Please Help Me 'Kickstart' New British Film, Theatre & Telly Magazine


By Larry Jaffee

I need your help. Don’t worry dear readers, the Walford Gazette is still going to be published, but of course I would appreciate immensely if you would renew your subscriptions and buy my two books, Albert Square & Me and Walford State of Mind, if you have not done so yet (purchasing details on front page of site).

As I have previously mentioned on these pages, my plan is to publish a new magazine called UK:Cue that goes beyond EastEnders, about British film, theatre and television on both sides of the Atlantic. UK:Cue will cover the continuing cultural exchange between the US and the UK in terms of producing movies, plays and TV programmes, all with a British accent. Unlike the Walford Gazette, UK:Cue will be initially a quarterly printed magazine. The plan also calls for a Web edition and an iPad app, in which theatre tickets of shows covered, for example, could be purchased.

This is a far more ambitious endeavour than publishing the Walford Gazette, which by the way has reached its 20th anniversary. It was Oct. 1, 1992 that I received the letter from the BBC giving me permission to start the newspaper, which has been issued without fail four times a year. It’s quite an achievement (if I say so myself), but only a microcosm of what I’d like to achieve on a grander scale. That being said, I am kicking off a fundraising campaign to get a prototype of the magazine produced.

But publishing a magazine is a much different and much more expensive process than putting out a newsprint tabloid – and one that is beyond my financial means at this juncture.

Hence, I am seeking readers of the Walford Gazette, as well as other contacts of mine, to contribute to a 60-day, $5,000 campaign starting on Dec. 1 on the website Kickstarter.com, which is a so-called “crowd-sourcing” Internet mechanism for creative people to embark on artistic endeavours of various sorts.

The way Kickstarter works is that contributors send the money via Amazon.com, which acts as a clearinghouse for Kickstarter. The money does not go to the campaign originator (that would be me) until after the fundraising period expires, in this case on Jan. 30, 2012.

BUT – And this is A VERY BIG BUT – if the amount of money sought falls short of the target, the artist receives none of the money pledged and it is returned. The good news is that everything over $5,000 will go towards the cause. If you would like to support my quest to launch UK:Cue, please do not send me money directly – it all needs to go through Kickstarter.com.

Checks sent to the East End Company cannot be counted towards the campaign.

Getting back to how Kickstarter works, you will receive what they call “a reward,” in exchange for your contribution. Depending on the size of contribution, there will be different level of rewards:

• a $25 contribution will get you a copy of the limited-edition prototype edition, which will feature a page of all contributors by name who agree to be listed

• a $50 contribution will allow you to provide a 100-word explanation of which television program program (other than EastEnders), film or play is your favourite. (On request, I will edit it at no further charge, and will even retype handwritten submissions.)

• for a $100 contribution I will interview you by telephone and write a 100-word explanation of your favourite British play, movie or television program (not EE)

• for a $150 contribution, I will provide a lifetime subscription of the Walford Gazette (WG)

• for a $250 contribution, 50-plus back issues of the WG, and signed copies of 'Albert Square & Me' and 'Walford State of Mind'

• for the first $1,000 contribution I will turn over my authentic Albert Square street sign autographed by the entire cast of EastEnders, circa 2002

There might be additional rewards, such as a conversation with a British actor or actress, film director or playwright featured in the magazine.

The inaugural issue will feature an analysis of the forthcoming film 'The Iron Lady' about Margaret Thatcher’s rise and fall from power, as played by Meryl Streep. There will be certainly other articles of interest for British film, TV and theatre lovers of all genres and periods – something for everyone – costume dramas to sci-fi to zany comedies, on stage, as well as the big and small screens.

Assuming that the drive will be successful, what will come of the proceeds you should ask? It will go directly into the production of the magazine to cover printing, design, photography, writing and editing costs. Copies of the printed issue will be distributed to potential advertisers and investors, who will be then asked to financially back the next phase of UK:Cue – the online component, which will include development of a dedicated website and an iPad app.

I realize this is complicated – especially the Kickstarter process – so please don’t hesitate to ask me questions via telephone 917-291-2488 or email walfordgazette@gmail.com

Remember it’s all or nothing. It’s going to be a fun ride.




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