CELESTINA

SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

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Member Since: 2/2006 Last Seen: 9/21/2011

Need Brilliant Ideas STAT!

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:11 PM EDT

dreams, walls, photography, mogmismo, celestina, brainstorming

By Celestina

Help me...I'm melting!!
photo by mogmismo

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As many of you know, I have entered a contest as a means of trying to get funding for a project which is deeply important to me. Details about it can be found here, and some dear, lovely folks have written more about it here and here. In a nutshell, The Husband and I want to travel to notorious walls throughout the world and photograph and interview the people who live next to them, taking down their stories and showing clearly how these walls have impacted their lives. Our dream is to put it all into a book, with the hopes that this effort will make people rethink the role walls play in our lives, and whether there might be other, better ways to confront our differences.

To get a shot at winning the funding for this project, we have to stay in the top 20 most popular (read: has most votes) ideas in the contest. We did really well for the first few weeks, but over the last week we have begun to slip down the ranks, and as I am writing this we are sitting at #28, despite all our efforts and the support of the approximately 385 people who have voted for us so far.

I am writing this today to solicit ideas. Thus far we have emailed everyone we know, established a Facebook group, made a video, created a website, and made postcards explaining the idea and the contest which we passed out to folks we know in the hopes they would pass them on. It's hard to imagine what else we can do...but when I see that the top vote-getters in the contest are sitting on 500-1000 votes (!!), I feel like we must be missing something.

I know the community here at Newsvine pretty well, and I have seen thousands of completely brilliant ideas on any number of topics scroll across my screen. So I am asking for your help in brainstorming what else we can do. We only have until next Thursday to pull this thing out, we don't have much money (hence the contest), but we have a passion for the project and free time to work with. What can you think of that perhaps no one has thought of before? Is there something obvious that we have missed? Is there something crazy that might be worth a shot? All ideas are most welcome.

Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Celestina's Column
Groups: Civility, Respect, and Honor, Newsvine Blue, Sweeter Fennel, Vinepower
Regions: none

Public Discussion (47)

Celestina

I've vowed to do this project one way or another, but I just can't bring myself to give up on this path quite yet. I'm stubborn like that. If you've got any great ideas, I am completely open to suggestion!

8 votes

#1 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:16 PM EDT

Mic Hudson

Have you contacted the local/national media (newspapers, television - and RADIO)? They are always looking for a "positive" story to alleviate all the negative stuff they broadcast!

That would definitely give you some more exposure (in a hurry)!

7 votes

#2 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:24 PM EDT

Celestina

We thought we had an "in" with a local paper, but it didn't work out. However, I will take your advice and write up something to submit to any paper or network I think may possibly be interested. It definitely can't hurt.
Thanks!

6 votes

#2.1 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:44 PM EDT

Mic Hudson

Okay - I realise this is rather late in the game but - make the best use of the WWW that you can. Think of any social sites you haven't thought of yet (google it - web crawler it - etc. etc.) Same thing and maybe close to as good - check out any community calenders that allow you to post on their site (how many local communities are there around the country?)! Most broadcast stations have a community board as do churches, high school and colleges, other civic groups, etc.! Have you tried the local Public Broadcasting channel? Arts sites ( google them - google is a time-saver extraordinaire and possibly a life -saver at this late date. I wish I had more friend who are Internet users but I've contacted the few I have - I think two (maybe three) will take the time, others I doubt it (to involved in their own thing). Well - if I think of anything else, I'll holler.

Best of luck, Mic

4 votes

#2.2 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:53 AM EDT

Dubbya R

Good luck with this project, and with the vote/support tally. I went on and voted for you for what it's worth.

Don't forget to concentrate some effort on putting out the word to some of the smaller local newspapers in your vicinity. Smaller publications are always being overlooked, and they are always looking for interesting material about local people to cover in their pages. Emphasize the 'local' angle, and look for their web site too.

Since the cut-off is looming, see if you can put out a plea for support with your former high school or college, and their alumni associations, concentrating on their web sites.

Local photo clubs are another possibility. Just look for any group of any type that you already belong to, or formerly belonged to, that would feel like they have, or could adopt, a vested interest in your success......they are more likely to be interested and respond.....and many have active memberships.

