<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The .99 Cent Song — A Tiny Spark for a Big Dream</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Today, I sit in my apartment thinking about why I moved to Los Angeles 25 years ago. Simple, traditional reasons: to make art, to share art, maybe in the form of music, movies… or maybe a bit of both really.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>"Hollywood is the girl I can still never get..." — Mike J. Nichols</em></strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Some of you might know my some of my work...
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>During the first six months here, I was broke. No cable, no TV reception, living mostly on Ramen noodles and DVD filmmaker commentaries. To occupy my time, I began re-editing a little 1999 movie that… well, wasn’t exactly loved by its fans — or even me.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That movie was <strong>Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace</strong>, and my exercise was called <strong><em>The Phantom Edit</em></strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_1759959211667154_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That small home computer project accidentally started a chain of events that helped handshake this new digital culture into a rocky (but promising) relationship between fans and the studio system.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Since then, I’ve worked on numerous tv shows and theatrical documentaries like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4F0rT0F6OQ&amp;pp=ygUNemFwcGEgdHJhaWxlcg%25252525252525252525252525253D%25252525252525252525252525253D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Zappa</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRVFBQHBUls&amp;pp=ygUbZWNobyBpbiB0aGUgY2FueW9uICB0cmFpbGVy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Echo in the Canyon</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://vimeo.com/1011882704/eebe184a5c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The Last Play at Shea</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb7_5iY9M9Y&amp;pp=ygUsam9obiB3YWl0ZSB0aGUgaGFyZCB3YXkgZG9jdW1lbnRhcnkgdHJhaWxlciDSBwkJ_AkBhyohjO8%25252525252525252525252525253D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>John Waite / The Hard Way</strong></a>, and a follow-up to the gem <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5XvArGGIzk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The King of Kong</strong></a>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>So, what do I want today?
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I'm from middle America with middle America values. I’ve always believed in working hard, doing good work, and letting the work speak for itself. Boom!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Unfortunately, the landscape has changed... a lot. if you want to make movies and make a living at it, you need <strong>social media followers</strong>, <strong>viral videos</strong>, and <strong>online influence or presence</strong> — I'm finding that even if your work is in theaters, on Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Hulu... that's still not the YouTube, The TikTok, or the Instagram way. -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VGI3otiIjzc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Maya Hawke Interview on Social Media Scores</em></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Times here in Hollywood are increadibly shaky - and for just about everybody in the creative spaces. The other day, I was applying for a short-term editing gig and they asked for me to submit a headshot(?) and they also needed my movie's follower counts.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The movies I do aren’t influencer videos—they’re like, real films—not YouTube projects.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It didn't matter because in today’s world, those follower numbers rule all.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Agents and Managers all want you to have those numbers.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And that’s why <strong>THIS</strong> matters.
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_1759977924277405_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>iTunes and .99 cents</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>About 13 years ago, when iTunes was still holding on to the world’s biggest music store, I wrote a song about my metaphorical relationship with Hollywood. That song sat unfinished on hard-drives for years while I was buried in film editing work… <em>until the other day</em>, when I found it <strong><em>again</em></strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That song is called “<strong>The .99 Cent Song</strong>.”
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Today, in 2025, I’m finally bringing it to life — but not just to release it; I want to see if the world can come together around a simple, nostalgic throwback:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What if everyone who believes in creativity, art, and independent filmmaking chipped in just .99 cents to help, I don't know, ME make a movie?</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The film I’m in the process of developing is about the rise of a new culture of online streaming — a world where fans became their own studios, where creativity wasn’t controlled by just a few gatekeepers, and where taking a chance on storytelling could create something entirely new… and something that people actually wanted to see.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This little song is metaphor about art, money, and definitely my relationship with Hollywood. I didn't know how relevant this would become.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It is more than just music though — it’s become the spark behind the latest movie project.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>A busker on the sidewalk</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I like to imagine it like this: I’m a busker on a city sidewalk, playing this song for anyone who will listen. If you like it, just drop .99 cents in the hat. A couple of small coins, one little gesture — but together, it adds up to something bigger.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_175997842758532_r.gif" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Back then, I joked it was nearly impossible to get someone to part with a measly .99 cents on iTunes. In today's market...yikes.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Sure, you could find this and others songs online for free (like at the top of this posting) and people will just play it and that's that.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But in the spirit of another time — a time when there were video stores, record stores, physical email lists, live music venues, standing in line for movie or concert tickets, indie artists shows, and something that changed my world - independent cinema and that spirited culture — I invite YOU to drop a little change in the <strong>hat</strong>… even just as an experiment.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Help me make the metaphorical girl I wrote about <strong><em>be right here</em></strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Even if it’s just for fun, every bit brings this dream closer to reality.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>.99 Cents = Nostalgia… No, let’s call it YESstalgia!!!</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And if .99 cents isn’t in your wallet? I got you.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>How about a <strong>LIKE</strong> or <strong>SUBSCRIBE</strong>? That’s <strong>free</strong>, and it counts and helps out too. (I need 50 more to hit 500 subscribers- if you hit the Watch on YouTube on the video above you can hit LIKE there)
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_1759978001713703_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The link for “<a href="https://youtu.be/8DWz3bL2kiU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The 99 Cent Song</strong></a>” on YouTube is up a the top and here:
</div>
<div><a href="https://youtu.be/8DWz3bL2kiU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube Link</a>. <a href="https://youtu.be/8DWz3bL2kiU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://youtu.be/8DWz3bL2kiU" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/8DWz3bL2kiU</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If you go there directly you can hit the <strong>LIKE</strong> or <strong>Subscribe</strong> :-). (I can't do that for you... I tried even)
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Please help me get the <strong>social followers</strong> and <strong>clicks</strong> this town seems to require before <strong>Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh</strong> filmmakers end up on the streets for lack of <strong>LIKES</strong> and <strong>Followers</strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>"Hollywood is the girl I can still never get… BUT the Internet is gonna help me get her attention." — Mike J. Nichols</em></strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Here’s to 1 million .99 cents (or 1 million LIKES).</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you, thank you...
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>— Mike J. Nichols</strong>
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEditDoctor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>www.youtube.com/@TheEditDoctor</em></a>
</div>
<div><em>@The_Edit_Doctor on Instagram</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_1759977468108073_r.jpeg" width="100%" /><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95460995_1759977111407969_r.png" width="100%" />

Scott Johnson

Anonymous

Jessica Rodrigue

Natalie Lipka

Kathy Bugajsky

Arika Pace

"The .99 Cent Song"

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

"The .99 Cent Song"

Still $25,600 to go. Help us build momentum.