BackerKit FAQ
How does BackerKit crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding is a collaborative way to bring ideas and projects to life. Project creators post their idea for a project, and backers pledge money to make the project possible. Backers get behind the scenes access and backer-only rewards, which can include exclusive products, special pricing, creative input, content, and more.
To become a backer, select a pledge level that features the reward(s) you would like to receive when the project is successfully completed and make your contribution.
All-or-nothing crowdfunding model: The creator sets a funding goal and a deadline to raise funds. If the project does not meet the goal by the deadline, backers credit cards are not charged and no money changes hands.
Crowdfunding projects can happen at various stages of the creative process. Make sure to check the estimated timeline of when rewards will be delivered. Project creators will keep you updated on the progress toward completion and delivery of your rewards.
Backing a crowdfunding campaign is not the same as purchasing an item from a store. When you back a campaign you are supporting the creation of something new. Rewards are almost always delivered, but are not guaranteed.
When will I be charged for my pledge?
Your payment method will not be charged right away. You will be charged for the amount of your pledge when the campaign ends and the project reaches its funding goal. You will not be charged if the campaign does not reach its funding goal.
What happens after the campaign is over?
The Creator will send out a survey that will ask you for more information about your pledge, your shipping information, additional items you may want to add to your pledge, and collect shipping fees if applicable.
The survey will be sent to the email address we have on file with your pledge.
Any additional payment will be charged when you complete your survey and confirm your order.
Project FAQ
Wait, didn't you crowdfund for Lumi before? Why are you doing it again?
We underestimated how expensive it would be to produce an animated pilot. Typically, an 11 minute episode can cost from upwards of $100,000, and with our first goal being well below that range ($25,000), the scope of the project ended up being much larger than the crew and I had expected. With the $25,000 we raised, we managed to finish the pilot's storyboards, animatic, and voice acting by allocating those funds into preproduction. There's still a few more parts of preproduction we need to finish, such as audio engineering, placement, and animatic trimming, but we're hoping that with this crowdfund, we'd be able to continue where we left off from the first one and jump into finishing the pilot.
Where will I be able to watch Lumi's pilot?
Lumi's pilot will be premiering on Evan's YouTube Channel once it's completed. https://www.youtube.com/@starteas
Do you plan on making more episodes of Lumi once the pilot is released?
At this point in time, no. Animation is not only incredibly time consuming, but expensive, and a daunting task I nor the crew are presently ready for. We'd have to crowdfund for much more than we're asking for if we were ever looking to fund an entire series-- and even then, many indie productions are reliant on multiple factors to keep themselves afloat (money, fans, merchandise, and so on). Would we love to make more Lumi? Absolutely, there's no doubt about it! Being able to fund an entire series independently would be a dream come true, and if there ever came an opportunity where we'd be able to make a series, we would. But as it stands now, our goal is to finish the pilot and see what happens from there.
When should I expect the rewards for this crowdfund to be delivered?
As of the time of writing this, we are hoping to get listed rewards out by the second or third quarter of 2025, though dates and timeframes are subject to change. Manufacturer and shipping delays can happen, and as much as we'd love to find ways to prevent it, are unfortunately outside our control. We will be sure to keep backers updated of the situation if anything is subject to change.
I don't want to use BackerKit. Are there other ways I can support Lumi?
Yes, here are a few ways you can support Lumi's production! Patreon - You can join the Patreon to see production art, comics, and get an exclusive look at behind the scenes work of the pilot. https://www.patreon.com/starteas Discord - Join our Discord! Be a part of a friendly, fun community with fellow Lumi fans! https://discord.gg/75pfA5Y2WS Shop - Check out our merch shop! We sell t-shirts, hoodies, stickers-- and even plushies! While it's a small shop, every last dime goes back into supporting Lumi's production. https://latgbg.store YouTube - You can subscribe to our YouTube channel, share the link, or tell your friends about it! Word of mouth is what helps indie productions thrive. https://www.youtube.com/@starteas