Princess Weekes
patreon
Patreon Tier Updates & 2022 Agenda [Tier Changes Have Been Adjusted]
🕑 Added 2021-12-03 17:40:57 +0000 UTCWith the new year approaching, I have been thinking a lot about my future in this medium. I've been making videos on the Melina Pendulum channel since I was 15-years-old and I'm about to turn 30 next April. I have spent half my life making content.
Hera, protect me.
Yet, in the last two years my work has really taken off.
I've been able to turn this hobby into a part of my career. A part of my intellectual legacy. And that feels good.
When I look back at my older content, I am overall proud of the young child/ woman I was. While, of course, there was a lot of internalized pick me and sexism I was dealing with (especially in my hard core anti-Twilight days), I grew out of it. I grew up and I did that in a "pre-cancel culture era" which makes me happy to see.
Not all of it is perfect, but I have kept a lot of up because it is proof of my growth and change as a human.
But now that this is not just a hobby, but a job, and one funded by so many people, I want to fully commit to making sure that I can deliver on things. That I can work on long term projects and that I can provide you all with tangible examples of where your money is going.
Largely, it goes to rent. I do not make a living wage currently at my day job and this has been what keeps me able to literally keep the lights on. I would not be able to live independently without Patreon, so I don't take that for granted.
So that means I want to make sure I'm doing the best for Patreon and the tiers I have, which is why I am making the following changes and letting you know what is coming.
I wanted to give you all enough time to decide if you want to leave/and/or change tiers. I want it to be fair and I know how hard this time has been. I never begrudge anyone who leaves. Do what is best for you.
The tiers will be updated later today (Edit: They have been edited now) and I apologize if anyone is disappointed, but I think this is more manageable for me than what I have been doing.
Agenda for 2022
More Anime Content:
I am excited to talk about more Anime related topics. I love Anime and I think the Video Essay format would be an excellent way to discuss especially shojo and Magical Girl anime which is often ignored in favor of more popular shonen work (no shade to them). I also think it would be a fun thing to explore topics about certain shows like the fan service in "Kill a Kill" or gender in "Ranma 1/2."
Variety of Topics:
I will always be shocked that the biggest video from my channel has been the "I Kissed a Girl" video. It was a surprise to me and what it highlighted is that my channel can survive doing different things. I want to explore a lot of topics. Not just anime, but also Western Comics, and not just Marvel shows. I love prestige television and I think there isn't a lot of Black commentators in this space. Also, I want to go back to talking about books. I love talking about Superhero stuff and I still will, but I want to do so much more and it excites me.
Longer form projects
Girl Bossing the Monarchy:
A three part series talking about the depiction of female monarchs in media. The first video would be talking about the way in which popular media have "girl bossed" a lot of female leaders, warping their images to align with feminism—even if it doesn't fit. The second video would discuss Cleopatra and how we speak about race, ethnicity, colonization, and gender within our discussion of Monarchy. Finally we end on Meghan Markle and what her image has changed about the idea of what it means to become a royal.
A History of Black Actor-ship:
A topic that has been really interesting to me is the history of Black actors in the West. Who was the first? Who were the most popular? Where did they work? And also exploring topics like the issue of who can play who within the Black community. Getting numbers to put all these things together in order to see what it looks like.
The Bonnie Diaries:
A project I've had in mind for a long, long time is to go through each season of the Vampire Diaries and break down Bonnie's story arch. I sort of buried this idea because of Jenny's video on The Vampire Diaries. But I realized that I would just have a different perspective and that is just as valuable. Breaking down the character's treatment, but also reflecting on what it was like watching it as someone who was actively watching the show at the time.
Patreon Exclusives:
Princess Watches:
I really like discussing new media, but the reality that I have found is that for my channel, it doesn't work to talk about a singular movie right away unless I have a larger thesis. Which, often by the time I get to come up with one, formulate it, and manage to get it to video it's a little bit past its prime. That is why I've decided to transform it into articles instead. I would be able to do a lot more of them. Do it in a more timely way and they would be something exclusive to Patreon and not something I would have to do with Nebula. I know I would be able to do at least five a month, but I expect it'll be a lot more than that.
