Let's Talk Unscrewed/The Unscrewed! Charity and You.

[Typo Lad]

Hi, I'm Mordechai "Typo Lad" Luchins. You may know me from such threads as "Ask the Jew!" or "My Hair, Where Did it Go?"

Seriously though, I'm honored and privileged to be one of the editors of the Unscrewed Anthology.

I'm starting this thread because there seems to be a bit of confusion about what Unscrewed! is and what we're about. I've put it here instead of on the indie board because Unscrewed was born here, in a way.

The first thing I want to clarify is that Unscrewed is an organization that essentially consists of three parts. The first is the umbrella organization. This runs the second two parts, but the main focus is on helping other creators not get screwed in the first place. We're working on a site. I am not heavily involved in this aspect, and can't speak on it too much. I can say that we're against underhanded shenanigans in the comic industry in general, and are focused on more than just one malefactor.

The second part would be the Unscrewed Auctions, run by Tom Stillwell. Tom is, of course, most qualified to speak about this aspect. One thing I want to touch on is that all monies raised by the auctions go to a fund to help people who have been screwed. Period. Tom can say more.

Unscrewed!:The Comic of Just Desserts is the final thread of the tapestry, and my bailiwick, along with the talented Sarah Beach. Again, I want to stress that this is a separate entity from the auctions. We are still working out funding, but have no intention of ever touching the money meant for "the screwed".

The anthology will consist of work by various creators, some who have been screwed and some who are just trying to support awareness of the shady practices that some publishers undertake. There's a great bunch of talent signed up. We have a few names I can't say for legal reasons yet, but we will announce. Frankly, I would rather not announce anyone until we get more ducks in a row. I can't stand publishers who tout all the cool stuff they're doing, then vanish. Of course, if a creator who posts on CBR wants to "out" themselves, I'm cool with that. We have a few big names and big surprises lined up. Stuff I know you guys will like.

We're currently setting deadlines and looking at projected costs. We already have some stories in and they look fantastic.

We are committed to getting this book out there and it will happen.

Any questions?

[Michael P]

Typo, how can I be like you when I grow up?

[Typo Lad]

Typo, how can I be like you when I grow up?

I'm glad you asked Michael!

Step one... drink lots of chocolate milk. It builds healthy bones and calcium deposits. Then later, you sue the milk company. Why are there no warning labels on milk? Kidney stones hurt.

Step two... ignore your teachers. If they knew anything they'd be working in the private sector. Idiots.

Step three... don't worry about building savings. One day you'll be so rich you can pay back everyone who lent you money. Which will be nice, because Vinnie from the "massage parlor" doesn't like waiting.

Step four... wait for your big break. Don't worry about honing any skills. Just sit tight and wait.

[Stressfactor]

Good info all around Typo... Although I must say, you might want to go ahead and post your announcement on the Indie boards. Sure, UNSCREWED! was born on YABS (and a fine midwife she was) but a lot of the YABS viewers are regulars and expanding to the Indie boards would catch more people in your net.

You might also want to get this message posted on other comic book message boards like Newsarama (even though I've personally given them up as corporate shills), The Pulse and the like.

And finally... keep the updates coming! I'm looking forward to getting my hot little hands on a copy of the first UNSCREWED! anthology at some point in the future.

Good luck and God speed!

[Typo Lad]

Thanks Stress. I want to avoid going off CBR simply because I don't want to announce much without anything set in stone. I think companies that brag and brag about how amazing their comic is going to be stink of vapor.

[Stressfactor]

Probably true. At any rate, when UNSCREWED! is ready I hope you broadcast far and wide. Heck, I may be able to get some sort of feature article/review/interview with the website I review with.... Broken Frontier. Keep me updated.

[KevinTBrown]

Let's stick this here thread up top, shall we...?

:)

[Typo Lad]

A sticky thread?

Really?

My life life is complete!

Where'd i put that shotgun...

[TomStillwell]

Howdy folks. I just wanted to say a few words about Unscrewed! and the money we've collected through various auctions and donations.

Simply put, 100% of that money goes towards helping the screwed in various ways. Whether it's giving people financial help in dire times or covering filing costs, that money will always be solely to help those in need.

Every screwed freelancer who has come forward with a financial need has been helped. No, we can't give much money at this point. We're still pretty small and our charitable fund limited. We will be good stewards of the money in our possession.

Our operating costs are not covered by the charitable fund. Those costs have come out of the pockets of the people in charge. I personally donated the shipping and handling on every items sold through the auctions.

The costs of producing and printing the Unscrewed! anthology will not be covered by any charitable donations. We will either cover them out of pocket or raise extra money through fundraisers. Our hope is that the book is picked up by a publisher and most of the costs are covered.

Let me say it again: NO DONATIONS WILL GO TOWARDS THE ANTHOLOGY.

And 100% of the profits from the anthology will go into the charitable fund.

So that's it. The charitable funds are there for those in need. We helped someone just last week in financial trouble. We plan to cover the filing costs on a small claim suit in the very near future.

If you've been screwed and you have a need, please contact us. We can't help you otherwise.

Thanks for listening.

[sk716]

Merged the two threads. It's better to keep all the info in one spot.

[Sarah Beach]

Merged the two threads. It's better to keep all the info in one spot.

I suppose that's a good point, Shel ... but as you'll note in Mordechai's post, some people have already merged the two concepts (ie, the charity auctions and the anthology production) in their heads, assuming that money from the auctions was going to pay for the book. That's why the guys started two separate threads: to make it clear Unscrewed! has two tracks running.

But... if you think folks will indeed keep the matters separate, we'll run with it.

Anyway... although we're still in early days of the organization, it's pretty cool to be in at the ground level of the endeavor. My teammates are great guys with vision.

[TomStillwell]

Yes, there was a reason that two seperate threads were started.

[Typo Lad]

Eh. I think two combined may work better.

QUESTION NOT THE WILL OF THE M-DS!

[sk716]

I suppose that's a good point, Shel ... but as you'll note in Mordechai's post, some people have already merged the two concepts (ie, the charity auctions and the anthology production) in their heads, assuming that money from the auctions was going to pay for the book. That's why the guys started two separate threads: to make it clear Unscrewed! has two tracks running.

But... if you think folks will indeed keep the matters separate, we'll run with it.

Anyway... although we're still in early days of the organization, it's pretty cool to be in at the ground level of the endeavor. My teammates are great guys with vision.

Yes, there was a reason that two seperate threads were started.

My concern was that one would get lost in the shuffle. Better to have one thread stickied with all of the info instead of lost threads and confusion.

[MacQuarrie]

One thread works fine, provided we keep it free of the tangents and derailments that we're all prone to.

I hereby request that the Mods delete any irrelevant nonsense that pops up here. Let's keep this thread strictly business, please.