Star Wars Artist Matt Busch unleashes his own epic saga, 3 sci-fi feature films based on the Arabian Nights tale.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
ALADDIN 3477: Thank You Videos All Posted!
30 days ago
– Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 03:25:23 AM
Hello!
I know an update is overdue! And guess what- I'm a Dad now!
Beaux Cassian Busch was born on September 6th, year of the Dragon! Casey and Beaux are doing great!
Believe it or not- that actually isn't why there hasn't been an update. There has been PLENTY going on with ALADDIN 3477, however nothing super concrete to share just yet.
I keep thinking I'll have a big juicy update in like a week or so, so I wait to write one, but then things get pushed back (not on my end).
But here's what I can share...
The Movie
We have passed QC! That was a crazy process, but I'm thrilled we have made it through!
I have a big meeting tomorrow with both the distribution and marketing team on the film's Marketing and Release Strategy. I don't have any specifics yet, but it sounds like we're going to get really creative with how we do it all. It's exciting- I'm looking forward to all the things!
I'm also in the process of hiring a Publicist for the film. The one I really wanted is booked well into next year, so I'm researching and getting quotes from other contenders now.
Thank You Videos
All of the Thank You Videos (for Backers that supported the campaign at the Aladdin's Inner Circle Tier or higher) have been posted!
You'll find each of them in a collected playlist on the main ALADDIN 3477 YouTube page.
You can also watch them all by directly going here:
It's really fun to watch them! We tried to be creative and do something different for everyone. Trying to get everyone in the same place at the same time these days was not easy!
The ART of ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom ART BOOK!
The book is completely designed. It's 160 beautiful pages- love the format and layouts! I'm already in communication with the printer- it should go into production within the week.
I believe this is my 7th Art Book to date, but I have never been more excited about one.
It's such a wild collection of art- spanning decades- everything from doodle ideas on napkins to storyboards to marker character designs to full color concept paintings. This book is a such a fun look inside my head and will really show how the film was created.
I'll be sharing more of that soon!
What's Next?
I promise, from here on out, the updates will be JUICY! I'm sure you're tired of hearing 'it's the calm before the storm', but that's exactly what it is.
Very soon, a lot of the biggest questions I get asked will have solid answers!
What about Swag Box 4?
As I've mentioned, the WHEN will be dependent on when I have all the assets to send out. The book is going into production now. The biggest hurdle will be when will I have Blu-Rays on hand to send.
To be completely honest, I don't yet know when in the release scheme of things that will be. It could be sooner and part of the TVOD releases. Or the distributor may choose to wait until after that push for physical media to roll out.
All I can tell you is that the Blu-Ray IS happening, it's going to be LOADED with Bonus Features, and I will absolutely ship them out with Swag Box 4 as soon as they are in-hand.
Thank you for your patience!!! I hope you've enjoyed the first 3 boxes, and I've saved the best for last!
In the mean time...
What can you do to help?
The best thing you can do right now is make sure you are following myself and ALADDIN 3477 on all the socials:
Soon, we'll be getting into a new promotional phase, and so I need your help with the A3477 algorithm!
So, when you see anything A3477-related, please make sure you are Liking, leaving a Comment of any kind, interacting with others that leave comments or make A3477 posts, and best of all- Sharing and interacting with those that leave comments on your post!
A lot of how big (or how small) this project becomes will be completely dependent on the algorithm.
Think of it this way... Any time you see anyone's post about ALADDIN 3477 and you scroll past with even liking or interacting with it- you've just told the algorithm robots you don't want to see that content as much in the future. Worse, it's telling the algorithm that other people probably don't want to see it either!
So please understand- Every Like is awesome! Every comment is sooooo appreciated. And every share is just a big heart-felt thank you! <3
THANK YOU!
More soon!
-Matt!
ALADDIN 3477: Audiobook + Summer Update 2024
4 months ago
– Fri, Jul 05, 2024 at 04:25:39 AM
Hello! And for those of you in the US who are moving into the holiday weekend, Happy Independence Day!
First and foremost, as promised:
The Full AUDIOBOOK
ALADDIN 3477: Official Collector's Edition
This is not considered one of the 8 rewards from any of the Swag Boxes, but I did promise it and I wanted to make it FREE to everyone. You can listen and WATCH it here:
The video is literally just me reading the entire book from cover to cover. What's cool is, as I'm reading it, you can view digital pages and close ups of the images I'm reading about as we go through.
