People are going to die – ABillionLivesFilm Update

When I prepared my speech to the White House OMB and FDA, I thought they’d listen. When I presented it, they didn’t seem to care.

Today I know they didn’t.

I used to be naive about how government works. I still think most people are.

We’ve known for almost a year now that that this would happen, that the FDA would basically ban 99% of life-saving vapor products out there…leaving only those sold by Big Tobacco.

It’s time to wake up smokers. It’s time to wake up vapers. It’s time to wake up the public.We’re being lied to, and people are going to die.

It will be a combination of relationship building at the government level and public relations. You should join or start an association and give them money so they can fight.

However, we must also change the public’s perception of vaping. Right now they are cheering on the FDA.

Our film will help, but we need to make major noise.Here’s how you can help:

A) If you see an article about vaping, please mention our film.

B) If you get interviewed about vapor technology, please mention our movie.

If you help us get on the air, we will carry the message. We’re not smokers. We’re not vapers. We’re not in the vapor tech business.

Here’s a recent radio interview I did. With your help, there will be many more.

Here’s the plan so far:

1) A proper World Premiere at Oscar-qualifying DocEdge International Film Festival to gain media attention. 

This is going well. Alfaliquid just offered to sponsor the after-party to assist with costs and pump it up. NZVapor is sponsoring the red carpet festivities. Hawke’s Bay Vapour and NVC are sponsoring the event photography. I am extremely grateful and this support has allowed us to attract people (media, politicians, etc.) to the movie from many countries, including those who have banned vapor technology.

Preparations are ongoing, but I’m very thankful for the help the Global Forum on Nicotine has provided. Not only did they help us land the Hon Lik interview last year, but they are also helping coordinate VIPs for the big event their hosting at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw.

Souvenir programs. Awards show. After-party.

It’s coming along nicely.

We’re excited to bring the movie home. Many have asked us why we didn’t premiere in the US. The answer is money.

We didn’t have the money to throw a proper premiere by ourselves and we needed the help of a world-class film festival. DocEdge invited us and we were very excited to accept.

In order to keep momentum rolling and get the attention of the public/media/politicians, we need to keep the level of these events to the highest quality.

Few things capture the public’s attention like a red carpet and the festivities surrounding a movie premiere. We only get one chance to premiere a movie in each region, and we’re going to make the most of it.

We’ll set a date in the US once we’ve figured out a way to pay for it. Jesse is working on it.

Same as above for the US. Jesse does have one person who’s offered to help sponsor an after-party to cover our costs to throw a special premiere that will make noise.

We’ll let you know once that’s been figured out. Jesse is working on it.

We’re working on renting a bus and planning premiere events around North America. So far, we’re planning events at the IMAX below the Seattle Space Needle (thanks John Conner for the help), Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Milwaukee, Miami, Philadelphia, Tampa, Phoenix, Orlando, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Calgary, Nashville, Santa Fe, and others.

Basically, we need two things to make it happen in your city:

1) someone to help guarantee tickets sold (we don’t have a huge marketing budget)

2) someone to sponsor the after-party to cover our costs (gas, banners, theater rentals, projection costs, food, etc.)

If you know anyone with either a large following or a large bank account, please have them contact [email protected].

We are starting to get other film festivals contacting us now that the movie is done. If you have one in your area, please contact them.

It worked in Tampa and it worked for New Zealand. It took an organized group of people calling/emailing. It wasn’t easy.

We are getting closer to a plan for a proper Australian Premiere in July. We also have some discussions with distribution companies there.

We need New Zealand to go well first. Stay tuned.

Thanks to the work of Anja, Frank, Ira and a bunch of other really amazing Germans, we have interest in the movie from several theaters and distributors. Anja Jochem Skowronek is managing/translating the A Billion Lives German page and it’s up to almost 2000 people! It’s been mindblowing to see how organized and active they are in Germany.

If we keep at this, there will be a wide release throughout all of Germany, possibly Austria and Switzerland too. Our biggest hurdle now is preparing the movie for a German audience.