Actor/musician/activist Corey Feldman recently announced the launch of Corey Feldman’s TRUTH campaign. The movement starts with a crowdfunding campaign to bring a movie based on his life to the silver screen. The film seeks to expose the pedophilia he believes has run rampant in Hollywood for decades.
This morning, Feldman issued an open letter to his fans early this morning to detail the different aspects of the crowdfunding campaign. In the letter, Feldman appeals to his fans and new followers to donate to the campaign, as well as help spread the word on the movement. Most importantly, Feldman offers a detailed look at areas where the $10 million dollar budget raised by the campaign would be allocated. Since the launch of the ambitious campaign two weeks ago, Feldman has made several high-profile appearances, such as ‘The Dr. Oz Show,’ and ‘Today,’ and has already revealed the names of two alleged Hollywood pedophiles.
The TRUTH Campaign has already raised over $200,000 and continues to gain steam and well-deserved media attention. Check Corey Feldman’s full statement below:
AN OPEN LETTER 2 MY FRIENDS IN HOLLYWOOD & BEYOND…
HI #EVERYBODY, I would like to start off by saying THANK U to each and every 1 of U who has taken the time 2 TWEET, RT, post, share, or tell any1, about this very important cause. I’d also LOVE 2 say THANK U to all the loving souls who have visited my #TRUTH campaign: If https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/corey-feldman-s-truth-campaign#/
AND ACTUALLY MADE DONATIONS! GOD BLESS EACH & EVERY 1 OF U!!
However there is a bigger picture. As of 2day, I have gained 75,000 new Twitter followers in the past 2 weeks. In total I now have over 135,000 followers. Before I 1st announced this campaign, the numbers of followers had already been rising in great volume.
It seems as soon as the news broke of the Weinstein scandal, people immediately started turning to me for answers. I was both perplexed and dumbfounded by the sudden interest into a story I had been telling for decades. But suddenly and to my surprise, my story began to resonate and began building traction.
Suddenly people remembered what I had been saying for all those years, and it just started making sense. So within the 1st week of the scandal and by the time I made the 1st statement on it, the followers had already grown by 10k in 1 day. I am very Grateful for that!
I’m also forever grateful to the likes of Ashley Judd, Alyssa Milano, and the countless other women who came forward not just with stories about Weinstein, but to all of the strong women who came forward around the globe inspired by the #MeToo movement. It is because of your courage, my story has found new hope. This is a courage I pray will spread to the countless adults who were abused as children, and to the children who may have just recently suffered an abuse.
That said, I also made a battle cry 2 weeks ago sounding the alarms that the war had started, by creating and announcing a well thought plan, to both get the whole truth out, while figuring out a way to protect myself.
I was immediately blessed, with fire in the action of thousands of followers stepping up and donating to our cause straight away. However the next day things slowed down a bit, presumably out of fear perpetuated by false claims that I “would never give names” and “this is just a long con”. Well I immediately took action. I jumped right in and refuted those claims, by going on both The Today show & the Dr Oz show and publicly admitting the names of 2 abusers. I wanted everyone to know, this wasn’t a game, & I’m not playing.
However let’s step back & break it down & talk about the “long con” concept for a moment.
So let’s start with the question “why make a film?” Here’s why….I’m a film maker, that is my art, my talent, my strength, & my profession. I want to truly show people what a child experiences when living with abuse from the perspective only someone who has lived with that abuse can make. It is a very important commentary and a brave piece of film making, as there is no one else who can truly capture the essence, of what the experience, of an abused child, who is famous, goes through, in the way that I can.
And as this story must be told once and for all, & as I am the only one who can tell it, I must reveal these very painful memories by reliving them through this process. As a victim, nobody has the right to tell a victim the right way to address these feelings. Nobody can tell me how to heal. I must do this the best way I know how, and this is my choice.
I also want people who have been burdened with going through life as an abuse victim/survivor that U are not alone. For the 1st time U will recognize that there are many other people who feel exactly the same as U.
Therefore, I have initialized a crowd funding campaign with the support of my family, and with my wife leading the campaign. Let me be very clear about this. A film maker creating a platform for source revenue via asking for support and finance from fans and followers to make a film is not a new concept, & in my business it is certainly not out of the ordinary.
In fact it’s now standard practice amongst most independent film makers to use crowd funding platforms as the main source to get the funding to make their projects. Furthermore even studio level films ask the public for additional funds to complete certain aspects.
When I myself in the past have questioned whether it was ethical for a big production house or small studio to ask the public for finance, I was given a very simple answer by a well known producer. He said “the studios are now using this tool to get the public more involved with projects from the ground up, it gives them a deeper sense of involvement.”
