Update On Outstanding Rewards
about 4 years ago – Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 06:46:28 PM

Hey everyone! Thanks for your patience as I settle back into every day life after my long odyssey. It feels like I’ve woken up from a nightmare.

But, no talk of new projects until I’ve got all rewards squared away.

I had to track down the missing packages - looks like there was a problem on the customs forms for some of our international rewards and some discrepancy over shipping rates on some of our bulkier rewards (I.e., original artwork). Some packages were lost entirely (thankfully nothing with original art) and some were returned to our local post office - but they were sent back to my store, not my home, and when we’re not there to receive packages slips are left behind. Long story short, there’s some delay in my finding out when packages are returned but I have everything together now.

Obviously we will be reshipping anything we’ve gotten back at our expense. No need to worry.

If you’re missing rewards and you have not already done so, please send me a private message. I will reach out to each backer with missing items with a tracking number by end of week once everything’s out the door, along with a few options for a bonus apology gift for you to choose from.

Thanks again! Carmelo

Missing Rewards?
about 4 years ago – Wed, Feb 12, 2020 at 06:38:19 AM

Hey everyone!

Dani let me know yesterday that a few folks haven’t received their rewards!

First let me say I’m sorry I didn’t hear sooner - on my end I have to actively log in to Kickstarter to see your comments and I haven’t done so in a bit.

Second, I want to assure you that if you’re missing your rewards, there’s some kind of fluke - because I’ve shipped out over 300 copies of Cellar Door/rewards. If you’re missing your rewards, I WILL be sending out replacements on Monday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18. For of you who are getting replacements, I will have a few special gifts in mind as an apology and to thank you for your patience.

Third, I know I’ve been absent lately - but for the last three months I have been deep in preproduction and thereafter principal photography on a feature film. More on this later, and not that being busy is an excuse, but I just wanted you to know I haven’t been sitting on my couch playing Halo and ignoring anyone!

I will have another update for you after the replacement rewards go out next week about when I figure out why some of you didn’t receive your packages, along with a few important developments to help keep this kind of thing from happening again, and more details on where the hell I’ve been.

Thanks again, Carmelo

Looking For Something Spooky To Watch For Halloween? Plus, Your Rewards Have Shipped!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 07:54:59 PM

Do you love Halloween as much as I do? For me, Halloween starts when I go to Six Flags for Frightfest in September, and lasts until Thanksgiving. But tonight is a special night! It's the reason for the season!

I want to recommend a horror movie for you that's FREE on Amazon Prime - plus, an important update on the rewards!

Did You Know 1,600 People Have Vanished In Our National Forests?

if you're looking for a scary movie to watch tonight, I want to recommend "She Walks The Woods" - its FREE on Amazon Prime!

Click here to watch it now, and please remember to leave a review!

Did you know 1,600 people have mysteriously vanished in our national parks? In, "She Walks The Woods", a team of adventurers is about to find out why!

It's a raw, found-footage horror movie set in the isolation of the Rocky Mountains with plenty of gore and a seriously scary monster.

Have I Told You About The Cult Classic Horror Show?

Believe it or not, I don't want to just promote myself over and over again. I want to promote my friends like you.

"She Walks The Woods" was made by my friends Danny Bohnen, Scotty Bohnen, and Rob O'Neal. They are my co-hosts on the weekly horror movie podcast, "The Cult Classic Horror Show."

Check out our special Halloween episode on "The Creature From The Black Lagoon."

And Now, Cellar Door!

I've been buying envelopes, packing boxes, printing postage, and licking stamps for the last few weeks in every free second - but I'm finally DONE! I'm driving the last of this huge load to the post office TODAY.

I wanted to be done about a month ago - but as you know, my full time job as an attorney made it very difficult logistically. I quit that job so I'd have more time to take better care of fans, friends, and backers.

I also had some delays getting copies of "10/31" for some backers, as well as some of the prints came out the wrong size and had to be redone. So I'm sorry for these delays.

But the wait is over! You'll have your rewards in a few days, and my wife gets her husband back.

Yay!

Happy Halloween, and I'll be in touch soon to say good bye with a final update.

Keep moving forward,

Carmelo 

Where Are My Rewards? And Other Pressing Questions
over 4 years ago – Fri, Oct 04, 2019 at 04:01:26 PM

I'm sorry I'm long overdue for an update! I know I haven't been responsive lately and I owe you an explanation. So first of all...

Where Are Your Rewards?

I am still packing and shipping rewards as we speak! If you haven't received your rewards yet, don't worry, I am still working on it and you should have them soon.

What's The Delay?

Today, I know we're all used to Amazon turning around and shipping our packages instantly. In fact, today I saw Prime offer me "Free Same Day Delivery." I don't even know how that's physically possible.

I don't have Amazons shipping logistics. For me, fulfillment means I am literally, physically, personally packing and stamping postage on every single backer's package.

The success of Cellar Door has put me in an awkward position - when our fanbase was smaller, I could handle this alone. But Cellar Door was a big step up for us, thanks to you. And that means I'm desperately trying to play catch up with the growing size of our Community.

And it's a problem that hasn't gone away. Our Community grows every single day - I feel like I'm constantly playing catch up as the size of the audience outpaces my ability to take the best care of you.

What Am I Going To Do About It?

As many of you may know, by day I am a full-time practicing attorney at an AM100 law firm. This is the reason, but not an excuse, for why I can't handle fulfillment alone.

So I'm leaving my position. I resigned this month, as of October 15. I will still be a full-time attorney, but I am starting at a new firm where my hours and location are flexible - which will allow me to be more responsive and fulfill orders more quickly.

I hope this tremendous change in my personal life shows you just how much I care about making Chimera's Comics, Cellar Door, and all of you a priority.

I'll check back in next week to let you know when I've finished sending everything out!

Thank You

I'm so, so grateful for your continued patience and support. When you backed this project, you didn't just buy rewards. You became a part of this project and this Community  and I'm so grateful I'm not taking this journey of growth alone.

Keep moving forward,

Carmelo

Thanks For Making The Release Party Awesome! Plus Your Rewards
over 4 years ago – Fri, Sep 06, 2019 at 03:55:40 PM

It started off with just one person popping in at a quarter to 4 (thanks, Bert!) Within half an hour, Oak Lawn Comics was full - and it stayed full until we wrapped up at 8PM!

Friends, family, backers, and customers filtered in and out all night and the release was a huge success.

I'm mostly grateful to the backers who were able to come out in person, because it means so much to me to look you in the eye and tell you how much I appreciate you. Truly, your support means the world to me and my fellow Cellar Door creators.

If You Couldn't Make It To the Party...

I've already begun shipping out rewards! I'll be honest with you - this is the part I suck at. My last Kickstarter kicked my ass, because I had so many different sized/shaped rewards that packing/shipping was nightmarish. I did a bad job and I'm still fixing it.

But I've learned a lot. And with Cellar Door, all of our rewards are books/prints, and the t-shirts are coming direct from the printer. My sincere hope is to have everything out the door by this time next week, and at the latest next weekend for any stragglers.

Want To Pick Up Your Rewards In Person?

If you want to pick up your rewards in person, just let me know! Send me a message or comment here and make sure to let me know which store you'd like to go to. Of course you can pick up at Chimera's Comics La Grange in La Grange, Illinois but Brian from Oak Lawn Comics has been generous enough to let folks pick up their rewards there too. But you have to let me know! Otherwise there will be nothing waiting for you at the shops.

What's Next

I'll be in touch after rewards ship with some final surprises for you, and a look at our next project, along with a word about the much-requested sequel to "Cellar Door."

Keep moving forward,

Carmelo