little hard to imagine the "finished product", but as you can see, the base of the snowglobe will be designed to look and feel like "moon rock", with a little version of the MST3K moon embedded in it. Then, inside the snowglobe, you'll see the Satellite of Love, Moonbase 13, and Jonah's Backjack parked on one of the landing pads.

The whole scene is really based on a few shots from our Netflix episodes:

I'm also excited about another little detail you can't see here, which is that the "snow" inside the globe isn't really going to look like normal "snowglobe" snow. Instead, we want the "snow" to look more like a storm of "moon dust," which will hang in the air for a moment before settling back down.  

To get an idea of what I mean, you can check out this video, where you'll see a "fog" hanging in the air around the Golden Gate Bridge:

I think it's a lovely effect, and I'm excited to see our design come to life. 

Also, as I already shared with you a few weeks ago, the base of the snowglobe will include a wind-up musical element, which will play a special "music box" version of the MST3K theme that Paul Sabourin prepared for us.

Anyway, that's everything I can share so far, but I hope it's enough to help you understand how beautiful – and collectible – the final version of the snowglobe will be. 

If you want one of your own, the musical snow globe is included with Pledges Level $350 and up, and also available by itself as an Add-On Reward.

Finally, before we move on, I've got one more reward design to share with you... and it's one that a lot of you have been asking for.

First Look: #MakeMoreMST3K Mission Patches

For our first Kickstarter, we created a set of "Mission Patches" that showed each of MST3K's "test subjects", along with the number of "missions" (or episodes) they've completed.

The illustrations for these were done by our friend Marty Baumann... and even though our original idea was just to offer them as a Kickstarter reward, we were so pleased with the final design that we ended up making them part of the official Gizmonic jumpsuit. If you look in Seasons 11 and 12, you'll see them on Jonah's shoulder. Also, if you saw the last MST3K Live Tour, they were on the shoulder of Emily and my jumpsuits too. 

But a lot has happened since our first Kickstarter, and in our new season – thanks to you – MST3K will have three hosts. That means that the mission patches for me and Jonah will both be "out of date"... and until now, Emily hasn't had a patch at all!

So, if you've been worrying about all of this, I'm pleased to tell you that – starting now – we are offering an updated set of #MakeMoreMST3K Mission Patches as an Add-On Reward:

Of course, we won't know what the new numbers will be until our Kickstarter ends, and we know how many new episodes we can make for Season 13. 

But as you can see, the times are a' changin': for this new set of patches, I've got a more "current" look, Jonah's beard has disappeared, and Emily has her own patch in purple, which is the color we're probably going to make her jumpsuit. GPC 1 has joined me, Mike and Jonah on our patches, and GPC 2 has joined Emily on hers. And if you're paying attention, you'll see that we've decided that Emily's last name will be "Connor." (I'll let you figure out why on your own.)

So yeah, if you want an updated set of Mission Patches, you can now select those as an Add-On Reward for $35. What do you think, sirs?

More Rewards Added

Since I know we've already sold out of a lot of the "overstock" Add-On Rewards from our original Kickstarter, I wanted to let you know that we've added a few more new Add-On Rewards that you can select with your pledge, including...

Also, we know that a lot of you were hoping to grab the complete collection of MST3K Comics. All of the copies we had were claimed within about 30 minutes... but we talked to our friends at Dark Horse, and were able to add a few more copies. So, you can grab that again too.

Finally, I want to let you know that we'll be adding one more BIG REWARD tomorrow, which I think will be interesting to anyone who was hoping we could do another big in-person premiere screening and party. So, be ready for that.

I think that's everything for now, but don't forget...

• With just over 50 hours left, we're 82% of the way to our final goal. 
• We've got new Bonus Challenges to unlock more free bonus rewards!
• All Pledge Levels at $35 and up now get bonus rewards from RiffTrax! 
• Our final Livestream Riff-along starts tonight at 5pm PT / 8pm ET.
• Our Final Countdown Telethon will start on Friday at 3pm PT / 6pm ET!

And of course, as always...

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

Listen up, friends. We're almost out of time, and there are stilL THREE MORE EPISODES on the line, so it's time to buck up, get out there, and keep spreading the word. Because, come on: this finish line isn't going to cross itself, am I right? To help get this done...

Just post ONE of these messages to your Facebooks, Instagrams or Twitters:

• We’ve got NINE NEW EPISODES funded, but we've still got 2 DAYS LEFT to get a full season of TWELVE! Check out @JoelGHodgson's latest #MakeMoreMST3K update and PLEDGE NOW to help us reach our final goal! http://ks.mst3k.com/update17 
• It's MST3K & RIFFTRAX.... together! Our friends at @RiffTrax are now adding FREE BONUS REWARDS when you pledge to help us #MakeMoreMST3K... and if we reach our final goal, they'll host a LIVE RIFFTRAX EVENT in the Gizmoplex! http://ks.mst3k.com/update17 
• DID SOMEONE SAY PATCHES? You’ve demanded them, and now they’re REAL: new #MakeMoreMST3K MISSION PATCHES, including one for our newest host, @marshemily2! Get a look at ‘em – and our SNOWGLOBE reward – here: http://ks.mst3k.com/update17 
• PSSSST! Want to know the first 2 movies #MakeMoreMST3K will be riffing in the new season? @JoelGHodgson spills the beans in today’s update, plus lots of other new bonuses and reward designs! Get in there: http://ks.mst3k.com/update17 

FOUR DAYS LEFT. 75% FUNDED. Everything You Need to Know About the GIZMOPLEX! Plus: New Bonus Challenge + Jackbox Showdown Tonight at 5pm PDT!
almost 3 years ago – Thu, May 06, 2021 at 09:51:05 PM

•  Progress Report: 75% of the way to 12 NEW EPISODES!
•  New Bonus Challenge: $4.25M by tonight = 2x CLASSIC SHORTS!
•  Tonight's Livestream: Jackbox Showdown (5pm PDT) 
• Joel's Vision for the Gizmoplex!
• A LOT of FAQ about the Gizmoplex!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again.

Today's update is going to be a pretty long one, because Ivan and I have been working on it for almost a week. That's because we know that there are a lot of questions about the Gizmoplex and how it will work, and we want to give you as many answers as we can. But also, if you don't need more answers about the Gizmoplex, please don't worry about reading the whole thing.

Also, before we talk about the Gizmoplex, I want to give you a quick update on the Kickstarter, and also about our remaining Bonus Challenges.

PROGRESS REPORT

With just FOUR DAYS LEFT before the end of our Kickstarter, I'm happy to report that we're still holding onto our lead over our "original" Kickstarter:

So yeah, it's still looking pretty good:

We're now 94% of the way to making 9 NEW EPISODES, and 75% of the way to our final goal of 12 NEW EPISODES!

But listen, I don't want you to get too relaxed... because that means we've still got 25% left to go, and just four days left to do it. 

Now, the good news is that our "Bonus Challenges" really seem to be working. 

