A Gamer's Journey (Shenmue Documentary) goes to Kickstarter

No, I think it was just some miscommunication which sometimes happens. We didn't know Games Radar were going to be posting the trailer by itself but its resulting in so good exposure so can't complain!

Im OK with this rumour spreading if it means Netflix will be forced to pick it up after seeing the demand lol. Definite Film already has 2 of their docs on Netflix so a connection is there. Could be a possibility down the road?
Haha! Thanks for the reply. Hopefully this will turn into a happy coincidence then! Would be amazing if so.

Really looking forward to it, and as busy as you are, we know you are a huge fan so make sure you have some time to enjoy Shenmue 3 (even though you've probably seen a lot behind the scenes)!
 
Is it intentional that the framerate of the HD Shenmue 2 footage used in the trailer isn't matched up with everything else? It looks like the game is stuttering both times you see it.

If your source footage is the problem, please let me know. This wasn't possible for me 2 years ago when you were originally asking for footage because I had old analog capture hardware, but earlier this year I upgraded to a 4K TV which required* me to buy new capture hardware. I can capture at up to 4K Lossless Apple Prores from a PS4, or 480p from Dreamcast over VGA via the good HDMI adapter. (The Akura one, not the cheap Chinese one with bad video quality)

* Not actually required, I wanted it.
 
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REALLY want to jump down that moron's throat... you just saw 2 minutes (at least) of exclusive, never-before conducted interviews with people intimately involved in the development of the game, but its a scam? Absolute idiot...

Anyways, @Adam0, I guess Takeuch has recovered from being let go at his last computer job... is he still winning forklift races?
 
New trailer is great. Can't wait to see the finished product.

One thing that was annoying though, is that one youtuber refers to Suzuki as "Sega's Miyamoto". Cringe. That comparison isn't at all necessary.
 
Great job on the trailer. I know that it takes awhile for independent films to be made so I can’t wait to see it when you guys are done.

New trailer is great. Can't wait to see the finished product.

One thing that was annoying though, is that one youtuber refers to Suzuki as "Sega's Miyamoto". Cringe. That comparison isn't at all necessary.

Yes, I sort of didn’t agree with the notion of calling him Sega’s Miyamoto to a certain sense. I can see why, but it just didn’t really feel right.
 
Huh, I see this thread wasn't updated with the latest update on this Kickstarter. So here ya are, it's from the end of January.

 
There has not been an official update to this since January, but Definitive Films left a comment in the comment section.

I hope this finds everyone safe and healthy.

Where we are, it's been a challenge to do anything, let alone set up distribution for the film, finish post-production and all the other assorted critical steps need to be taken before we can release a finished cut.

And so, below, I will lay out some of the issues:

1. We've reached out for some archival footage, which we've not received. Will we get that footage? I hope so, and the industry shutdown may help in that regard.

2. We're socially distancing, which has affected how we can work in the studio. Computer horsepower is an issue, but we're making changes over the last few weeks which we hope will set us up to begin at least some work in the studio.

3. We need sign offs from some interviewees who live about as far from us as is possible on the planet and that too has been impacted by the pandemic. I assume that, as the world changes and people acclimate to those changes, some aspects of a new normalcy will allow legal matters to resume.

4. Financially, we're in one of those industries that's been hit hard by the changes and, being honest, we're struggling to keep our bills paid right now. Being freelancers and doing this movie on spec was awesome until it was difficult to manage and that difficulty has been exacerbated by the financial crisis that's come on the heels of the virus and social distancing. I'm hoping we can turn to post production again asap, but I would imagine you understand the situation we're in because, I assume you're all in a similar situation.

5. We all have families and as we've had to come to terms with incredible changes to our lives and business pursuits, so too have we had to pull in and focus on managing our home lives, with all the struggles and acclimation that comes with that as well. Once again, I would expect you would all be in the same situation - or your own version thereof - and you would be able to understand and empathize.

6. And just before the pandemic, we had one possible deal fall through and just as a subsequent deal began to materialize - I was literally meeting about it in LA in the second week in March, as the virus was spreading there - I was forced to race back to Canada (driving) and have been unable to reset that conversation as the entire world has been forced to find new ways of doing business. Of course, I was in quarantine upon my return and assume I've not had the virus, but one is never sure, considering the sheer number of asymptomatic carriers.

We appreciate your patience in this lengthy - and forced to be lengthier - process and hope you all remain healthy and safe considering the circumstances.

rl

So in short; the pandemic is putting this project in hot, bad water. Honestly, this makes me uncertain the documentary will even be released this year. Frankly, it's more important that everyone stays safe anyway. Still, a bit disappointing. Sounds like there are some giant roadblocks ahead.
 
I've no doubt that it will. It sounds like a huge chunk has been done and had the virus never existed, we would be on track.

Have faith everyone!
 
They made the comment I copy-pasted above an official update. I want to think it's because I asked them to. :p

 
Hello everyone,

Hope this finds you all well in trying times.

Certainly they’ve been trying times for us.

Making movies is hard enough without doing so in a worldwide pandemic.

I’m aware that some people are frustrated with what might appear to be a lack of progress, but you should know that nobody is more frustrated than are we.

However, rather than lay out all the issues that prevent us from simply completing this long, very challenging project in the manner we’d planned, I will point at the key problem and what has become the best - and hopefully not only - solution to that problem…

We invite our Kickstarter backers - those of you who made it possible for us to get this far - to an online screening of the rough cut as it currently stands, the cut of the film that is held up for a number of reasons, but most pressing, legal issues.

Dealing with large corporations and developers and stakeholders for an intellectual property like Shenmue has proven to be complicated and uncertain - even without taking into consideration the effects of the pandemic, which are severe in our case.

To that end, we desperately want to show our work in whatever form is legally available to us at this time and we’re doing so in a way that shows how much we trust you, our backers - our audience and our supporters in this entire difficult process.

On Sunday, August 16th, an 5pm EST, we will be going live with a private YouTube screening of our current process cut of "A Gamers Journey: The Definitive History of Shenmue" and we invite you all to attend.

We will be watching with you, discussing our process and the journey thus far, and we will answer afterwards any questions you have regarding the film.

Any questions you have about the legal issues to which I’ve referred will go unanswered, however, as doing so could only serve to add to those issues, but we will certainly be transparent and honest in every way possible and give you as much as we are able. Subsequent to the screening, we hope to have next steps ready to go - delivering what we are able as per the reward tiers under the current conditions.

We look forward to discussing our journey so far and to answer questions you have in real time.


They also included a link. Which I have obviously removed.
 
Any questions you have about the legal issues to which I’ve referred will go unanswered, however, as doing so could only serve to add to those issues, but we will certainly be transparent and honest in every way possible and give you as much as we are able.
Speculation: In other words, an entity important to the documentary that they can't or don't want to remove probably wants licensing money, and if they give the issue more exposure they're afraid said entity will want more money because the doc will be deemed more valuable.

There aren't really a lot of possible situations that fit the description they provided.
 
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