The Cherry Fund: Refuses Credit For Free Work by Member of Community They Support

Yes. The Pressure Stays On...

Wait.  We're still waiting for The Cherry Fund to comply with a request requiring them to furnish the organizations tax returns from 2018.  Several attempts to collect have gone unanswered.  I wonder why?  Hiding something? As we wait, lets get into the reason why I no longer volunteer for the Executive Team at The Cherry Fund.  First I'm HIV+.  The Cherry Fund well they support local HIV organizations they give the profits of their fundraising events to organizations who support those living with HIV, yeah so why would they do what they did to a sponsor someone who was giving back himself to the same community he belongs. - well it seems no one care anyway.

On Jan 17, 2017 the producer for three promo videos follow up with me asking for more footage just before the first promo video is about the be released by The Cherry Fund

Hi Tom,
 
I've used up anything useful from the RAW footage you sent me from last year in the Cherry PORMO #1 already.
 
Allen mentioned you shot some video at District. Do you have the raw footage or the video edit you made for that? I will be needing more RAW video content for CHERRY PROMO #2 - and it looks like it will be a combination of newly shot footage of venues combined with some Andrew Christian source video content.
 
Any help would be appreciated! :) 
 
- Craig
 
www.GAYSTAR.com
8149 Santa Monica Blvd #379  |  West Hollywood, CA 90046

I respond looking to see the promo videos as I was promised to be included in edits and the production process which would help my knowing what they wanted for futrure promo videos.  So i responsed saying

Hello Craig 
 
Hope your year is off to a great start!
 
Can you send me the Promo #1 video to see?
 
I have a lot of footage from Distrkt C what are you looking for specifically?
 
Tom

​Craig's response was:

 
Heres the video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6DgPFdWd3MUaGVJQWlKazRFSzA/view?usp=sharing
 
Allen is sending me a few addl clips himself (this video is not yet approved for distribution)
 
*a quick tip when you are shooting event footage - I only need clips no longer than a minute long maximum of the same shot
 
I need any 'WOW' shots you have my action going on, but mostly I need BIG / WIDE / EPIC establishing shots of the room. Because I have no source content to work with I suggest you upload everything you have shot though. Allen may have you shoot some other venues also possibly. I have two more videos to produce and I need as muc new RAW footage as possible =P Thanks agin for you help
 
- Craig
 
www.GAYSTAR.com

I reviewed and was shocked that no credit was mentioned as agreed upon. THE CHERRY FUND STILL RELEASED THE VIDEO PROMO TO PUBLIC EVEN AFTER I POINTED OUT CREDIT WAS MISSING.  APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T CARE So I sent this email:

​Hello Gentleman,
 
I wanted to follow up with you both regarding additional video footage for upcoming Cherry promos.  Before I address making additional footage available I wanted to address my concerns about the lack of video credit to TMD Enterprises in this first promo.  Craig, as I’m sure you know and can appreciate copyright infringement is something that we photographers/videographers struggle with all the time.  In the recently released promo one  I count several scenes that I captured during Cherry 2016 at the Howard Theatre.  It was also some of the same footage I supplied Craig at his request last year.  In an email to me Craig said “Your request for credit I will personally make sure happens on my end ok. You're going to be included through the editing reviews so you can see some of the processes I go through also. That way I can help give you some input on shooting video etc”   
 
Now upon seeing the promo before it was released I again expressed to Allen the lack of credit for the clips that TMD Enterprises supplied.  I even discussed having TMD Enterprises logo flash briefly before or after the Gaystar logo.  It seemed clear that you both understood my concerns and given that Craig (you’re in the business) and Allen, my personal and professional support for not only the cause (For goodness sakes I am HIV-positive and the cause that the Cherry Fund supports) but the organization too I felt proper credit would be awarded.
 
After seeing the promo released (with out any of the promised editing reviews) not only was our logo missing or even name mentioned for having supplied any of the footage, Our logo is not present during the sponsor listing nor is it listed among other contributors where art production and photography credits are listed.
 
In addition to this Allen, it saddens me to see no recognition or credit given to the photos published on the cherryfund.org website.  We are not even listed as a sponsor.  That is different on the cherrydc.com website where we’re listed as a ‘friend’ and listed where you can find photos of the events.
 
Guys, look I’m not mad, just frustrated I’m damned if I say something I’m damned if I don’t – Frankly I was looking forward to the feedback so that this year I was able to focus on the video and provide a better product for Craig this year, because of the cause and being positive myself I do take a special interest in helping out – however come on guys – give credit where credit is due (Free credit I offer all my services for free and yet ask so little in return) – I mean given Cherry benefits the HIV community doesn’t it say something about supporting gay and HIV positive owned businesses?  Given my former national involvement with the HIV community (Heck I was a guest of President Obama at the White House during the International AIDS Conference for being on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic & I sat on the board of Trustees for the National Association of People with AIDS) you’d think that you’d be proud to support a small owned business who also supports the cause. 
 
With additional requests for more footage (Vida, The Eagle) I’m perplexed how I was left out of any of the editing reviews and completely stripped from any credit for video provided especially when you have a arts and photography credit?  What happened with the promises I was given and just the professional curtesy.  Now I’d like to continue to work with each other additionally work together in April however we need to resolve this concern before I can offer any more assistance to the organization.
 
I’m open to your thoughts and with much respect to you both I thank you for your time and response.
 
Tom
 
Tom Donohue

Within four hours I got a response back from Craig the producer of the video don't forget just days ago I informed them the promo video did not have the proper video credit due to TMD Enterprises, yet they still released it to the public without even ever correcting it.

Hi Tom, this is my fault - i'm so sorry. 
 
We were in a complete rush and I literally had to throw everything together in a hurry. You did specifically ask me to credit you a ways back and I forgot. 
 
LUCIANO: For this video can you please suspend any ads that are running (you have to turn everything off - that little blue button that goes from right to left (on to off) to be able to edit the text of the post ...and add credit in the text description for Tom as follows:
 
    Principle Live Event Videography: TMD Enterprises  
 
LUCIANO: please email me back here and cc Tom & Allen after the edit to the description text. 
 
I know this is a fix/patch but it will be the best I can do to get you proper credit as the edit can't be changed at this stage.
 
There a several videos to be edited, so I will MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU ARE CREDITED PROPERLY IN THE EDITED VIDEO on all future edits that contain content you have shot. 
 
I've experienced the same thing many times, as I think I mentioned to you. I've discovered most often that its usually an oversight and definitely not intentional. Again im very sorry about this. 
 
 
- Craig
 
www.GAYSTAR.com
​