• First, you finished Bonus Challenge #3 and reached $3.8M more than 48 hours ahead of schedule, unlocking our first 3-D MOVIE and FREE KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES.
• Then, when I announced Bonus Challenge #5, you reached $4.0M in just a few hours – way ahead of the midnight deadline – and unlocked FOUR CLASSIC SHORTS as part of our "Classic Episode Download" rewards for all backers at Level $150 and up.

So, before we talk about the Gizmoplex, here's Bonus Challenge #6:

If we can reach $4.25M before midnight (PDT) tonight, we'll double the last bonus reward, and include 8 CLASSIC SHORTS for all backers at Pledge Level $150 and up.

(And yes, that also includes everyone pledging for the "all-digital" Experiment 85.)

Also, even though we didn't reach Bonus Challenge #4 -- getting 25,000 backers by last night – we got really close... so we're also going to extend that challenge until tomorrow night:

 If we can reach 25,000 BACKERS before the end of Wednesday's livestream, we'll upgrade our T-SHIRT REWARDS to offer TWO DIFFERENT DESIGNS and we'll offer a HOODIE UPGRADE after the Kickstarter ends! 

So yeah, if you want to help us reach our next two Bonus Challenges and unlock more free bonus rewards and upgrades, I hope you'll keep spreading the word, and let everyone know that we've only got FOUR DAYS LEFT until our Kickstarter ends.

TONIGHT: THE MST3K JACKBOX SHOWDOWN

Also, don't forget to join us tonight at 5pm PDT for our special livestream event:

We need you to vote and decide who wins each round, so I hope you'll join us tonight at 5pm PDT on Facebook, YouTube or Twitch.  

And Now... The Gizmoplex.

Now that we've got the "new business" out of the way, I want to use the rest of this update to share a lot more about our plans for the Gizmoplex, because I know some of you are still wondering what it is, how it will work, and why it's worth building at all. 

Also, I know that a lot of you are still deciding on your final pledge, and I get that you want to understand "the plan" better in order to feel comfortable making that decision. So, I think it's time for me to explain a little bit more about the "vision" behind the Gizmoplex, so that you know what we’re planning.  

And then, because we've gotten a lot of specific questions about how this will all work, I've asked Ivan to walk through some details that it seems like some of you are looking for. 

What The Gizmoplex "Ain't"

The first thing I want you to understand is what we're not doing with the Gizmoplex, because over the last month, I've realized that a lot of people don't really "get" what we're planning.

So yeah, here's the deal:

1. We're not trying to "build a new platform" from the ground up, or duplicate any of the tools and platforms that are already out there for running video websites and apps.

2. We're not trying to start another "subscription service" like Hulu or Netflix, where the model is just to give you the biggest "video library" we can, and charge you to use it each month.

3. We're not trying to give you "another streaming channel" where you can watch an endless broadcast of old MST3K episodes for free, in exchange for watching advertisements.

There's nothing wrong with doing any of that, if someone else wants to do it... but I don't think it's what the Gizmoplex is.  We want to spend our time – and your pledges – riffing more films and expanding the world of MST3K, not hiring and managing a huge team of engineers and programmers to run an "exclusive" video platform just for Mystery Science Theater.

Anyway, I'm telling you this because I've seen a lot of people speculating about what the Gizmoplex will be, and assuming that we're getting into "the tech business," or building something elaborate and expensive from scratch. So, I think it's important to set things straight, and tell you more about our actual plans.

How We're Going To "Build" The Gizmoplex

Like I said, we're not planning to "build" a brand new platform from the ground up, because that's not really how MST3K does things. 

The way we're creating the Gizmoplex is actually a lot like how I built our robots: I start by finding a lot of individual parts that I like, and think would look good together. Then I kind of stick them together with hot glue and some spray paint, and all of a sudden, we have something new. 

And yes, I know the Gizmoplex isn't a robot puppet, but this style of collage is pretty much how I create everything, because it's just what makes sense to me.

So yeah, like I said, we're not going to "build" our own platform from scratch. We've had a lot of conversations with possible partners, and decided that we can do most of what we're imagining just by combining our previous video platform – VHX / Vimeo OTT – with a new interface that we're designing, and a few extra bells and whistles. And, we're also partnering with a really cool service called Scener, and building them into our new site so that we can host live screening events, and so that you can have online "watch parties" with your friends.

What The Gizmoplex "Is"

Maybe the most important thing to know about the Gizmoplex is that I'm not thinking about it like a "platform", even though I know it will be that too, since you'll visit it on the web, and with our new Gizmoplex apps. 

What I'm imagining is a new place that "exists," both on the internet – where you can visit it – and on Mystery Science Theater, as an important new location we'll visit in Season 13. 

So, when you visit the Gizmoplex, you'll be able to watch MST3K... but in a way, you'll also be stepping inside of MST3K, and able to explore for yourself. 

The First "Virtual Theater"

In success, I don't just want the Gizmoplex to be a "site where you watch MST3K video content." See, as great as Hulu and Netflix and Disney+ are, the way you "use them" is really specific. What I mean is, no one is "interacting" on those sites. You go there to watch "content" by yourself, or with someone sitting next to you on the couch, and that's it. 

When you come to the Gizmoplex, I really want it to feel like you're entering a new kind of "virtual theater" where you can meet up with friends, grab a snack from the concession stand, check out the coming attractions, and riff on your favorite long-forgotten cheesy movie together, just like our characters do. 

An Elaborate Metaphor

Maybe the best way to explain the Gizmoplex is to tell you what happens when it's “Game Day” for the Green Bay Packers at my house, because it's really a whole experience. 

I'm not sure if you know this, but I grew up in Wisconsin, and when you grow up in Wisconsin, the Packers are pretty much in your blood.

Anyway: I wake up and know the Packers are playing. I get ready for it.  I also alert everyone in my house that it’s “Game Day,” and that Dad is going to be in front of the TV for a few hours. 

I encourage everyone to come and join me. I do this for several reasons, but mostly, so there's no confusion about who is going to be using the big TV in the den. Sadly, the other members of my family only have a passing interest in “The Pack” but that’s another story.  

I also make sure I have something great to eat and drink. 

I may get some Impossible Sausages and cook them on the grill. Then I add all the trimmings: diced onions, ketchup, brown mustard and celery salt. I also like those Martins' potato rolls, as I now reside on the east coast, and some of those Utz kettle-cooked potato chips too.  Also, I often get a six pack out of the garage and make sure it’s iced-down properly (I drink Leinenkugel, if I can get it) since I sometimes invite a neighbor over to watch, and want to make sure I've got enough food and drink for them. Then, I make a high grade scotch with a handful of ice, and I prepare for the greatness that is the Green Bay Packers.

I also use social media and text to alert my friends that I’m watching the game in real time. These are friends that go back as far as high school, and a few of them even knew me when I was in grade school.

And then, after all of that is done, the game starts. And you know, even though it's "just" a simple football game, the whole experience is elevated. I think the secret is that – unlike most "streaming content" – the game is still event viewing. It's happening in real time for everyone, everywhere, and we all experience it together. 