So if you haven't had a chance to read the physical copy yet, or you'd just like to check it out, give a listen! You can put it on while you work and dive deep into the world of ALADDIN 3477!
What is shakin', my peeps?!
The last Kickstarter update was at the end of March, and I mentioned that- with so much going on, it would be a few months before you'd hear from me. In that update, I shared a complete checklist of ALL the ALADDIN 3477 Rewards that have been shipped in the first 3 Swag Boxes, plus exactly what to expect in the 4th and final box!
This year has been such an incredible milestone year for me, and while the bulk of my time is spent moving ALADDIN 3477 forward, allow me to bring you up to speed on all the things!
I got married!
On April 26th, I tied the knot with my forever-gal Casey and had such a beautiful time at the historic Emerald Theater in downtown Mount Clemens. She has been my rock through so many adventures, with many more to come. There's actually a nice trailer the wedding videogrpahers put together!
Baby Boy on the way!
Casey and I couldn't wait to get started on that next adventure! I'm going to be a Dad! Here is a photo from one of the uItrasounds back in May.
The baby is due September 22nd, which is actually my birthday! If that ends up being the day, GREATEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER! I can't wait!
30th Anniversary of STAR WARS Art
This is a milestone year for me professionally as well, as I've now been illustrating official STAR WARS art for 30 years! A few new projects and covers have been unveiled, and there's more coming!
One thing I'm really excited about is a STAR WARS Art Show happening in Germany that will feature the work of yours truly, as well as Robert Bailey. They are actually going to have 101 framed drawings and paintings of mine on display! The exhibition opens in a week, and you can check out their trailer for it here:
So Tuesday Casey and I Jet for Germany. There will be a few events tied to the art show, included hosting a You Can Draw STAR WARS workshop, Artist Signing, etc. The following week we'll be spending our Honeymoon / Babymoon traveling through Switzerland.
In addition to all of these wonderful things happening this year, there's a little project releasing soon called:
In all seriousness, even with everything else happening, most of my awake time is spent spinning the A3477 wheels forward. So much is happening! If you've been following theses updates, then you already know where things are at. However, it's been a few months, so I feel I owe you a juicy Summer update!
What is happening with the movie?!
As you know, I signed an LFA with a wonderful distributor back in March. I believe there is going to be a forthcoming press release announcing their licensing of the film, which is why I haven't disclosed who it is yet.
The process I'm at the tail end of now is getting all of the deliverables submitted. I turned in the main ones needed to move forward ahead-of-schedule back in June. The rest of the items I'm hoping to have completed and in-the-can by Monday. (I kind of need-to, since Casey and I jet over the pond on Tuesday!)
So, what exactly are these deliverables I keep talking about? It's so much. SO MUCH. It's obviously the film, photos, contracts, and things you'd expect, but there is so much more than that, and it's taken me from sun-up to sun-down over the last 4 months to get them all in!
If you're curious about what these deliverables are in detail, I'll be going over them on this Sunday's LIVESTREAM LOUNGE. I of course can't show you all of the deliverables, but it will be interesting to share details about them. So much more under the hood with releasing a film than I ever realized.
What's next?
There were a few glitches I discovered in the Forced Narrative Subtitles that a 3rd party vendor is created. Once those are fixed (hopefully next week) the film is submitted for Quality Control. This is expected to take 12 to 16 weeks. If there any snags that need to be altered, that will take more time. Again, if you're curious to learn more about the QC process, tune in to the LIVESTREAM LOUNGE this Sunday!
What happens after that?
Once the film passes QC, the distributor will set a release date, and we'll have some meetings on marketing and release. When the release date will be or even when we'll know what the release date will be is anyone's guess. It's possible the film could release this Fall, but it's also possible it could be later than that.
As well, where the film will be available to stream or see in a theater, is unknown at this point. Hopefully we'll know in a couple months! I'll be chatting about some possibilities on the LIVESTREAM.
When is Swag Box 4 shipping?
I wish I had a concrete date for that. I do not. No one is more eager to have those shipped than I! Those of you who backed to get it of course will get it, and I can promise it will be the best one yet. I am at the mercy of the distributor and the process all of this has to go through. But it's all for making the best product possible. Thank you for your patience!!!
So you're probably asking, well jeez, do you haven anything new you cantell us?
Yes, actually...
The DVD!