Groups love to be able to say that someone they are affiliated with, (no matter how loosely or distant), is doing something interesting. They like to feel that they are a part of a positive and successful venture.

Very best wishes on this project.

7 votes

#2.3 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:52 PM EDT

Celestina

Thanks for the ideas, Mic, I'm plugging away at it!

And thank you, Dubbya, for both your vote and your ideas. I have found a couple of smaller local publications which may be interested in the story, and I'm searching out more groups. The alumni idea would never have occurred to me!

5 votes

#2.4 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:04 PM EDT

Djehuty

You need attention, rather than integrity in this world of modern "journalism" (ahem.) So your best chance is to put up a Digg-bait headline (for examples just take a look at almost any story on MSNBC... I just went to "US News" a moment ago and found these beauties:

Girl posts nude pics, is charged with kid porn
Man robs retired chief at police convention
Diners can 'have a ball' at testicle festival

... and then somehow incite a controversy, after the fashion of talk radio or Fox news hosts. Perhaps like this:

NC Photographer eats own testicle at kid porn convention. Is this Obama's fault? (with Poll)

I'd love to think that sort of strategy wouldn't have a hope in hell of working, but...

On the other hand maybe if we all vote this up, link to it, digg and reddit it, then there's a chance it will retain its integrity and good intent and still rise above the sea of drek to a chance of making that top 20. I hope so, it's a really worthwhile idea.

10 votes

#3 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:31 PM EDT

Djehuty

Speaking of which, I've Dugg it here if anyone would like to vote. Maybe we can draw some attention from outside NV.

11 votes

#3.1 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:37 PM EDT

Celestina

NC Photographer eats own testicle at kid porn convention. Is this Obama's fault? (with Poll)

*chuckle* Perhaps I should change the name of this article?
Ah, well...it appears there are depths I won't sink to, after all. Thanks, you...I was starting to wonder. ;)

6 votes

#3.2 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:46 PM EDT

Djehuty

The competition closes April 3rd? I await your next NV article with baited breath. Should be one that goes down in NV history, I think.

Maybe choose April 1st for that, just for "plausible deniability" later... *smile*

6 votes

#3.3 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:52 PM EDT

Djehuty

I was thinking, just now, that I shouldn't tease you about this. I'd do exactly the same and beyond that I really *do* think it's a good project that deserves support.

So here's something more constructive. There's a pdf here which can be downloaded and printed. If you know a noticeboard anywhere, at work, at Uni, in your community centre, in your local shop... well you could put that notice up and who knows it might get a couple more votes. I'll get it up at Tas Uni on Monday :)

7 votes

#3.4 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:36 AM EDT

Celestina

Thanks, Djehuty, and I can take the teasing (especially as I feel it is truly merited *grin*). I appreciate the link to the pdf, and will take some out and post them around town tomorrow. Any and all votes are going to help at this point, and I *do* live in a liberal town where people might take notice.

5 votes

#3.5 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:22 AM EDT

lauhal

Voted!

7 votes

#3.6 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:36 AM EDT

rottlady

Voted

6 votes

#3.7 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:00 AM EDT

Celestina

lauhal, rottlady...I know you guys did, and both of you went beyond that in trying to help. I appreciate it so much. As always, thank you. (damned internet needs to advance to where we can give real hugs)

7 votes

#3.8 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:02 PM EDT

Brad Leclerc

Get a digg/reddit/stubbleupon/etc button up on the breachthewall.com page for a start, make it easy for people to vote it up on all the social media sites. I'll see if I can get a few high profile digg users I know to bump it up a bit, and try to get ahold of some podcasters that might be able to get it some extra exposure, but it has to be easy as hell for people to vote it up...people are lazy bastards heh.

8 votes

#4 - Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:52 PM EDT

Celestina

Yep, you're right...spreading the word has to be as easy as possible. Thanks for the help, and I'll get those added tomorrow.

8 votes

#4.1 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:23 AM EDT

hemphill

I have been trying to figure out how to make it applicable to different companies. If you can find a way to get corporate blogs to feed it to their folks I suspect that would do it. But you need to find 5-10 corporations that are feel good types with decent civilian groups.

