what does equity actually cost?

dav adé
Mar 18
3 min read

tldr;

transparency is a radical act in an industry built on gatekeepers and hidden ledgers. as we prepare to launch our pilot, we are pulling back the curtain on the numbers. building a human-first show requires more than just vision; it requires a budget that prioritizes equity over exposure. here is the breakdown of how we are turning $30k into a catalyst for the BLANK community.

why transparency is the only way to build a sustainable creative society.

the art world has a long-standing habit of hiding the bill. we see the polished pilot, the high-end cinematography, and the finished gallery, but we rarely talk about the capital required to get there. this lack of transparency keeps artists in the dark about their own market value and allows the system to continue offering "exposure" instead of equity.

at BLANK, we believe that if you want to change the system, you have to show how it’s funded. as we gear up for our pilot shoot in toronto, we are being direct about the real numbers behind the mission.

the breakdown: where the $30k goes

to bring this pilot to life with the quality it deserves, we’ve projected a total budget of $28,879.20. every dollar is strategically allocated to ensure the "human touch" is preserved from pre-production to the premiere event.

here is the high-level breakdown of our funding goals:

production and post ($17k+): this covers a professional crew from enter productions, including cinematography, sound mixing, and motion graphics . it also includes our high-level gear list—four cinematic 4k cameras and drone setups—to ensure the art is captured with scholarly precision.
artist and creative fees ($5k+): equity starts with the creators. this covers honorariums for our 8 participating artists and the creative team leading the vision. we aren't asking for favors; we are paying for expertise.
logistics and materials ($3k+): this fuels the "messy" reality of the challenge. everything from wooden panels and other surprise materials for the art challenges to catering and transportation for the cast and crew are covered under this budget category.
marketing and contingency ($3k+): ensuring the world actually sees the work through social media strategy and a dedicated donor screening wrap party at the sandbox where the pilot was filmed.

the stepping stool approach

we aren't waiting for a network to hand us a check. we are building this from the ground up.

our goal is to raise the first $15k on kickstarter to get the cameras rolling, but what we're building is a platform that also pays artists for their time and talent.

what started out being about making a show has evolved into creating a blueprint for the arts industry. when you fund this pilot, you aren't just paying for content, you are investing in a system that proves you can pay artists fairly, provide professional production, and maintain creative autonomy without a middleman.

why the numbers matter

by sharing our budget, we are giving other artists a stepping stool. we want our community to see the costs of insurance, the price of storage drives, and the necessity of a health and safety officer. knowledge is the only hedge against the machines and the gatekeepers.

at BLANK, we prefer a living society where the ledgers are open and the creators are paid. tomorrow, we’ll show you the faces of the artists you’re supporting. today, we’re showing you the foundation we’re building for them.