Since basically forever, I have never known if there will be a DVD or not. I can confirm there actually WILL be a DVD for ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom! That's the good news.
The (kind of) bad news was never a reward for Kickstarter backers. It's not something that was ever promised, so anyone who wants a DVD will need to snag one off Amazon or wherever they are sold.
That said, I'm told the DVD will have lots of bonus features, which is really cool! (Now if I can just talk them into doing a VHS! lol)
And some more news- you read is here first:
The Blu-Ray!
So of course some of you backers are expecting a Blu-Ray. I can confirm that will be happening officially! However, as I've always communicated, I still don't know when in the release timeline these will be available, nor when I will actually have them in hand to send them to backers with the 4th Swag Box.
However, more news that I can share about the Blu-Ray... I never knew before officially if the distributor would agree to having any bonus features, but can now confirm it will be LOADED with extras! In fact, I can share that there will be 12 Bonus Features total! Keep in mind, some of these extras are videos that have already been released Online. For the collector, many like to have hard copies of everything, which is great. But there will be new features included, too.
I can also share that the Blu-Ray will have Closed Captioning, plus Subtitles, and even Dubs in a couple languages! Wow!
Again, I'll be chatting a little about these Bonus Features on the LIVESTREAM if you want to know more. Speaking of the LIVESTREAM...
This Sunday Evening!
The LIVESTREAM LOUNGE Returns! I can't wait! I've been so busy working on the film I haven't done a LIVESTREAM in months!
I'll be chatting about all of the above in more detail. The Deliverables, the QC process, more info on the Bonus Features...
Plus, we'll be chatting about some of my new STAR WARS projects, discussing the new ACOLYTE show, as well as the new AFTERBURN movie starring Dave Bautista, which is based on a comic book series that I illustrated all of the covers for!
So tune in on Sunday night beginning at 9pm EST. The LIVESTREAM LOUNGUE streams to a bunch of my socials, but the easiest way to find it is on my YouTube Channel here: https://www.YouTube.com/MattBusch
You can leave comments and ask questions in real time. Always a hoot, so I hope to see you there!
THANK YOU!!!
As always, I can't thank all of you enough for your continued support and patience. Big things coming soon!!!
-Matt
The ALADDIN 3477 Kickstarter Reward CHECKLIST!
8 months ago
– Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 11:43:25 PM
What is shakin'?!
As promised, this month I wanted to get you a complete checklist of all the past and future rewards you have coming your way. The 4th Swag Box will be quite delayed, so getting you this thorough/detailed list is the least I can do for those of you who are patiently waiting for the final set of rewards.
But first...
What is happening with the movie?!
You'll be happy to know, just days ago I signed the LFA (Long Form Agreement) with an awesome distributor. Who the distributor is will be announced in a forthcoming press release, so there isn't as much I can say about it yet.
I can tell you that, outside of a potential exclusive with a studio, which I wasn't as keen on anyway (and also didn't get such an offer) it's the number one distributor I wrote down when researching nearly 100 such companies last year. There were a number of distributors / sales agents interested, but in the end, it came down to 2 which the Producer Rep and I felt were worthy of the film. The decision between those 2 was very difficult, but in the end, I feel super confident with the choice.
From here, I have 3 months to get this distributor all of the deliverables. This includes several different versions of the film, Closed Captions, metadata for subtitles, contracts, insurance policies, music licenses and proof or payments, publicity photos, key art and MORE. This first film is epic, and it will likely take the full 3 months to get those items organized, solidified, and delivered. (Because I will have my hands full, there may not be many- if any- Kickstarter updates during this time.)
The next step will be QC (Quality Control) to make sure all of the assets work within the specifications of all the platforms, streamers, etc.
From there, we'll be good to go and can lock in a juicy plan with Marketing, brainstorming how to release the most effective way and making a schedule leading up to the big day(s)!
When will this be?! I honestly have no idea, but we have finally moved forward into the next phase and are much closer than we've ever been. THANK YOU for your patience. The light is beaming at the end of the tunnel and quickly approaching. Very exciting!
And now, as promised...
The ALADDIN 3477 Kickstarter Rewards CHECKLIST!
A few of you have asked for this, and I'm sure many more are curious, what are the exact items you were supposed to get, and which ones do you have yet to receive? Let's do a deep dive!
SWAG BOX 1: Taj Mahal's Treasure
The first Swag Box was a couple months late (shipped in June rather than April) but I'm super happy with how it came out, and it seemed like you all were, too!
