This is a very difficult thing to write and I do so with a heavy heart. The basic fact is that I am not doing OK right now. I just celebrated by 55th birthday (crikey!) two days ago and it was the worst birthday I’ve ever had.
Why?
Simply put, my 3D animation business is struggling right now for a number of factors, not the least of which is the fact that I cannot find enough paying clients to sustain myself. I just finished a 45 minute immersive film for a client that was made on a VERY tight budget and it hasn’t been released yet so we have not been able to monetize. I really did not intend for this project to leave me in financial straits but such is the life of a struggling artist, right? I do have several prospects but they’re all trying to get funded right now so they can’t pay me yet and my main client is having the same problem.
Additionally the cost of living is becoming almost prohibitive. I do have a safe place to live but my rent has gone up and I simply cannot afford to pay rent and pay the many bills that I have incurred over the past year of trying to survive. My car is literally sitting broken down in my driveway having emptied the contents of its oil pan all over the place due to the fact that I hit a set of those metal road construction panels exactly the right way to crack my oil pan and I didn’t notice until I parked. If anyone knows how to clean oil off paving bricks I’d love to hear about it.
And I won’t even talk about the fact that AI is putting my industry out of business right now. Who the HELL thought that would be a good idea? I would love to meet that person and give them a piece of my mind. I have some very dark thoughts for these people who are literally determined to put half the country out of work and don’t even stop to consider the ramifications of their actions.
So right now I’m putting up as much as I can for sale on eBay and Craigslist. Worse comes to worse I might even have to sell my workstation which I am loathe to do since that’s how I make my living. But desperate times, right? And I’d rather not turn to a life of crime if I can help it since I’m not wired that way.
So in essence this is a plea for help from the fabulous DKos community. Most of you around here know me as you could say I’m a prolific commenter and occasional story writer. If we had an argument I’m sorry for being a jerk but sometimes I do get passionate and my emotions can get the best of me. Mea culpa.
As you may or may not have seen in my diaries I do run a Substack called “WokeAF” that deals mainly with the Right’s war on the LGBTQ+ community and specifically transgender people. I started this Substack out of sheer outrage and frustration that the Right has painted a target on our backs for no other reason than the fact that fascism requires an external enemy to focus on and since they’ve run out of other people to demonize they decided we were the next targets. You know what they say. “First they came for...”
So my plan is to lean further into writing for my Substack and to build a community around knowledge and information about the Right’s insidious attack on our rights and freedoms, especially in the lead-up to what is clearly THE most important election of our lifetimes. I’ve reduced the yearly subscription to $60.00 per year and the monthly subscription is $8.00 per month. Thanks to the over 100 people who have joined the free subscription and if that’s you please consider supporting my work by upgrading to paid.
The link for subscriptions is here: wokeaf.substack.com
I really do love the DKos community and this is one of the only safe MAGA-free places for online discussion and connection and I’m hoping to do the same with WokeAF.
Also check out my website at www.amore360.com if you know anyone who needs animation services. I’ve been told by many that I’m a talented artist and I’d love to let the DKos community see my work and what I do.
Thanks for listening!
UPDATE (05/26/2024 11:55AM PST):
Well the response has been, quite frankly, overwhelming! Thank you, DKers, SO MUCH for your help, suggestions, and financial support. My Substack is now blowing up thanks to you all!
In addition I have created a GoFundMe campaign where I’m looking to raise $5000 to help get me back on my feet and get my business rolling again. This kind of support will allow me to access the many advertising tools available on social media and elsewhere. Because I’m told that I’m a talented artist so the more people who see my work the better!
Here’s the link to my campaign. Please help spread the word!
gofund.me/…
