The purpose of this post is simple: I want to show you exactly where the funds from the Ironbound GoFundMe are going. I am incredibly grateful for the support flowing into this project. I believe it’s my responsibility as the Director and Producer to be fully transparent about our expenses, how this crowdfunding is being used, and how it’s directly benefitting the film.
The Reality of “Low Budget” Filmmaking
To date, I’ve spent thousands of dollars out of my own pocket to get this project off the ground. If you include the camera and audio kit I’ve invested in over the years for my professional work, that number easily hits the tens of thousands.
Still, in the grand scheme of things, this documentary is very low budget, especially compared to Hollywood productions that cost millions. I’m a firm believer that a great, engaging story can be told on a budget. You don’t need a massive team to have clean audio and a beautiful image, but resources help a TON. Your funding is the critical piece that allows this project to reach its full potential.
My goal is to show the world that vegan strength and physique athletes are crushing it at the top of their sports – without the need for animal sacrifice or environmental harm – and I’m aiming for this work to really inspire more people to reduce their animal product intake. Because of your donations, we can actually get that message to the masses.
Expanding the Team: Welcoming Justin Norman
Mainly, I work as a multifaceted video producer running my own business. My time is constantly split between working to… ya know… live, and working on this passion project. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day. To keep this from taking years to finish, I need a team.
I’m excited to announce that Justin Norman has joined Ironbound as a co-editor!
https://st.media/
I met Justin at a film festival where a short film I made was screening and I was immediately impressed by his work before we even spoke. We connected on social media, and the crazy part is that I didn’t find out he was vegan until months later – it turns out he and his wife actually run a vegan meal prep service in Iowa!
On top of being an award winning filmmaker who writes, directs, and acts, Justin is a long-term vegan who truly understands the mission. Having him on board is HUGE to me. A portion of the crowdfunding will go toward compensating him for his time and expertise as we move through post-production.
It’s also likely that I’ll have to staff up a bit more down the line – especially towards the finishing stage. Expect updates for that later!
Current GoFundme Expense Log (As of January 2026)
Beyond team compensation, here is a look at the specific costs we’ve covered recently to keep the momentum going:
| Item | Cost | Description |
| SanDisk 4TB SSD | $348.75 | High-speed drive to house all footage proxies and assets for Justin. |
| USPS Shipping + Insurance | $17.98 | Securely shipping the 4TB drive to Justin with $400 of insurance for safety. |
| Round Trip Flight to NJ (1/17-1/18) | $104.18 | Travel to film Bradie Crandall at the USA’s Natural Strongest Man competition. |
What’s Next?
Right now, we’re deep in the process of logging, organizing, and prepping all existing footage. This is a crucial (and time-consuming) step, but it sets the foundation for everything that follows and allows us to move much more efficiently once we’re fully in edit mode.
The next major milestone will be cutting the first official Ironbound trailer. This will serve two important purposes:
- public-facing promotion to start building broader awareness around the project, and
- a key asset for grant applications, which are a huge focus moving forward.
Grant funding is a big priority for the project at this stage. We’re actively researching which grants Ironbound is eligible for, what materials are required, and how application timelines line up throughout the year. Securing even one or two grants would be a massive step forward and would significantly expand what we’re able to do with the film.
In addition to post-production, there are a few remaining shoots planned for 2026 to fully wrap the documentary. Some details are still being finalized, but these final pieces will help round out the story and bring everything together cohesively.
As always, I’ll continue to share updates as the project progresses. Thank you again for the support – it genuinely makes all of this possible. This project is a labor of love, but it’s becoming a reality because of you. Thank you for believing in the message of Ironbound.