While I'm watching, I can check on social media and see my friends posting images. Since I still have a bunch of friends in Green Bay, a few of them might be sending images from the game, or video from a tailgate party.

What I'm saying is, it's much more than "a game." On any given (next) Sunday A.D, it's the fabric of my life... and it's why I think it's so important to create a special "real time" experience around live events that we can all share.

A First Look at the "Blueprints"

Anyway, I know the Gizmoplex might sound pretty abstract, so maybe I can help you understand better if I show you something. I don't want to share too much detail until we get to work, and are able to test out some of our ideas, but I do want you to have a better idea of what we're aiming for. 

So yeah, if the normal blueprints for a website look like this...

 ...then maybe it'll help if you know that our concept for the Gizmoplex, and the experience we want to create for you, feels more like this:

In all of our planning sessions for the Gizmoplex, we're not really focused on the "technical" questions, because other people have solved most of those. We're really more interested in "design" questions, like, how do we make it...

•  ...MORE FUN to watch old and new episodes of MST3K?
•  ...MORE SOCIAL to watch with friends, family and other fans?
•  ...FEEL MORE LIKE MST3K, even when you're just browsing?

Anyway, I know that it might still be difficult to imagine exactly what the Gizmoplex will be like, but I think that's part of what makes this exciting. 

If the Gizmoplex was already done, and we knew all the answers, we wouldn't need Kickstarter. But for now, we're still at the beginning. To get to the "finished" Gizmoplex, we'll need to try a lot of different ideas and make a lot of decisions... and as one of our backers, I'm hoping you'll engage with us, and give us feedback to make the Gizmoplex an even better "final product."

A Place for Live Events & Community

Here's another thing that's important to understand about the Gizmoplex: even though you'll be able to visit and watch MST3K whenever you want, I think the aspect that will make the Gizmoplex really unique and special isn't the theater itself, but what we're going to do with it.

If you've ever been to a really great independent theater, you'll already know: it's not just the seats, or the screens, or the projectors that matter: it's the whole "personality" of the place. And the biggest way that a theater shows you its personality is by organizing special events, screenings and programming. 

While you will have access to watch old and new episodes "on demand," the value of a Gizmoplex pass isn't just about "access to episodes" – it's more like having a season pass for your favorite theater or sports team. Every month, we'll have at least 1-2 new "live events," and a Gizmoplex pass gets you into all of them. 

And you know, "programming" a theater is one of the most exciting aspects of the Gizmoplex, because it lets us bring you more than just live episode premieres. We have all sorts of plans for curated events, including theme nights, marathons, re-riffs, live commentaries, panel discussions, special guest interviews and guest performances – and as founding members, we'll want to hear your ideas and suggestions for events too, so we can keep making the Gizmoplex better.

There's a lot more that I want to share about our ideas for the Gizmoplex "programming slate"... but that's such a big topic that it's going to need its own update. So, we'll come back to that.

Anyway, those are just a few of the "big ideas" that I want you to understand, so you know what we're really aiming to do with the Gizmoplex. 

The most important thing to remember is that there are already lots of places where you can watch MST3K online, like Twitch and YouTube, and you'll still be able to watch episodes of MST3K in most of those places, just like you do now. 

With the Gizmoplex, we're aiming for something really different and unique, that might be hard to fully understand until you experience it. So, just like we do with the show, I hope you'll give us a chance to work out the details and put together something special, instead of trying to guess how everything will work up front. Once you can see it for yourself, it might not be right for everyone... but, as usual, I'm pretty sure that "the right people" will get it.

So yeah, that's the big picture, but I know you also have a lot of specific questions. 

And, since Ivan is "leading the charge" on how we'll bring the Gizmoplex to life, I've asked him to step in and answer a lot of those questions.

GIZMOPLEX FAQ with IVAN

Hey everyone!

As Joel explained, one of the things I'm working on this time around is coordinating the development of the Gizmoplex site and apps, and figuring out how it'll all work... so, even though we don't have answers to all of your questions yet, I'll answer what I can!

Q: What "is" the Gizmoplex? 

• Is it a subscription service like Netflix? 
• Is it a store for renting and buying MST3K episodes?
• Is it a streaming platform for watching MST3K?
• Is it a social platform for live watch parties?
• Is it a virtual venue for attending live events?

The quick answer? YES, it's all of the above! The plan is for Gizmoplex to include all of those options... and, with your feedback over time, to evolve into something even bigger.

When we launch, the Gizmoplex will include...

1. YOUR VIDEO LIBRARY

A place to download and stream your personal collection of episodes.

When you visit the Gizmoplex, you'll always have access to your personal collection of episodes – including any episodes you got during our Season 11 Kickstarter, our Season 12 Pledge Drive, or from our new #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter. It'll also include any episodes you've purchased "a la carte" from MST3K's VHX / Vimeo OTT site, and anything you buy or rent from the Gizmoplex once it launches.

2. THE VIDEO COUNTER

A place to rent and buy classic and new episodes of MST3K... and more!

Imagine a Blockbuster, but just for MST3K!  As long as we still have the legal rights we need to offer them, you'll be able to rent and buy individual episodes anytime you want, including...

•  Seasons 1-10: Over 150 classic episodes
•  Seasons 11-12: All 20 new episodes
•  New Episodes: Available 24 hours after premiere

We haven't settled on the exact pricing to buy and rent episodes, but it'll be similar to the price of renting or purchasing episodes on any other video platform.

And yes: we're hoping to make the Gizmoplex a one-stop shop for all of your riffing needs, so we're also in talks to offer content from RiffTrax, Cinematic Titanic, Film Crew and more.

3. PRIVATE SCREENING ROOMS

A place for live MST3K watch parties with friends.

Like Joel said when we launched this Kickstarter, a lot of the inspiration for the Gizmoplex came from our live tours, which reminded us that MST3K seems to be most satisfying when you can watch it with other people. That's why the Gizmoplex will make it easy to host live watch parties for any episode of MST3K that you own or rent. More on that below.

4. THE MAIN THEATER

A place for live premieres and special community events.

Again, like Joel said, one of the most important aspects of the Gizmoplex will be a calendar of live special events – and if you've been able to join any of our livestream screenings over the past week, you might understand why. The Alternaversal team have a ton of ideas for fun, unexpected live events that we'll throw at least once a month, all year long. 

I'd tell you more about those plans, but Joel really wants to do that himself, so... more soon.

5. MORE ON THE WAY...

And that, my friends, is just what we have planned for launch. Once we're up and running, we've got a lot of additional features we'd like to add to the Gizmoplex, including...

• The VIDEO ARCADE, with original MST3K-inspired games!
• The CONCESSION STAND, for ordering MST3K snacks in the mail!
• The POP-UP STORE, with limited edition merch for each new event!

(And, as we said when we launched this Kickstarter, we're even thinking about testing out some possible partnerships that would let you attend the Gizmoplex in VIRTUAL REALITY, using either a web browser or consumer headsets like the Oculus Quest.... but that'll probably be a while.)