Exclusive Video Content:
Part of why I am transitioning to having some article content is because I want to be able to save my spoons for some good exclusive video content that doesn't feel rushed. Sometimes it will be topical, other times maybe just talking about a specific episode of television, but it will be just on Patreon. You guys deserve it and I want it to feel like a thoughtful gift and not a rushed obligation.
Book Club:
We are doing this damn book club thing! I've already discussed it in a previous post, but to sum it up we will be doing two tiers: one will be a long form read chosen by me, and the other will be the monthly rotation that is chosen by y'all. You don't have to do both. The long form book we are starting with in January will be the 1619 Project.
Tier One: Laurel Lances $1
Early Access to Videos
Discord Access
Movie Night Access
Tier Two: Bonnie Bennetts $2
(In addition to above)
Access to Princess Watches articles (5 articles per month at minimum)
Tier Three: Abbie Mills $5
(In addition to above)
Get access to one extra video a month
Name in credits
Weekly Behind the Scenes extras in the form of updates on longer projects
New Tier Four: Tara Thorntons $10
(In addition to above)
Will get to vote on upcoming videos topic ideas & movie night watches
Get access to Nebula exclusive content/interviews
<3
Princess
Comments
Linda Maleh
Ooooo looking forward to TVD content
jaded cynic
Just upgraded my membership to Abbie Mills :) - Yay to more Anime talk! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Ranma 1/2. It was the first Rumico's manga I finished. She has a very unique sense of humour that shined through in her early works. - "Girl Bossing the Monarchy" is such a great idea! I can immediately think of a few examples. So excited about this project. - I can't believe you buried the Bonnie project due to Jenny's video. When Jenny touched on that, I was thinking, "Princess would be the perfect person to talk about this in depth." You're the queen of genre shows after all. - It will be interesting to see how the move to articles turns out. I'm like of glued to YouTube but I would like to change that. Onward and upward in 2022! All the best.
What's_Left
All this looks Awesome. I'm excited to see the upcoming long form projects and appreciate your thoughtfulness towards us
Cassandra J.
Really love your content and happy to continue to enjoy your stuff!
Amelia Quimby
I can't wait for Girl Bossing the Monarchy, especially Meghan Markle. She's amazing and I look forward to your insight. You're awesome, 2022 will be great.
run_away
Wow, what a time to join this Patreon : D excited for your new content! The black shipping video is interesting to me. Lately I've been watching creators who cover black media and I've been noticing that while they discuss a lot of the same tropes they tend to use different terms then I'm used to from white creators. Eg. The term 'Killmongered' rather than 'moral event horizon.' I'm wondering if it's because a lot of the terms i see from white creators were popularized by channel awesome and t tropes, neither of which seem friendly to black audiences. Just a thought though, it's not like I know wtf I'm talking about.
Johnni Medina
All of this sounds so amazing - so excited! Glad you're doing the Bonnie video, Jenny's video was what introduced me to VPD and I've been curious about your perspective on Bonnie and how the show handled race and racism. I hope these new tiers help you make your dreams a reality!
Dora Mercedes
I really like the essays and magical girl animes!
whiskey
i’ve been wanting to give you $10 a month since i joined. so excited for more anime, Black actors, & book content!
GameDreamer58
I've been enjoying your work since discovering you one year after you start doing YouTube content. I was happy that some of the anime reviewers from the Golden age of YouTube gave you a shout out for your hard work. Although I don't say anything hardly will still support from the Shadow realm lol.
Ana Molly
"hope no one is disappointed" then says "more anime" 😍🙌 and everything after that sounds awesome too 😂👍
Aloe
You're most welcome love 😊
Princess Weekes
I am so glad!
Princess Weekes
Thank you so much!
Patti Glad
I love so many of your ideas for future videos!!! I'll be psyched to watch them all. 💖
Aloe
Love this for you!!! So glad to get that nebula content w/o having to essentially pay twice. I'm only bummed that Abbie got bumped down to second best. Guess Imma be Tara ganggang now 🤷🏿