4 Listed Rewards
OFFICIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION Souvenir Book (with 8 more pages than what was listed!)
Aladdin Block Figure with accessories
Choice of Light or Dark FIDGI Deluxe Enamel Pin
Choice of 5 different T-Shirt designs
4 Secret Items
ALADDIN 3477 Light-Up Pen
ALADDIN 3477 Notepad
FIDGI 3-D Rubber Magnet
4 Trading Cards (1, 2, 3, 4.)
SkySail Sky Club
Those of you who upgraded to the SkySail Sky Club tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 1:
Extra T-Shirt design- 5 to choose from
A Signed Script Page from Yours Truly!
Aladdin's Inner Circle
Those of you who upgraded to the Aladdin's Inner Circle tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 1:
ALADDIN 3477 black and gold Bumper Sticker
Personal Thank You VIDEO (Digital Reward)
NOTE: All of the Thank You Videos have been filmed. Most have been uploaded to the ALADDIN 3477 YouTube Page. As of writing this, there are 8 more to go, and they will be uploaded soon! (I try to upload 1 each week.)
Bonus Swag
These were extra items added to Swag Box 1 (or will be downloadable in the future). These extras are just for fun- not considered one of the actual Reward items you were pledging for.
STAR WARS: Matt Busch Promotional Action Figure Backing Card
PDF / E-Book of THE OFFICIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION (Coming Soon)
PDF / E-Book of the Art Book (Coming after the release of Swag Box 4)
Thank You Gifts
The following 2 items were added to all Swag Box 1 Rewards:
Hong Kong Trooper Block Figure with accessories
ALADDIN 3477 Stickersheet
SWAG BOX 2: Jinn's Wise Choice
The 2nd Swag Box was released as planned, 3 months after the 1st Swag Box. This "Box" was actually a tube, that way posters and any art print Add-Ons could be packaged without being folded. The cool thing was- plenty of non-rolled items could still fit inside the tube, inside of the rolled posters.
4 Listed Rewards
ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom Movie Poster
Princess Kamala Block Figure with accessories
FIDGI Patch
Glow-in-the-Dark 1 inch Silicone Wristband
4 Secret Items
R3D5T4R Block Figure with Romow and accessories
FIDGI Vinyl UV Waterproof Kiss Cut Bumper Sticker
ALADDIN 3477 Teaser B Poster (Princess Kamala)
4 Trading Cards (6, 7, 20, 22.)
SkySail Sky Club
Those of you who upgraded to the SkySail Sky Club tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 2:
ALADDIN 3477 Movie Poster Signed by Cast and Crew!
ALADDIN 3477 Teaser Poster A (Aladdin)
ALADDIN 3477 Teaser Poster C (Jinn)
Aladdin's Inner Circle
Those of you who upgraded to the Aladdin's Inner Circle tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 2:
These were extra items added to Swag Box 2 just for fun- not considered actual Pledge Reward items.
Hollywood is Dead Bumper Sticker
Matt Busch Dot Com Circle Bumper Sticker
SWAG BOX 3: Fidgi's Find
The 3rd Swag Box was released as planned, 3 months after the 2nd, just in time for the holidays!
4 Listed Rewards
FIDGI Designer Toy (1 of 6 Mystery Figures)
Your choice of 3 ALADDIN 3477 hats: Snapback Cap, Classic Dad-hat cap, or Slouchy Beanie
LOCHAN Glow-in-the-Dark Keychain
FIDGI 20 Piece Block Figure
NOTE: The R3D5T4R Block Figure was moved ahead to the 2nd Swag Box. Everyone got the figure as promised, just sooner! This adjustment was made to ensure the 2nd Swag Box was delivered on time.
4 Secret Items
Khong Chiam Trooper Block Figure with accessories
ALADDIN 3477 die cast gold logo Pin
ALADDIN 3477 full color Lanyard with 360 degree Lobster Clasp
4 Trading Cards (8, 13, 18, 19.)
SkySail Sky Club
Those of you who upgraded to the SkySail Sky Club tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 3:
R3D5T4R Patch
Kleptoking Block Figure with accessories
Aladdin's Inner Circle
Those of you who upgraded to the Aladdin's Inner Circle tier (or higher) also received the following rewards in Swag Box 3:
Set of all 6 FIDGI Designer Toys
Bonus Swag
This extra item was added to Swag Box 3 just for fun- not considered one of the actual Pledge Reward items.