Q: So, will we need a Gizmoplex Pass to use all of that? 

No! Just like your local cineplex, the Gizmoplex will be open to everyone... but there will be a lot of membership benefits that come with an active Gizmoplex Pass.

As of now, the Gizmoplex will give all visitors access to...

• A PERSONAL VIDEO LIBRARY of episodes you rent or own.
• A PRIVATE THEATER to watch your episodes + host watch parties.
• The VIDEO COUNTER, to rent or purchase more episodes.
• The LOBBY, where you'll be able to view the "wall of backers."
• The TICKET BOOTH, where you can buy tickets for live events.

All of those features will be available to everyone... so if you don't want to pay for an ongoing membership, you don't have to. You're free to buy and rent only what you want to watch!

Q: Then why do we need a Gizmoplex Pass?

Good question! If you just want a place to watch, rent and buy episodes of MST3K, you don't need a Gizmoplex Pass. But honestly, we think you're going to end up wanting one, because it'll add all kinds of additional benefits to your experience, including...

•  FULL ACCESS to all live events and special programming
•  The MEMBER'S LIBRARY: a curated, monthly lineup of classic episodes
•  The MEMBER'S LOUNGE: a space for real-time social interaction
•  MEMBER CONTESTS to win MST3K gifts and downloads
•  MEMBER DISCOUNTS on event-specific merchandise
• More fun perks that we're still working on!

If you have a Gizmoplex Pass, you'll also have guaranteed admission to attend the live premiere screening – with Joel, our cast and special guests – for each new episode released while your pass is active. (We're expecting to release one new episode each month, so if we get 12 new episodes, you'll be all set with tickets to all 12 live premieres!)

Q: Can we become members later?

Yes! We know that not everyone can afford to pledge during our Kickstarter, even if you want to, and that's OK! If you want to become a Gizmoplex member later, you'll still be able to... but the cost of your membership won't count toward helping us make new episodes in Season 13, and the cost per month will probably be a little bit higher than it is during the Kickstarter.

Q: What content will be available in the Gizmoplex?

If it's OK with you, I'm just going to repeat the part where I explained this earlier: As long as we still have the legal rights we need to offer them, you'll be able to rent and buy most individual episodes of MST3K anytime you want, including...

•  Seasons 1-10: About 160 classic episodes
•  Seasons 11-12: All 20 new episodes
•  New Episodes: Available 24 hours after premiere
•  Special Events: Available live and for "rewatch"

Plus, we're hoping to make the Gizmoplex a one-stop shop for all of your riffing needs, so we're also in talks to offer content from RiffTrax, Cinematic Titanic, Film Crew and more.

We're also planning to create a lot of short, exclusive content just for the Gizmoplex, to make the experience more unique and surprising. 

And, while we're still working out the specifics, we expect you'll be able to get tickets at the door to attend individual live events and screenings, and to rent recordings of the live events later.

Q: Will the Gizmoplex let non-members watch anything for free? 

As of now, we aren't planning to offer free Gizmoplex events or screenings at launch for non-members... which isn't that weird, since most movie theaters don't have free showtimes! But you can always watch any movie that you rent or own, and Gizmoplex Members will have access to additional monthly episode selections.

Anyone can rent or buy any episode at the Gizmoplex, and can buy tickets to participate in individual live events. Members get into all live events for free, and have access to a rotating selection of on-demand episodes each month.

That said, we're exploring whether we can eventually offer some free screening events each month... but since we have to pay for bandwidth when guests stream movies, the Gizmoplex might not be the best place for those. 

Either way, you'll still be able to watch streaming, ad-supported episodes of MST3K for free on other platforms, like Twitch and YouTube!

Q: Will Gizmoplex membership fund future episodes of MST3K?

Great question! As we reach the end of the first year, we want to see how the Gizmoplex is working out, whether you find it valuable, and whether it's able to generate enough revenue to support making more new episodes of MST3K.

The honest answer is, we don't know yet, but we hope this might become a sustainable alternative, so that we wouldn't need to do a new crowdfunding campaign for each future season, and could just keep making episodes for as long as we have enough members.

And whatever happens, we'll be open with our backers about what we're thinking... especially since we'll need your feedback to decide the future of the Gizmoplex membership program!

Q: How will the "watch parties" work? Can my friends watch for free?

Each guest attending a watch party will need to have their own access to whatever episode(s) you want to watch together. That means that – unfortunately – you won't be able to let all of your friends watch an episode that you own or rented for free. 

We wish we could give you the option to share your episodes with friends remotely and for free, but there are a lot of technical, legal and financial reasons we're not able to. Instead, we're working on a system to allow inexpensive "Day Passes" – probably 99 cents each – so that your guests can rent the episode just long enough to participate.

Q: What kind of live events are you planning?

Nice try! Joel is still finishing up another update, where he'll tell you more about his plans for live events and special Gizmoplex programming. Stay tuned!

Q: What happens if I can't make it to a live event?

If you're an active member, we don't want you to miss out just because you've got other plans, or because you're in the wrong time zone and can't participate in a live event -- so members will have access to re-watch each live event on-demand for at least a week after it takes place! 

Q: Can I add episodes from other sites into my Gizmoplex collection?

Unfortunately, we don't have any ability to include episodes of MST3K that you got on other platforms (iTunes, Amazon, RiffTrax, etc). We wish we could!

Q: Will new episodes be exclusive to the Gizmoplex? 

Yes, but not forever. We're still working out the exact timing for this, but our current guess is that new episodes will be available exclusively through the Gizmoplex for a period of time -- probably somewhere between 3 and 6 months. During that period, members will be able to stream them on-demand, and all visitors will be able to rent or buy them from the Video Counter.

After that initial window ends, the new episodes will eventually be added into the streaming lineup running on ad-supported platforms like YouTube, Twitch and ShoutTV, and will be available for purchase from other video retailers and sites. As of now, Shout Factory is also planning to release a retail version of Season 13 on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Q: What will Gizmoplex membership cost after our passes expire?

Right now, we're only offering Gizmoplex passes and memberships for our first year, which will officially begin with the premiere of our first new episode. So, if your rewards include a 12-month Gizmoplex Pass, you'll already covered for that entire year. If your pass is for 3, 6 or 9 months, you'll have the option to extend your membership when it ends, at about the same rate it cost during the Kickstarter (about $8/month).

And if you don't have a Gizmoplex Pass, and want to get one during our first year, you'll be able to do that too – but it will probably cost a little bit more (about $10-12/month), and it won't count toward our goal of making more episodes in Season 13.

As for the second year and beyond: The truth is that we don't know yet! We're expecting to learn a lot during the first year, including more accurate budgets for great live events, providing member benefits, covering platform costs, and expanding the Gizmoplex with new content and features. As we learn more, we'll start to have a better idea of what we'll need to charge to keep offering the Gizmoplex Membership program -- and we'll share our thoughts as they develop.

Q: Why are you spending so much to build the Gizmoplex? Just spend everything on new episodes and put them on YouTube!

