Company SHOCKED about leak of Brony Documentary

[Freewave]

...and they take their toys and go home.

"You may have heard that we are shutting down production. For clarification, this refers to canceling plans to invest more time and money into releasing a disc with additional material and segments that have already been shot but didn't make it into the film. We have many great stories that just didn't fit into the flow of what we were creating with the film but thought the Brony community would really enjoy seeing. Because the piracy within the Brony community is rampant and pervasive we've come to the conclusion that investing any more time and energy would be not be worthwhile.

Unlike those of you who actually contributed to the creation of the film, there are those who feel the tremendous support we received was simply a financial bonanza and don't understand that we used the money to create the best possible film. They clearly don't understand, appreciate or respect the work and feel that since in their view, you the supporters paid for it, they are entitled to get it for free. Lesson learned, we are moving on and focusing on distribution to the mainstream public."

more info http://mlpforums.com/topic/48729-bad-news-re-bronydoc/

It's a shame that the documentary that WAS made was rather lackluster (or downright bad according to some reports, i haven't seen it) but it was completely funded by fans who now have a right to view and see if they want to pay for the blueray/dvd combo paclk of the thing. Just rather silly that they put it out to plenty of other bronies (thus ALLOWING the leak) and then are shocked and stop working on adding additional footage that would make people want to further buy it and allow further profitting on their side. Also threatening to sue people (not just takedown) who put it on youtube is biting the hand that feeds. Just a shame and a lot of naivety on their side.

Again we don't need to PAY others (outsiders actually) to tell OUR story the next time. We may just want to do it ourselves the next time as we have the talent and the means. Case in point:

[Nine Volt]

Sounds like they're being a bit bitchy about this.

[Freewave]

Haha just a little. Also quite naive on how the internet works and how people like to try before they buy. If the documentary is as bad as some people say it's those bonus features that really would be the only thing that might make a buyer out of some people and they are axing them. Again this is how not to make a documentary.

[itroitnyah]

I want to see the documentary. Just because of all the bad reviews it's getting. Just to see if it's really as bad as people are saying. It's just like how, you know how we've all seen plenty of threads and reviews telling us how bad Beats by Dr. Dre are but you still want to get a pair to see for yourself just how bad they are? Yeah, it's sorta that feel right now.

[the4thImpulse]

I want to see the documentary. Just because of all the bad reviews it's getting. Just to see if it's really as bad as people are saying. It's just like how, you know how we've all seen plenty of threads and reviews telling us how bad Beats by Dr. Dre are but you still want to get a pair to see for yourself just how bad they are? Yeah, it's sorta that feel right now.

I haven't seen the documentary myself but I imagine (and going back to your beats analogy) that it isn't nearly as bad as people say it is, they just expected something different (and probably unrealistic)

Beats, as well as the other DR.Dre headphone units, they are simply overpriced for what you get. You are really buying a brand name with them, they are good headphones, maybe not so much for producing but they are still good none the less. The documentary just wasn't what people wanted, and I don't know what they expected out of a brony documentary besides shots of conventions and interviews with those 'famous' bronies on popular subjects within the fandom. The people who made it seem to be very happy with it which tells me that people just excepted something different.

[Freewave]

But yeah we can try before we buy and if the documentary DOES stink then we won't. I hope it has some value to at least watch the thing despite all the bad reviews.

[Captain Ironhelm]

The people that wanted to support the documentary already did so on the kickstarter, so I really don't see why they thought everybody else was going to give them their money.

[Mundius]

It is very lackluster and I expected something much better. You'll just feel that you wasted your time a bit.

Also, they're being very bitchy about this. They made a documentary about the fans of a show that became popular due to piracy and they're being surprised that there's piracy?

[itroitnyah]

Well you can't pirate it anymore (to the best of my knowledge). Not sure if I'll get a warning/ban for saying this, but I searched piratebay for it and it's not on there, not anywhere else either. Might as well wait for the disc release.

Just did a re-search. I don't know, I might buy it but after what everybody is saying about it, I might still buy it just to see what it is or how it is.

[Freewave]

I'm sure it's out there on a torrent somewhere, likely along with MLP:FIM full episode rips. Haven't bothered to check around yet. If this hasn't even leaked WELL then this is even more of knee jerk reaction by them....Just remember this thing was completely funded previously with that kickstart campaign. They literally have almost none of their own money at risk.