ALADDIN 3477 Princess Kamala Promo Card
SWAG BOX 4: Lochan's Loot
The 4th Swag Box will be delayed. My apologies, but much of it is out of my control. Anyone who has backed the campaign at this tier or higher WILL (of course) get it! As to when, I don't have a specific timeline yet. (Thank you for your patience and understanding!)
However, I'm happy to share the rewards you WILL be getting in the 4th and final Swag Box!
4 Rewards
ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom Blu-ray
The Art of ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom Hardcover Art Book
LOCHAN SHYAMAL Deluxe Glow-in-the-Dark Enamel Pin
The Jinn of Wisdom Block Figure with accessory
NOTE: The FIDGI 20 Piece Block Figure was moved ahead to the 3rd Swag Box. Everyone got the figure as promised, just sooner! This adjustment was made to ensure the 3rd Swag Box was delivered on time.
4 Secret Items
Oomi Block Figure with accessories
ALADDIN 3477 V.I.P. Lammie (Laminated Badge) for use with your Lanyard from Swag Box 3
ALADDIN 3477 Logo Patch
4 Trading Cards (5, 9, 21, 24.)
NOTE: A few of you have been asking about the (seemingly) random Trading Card numbers. With there being only 16 cards, are there some missing? The answer is- it isn't random, and everyone is getting the same 16 cards on purpose. All will be explained in a future Kickstarter Update. But nothing to fear- everyone is getting exactly what they are supposed to, as planned.
SkySail Sky Club
Those of you who upgraded to the SkySail Sky Club tier (or higher) will also receive the following reward in Swag Box 4:
8 8" x 10" Glossy Photos Signed by Cast
Aladdin's Inner Circle
Those of you who upgraded to the Aladdin's Inner Circle tier (or higher) will also receive the following rewards in Swag Box 4:
Original Storyboard Page Signed by Yours Truly
Original FIDGI Remarque Sketch in the Art Book by Yours Truly
Additional Set of 16 Trading Cards (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24) Each Signed by specific Cast or Crew
Thank You Gift
The following Thank You Gift will be added to Swag Box 4:
Lochan Shyamal Block Figure with accessories
Bonus Swag
This extra item will be added to Swag Box 4 just for fun- not considered one of the actual Pledge Reward items.
ALADDIN 3477 Aladdin Promo Card
Deluxe Rewards: SKYSAIL SKY CLUB
(These rewards have already been listed in the Swag Boxes above, but here is the complete list of what collected Rewards you receive for backing this tier.)
Those of you who upgraded to the SkySail Sky Club reward tier (or higher) received (or will receive) the following items added to these specific Swag Boxes:
4 Listed Rewards
Script Page Signed by Yours Truly (Swag Box 1)
Additional T-Shirt Design for you to choose from (Swag Box 1)
R3D5T4R Patch (Swag Box 3)
8 8"x10" Glossy Photos, Signed by Cast (Swag Box 4)
NOTE: Originally this Reward Tier was to include a R3D5T4R 3-D Magnet. In chatting with (many of) you during a Livestream Lounge, it was brought to my attention that more of you would be interested in a R3D5T4R Patch, rather than another Magnet like the FIDGI one that came with Swag Box 1. I took an informal poll and viewers overwhelmingly wanted the Patch, so the change was made.
4 Secret Items
ALADDIN 3477 Movie Poster Signed by Cast and Crew (Swag Box 2)
ALADDIN 3477 Teaser Poster A (Aladdin) (Swag Box 2)
ALADDIN 3477 Teaser Poster C (Jinn) (Swag Box 2)
Kleptoking Block Figure with accessories (Swag Box 3)
Bonus Swag
While supplies lasted, most backers in the SkySail Sky Club or higher also received a:
STAR WARS / Matt Busch 25th Anniversary Poster (Swag Box 2)
VIP Exclusives: ALADDIN'S INNER CIRCLE
(These rewards have already been listed in the Swag Boxes above, but here is the complete list of what collected Rewards you receive for backing this tier.)