Actually, we're not spending much on the Gizmoplex at all! If you look at the budgets we shared at the start of our campaign, we're only using 3% of the Kickstarter raise to cover annual bandwidth costs. platform fees, and a little bit of custom design and modification up front.

As Joel explained, the reason we're not spending much is because we're not building the Gizmoplex from scratch! Instead, we're putting together several things that already exist, and designing a new experience to wrap around the whole thing.

Trust us: we're not getting into the tech and engineering business. Several of us have done that before, and it's not where MST3K belongs!

(Also: even if we did spend that 3% to make more episodes, it wouldn't be enough for even a single extra episode unless we raise more than $11 million. And honestly... if we raised $11M, we wouldn't need that 3% for new episodes!)

As for putting the new episodes on YouTube: as much as we'd like to, we can't afford to make the new episodes free to everyone, or we'll never get to make more episodes again. 

Part of our goal in launching the Gizmoplex is to make sure we can distribute our own episodes from now and bring in some ongoing revenue to support more new episodes, instead of depending on another Kickstarter for each new season.

Q: Oh. What are you using to build the Gizmoplex?

While we're still evaluating additional possibilities, our initial plans for the Gizmoplex are building on top of Vimeo OTT as our video service platform and main app developer, and a collaboration with Scener to support live "watch party" functionality for all Gizmoplex content.

While you'll be able to continue accessing content directly through the MST3K Vimeo OTT portal, we will be using the Vimeo OTT API to build out a custom "experiential" interface for the Gizmoplex, so that it feels less like a VOD service and more like a virtual cineplex.

Q: I still have other questions...

That's okay too! If there are more things you'd like to know, and they're not somewhere in this doorstop of an update, just let me know in the comments below... I'll do my best to answer anything I can!

But for now, I'm going to hand things back to Joel.

So yeah, there you go. I know that was a long update, but I hope that you only read it if you really wanted to know all of those details. And if you did, I hope you understand our plans for the Gizmoplex a little bit better now.

I still want to tell you more about some of our "programming ideas" for live events, but I think this update is long enough for one day... so, I'll save that for another day. 

Now remember: we've got 4 DAYS LEFT to get to our final goal... so I hope you'll continue spreading the word and circulating the URL. And if you're not busy, I hope you'll join us tonight at 5pm PDT to decide whether "Team Jonah" or "Team Emily" will be named the winners of our JACKBOX SHOWDOWN.

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

FIVE DAYS LEFT. 71% FUNDED. PLUS: A New Bonus Challenge to Unlock 4 CLASSIC SHORTS Before Midnight!
almost 3 years ago – Mon, May 03, 2021 at 04:38:24 AM

•  BONUS CHALLENGE 3: 3D MOVIE + GLASSES UNLOCKED!
•  BONUS CHALLENGE 5: $4M by Midnight Unlocks 4 CLASSIC SHORTS!
•  NEW ADD-ON REWARDS:  Final overstock from our first Kickstarter!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again.

This is going to be quick, because Ivan and I are hard at work preparing a much longer post to answer a lot of your questions about the Gizmoplex -- so, I'm hoping that we'll be able to share that with you by tomorrow morning.

But you know, I didn't want to wait until then to write, because I've got an important update about our Kickstarter progress that I want you to know about right now.

On Thursday, for our BONUS CHALLENGE #3, I promised that if we could reach $3.75M before the end of Sunday night, we would be able to riff our first 3-D movie... and that if we could reach $3.8M, we'd also send free KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES to all backers at Pledge Level $75 and above.

Anyway, things went a little better than I was hoping:

On Friday night, we reached $3.8M and finished Bonus Challenge #3 more than 48 hours ahead of the deadline, which means we will be able to riff our first 3-D movie and send free KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES to all backers at Pledge Level $75 and above.*

And you know, part of the reason I'm so pleased about this is because old-fashioned anaglyphic 3-D feels like such a big part of the classic cineplex experience, which is a lot of the inspiration between the Gizmoplex. So, I'm glad we'll be able to bring that into your homes.

But, since we have just FIVE DAYS LEFT in our Kickstarter, there's no time to waste... so, I want to share our next Bonus Challenge:

If we can reach $4.0M before midnight (PDT) tonight, we'll unlock another free bonus reward: 4 CLASSIC SHORTS for all backers at Pledge Level $150 and above!**

To get there, we just need to keep up the pace and raise another $80K before 11:59pm tonight (PDT). And, to help get us there, don't forget:

We've just added new Add-On Rewards, including... 

• More IN-PERSON SET VISITS during our final two days of production!
• The MST3K LIVE BACKSTAGE VIP EXPERIENCE in Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle and Bay Area!
• The ULTIMATE MST3K DIGITAL COLLECTION, featuring 140 CLASSIC EPISODES!
• The final OVERSTOCK REWARDS left from our first Kickstarter!

(If you're having trouble figuring out how to select more Add-On Rewards with an existing pledge, you're not alone. Click here to go straight to the Add-On selection screen, or take a look at some instructions we put together.)

And for those of you who weren't here the first time, there are a few really great original rewards left – at least until we run out – including...

So, if you want to fill out your collection and get some of my favorite items from our first Kickstarter, now you can... and when you do, you'll also be helping reach the next Bonus Challenge and our final goal of 12 more new episodes.

And of course, don't forget the best way to help us beat Bonus Challenge #5: 

Anyway, I'm going to keep working on the big "Gizmoplex update" I know some of you are waiting on, so that's all for this time.

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

*Bonus Reward #3 is now free to all backers at Pledge Level $75 and up except Experiment 85 – our "all digital" reward package. If you decided to opt-out of physical rewards, you can still get a set of KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES as an Add-On Reward for $7 + shipping. And if not, don't worry: we'll also release a standard version of the 3-D episode for your 2-D enjoyment.

**Bonus Reward #5 is a digital reward, so it is included in Experiment 85, as well as Pledge Levels $150 and above.

Joel Answers Your Questions about Remote Production, Virtual Set Visits and more. PLUS: A New Plan – and REWARD – for REAL Set Visits!
almost 3 years ago – Sat, May 01, 2021 at 05:15:06 AM

•  PROGRESS REPORT: 82% of the way to 9 NEW EPISODES!
•  BONUS CHALLENGES: Just $166K more by Sunday night!
•  UPDATE: What You Should Know About Remote Production
•  FAQ: More About Remote Production & Virtual Set Visits
•  NEW REWARD: Live, In-Person Set Visits!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again, and I've got something specific I want to talk about this time... but first, how about a few quick updates?

LIVESTREAM UPDATES

First, thanks to everyone who came out last night for our livestream with J. Elvis Weinstein to re-watch Untamed Youth, an episode from all the way back in our first season. If you weren't able to join us, you can rewatch the whole thing here – but you should also know that, during my chat with J. Elvis, we confirmed that his character – Dr. Laurence Erhardt – will be back for an appearance in our next season! 

You'll also be happy to hear that Josh has also agreed to write on the new season as well. As long-time MSTies probably know, he's one of the best joke writers to ever work on the show, so we're always honored when he's able to join us.