[vladnuke]

Didn't buy it.

Didn't pirate it either, because why even have that pandering garbage clouding up my hard drive?

Why are bronies going to buy a brony documentary to learn about bronies?

The question isn't "why are people pirating it?", it's "who is your target audience?"

"... we are moving on and focusing on distribution to the mainstream public."
That's what you were supposed to do in the first place. So, you know, the public can be shown propaganda about bronies? The very reason we wanted to fund this? Bronies didn't want to see the movie, why would they? They wanted their buddies at work and their friends at school to see this from the beginning, so that those people would hold less animosity towards those who watch ponies.

Yeah, they didn't make the money back, the extra kickstarter money paid for making the movie look professional. Yeah, I don't really care. The whole idea was a big ass circlejerk, and the fact that they got >$200k to make it merely means that there are some people out there who find the idea of releasing a mass circlejerk to be attractive.

The fact that from the beginning they stated the their DOCU-FUCKING-MENTARY was going to be biased should've been a clear indicator to people to stay away. They seem to forget what a documentary purpose is: to illuminate, to show us something we DON'T know. But they didn't care. They were targeting bronies all along, they knew that they'd lap up this shit because at the time it was announced, bronies weren't as prolific as we are now. A lot has changed in a year. Now bronies are more of a multi-national conglomerate. And frankly, the idea that we worry about "trolls" right now is ridiculous. We have a whole bright shining fandom to fall back on, which basically manufactures fanworks faster than any other. The trolls have a youtube comment. There's a conflict of interest when it comes to selling a circlejerk at this stage. Even the whiniest bronies have accepted this fact to an extent.

TL;DR: While the doc had earning potential at the start, it was killed by the brony community's own success. Also it was never supposed to be good. And it shouldn't have been advertised towards bronies.

[Fimbulin]

Bronies are pirate babies yarr.

[itroitnyah]

Stuff saying we aren't the target demographic... You all see the irony in that statement, right? Yeah Vlad, I know that may not be exactly what you meant to say

Anyways, I think that a lot of bronies watch it anyways more because they want a chance to see what the conventions are like, and the interactions with other bronies, since they may not be able to. They may not be able to attend bronycon or everfree, so they want a chance to see how it is, and this is the closest and best way they can see it. Or they may want to see into the lives of other bronies and know that they aren't so different or something along those lines.

[itroitnyah]

Alright, so I just watched it, and I want to say...

It was amazing, very well put together, and a lot of the stories and interviews and the people themselves were really well done. It did a good job of showing who bronies really are, I don't see any bias going on. It may not be bias against us, but I guess I must have missed it. I still have to say that it's really good. I guess this means that I'm easier to entertain, but I really liked it.

And I really want to go to a bronycon. Like REALLY REALLY bad.

[Spoilers for those who plan to watch it below]
My favorite person that they interviewed would definitely be Daniel, the kid with aspergers. He was this socially awkward, introverted person and by the end of it, he was just so... Lively, almost exactly the opposite of what he was, and that's just really motivational and inspiring. All the people had really great stories to tell and it was really touching to watch it.

[Nine Volt]

You should put the spoilers in white

[vladnuke]

A more accurate summary of my argument would be that we shouldn't be the target demographic. BronyCon is livestreamed and put on youtube for people, every panel is recorded, all the little con shops are perused with cameras, so it's not like they can't get that without paying $11.

This was supposed to be something that "presents the community in a good light", a statement not befitting an objective documentary. As such, when it's routed back to the bronies, it's a pointless circlejerk, but when put out to the public (as it should've been in the first place) it serves a point of being propaganda. Not the most valiant of efforts, but at least better than closing our eyes and reminding ourselves that we're speshul snoflaks.

[TranquilHooves]

Oh well, it seemed like a giant circlejerk anyway.
I mean, marketing to the demographic that already knows everything
about the fandom doesn't seem like the brightest idea, considering documentaries
are supposed to inform those who know little/nothing about the topic.
Meh.

[topitmunkeydog]

I haven't watched the documentary yet, and I know the people are being stingy about it, but GUYS: if they don't want it pirated, that should be respected!! You are calling the creators various names, while I feel like the real people who deserve that are those who violated the creator's wishes. I mean, this was not a professional documentary. These people aren't already earning millions off their film. Every dollar they earn is a dollar hard-earned. I mean, they created this thing with a goal in mind, perhaps they are trying to raise moneys for something. It doesn't matter whether it's bad or not, all I'm saying is that people should have more respect. Movies are hard.