Those of you who upgraded to the Aladdin's Inner Circle reward tier (or higher) received (or will receive) the following rewards added to these specific Swag Boxes:
4 Listed Rewards
Complete Set of all 6 FIDGI Designer Toys (Swag Box 3)
Original hand-drawn Storyboard Page Signed by Yours Truly (Swag Box 4)
FIDGI hand-drawn Remarque Sketch by Your Truly (Swag Box 4)
Personal Thank You VIDEO (Digital Reward)
NOTE: All of the Thank You Videos have been filmed! Most have been uploaded to the ALADDIN 3477 YouTube Page. As of writing this, there are 8 more to go, and they will be uploaded soon. (I try to upload 1 each week.)
4 Secret Items
ALADDIN 3477 black and gold Bumper Sticker (Swag Box 1)
Additional Set of 16 Trading Cards (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24) All Signed by specific Cast or Crew (Swag Box 4)
Bonus Swag
While supplies lasted, most backers in the Aladdin's Inner Circle reward tier or higher also received a:
STAR WARS / Matt Busch 20th Anniversary Poster (Swag Box 2)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Reward Tier
Those of you who upgraded to the Executive Producer reward tier (or higher) received (or will receive) the following extra items at the in-person Ultimate Red Carpet Experience:
5 Listed Rewards
Seeing the film ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom with me before anyone else, in my personal home theater. Includes an evening of fun, studio tour, talking shop, and candy bar drinks.
Your choice of select Original Concept Art
2 Rare T-Shirt designs to choose from, previously only available to Cast and Crew
10 piece Magnet Set
IMDb Credit as an Executive Producer
While Executive Producer Reward Tier SOLD OUT quickly during the Kickstarter campaign, you can still reserve a spot to see the film- with me- before anyone else with the Red Carpet Experience, available in the BackerKit PreSale Store. This does not included the physical rewards you see above, but still is a fun evening for you and your +1, the home studio tour, candy bar drinks, etc. You can reserve a space in the Presale Store listed below.
Missed out on a Swag Box or specific item?
Fear not, most of these items and Swag Boxes are STILL AVAILABLE!
You can order Swag Box 2, 3, and 4 individually (Each Swag Box comes with all listed contents only, not any of the previous rewards from earlier Swag Boxes).
Most of the individual items are available as well! You can find them in the ALADDIN 3477 BackerKit Presale Store here:
NOTE: Most items you order from the PreSale Store will ship immediately. However, anything ordered that ships with items releasing in Swag Box 4 (the Blu-ray, Art Book, etc.) will not ship until those items are available.
When will Swag Box 4 be released?
As mentioned at the beginning of this Update, a few of those items, particularly the Blu-ray, are hinging on availability/release with the Distributor.
The good news is, I can verify that Blu-ray will happen, and you'll get them for sure with Swag Box 4! However, I don't yet know when they will be available, or when they will even be planned into the schedule of release(s). At the moment, this is all out of my hands.
Please be patient, as I'm doing all I can. You all have been so awesome and understanding. I promise to deliver and the 4th Swag Box will be the best one yet. Definitely worth the wait!
When will the next Kickstarter Update be?
Because I just signed the LFA with the Distributor, my next step is to get them all of the intricate deliverables. I have 3 months to complete this task.
The sooner I accomplish this, the sooner it goes through Quality Control, and the Marketing Plan can begin. In other words, I'll be moving as fast as I can to check things off the list on my end, so my updates will be sparse over the next few months.
As it is, I have some big personal / family events happening, plus, it's my 30th Anniversary illustrating official STAR WARS art! There are a few new projects already completed which will be unveiled soon, but there are also events I need to attend and be a part of for marketing, etc... All very exciting, and hopefully opportunities to spread the word about ALADDIN 3477.
So if you see me on socials in the coming months posting a lot about STAR WARS, know that most of these assets were already created. So wile you'll see a lot of STAR WARS, under the hood, most of my time will be spent on ALADDIN 3477. Which is of course my biggest priority!
That said- one of the next updates will include a link for you to download one of the promised Bonus Rewards: a PDF / E-Book version of the ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom: Official Collector's Edition souvenir book! So be on the lookout for that!
Thank you!!!
I can't stress enough how wonderful and supportive you all have been. I'm having the time of my life with the process as the release gets closer and closer. I couldn't have done it without you!
All the best,
Matt
ALADDIN 3477: The Hollywood Shuffle
9 months ago
– Sat, Feb 17, 2024 at 12:59:24 PM
Hello!
I know it's been a minute since the last update. Wheels have been turning with ALADDIN 3477, and I want to keep my backers in the loop.
Here's what's going on...