Tonight, I hope you'll join us for a special "late-night" event: our rewatch of Quest of the Delta Knights, which you unlocked when you beat Bonus Challenge #2 last week! This time, we'll be joined by my old friend Mary Jo Pehl (aka Pearl Forrester), who is always a fun hang, and several other members of our cast. We'll be starting at 10pm ET / 7pm PT, but it's a Friday night, so if you can, stay up late to hang with us on YouTube, Facebook or Twitch – and be sure to leave your questions for MJ in the comments below!

PROGRESS REPORT

Also, it looks like we still have a good shot at finishing Bonus Challenge #3, and reaching $3.75M before the end of Sunday night. Here, take a look:

As you can see, we're just managing to hold our lead over our original Kickstarter... but if we have one or two "bad days," we'll fall behind. So, I hope that we'll be able to keep up our momentum, and that the new rewards we're releasing at 1pm PDT will help us stay on track.

And remember...

If we can reach $3.75M by Sunday night, MST3K will riff our first 3D movie... and if we reach $3.8M, we'll add KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES to all pledge levels at $75 and up for FREE!

We're at $6.3M now, which gives us three days to raise another $170,000, which means we just need about $57,000 each day to reach $3.8M and unlock a 3-D episode and free 3-D glasses. 

And I hope we can do it, because I've also got a few ideas about how 3-D glasses could work with some of our other rewards. But anyway, I'll tell you more about that if we reach the goal.

Now, I want to talk a little bit more about something I know a lot of you are still wondering about.

What You Should Know About "Remote Production"

So yeah, ever since our big "video update" last week, we've seen a handful of messages and comments asking for more details about how "remote production" is going to work, and whether it will change the "feel" of the show. 

And you know, it's like I said on Friday: Sometimes, it's pretty difficult to really imagine how something is going to turn out, especially if you've never seen it before. So, I understand if you're not sure what to expect. 

Also, we're still at the beginning of this whole process, so even though some of the questions you're asking are really important – and questions that we're already asking ourselves – the truth is that we don't have all of the answers figured out.... and we shouldn't! We're still at the beginning, not the end. After the Kickstarter ends, we've set aside some time and money for "R & D", which is where we'll really get to refine this process.

The Risk of Knowing Too Much 

Now, I understand that for some of you, it's important to have a better more sense of how this is all going to work, especially if you're still deciding whether or not to make a pledge. I want you to feel comfortable being part of this process, so I'm willing to explain more... but I also want you to understand that if you read the rest of this update, you might not be able to watch these new episodes the same way, or enjoy them quite as much.

To tell you the truth, this reminds me of my early days as a teenage magician. Once I had fooled people, I had lots of opportunities to explain how a magic trick was done. And at first, if people were curious and persistent enough in asking, I would do my best to explain it to them. But that's also how I found out, over time, why magicians never explain their tricks: because ultimately, the trick is more fun to experience, and to think about, if you don't know how it was done. Once you know the secret behind a thing, it's harder to feel any wonder in it. 

So yeah, the reason I'm telling you all of this is because I think the way we're planning to make these new episodes will be as fun and interesting as any of the shows we’ve ever done... simply because of the talented people we use, the movies we choose, and the format of the show. That’s what makes the whole thing hum. 

I think you'll have a much easier time enjoying the episodes, and seeing them for what they are, if you don't focus too much on how we made the whole thing work. 

But again, I also know that some of you need a little bit more reassurance that we'll still be able to make a show that feels just like Mystery Science Theater, even if we use remote production. 

So, if you're in that group, I'll do my best to explain a little more. If you're able to just trust me, and skip past this to the last part of the update, I think you might be happier in the end. But, it's really up to you.

The Structure of MST3K

If you want to talk about how we're planning to make these new episodes, the first thing to remember is that Mystery Science Theater 3000 really has two different "components" in each episode: the movie riffing, which fills 80% of each episode, and the host segments, which are what we call the scenes outside of the theater where the host and bots interact with each other, the Mads, and so on. Those scenes make up another 15% of each episode. And then, actually the third component is the titles/credits and theme song, which take up about 5%, but I don't think you need an explanation about those.

Anyway, if we're really talking about how an episode gets made, and what makes MST3K "work," I think it's helpful to talk about each part of the show separately.

THEATER SEGMENTS

Like I said, most of each episode – about 80% – takes place in the theater, where our characters watch and riff the movies. Not only is this the biggest part of each episode, it's also the part that's the easiest to shoot – even through remote production. It's like Servo said in our video: most of the time, you don't even see our faces – just our silhouettes.

Now, a lot of the most important work with riffing happens before we ever start recording, when our cast and writers watch the movies and come up with our riffs. And you know, the process for writing this season will be exactly the same as it was for the last several seasons. 

The difference will really just come in how we record the riffs.

To talk academically: when we're creating the theater segments, the most important thing is the timing and delivery of each riff. I know I've said this before, but when MST3K really "works," it should just feel like you're hanging out and watching cheesy movies with a couple of companions, and making each other laugh.

That's why it's important to understand that – even in remote production – all of the riffing will be recorded in "real time," with all of our cast performing together in a virtual recording studio as they watch the movie and deliver their lines. They'll be able to hear and see each other and the movie, which will let them react and respond to each other, and really focus on the riffing. 

As I mentioned, we used this method to riff three shorts last fall. We were really pleased with the way those came out, and as far as I know, everyone felt the riffing worked out great.

As long as we record all of the riffing in "real time", so that our actors can react to the movie and each other in a way that feels natural, there's not really any reason we need to be sitting in the same room. 

Also, if COVID rules relax, we'll be able to adjust our production plan so that most of our performers can record their riffs together in person. I'll explain more about that below.

HOST SEGMENTS

Now, even though the host segments – all of the scenes that happen outside the theater – only make up about 15-20% of the show, this seems to be the part of the show where we're hearing the most questions about remote production. 

But, to help with some of your concerns, here are a few things you might want to know:

1. Our cast will be able to perform scenes together in small groups.

Last week, when I shared some basic details about how we plan to use remote production, I should have explained this a little bit better:

Whenever a scene calls for it, most of our cast will be able to shoot scenes together in person. 

For example, when Felicia and Patton shoot their scenes, almost every shot involves both of them together, and there's often some physical interaction between them. So, our plan has always been to shoot the two of them at the same time, in a single location. 

In the same way, if there are scenes where Jonah or Emily need to interact with their bots, we will be able to have them perform in a room together. 

Here's how I see it: While some host segments will be easy to shoot from separate locations, we know that some of them will only work if our hosts and bots are performing together – and we've already planned for that. 

2. Shooting in small groups is a lot safer – and less expensive – than having a full crew.

The last point I want you to understand is that, even if we have our performers shoot most of the host segments together in small groups, we'll still be taking a very different approach than we did for Seasons 11 and 12, when we had a giant crew, huge physical sets that took weeks to put together and break down, lots of professional lighting, high-end camera equipment, and so on. 