So with that knowledge I then began looking at asks. It turns out that there are film makers and TV producers and even well known multi millionaire recording artists and celebrities that have asked for anywhere from $250k all the way up to 30Mil from public crowd funding of their various projects.
But somehow when Corey Feldman uses the very same tool with asparations to make a film it’s a con?
Furthermore people have balked at the number saying “it’s greedy”, or “he doesn’t need that much to make the film”. Let me be very clear about this. If 10Mil was the complete budget for the film and only the film, at a studio level it still would be relegated (more than likely) to a straight to DVD movie.
An example, The Lost Boys sequel “The Thirst” was shot with a budget around 7 or 8 Mil. That was a WB film, but made for straight to DVD.
The film I’m intending to make, will be made with a smaller budget, and will achieve a theatrical release. The way I can achieve it is by forewalling the theatres (renting them out).
Even if I get the 10 Mil, it couldn’t possibly all go towards the budget of the film. But unless U have spent your life as a film maker U don’t understand the costs or how the $ is dispersed. So let me break it down….
If I used all 10Mil to make the film, it would never go anywhere and likely never be seen. So that’s not an option. As I have previously stated I am planning on producing, & self distributing the film. Which entails, pre production costs, production, & post production.
Then when U get into the films release, we are talking about a marketing campaign (in the studio system they want 3 times the total budget just for this part) which would include TV and Radio ads, Billboards, & a cohesive marketing strategy with a publicity team, booking all the talk shows and personal appearances, screenings, etc.
Then U have the actual cost of P & A. For the general public who doesn’t study film costs, this means prints and advertising. There is a hefty price tag that comes along with renting out theater houses, and getting prints of the film made to send to each of those theaters, not to mention the cost of actually transporting those film reels or digital cards depending on the technology of the theater across the country, and with much higher rates for international releases.
Now let’s put the film aside, & talk about the subject matter, & what I’m up against…..
A legal team to defend cases of slander, defamation, and the like that will indefinitely arise from the direct allegations raised within the films context will likely ask for a retainer upwards of $100,000 and that’s just to open the case. Then the amounts will continue to skyrocket as the well lined pockets of my enemies, will stop at nothing, including hiring spies, publicists, lawyers, and God knows what else to smear my name, shatter my reputation and with any success leave my image as battered and broken as an unstable man who seeks to damage the pristine images of these wealthy and powerful men for personal gain.
I’m not afraid of their lies, because the #Truth always wins in the end. But without my own team, of lawyers, marketing specialists, publicists, and the like, they would extinguish my fire quite quickly as they have done to so many entertainers before me.
The more $ U have to work with, the more damage U can do to someone’s public profile. They are very well aware this fact. Additionally, big $ lawyers also have a special way to drag out court proceedings in a way that U are forced to keep your attorneys working around the clock to defend silly allegations, or even just to buy themselves more time to put their defense together.
The whole system is set up in this way for a reason. Because it keeps people from seeking justice. It keeps the little guys like me, from having the ability to STAND, & fight the good fight. It’s much easier and more cost effective to either dismiss it entirely or settle out of court. Neither of those will bring the justice we all desire.
Then finally we can discuss the security element. When I say I need protection, I’m not being paranoid, or acting delusional. In fact my concerns are quite valid. Point in case…. After all after all the stories I’ve heard, including the recent release of information that Weinstein hired private spies to prevent this information from becoming public, there has never been a report that he actually threatened many of his accusers with murder.
Well let me be very clear. The man at the end of this bread crumb trail, the coveted name A lister everybody wants to know about has, & does continue to threaten his victims with death. It’s actually his go to statement. Anyone that knows who I am talking about can find multiple court records in which defendants have claimed that they feared for their safety after confronting him. Point blank, he threatens people’s lives and has a history of violent behavior.
I don’t only fear for myself, I have lived half the life I long for, but if I die on this mission, than that is Gods plan for me, but my son does not deserve this injustice. He should not have to live in fear. He should not feel threatened. But his safety is first. So I must keep him protected. So please keep in mind, even if my life isn’t worth a donation, an innocent child and an innocent woman are also in jeapordy here. Surely they deserve mercy as this isn’t their fight.
To hire security, it costs an average of $7,500 per guy per week, for armed 24 hr security. I’m pretty sure it is illegal to make someone work 24 hrs with no break, and they also cannot work 7 days with no day off. Which means I need a team of security guards to keep myself and my family safe.
