Help Recover Costs from Parody Cafe
Donation protected
Hi everyone, please repost and share with your friends.
I apologize for the lack of updates to this event. We have been working behind the scenes to try and keep this event alive. Warner Bros. lawyer's contacted us and expressed that even in the parody form, that we would be in violation of their trademark. They noted that most people would believe that Warner Bros. created the pop up due to the magnitude of the event. We submitted a 20 page proposal on creating an authorized version under their control in order to keep the event alive. I spoke with the VP of their promotions department in California and they expressed that Toronto would not be a viable option at this time due to their being a lack of a significant sponsor. Under these circumstances, it is with sadness that I must cancel the parody central perk event this summer.
I would like you to know that this was not an easy decision for us to make and it was thought through very carefully. This week, for the first time in my life, I have had bouts of insomnia (and I love sleeping), knowing I would have to cancel the event and ultimately cancel those who had plans to surprise loved ones with visits to the café, from as far away as Nova Scotia, Montreal, Chicago and NYC. Warner Bros. loved the idea of the pop up shop and expressed their gratitude for the amazing response from the Friends fans in Canada. They agreed when I said that the fans are truly remarkable. They let me know that this does not mean that this event may not still happen in the future. If things change in the future, they would create their own pop up using the sets and props from the show we all know and love. If one good thing comes out of this cancellation, it is that we have demonstrated the great interest that Canadians have for the TV show Friends.
With 73,000 people interested attending on Facebook alone; numerous sponsorship requests (including a major city Tourism Board) and media requests for interviews from every major news outlet, it is only a matter of time before a sponsor looks at these stats and comes forward expressing interest in hosting the event with Warner Bros. Let's keep the momentum alive and one day you will have the opportunity to take a selfie on the orange couch.
During the past few months, I have incurred expenses in attempting to create this pop up shop (legal, web, technical) and I was hoping that if possible, that you can help me recover some of these costs.
Any bit helps and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
We would like to thank you all. Was this event a massive undertaking? Yes, however, I knew that along with my friends that we would have created a pop up that would have had the entire city excited to visit. Anyone who knows me, knows that when I put my name on something, it has to be spectacular. You have all been incredible and this has been one of the most exciting times of my life because of all of you. Every post made me smile and made me work that much harder. Life may be stuck in second gear at the moment, so let us come together and make our 90's dreams a reality one day soon.
#letscafein2017
I apologize for the lack of updates to this event. We have been working behind the scenes to try and keep this event alive. Warner Bros. lawyer's contacted us and expressed that even in the parody form, that we would be in violation of their trademark. They noted that most people would believe that Warner Bros. created the pop up due to the magnitude of the event. We submitted a 20 page proposal on creating an authorized version under their control in order to keep the event alive. I spoke with the VP of their promotions department in California and they expressed that Toronto would not be a viable option at this time due to their being a lack of a significant sponsor. Under these circumstances, it is with sadness that I must cancel the parody central perk event this summer.
I would like you to know that this was not an easy decision for us to make and it was thought through very carefully. This week, for the first time in my life, I have had bouts of insomnia (and I love sleeping), knowing I would have to cancel the event and ultimately cancel those who had plans to surprise loved ones with visits to the café, from as far away as Nova Scotia, Montreal, Chicago and NYC. Warner Bros. loved the idea of the pop up shop and expressed their gratitude for the amazing response from the Friends fans in Canada. They agreed when I said that the fans are truly remarkable. They let me know that this does not mean that this event may not still happen in the future. If things change in the future, they would create their own pop up using the sets and props from the show we all know and love. If one good thing comes out of this cancellation, it is that we have demonstrated the great interest that Canadians have for the TV show Friends.
With 73,000 people interested attending on Facebook alone; numerous sponsorship requests (including a major city Tourism Board) and media requests for interviews from every major news outlet, it is only a matter of time before a sponsor looks at these stats and comes forward expressing interest in hosting the event with Warner Bros. Let's keep the momentum alive and one day you will have the opportunity to take a selfie on the orange couch.
During the past few months, I have incurred expenses in attempting to create this pop up shop (legal, web, technical) and I was hoping that if possible, that you can help me recover some of these costs.
Any bit helps and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
We would like to thank you all. Was this event a massive undertaking? Yes, however, I knew that along with my friends that we would have created a pop up that would have had the entire city excited to visit. Anyone who knows me, knows that when I put my name on something, it has to be spectacular. You have all been incredible and this has been one of the most exciting times of my life because of all of you. Every post made me smile and made me work that much harder. Life may be stuck in second gear at the moment, so let us come together and make our 90's dreams a reality one day soon.
#letscafein2017
Organizer
Josh Botticelli
Organizer
North York, ON