Remote production gives us the ability to shoot a lot of the show from multiple locations, but it doesn't mean that we have to shoot everything that way. 

What it really means is that, even if we put a few of our cast members in a room together for a few hours, we still won't need to put 100 people together in a room for weeks at a time.

(And you know, this is actually a lot closer to how the show worked at the beginning, when we first shot MST3K in that industrial park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Back then, we each mostly handled our own props, costumes, and so on, instead of having a lot of crew to help us.)

The most important thing, especially if we don't want to wait another year to get past COVID restrictions and fees, is that we need to keep each shoot to the smallest group possible.

3. Shooting will use a combination of greenscreen, props and small set pieces.

I've seen some people in the comments who seem worried that remote production means we won't be able to have props, inventions, costumes, or a lot of the other fun details that make host segments work – and I'm glad to tell you that it's just the opposite!

We're planning to build lots of new props and inventions. (If you want, there are even a few rewards left that give you the chance to help us design one of the new inventions!) For those of you who know her, I'm also happy to confirm that Beez McKeever will be back with the show for Season 13 to make all of the costumes for the bots and our human cast. 

Basically, what I'm saying is that we'll be sending each of our performers everything that they need for their scenes.

So, that's the basic idea. I hope some of this information will help those of you who are concerned about how remote production might change the show... and I hope it will also help all of you trust our team to figure out all of the specifics, and to make the show work just right.

Now.... does anyone have other questions about this?

We thought about that, sure, but there are a few reasons we didn't do it.

1. No one knows when that will be, and a lot of you don't want to wait that long. We don't actually know how long it will be until COVID is "over," especially since there's always a risk that it could surge again. But even if life does get back to "normal" by the end of this year, that's still months away... and we've heard from a lot of backers that being able to follow along with the production, and be part of this community, gives them something positive to focus on until they can get back to life as usual.

2. Even if we could shoot late this year, we'd have to hold for our live tour. If COVID does become more manageable, our live tour has already been contracted to go back on the road in October or November of this year... so if we don't start working on new episodes as soon as this Kickstarter ends, and start shooting this fall, we won't be able to even get started until next spring. That means we wouldn't have new episodes until next summer, at the earliest, and a lot of you have been pretty clear that you'd like them sooner than that.

3. Even without COVID, remote production gives us a lot more freedom.  It's like I said when I first talked about this: even if COVID weren't an issue, there are still a lot of good reasons for MST3K to add remote production to our "toolkit." We have a lot of cast and crew we want to work with all over the country – in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia – and by making a lot of the show remotely, we can include a lot of talented people who aren't in a single location. And you know, even if they had time, it would cost too much to fly them all to a single city and put them all in hotels for the entire season. By using remote production whenever it makes sense, we're able to include them from anywhere – and to spend more on making new episodes!

Well, like I said, sometimes our performers actually will be together, especially if the script calls for that.  But to help explain this, I can also show you a few concept drawings we've been working with, so that our team can start figuring out the technical approach we'll use.

Since I don't want this update to get too long, I actually explained those in another post on our Kickstarter page as a separate update, that didn't email everyone... but you can still read it here.

Yes.

Well, like I said in our video, we're not going to make Mystery Science Zoom Meeting 3000.

These new episodes will look and feel pretty much like the Mystery Science Theater 3000 that we've always made. They might look a little less "professional" than our Netflix seasons, and a little more "DIY" – just like they did when we had a much smaller crew and did more jobs ourselves – but I don't think you'll be able to "feel" the difference on screen.

Also, a lot of our expenses don't really change. No matter how we make the show, we still have to pay...

• The movie owners, to let us use their movies in the episodes
• Our writers, to come up with all of the riffs and host segments
• Our production team, to make props, costumes and puppets
• Our crew, to figure out all of the technical details to make this work
• Our performers, to work as actors and puppeteers
• Our editors, to put the show together once we finish shooting

And, even though we don't have to cover the cost of renting big film studios, hiring professional crews or building elaborate sets, we do still need to rent spaces big enough for our performers to shoot some of their scenes together. We also need to get all of the cameras, lighting and other equipment that each performer needs to be part of the show.

So yeah, I understand the question... but we're making the same show we've always made. We're just devising new methods to do it, that keep our cast and crew safe, that get new episodes done sooner, and that give us the freedom to work with talented people from all over.

Actually, I'm glad you asked, because I actually think the "Virtual Set Visit" is going to be a pretty wonderful experience... but since Ivan has been planning that, I'll let him explain this one.

IVAN: Hey everyone! For the last few seasons, we really enjoyed having backers join us on set. During those visits, a lot of you got to watch scenes being shot, and we also tried to give you a lot of behind-the-scenes access, department tours, and conversations with our cast and crew. 

This time, since there won't be a "single" set that puts all of our crew and cast in one place, we've done a lot of thinking about how to recreate everything that made those set visits so fun – both for backers and for our cast and crew – and we've got a solid plan.

 The virtual set visits will happen over multiple days, in multiple sessions, from multiple locations! 

That means that you'll actually get to see more parts of the production process, and meet more of our cast and crew, than you would if you did come to set for any single day of shooting.  

So, you will get to watch some individual scenes being recorded – and that's likely to include a few cast members together, not just one – but we'll also be scheduling specific times for key members of our cast, crew, writers, and production team to sit down for conversations with all of our "virtual set visitors." 

Unlike the show, the format of the "Virtual Set Visit" probably will be similar to a Zoom meeting – or at least like the livestreams we're running this week – but we actually think that'll be ideal for having group conversations, tours, and "show and tell" sessions. 

So if you're doing a virtual set visit, you'll get a chance to hear from each of our main cast members, to see some of the props and costumes... we can even take you into the workshop where props are being built, and maybe even into the editing process, so you can see how it all gets tied together! 

You'll also be able to see it all happening live, so that you can suggest questions in the chat, or tell us what you want to know more about.  And, if your rewards include "VIP Access," you'll even have the option to turn on your camera (or send us a message) and ask questions about whatever you want to know. 

Plus, unlike our past set visit rewards, we can work around your schedule! If you can't make it to one of the "set visit" sessions, we'll make sure you have access to re-watch whatever you missed.

Happy to answer more questions about this, so if there's something you're still wondering, just drop your question into the comments on this update! And now, back to Joel.

Hey, it's Joel again – and yeah, it's true: if we use remote production to make all of the new episodes, the one thing we can't really do is give anyone the chance to come spend a day on set, meeting some of our cast and crew in person, and experiencing everything first hand.

But like I said in my last update, we've gotten a lot of requests from backers who still want the chance to come for an in-person set visit, and I understand why that's so appealing. So, we've spent the last couple weeks trying to figure out a solution, and I think we have one:

Even though we'll start production this year, and finish shooting most of the new episodes as soon as we can, we've looked at our schedule and come up with a plan that will let us "save" 2-3 days of "live production" until next February or March, after the next MST3K Live Tour is over.  We figure that when it's safe enough for a national tour, we'll also know it's safe enough to gather in larger groups.  So...