[Mundius]

I haven't watched the documentary yet, and I know the people are being stingy about it, but GUYS: if they don't want it pirated, that should be respected!! You are calling the creators various names, while I feel like the real people who deserve that are those who violated the creator's wishes. I mean, this was not a professional documentary. These people aren't already earning millions off their film. Every dollar they earn is a dollar hard-earned. I mean, they created this thing with a goal in mind, perhaps they are trying to raise moneys for something. It doesn't matter whether it's bad or not, all I'm saying is that people should have more respect. Movies are hard.

If I didn't pirate it, I wouldn't know if it's good or bad, now would I? Because if there was no torrent, I'd just say "Fuck this, they're not getting anything" and leave it at that and never listen about the movie again. If the movie was good, I would give them money. But because people pirated and they "lost" money, too fucking bad for people that DID pay money, no extra shit for you! (The movie was bad, I don't like giving money to bad movies- Indie Game: The Movie was bought BY me THREE times and seen twenty)

[Freewave]

I haven't watched the documentary yet, and I know the people are being stingy about it, but GUYS: if they don't want it pirated, that should be respected!! You are calling the creators various names, while I feel like the real people who deserve that are those who violated the creator's wishes. I mean, this was not a professional documentary. These people aren't already earning millions off their film. Every dollar they earn is a dollar hard-earned. I mean, they created this thing with a goal in mind, perhaps they are trying to raise moneys for something. It doesn't matter whether it's bad or not, all I'm saying is that people should have more respect. Movies are hard.

These are outsiders who were paid upfront for all their operating costs, put together what i have heard is a rather poor documentary on us, allowed it to leak themselves, stopped adding extras when it did so that there are now even LESS of reasons to buy it, and the money is going to profit a LOT for every copy they do sell. I don't know WHY we owe them pure profit to botch OUR story. Again next time we should make the documentary ourselves and tell it well. Only bad thing that happened when it leaked is that people can see now if it's worth buying or not. If it stinks that people won't buy it....try before you buy only hurts poor products....

[Freewave]

A more accurate summary of my argument would be that we shouldn't be the target demographic. BronyCon is livestreamed and put on youtube for people, every panel is recorded, all the little con shops are perused with cameras, so it's not like they can't get that without paying $11.

This was supposed to be something that "presents the community in a good light", a statement not befitting an objective documentary. As such, when it's routed back to the bronies, it's a pointless circlejerk, but when put out to the public (as it should've been in the first place) it serves a point of being propaganda. Not the most valiant of efforts, but at least better than closing our eyes and reminding ourselves that we're speshul snoflaks.

Bronycon panels were already recorded and are viewable for free on youtube. Really the point of this documentary IS to tell out story to the public as a defense for our existence ("these guys aren't weirdos") so that will still happen if people even notice it and can stay awake during it.

[topitmunkeydog]

Despite this I still believe it is wrong to go against their wishes. Please try and have a little more respect.

[ph00tbag]

It's not really so much about what you think is fair to you. It's basic arithmetic.

(Kickstarter Donations + Revenue) - Costs = Profit

Now, the documentary wasn't necessarily made with direct monetary profit in mind, but there was an intent not be in the hole at the end of production. The makers projected a given amount of revenue based on prospective audience, number of backers who hadn't paid enough to opt-in to the early download, etc. And they projected that given that, they could add in a bunch of previously unneeded costs to improve the quality of the project, and still break even.

But then it got leaked, and projected revenues plummeted. Soon, costs outstripped total projected income, and certain things had to get cut to make budget. This means, that if you didn't pay enough to the kickstarter to get a free download of the documentary, and then pirated it, you are the one that fucked it up. There is no possible way to look at it where the makers are in the wrong. The only thing they're really guilty of is expecting people to act like decent human beings.

Because heaven forbid bronies do that.

[KingTrollestia]

I saw the documentry, and to me it seemed to do more harm than good. They almost seemed to go after the worse of the fandom.

[Mundius]

I saw the documentry, and to me it seemed to do more harm than good. They almost seemed to go after the worse of the fandom.

That's what I saw as well. Okay, sure, there are a few moments, but not until the BronyCon founder arrived. She seems like the world's biggest bitch.