So if U do your own math, and start doing the actual numbers, it is quite easy to see I could never spend 10 Mil on just a movie. The idea would be to spend 6 Mil on the films various production phases, with 2 Mil set aside for marketing and distribution, and 2 Mil set aside for security detail spanning a 2 yr period, and a team of Lawyers to protect me at least until the film is released and can start making a profit. At which point the profit can be used to keep it in the theaters, and keep it from being banned and barred due to legalities.
If the film should do well, and make a large profit, much of the profits will be donated by me, to child rape centers, and abuse shelters. This has long been my dream. Since I was a child I dreamt of creating a safe house for children, maybe the success of this could help that dream become a reality as well.
Can I make it cheaper? Sure. And if I am forced to of course I will. But as an artist, and a visionary who has spent every day of his life in and around film sets and production meetings, I am well aware of the sacrifices I would need to make in the quality of the product I am delivering. Of course I want to make an Amazing film. With great actors, stunning cinematography, compelling musical score, and a visually engaging theater going experience.
But more importantly this film will finally give the abused masses a voice. This film will educate people in a way no other film can. And by donating $1 or more U are showing the world which side U stand on. It doesn’t take much, to set an example. Let them know U stand with me and will no longer tolerate an industry that turns its back on the children they help raise. U will Pay $20 at the box office, to see a film made by pedos, but won’t contribute $10 to make a film exposing them? Think about that….
This is specifically why I am reaching out to fellow film makers, and Hollywood at large. Because I am quite certain there are other good people, honest men & women who are in my industry, that would care deeply about this issue and want to make a difference. This is why I’m hoping that Producers, Directors, Writers, and film Stars, should be taking action, and lending their talents, services, and financial backing, so we can proudly stand as 1 and show the world that Hollywood isn’t all bad. Stand with me and show that many of us care. Many of us have big hearts. And many of us will stand together to make a difference.
This brings me back to my original point. When I 1st announced this plan, the biggest objection was seemingly the idea that this was some sort of black mail. Detractors started saying I was demanding a pay off for doing the right thing. I was also told by countless supporters that if I were 2 start naming names & show everyone I was serious and this wasn’t about the $, it was in fact about justice, that I would have their support.
Well we are almost 2 weeks into this campaign. I have publicly outed 2 of the 6 names, with many leads already perculating on #3. That means I have already given up half of the info to the public. I have also again given 100% of the info to the police and an official investigation has been opened. I have left myself wide open to ridicule, which several folks in both MSM & SM have taken advantage of.
Well in my estimation, we are establishing a trust. And that trust works both ways. U told me, if I proved I was sincere and this wasn’t a $ grab, that U would back my campaign and make a donation. Well I have gone above and beyond what any1 expected (including myself) at such an early stage of this campaign.
But when I look at 136,000 followers, & see only 4,300 donors, I am starting to feel that my support is not substantial. That this trust is only working 1 way. I’m risking my life here. I’m out on a limb. I have everything to lose, & yet all I’m asking, is for each and every follower to simply donate $1!
But at the end of the day, I truly, deeply, need your support to see this thing through. In the end, I will make work whatever I end up with, as I won’t have a choice by that point. But right now, the choice is yours. Where do U stand?
I’m not asking the average person for a million. Im asking Hollywood to spend the big $ on helping me create this project. But I know this business, & until they see 10’s of thousands of supporters, they won’t even recognize this is happening. However if each of U stood with me now, I truly believe we can change the world! We can start the wheels turning, to initialize a revolution within the film industry, to where everyone will start holding 1 another accountable for their actions.
Please realize this isn’t reality TV, this isn’t a video game, I’m a real live person, and my real life is in danger, & U all have the power 2 save my life. I’m not demanding $1,000 or even $100, or even $10 from any of U except love and support!
For all the 4,300 who have already donated, I’m not asking for anything more. I appreciate and LOVE each and every 1 of U already. Nothing 2 prove!
But each of U donating $1 can help my family stay safe, at least long enough to get the #TRUTH out in the open, where it belongs! But more importantly, when U donate U make a statement that U stand on the side of all that is good and pure and just.
Strength comes in numbers. Remember, this isn’t a war against Hollywood. This is a war against corruption of the highest order because of a few bad people who must be rooted out of the industry. This is the war of Good and Evil! I implore U to stand with me.
Please donate today!
God Bless us all!
#CoreysTRUTHcampaign #ISTANDWITHCOREY #PRESERVEINNOCENCEhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/corey-feldman-s-truth-campaign#/
Follow the continuing adventures of Corey Feldman on his official social media outlets — Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jason Price founded the mighty Icon Vs. Icon more than a decade ago. Along the way, he’s assembled an amazing group of like-minded individuals to spread the word on some of the most unique people and projects on the pop culture landscape.