Starting at 1pm PDT, we'll be adding a very limited number of SET VISIT ADD-ON REWARDS, where you can join us in person for our final day of production and our "Season 13" Wrap Party!

Now, I want to make sure you know what to expect, because "in person" production will still be a little bit different than it was for Seasons 11 and 12. 

• Even when we do these last couple of days "on set," we'll still be shooting mostly with green-screen, props and costumes, but we won't be constructing big physical sets.
• We'll do our best to involve as much of our cast as possible for our final shooting days, but it probably won't be everyone. (But if we're able to reach our next goal, visitors will get to see me back in the old red jumpsuit.)
• We expect that these final shooting dates will happen somewhere near Philadelphia, not in Los Angeles, but we won't be able to guarantee the final location until later this year. 
• We won't know the exact dates until late this year, but we're guessing these final shooting dates will be in February or March of next year. 
• We'll make sure you get at least 6 weeks of advance notice before your visit, so that you have time to arrange travel and somewhere to stay. 
• Since we'll have a lot of our cast and production team in one place, we're also hoping to organize a few other events just after we wrap, if you want to stick around for those.
• And, really important, you'll need to be vaccinated before we can let you visit in person, because we have a responsibility to keep our cast and crew safe. 

And before you ask, we don't want you to have to choose between the Set Visit and whatever pledge reward you already selected, so we'll be adding this new "Set Visit & Wrap Party" option as an Add-On Reward, which will be available starting at 1pm PDT. (If you're not sure how Add-on rewards work, we've got a handy how-to guide for that.)

So yeah, there you have it: more answers about our plans for remote production, and – if you really want to – a chance to come out to see us shoot in person early next year, when it's safe. 

I hope that this helps with any concerns you might have about remote production. If nothing else, I hope you'll be able to appreciate the planning and care we’ve put into this latest chapter. 

Also, I hope that learning some of these behind-the-scenes deets won’t inhibit your ability to have a good time watching a host and some robots riff a cheesy movie. 

And you know, even if you don't want to see the new episodes, you can still help everyone who does! We've got plenty of rewards that give you classic episodes of the show to rewatch as often as you want – including a "mega-collection" Add-On Reward with 125 classic episodes, available starting at 1pm PDT.  So yeah, just think of the new episodes as a "bonus!"

And really, if you still don't feel like you can trust us and come along for this new chapter, I understand, and that's OK. For the rest of you, though... I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

This is Crow T. Robot. I’m invoking the power of the Internet to control you and tell the world that we need your help. Without you, we won't be able to make a full season of MST3K, and then where would we be? Somewhere damp and musty, probably. And a little bit cold. I dunno. Anyway, it's easy.

Just post ONE of these messages to your Facebooks, Instagrams or Twitters:

• If #MakeMoreMST3K backers can hit @JoelGHodgon's next BONUS CHALLENGE before Sunday night, it’ll unlock @MST3K’s FIRST 3-D MOVIE *and* FREE KINGA-VISION 3-D GLASSES… but we’re gonna need you! Pledge now – even $1 helps – at MakeMoreMST3K.com! 
• Do you or someone you love STILL have questions about the #MakeMoreMST3K plan for COVID-safe remote production? @JoelGHodgson provides new details that – spoiler alert – might help you “just relax.” ks.mst3k.com/update12 
• Set an alarm, friends: NEW #MakeMoreMST3K REWARDS DROP TODAY AT 4PM ET/1PM PT, including a new IN-PERSON SET VISIT option that you’ve been asking for! More details in @JoelGHodgson’s newest update: ks.mst3k.com/update12 
• You asked for it, so now it’s a thing: #MakeMoreMST3K rewards now include options both VIRTUAL and IN PERSON set visits. Find out more in @JoelGHodgson’s newest update: ks.mst3k.com/update12 

More Details: Putting Together A Composite Shot
almost 3 years ago – Sat, May 01, 2021 at 03:59:04 AM

This mini-update is part of a larger update that Joel sent, and was not sent via email. Please be sure to read Joel's main update before reading this post, since it might contain spoilers! 

Our team has been doing a lot of work to figure out how we'll be able to put together specific shots and scenes for the new episodes, even if the cast and crew aren't all in a single location – and I want to show you a few drawings we've been using to think through some of these ideas. Here's an example.

THE SETUP

• There's been an air leak in Moon 13. 
• Synthia and Cambot are looking for the source of the leak.
• Synthia has put on a spacesuit.
• We're going to combine several methods to put Synthia into the scene.

 1. We start with a background plate of Moon 13.  

This could be footage of the set from last season, or footage of a new model.

Then, our first goal is to create an "establishing shot" – the first shot you see, before you get a close-up of the characters, just so you know where the scene is taking place.

 2. We capture the long shot using puppets on greenscreen.  

To get the specific shot we want, we can use an inexpensive bunraku puppet of Synthia in a spacesuit, and a puppet of Cambot, run by two puppeteers wearing greenscreen suits.

(Naturally, this could also be accomplished by having Rebecca Hanson in a full-size spacesuit in front of a large greenscreen, but that would be dependent on having a big enough space available to shoot in, shipping all of the special equipment needed for the scene, etc. So, it's useful for us to have more options in our toolkit to solve each creative challenge we face.)

3. We combine (or "composite") the two elements together.  

Now we have Synthia and Cambot standing in the right location for their establishing shot. Synthia would start talking from far-away, and then the camera would push in to show her face.

4. Rebecca performs the close-up in front of greenscreen.  

We would have a camera, lighting and a remote studio connection set up at Rebecca's location, so that the director and technical director could adjust the shot and provide direction.

If the scene involves a back-and-forth interaction with a character in another location – for example, if Synthia is reporting back to Kinga and Max, who are down in Moon 14 – both performances could be shot at the same time, with the performers able to see each other. 

(The funny thing, of course, is that most "real" television shows and movies aren't shot in real time either. A director will often get several takes of one actor's performance, then turn all of the cameras around and get different takes of the other actor responding. So, by linking together our performers in real time – and shooting them in separate locations – we can actually make it easier for them to react to each other's performances.)

5. Synthia's close-up is composited into Moon 13.  

Just like we did for the establishing shot, we'd combine our background plate footage with Rebecca's close-up performance – and footage of Cambot hovering next to her – to create a finished shot. 

And listen, if you're still skeptical about how this might all work out, I want you to remember that we've already created a lot of shots on the show this way.  A lot of our "sets" are actually model miniatures used to create backgrounds, which are then combined with greenscreen footage of a performer to create the finished shot, like when you see Jonah in the Backjack during the opening theme song.

So yeah, that's the basic idea we're starting from. 

But again, part of what's so exciting about doing these new episodes is that we've also got some budget set aside to do research and testing before we start, so that we can make these methods work even better. Also, like I said, remote production doesn't mean that each of our actors will shoot all of their scenes alone. Whenever we need to, we'll still be able to get a few actors and puppeteers together at a time, and have them perform their scenes together on a larger greenscreen.