When is the movie coming out???
Believe me, no one is more anxious than I, but with an (independent) film of this kind, these things take time. Our Producer Rep is currently still doing the dance with interested parties. It's complicated, and calculated.
Locking a Distributor
The good news is, the last of the distributors we were waiting for finally put in their offer yesterday! So to a degree, the waiting game is now over!
Of course, there is still more to do. Today I'm reviewing the details of the offer and comparing it to what's already on the table. Our Rep will introduce me and I'll likely have a zoom meeting with this company next week. In this meeting, the distributor gets to pitch why they should be the one to distribute ALADDIN 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom! I also get to ask questions, voice concerns, etc.
From there, the Producer Rep and I confer about the offers. We will likely red-line the details of said offers and make sure things will be set how we want them. We'll then have an opportunity to push and see if that's the best each of these distributors can do. Will they be willing to bend to our terms?
We get final offers from there and then have to choose. This already will not be easy. Each place has it's unique strength. To me it's not about money. My concern is longevity of the property, since there are still 2 more films. Which place sees the long-term value and is going to go the extra mile to take care of the brand?
How long will this process take? I'm told it goes quick, but I also thought we'd have a lock before the New Year! It's not something I want to rush, so I'm not at all complaining. I want to make sure we're making the right moves every step of the way!
Marketing and Release
Once I sign with a Distributor, I then begin the process of getting them "Deliverables". We also work out a marketing plan and figure out when will it be best to release, where and how.
Obviously, I don't yet know when that will be, where, or how it will be. But I will of course keep you updated here as soon as there is something concrete to share.
Man, it's so crazy to me... Have you seen the fun announcement Marvel made earlier this week on Valentine's Day? It reveals the Cast and Release Date for the New Fantastic Four film.
That's Pedro Pascal from THE MANDALORIAN, Vanessa Kirby from the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE films, Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson!) from STRANGER THINGS, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from ANDOR and THE BEAR. The film drops July 25th, 2025.
You can see how this is such a fun announcement, super rad- but also is incredibly frustrating to an indie filmmaker like me.
I mean, I'm going on year 15 of blood, sweat, and tears to make my epic dream project happen. I still don't have a release date, nor can I work with the marketing team to do something fun like this for the actual film, because, as you read above, those components aren't yet in place.
But here comes the Disney machine, which has dozens and dozens of films and shows in the works at any given time. The fact that they can announce the release date of a HUGE film landing less than a year and a half away... AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED FILMING YET! (They haven't said when filming will occur, but insiders say Pascal is glued to The Last Of Us 2 at least through summer. It boggles my mind that they can announce a film they haven't made and already know the exact release date.
Of course, they have armies of people working in every division to make everything move forward to land that date. The Marketing team is already hard at work, and the cute V-Day teaser is proof of that.
In contrast, for ALADDIN 3477, most of these divisions are handled by a one-man band. Don't get me wrong, I had so much help during the filming of these, and still have help here and there. But every little detail is handled by yours truly.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
So- these are not complaints! I'm living the dream, and am so fortunate I'm getting the opportunity to create my dream project and do it my way, every step of the way. I just sometimes wish the process could move faster and I had my own Disney machine to make it all happen promptly!
Hopefully I will have concrete news to share soon!
Princess Kamala: Draw This In Your Style Contest
Those of you following me on socials probably saw the recent DTIYS Contest for Princess Kamala! Check out the video:
The Contest is now over, but the Winners have been announced at the ALADDIN 3477 Instagram Page. You can check them out here: http://www.Instagram.com/Aladdin_3477
I was going to share some here, but you really should check ALL of them out! So much incredible art! If you go on Instagram and search for the hashtag #PrincessKamalaDTIYS you'll see what everyone did. Amazing!
FIDGI FRIDAYS!
For those of you that now have a FIDGI Designer Toy (or more than one!), we've been having weekly fun on socials. Fridays, we've been sharing images of our FIDGIs in the real world, and posting them to Instagram, Facebook, etc.
It's been so fun seeing all the adventures these little guys have been having!
And the creativity has been awesome!
So- if you want to see some of the fun places these FIDGIs have been, just run a search for #FidgiFriday and/or #FidgiFridays.
If you want to post your own, that's easy. First you need to take some fun photos of your FIDGI doing fun things in the real world.
Then you wait for a Friday.