5 votes

#5 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:13 AM EDT

Celestina

Hmm...feel good corporations. I wonder if Google wants to support our effort to see how the Chinese feel about their caving to their government's firewall demands...? *grin*

4 votes

#5.1 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:05 PM EDT

Dubbya R

I don't know what make of camera your hubby is using....but what about seeking support/publicity/votes, through a Nikon club, or a Canon club web site or internet forum?

6 votes

#6 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:33 PM EDT

Celestina

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I got up this morning and took flyers out to local businesses that cater to a clientele I think may support our project. I am working on a press release and am searching for more likeminded groups online. I so appreciate the brainstorming help, and if you think of anything else, please let me know.

5 votes

#7 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:00 PM EDT

lauhal

E-mail Oprah!

8 votes

#8 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:27 PM EDT

Celestina

@!$%# that...I'm emailing Obama! If he can get a house for one woman, a d.j. job for someone else...I just know he's gonna help me win this contest. *grin*

11 votes

#8.1 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:01 PM EDT

Djehuty

Hell of a change since January 20. Thank Christ.

7 votes

#8.2 - Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:12 PM EDT

Zaki

hey I'm on twitter.com/iamzaki

#8.3 - Thu May 6, 2010 5:05 PM EDT

rottlady

I just checked the site and Michael is 31st. We need more votes!!!

I got three more votes this morning but maybe I can find some more, I'm checking my email lists again.

3 votes

#9 - Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:29 PM EDT

Celestina

Thank you so much, rottlady. Yes, we have slipped a lot in the last few days, but we are still trying to get back in the top 20. We've actually had a steady trickle of votes coming in today, which is encouraging!

2 votes

#9.1 - Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:59 PM EDT

Mic Hudson

I'm not a high-profoiler but I posted the "Breach The Wall" link also on my Facebook page (and at Mixx.com) also - who knows might get at least one or two more votes?

4 votes

#9.2 - Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:05 PM EDT

Mic Hudson

I just put in a "HOT TIP" for "Breach The Wall" at TMZ.com but you may want to go there and do the same (include your phone number - that way they might contact you personally to find out if it's something they might like to throw a little publicity on! - It's an entertainment site. What better to promote a photography contest (right)?

http://www.tmz.com/tips

3 votes

#9.3 - Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:28 PM EDT

Celestina

Thanks again, Mic! On my way over to TMZ right now!

2 votes

#9.4 - Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:19 AM EDT

JoulesBeef

wish i knew about the contest earlier. I see it is over/

i'm not much help but thsi article reminded me of it.
how to travel arround the world for under 14k a year.. it's kinda of an ad but has good inof

seems to me a book like that would help several groups with their causes.
pro immigration groups.
pro palistians groups.
any type of pro humanitarian groups.
I'd draw up a "business plan"
where you want to go, costs etc
and then shop it arround to those groups for financial support.
letting them know things like your book could make their group money and you could offer to include them in the back of the book.. in a section that shows where people could donate to aid people effected by walls or to fight new walls.
If you could get a couple to sign on.. i bet you would have no trouble getting money advanced for publishing.

2 votes

#10 - Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:47 PM EDT

Zaki

excellent - mr burns

#10.1 - Thu May 6, 2010 5:05 PM EDT

Zaki

Hmmmm.....Hi?

#11 - Thu May 6, 2010 5:02 PM EDT

Capt Al

Just saw this very late. How did you make out? Seems like a great idea. Do you have a 'do over' plan/ We can enlist may people even through NV and rattle all our friends cages. I have many veterans,Many, that will help

#12 - Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:25 PM EST

lauhal

This brings back memories!! LOL

5 votes

#13 - Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:31 PM EDT

Dubbya R

Oh look...lauhal's 'Resurrecting' articles for Easter;-)

4 votes

#13.1 - Sat Apr 23, 2011 6:57 PM EDT

Tedd Riggs

Resurrecting people also.....

3 votes

#13.2 - Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:27 PM EDT

Dubbya R

...Resurrecting people also...

Be sure to bring plenty of bug spray and room deodorizer if you're planning on digging people up.

1 vote

#13.3 - Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:58 PM EDT

lauhal

The Peep drew me in...

3 votes

#13.4 - Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:33 PM EDT

Dubbya R

Well thanks to you for your roaming lauhal, because celestina's '11ish ways to kill a peep' showed up in my tracker, and I don't remember ever seeing it before. Very funny...in a semi-dark, semi-twisted, I'm worriedthatitmademelaugh way:)