Getting replies!

The sources that have replied to me are Guldies and Kirsten Lepore, which has been really helpful in influencing my essay. They both have very different experiences with stop-motion, which has given their responses a range of perspectives. I will put the full conversations in the appendices of my essay, but here are some highlights.

Kirsten Lepore

“The only costs are generally spent on supplies - maybe a few hundred dollars max for each film. The real “cost” comes with the amount of time and skills required to create them. It sometimes takes years of time.

I should also say that Hi Stranger going viral in no way equated to a payday for me. Most of the views I received were actually on Facebook, which doesn’t offer any kind of ad revenue for creators. I don’t think going viral has really affected the way I make films, except that it helped me get representation at my production company.

I feel very lucky that my strange filmmaking sensibilities, which are very specific to each person - akin to handwriting, have attracted people and found an audience.”

Alexander Unger (Guldies)

“I started making small clay figurines and later I put my things out on the web. People liked what I did even if it was super childish, and I got more  motivated to sculpt. It was a wonderful feeling, and then I just kept on animating with my clay.”

I finance them myself, but they are almost free to make, except the time I have to put in. People tend to exaggerate the cost of stop motion. It can get expensive, but it can also be the cheapest thing ever. All you ever need is a camera and a workbench.

Lots of free time and a love for stop motion is the answer I guess.”