The you post on socials using the hashtags: #FidgiFriday and/or #FidgiFridays
Can't wait to see WHERE and WHAT these FIDGIs will be doing next!
Assembling your LEGO MiniFigs!
Some new videos have been released showing how to put together your ALADDIN 3477 MiniFigs.
The Khong Chiam Trooper MiniFig is very similar to the Hong Kong Trooper, so that shouldn't be too complicated.
The FIDGI MiniFig is a lot of pieces, and if you don't follow the steps, will probably be impossible to figure out. Below is the tutorial video, but it's kind of funny... We filmed it at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood. I thought for sure you wouldn't be able to hear me, so I did it silent. It turns out you can hear me just fine, but the visual instructions are helpful just the same.
And we also have a tutorial video for the KleptoKing, and actor R Wolf Baldassarro joins me in putting one together!
Swag Box 4 Update
As I've been stating for months in these updates and in the Livestream Lounge, the 4th and final Swag Box will be arriving much later than initially anticipated.
I still don't have a street date or even an estimation. Most of the wait hinges of the release of the film... More specifically, the release of the Blu Ray.
That said, it's going to be the best Swag Box of them all! I hope you've enjoyed the first 3. This one will definitely be worth the wait!
Kickstarter Reward Checklist
Also as mentioned in the past, at some point in March I'll be doing an update with a complete checklist of all the reward items in your Swag Boxes. This will include the list of items to expect in the upcoming Swag Box 4!
It will be laid out super thorough- which were the 8 items in each box... the free Thank You Gifts, which boxes included which of the 8 SkySail Sky Club rewards, which had Aladdin's 8 Inner Circle Items...
You'll be able to see it all as a checklist of what you should have, as well as what to look forward to! I'll be sending that update at some point in March.
More coming soon!
In addition to more info about the film's release, the checklist, and Swag Box 4, there are more things on the horizon to look forward to. I have plenty of videos coming soon, behind-the-scenes, music videos, more contests, events, and much, much more.
For those of you who have been following the LIVESTREAM LOUNGE, I know it's been sparse these past 2 months. That will be coming back in full effect... Soon! It's just been crazy busy and so I'm working double-time to get my ducks in a row. I have lots to share so I can't wait to hang out with you all on Sunday Nights again. Bare with me, it's coming back soon!
Thanks again for all the love, support, patience, trust, and anticipation for ALADDIN 3477! We are on the brink! I cannot wait for you to see the first film!
Matt
ALADDIN 3477: FIDGI FRIDAYS!
11 months ago
– Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 09:11:08 AM
You didn't think there was going to be another update so soon, did you?
Okay, since a lot of you have just received your FIDGI Designer Toys (or will be getting them soon) I wanted to share an idea with you all that I've had for a long time. This idea is called...
FIDGI FRIDAYS!
In short, it's just using the Friday of each week to share your FIDGI Designer Toys, and the adventures they have. You simply share images on socials using the hashtag #FidgiFriday and/or #FidgiFridays . Of course, tag myself and ALADDIN 3477 as well.
The FIDGI Designer Toys are great because they are small enough to easily cart around. Take 'em wherever you go and document them enjoying the adventure with you!
Here's Standard FIDGI taking in the art at the Vatican in Italy! FIDGI loves world travels, but he also loves just chilling at home, being lazy and watching Netflix with the family.
FIDGIs love getting the Front Row Seat, right on the dashboard- always looking ahead to where you're going next!
Be careful though, FIDGIs are pretty impressionable. Once they start to get loose, things can get out of hand. Of course, FIDGI is also good at getting out of a sticky situation.
If you're curious, the FIDGIs are made out of Soft PVC. So yes, they can get wet just fine and the colors aren't coming off, nor will they fade.
They are relatively indestructible. A small child may be able to pull an arm off, but you can just super-glue it right back on.
So the idea is, take your FIDGIs wherever you go. When you see something fun and you want to capture it in a creative way that we can all enjoy, make it so! These FIDGIS make it a Whole New Worl-- I'm not actually gonna say it. LOL
FIDGI soaring over the Bean in Chicago!
So- this begins TOMORROW!
Start taking photos of your new little friends, post on Instagram and the rest of your socials, and use the hashtags:
#FIDGIFRIDAY
and
#FIDGIFRIDAYS
With the epic holiday weekend coming up, your FIDGIs can really help get into the Holiday Spirit!
I look forward to seeing all the trouble your FIDGIs will be getting into!
