Defunctland End of Year Meeting Recap (Patreon)

Hi everyone. For those of you who were not able to make last night's meeting, here is a brief recap of everything we discussed. This was both our monthly meeting for December as well as our last meeting of the year.

Defunctland 2023 Recap

2023 was a generally good year for me and Defunctland. I was able to release two videos, one of which, Defunctland: The Awful Wiggles Dark Ride, did very well. The other, Journey to EPCOT Center: A Symphonic History, was a project that I had been working on for many years, the results of which were mixed. 

The reception to this film has been generally good with some harsh critiques, and in the meeting, I discussed my mixed feelings toward the reception. Those who felt the film lacked "bite" or chose to reduce the product to simply a "love letter," I feel, do not understand the film or what I was trying to say. I am trying very hard to be proud of this film after so many years of working on it, but I feel that it has not been dissected and truly engaged with in the way that I had hoped. Those who both liked and didn't like it, generally, have not dug deeper, which I understand might be too much to ask of a general audience. In the meeting, I discussed that choosing objectivity, nuance, and the presentation of history as it happened, in my view, is more interesting and thoughtful than me saying anything aloud in English. By choosing to say nothing, I was saying a lot, and it is far more complex than "Disney is swell" or "isn't Epcot great?"

Still, the film has been viewed half a million times and many wonderful things have been said about it. It is a mixed bag, and I am grateful for the opportunity to experiment and take risks. I am hoping that I can find the courage to do something risky again someday. I also hope that, with time, there will be a reevaluation of this piece, but for now, I am saying goodbye to this project that has consumed so many years of my life. As you will see, 2024 is going to be a return to form as I ramp up for the next big project, which is likely a few years away, and I am still deciding what that will be.

A true bright spot of my year was releasing my new podcast Where We Parked. This is one of my favorite things to create, and I love casually discussing theme parks with my friend Jack. I look forward to producing more episodes for you here on Patreon and releasing Season Two to the general public once it is complete.

Our final project of 2023 will be Charityland in Kevin's Kitchen. This live fundraising event benefitting Give Kids the World Village will take place on December 15 at 3 PM ET. I really hope you can join, even if just for a portion, and you can begin to donate and suggest recipes now at https://charityland.gives 

Defunctland 2024 and Beyond

With 2023 almost over,  we look forward to the projects of 2024. Next year, I plan on releasing 3-4 projects. These are subject to change, but this is what I am currently putting into production. I have also included some projects that I am considering for 2025 and 2026.

February - Defunctland: The American Idol Theme Park Experience

This video covers the phenomenon of American Idol as well as the attraction that was in Disney's Hollywood Studios from 2009-2014. Projected runtime: 45-60 minutes

May - DefunctTV: The History of LazyTown

This video covers the history of the Nickelodeon children's show LazyTown. Projected runtime: 35 Minutes

October - Deal or No Deal: A History Heist

This feature explores the math of the game show Deal or No Deal. Framed as a heist plot, I explore the program's history and the gameplay's math in an attempt to find holes in the show to exploit for theoretical profit. Projected runtime: 2 hours

2025 - The Bursting of the Disney Bubble

This feature covers Disney's attempts to keep guests within the borders of Walt Disney World, as well as the cottage industry that sprouted up around the parks in the late 2010s, and early 2020s. 

2026 - "it's your birthday."

This feature film covers the industrialization of birthdays and the history of time itself.

Thank You

Finally, I want to thank you for all of your support. Your support, both financial and communal, makes taking risks and creating big projects possible. I am a very lucky person, and I am grateful for every second that I am able to make things for you. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Best,

Kevin Perjurer