GUFF #11: Whistler
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“Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.”
From the Editor
This week, we’re excited to present WHISTLER, an original romantic/comedy concept by Jenn Badua. The IP has been pre-seeded with a $10,000 creative development budget, which is being used to expand the little gem of an idea into a full feature treatment, draft character designs, and draft the novelization. And so we kick of the Testing the Waters campaign on Valentine’s Day, appropriately enough.
The story follows Stella Capella Cantori, an aspiring opera singer, whose pet parrot “Whistler” rockets to viral fame when he outshines her in the videos she posts to YouTube, leading her unscrupulous agent Miles Dankworth to attempt to sabotage her career in a devious effort to swindle her out of her suddenly, more-bankable, feathered friend. We are pulling the creative team together to develop a full screenplay, animated web series, and novelization for this concept.
“An aspiring opera singer, whose pet parrot rockets to viral fame, must outwit her unscrupulous agent before he sabotages her career in a devious effort to swindle her out of her suddenly, more-bankable, feathered friend.”
On the Offering Page, you can read the full five-act treatment, find details regarding the terms of the Offering, and Request an Invitation to the Offering, which is planned for April.
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On November 2, 2020 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved long-awaited rule changes to the exempt offering framework for securities regulations. These changes include significant revisions to Regulation Crowdfunding designed to expand access to capital.Regulation Crowdfunding, also known as Reg CF, is a federal securities exemption that preempts state-level securities registration. Some states still require notice filings for Reg CF offerings for businesses domiciled in that particular state or businesses that raise money from investors in that particular state. The state preemption feature of Reg CF makes capital raising less costly for small businesses and opens up more investment opportunities from contributors. Reg CF allows issuers to reach out to potential investors before commencing an offering to see how much interest there is for the issuer’s securities. This is also known as “testing the waters” and can be beneficial for gauging how successful a Reg CF offering may be.
Offerings are conducted and hosted by approved, partner funding portals, registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), and operate as intermediaries for offerings made under Regulation 506(b), 5069c), and CF, under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Regulation CF”). Clicking on a link below will take you to the funding portal hosting the respective offering. All information on partner funding portal sites is the responsibility of the funding portal.
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For decades, investing in movies, television, games, and other forms of entertainment intellectual property was largely the domain of major studios, private equity firms, and a small circle of industry insiders. The creative economy generated enormous cultural impact and financial returns—but everyday investors rarely had a seat at the table.
That landscape is changing. Thanks to modern crowdfunding regulations and new business models, early-stage entertainment IP has become an asset class that individual investors can finally participate in. Macguffin Co. was built specifically to make that opportunity practical, professional, and accessible.
Why Early-Stage Entertainment IP Matters
At its core, entertainment IP is the engine that powers global media. Successful franchises—whether born as books, comics, games, or original film concepts—can expand into multi-billion-dollar ecosystems of sequels, merchandise, theme parks, and digital experiences.
Investing early in the next breakout franchise offers unique potential advantages:
Asymmetric Upside: A single hit property can generate returns far beyond its initial development cost.
Portfolio Diversification: Entertainment IP performance is not directly tied to traditional financial markets.
Cultural Impact: Investors have the chance to support creative projects they genuinely believe in.
Licensing Leverage: Once an IP is developed, it can be licensed repeatedly across formats and territories.
The challenge has always been access. Developing raw ideas into market-ready properties requires capital, expertise, and industry relationships—three things that most independent creators and investors lack on their own.
The Reg CF Revolution: A Brief History
That access gap began to close with the passage of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act in 2012. Prior to the JOBS Act, U.S. securities laws made it extremely difficult for private companies to raise investment from the general public. Equity crowdfunding, as we know it today, was essentially impossible.
Title III of the JOBS Act created a new exemption called Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). Implemented by the SEC in 2016 and expanded in 2021, Reg CF allows private companies to raise capital from both accredited and non-accredited investors through SEC-approved online intermediaries.
Key elements of Reg CF include:
The ability for companies to raise up to several million dollars per year from the public
Standardized disclosure and reporting requirements
Investment limits designed to protect individual investors
The use of regulated third-party funding portals or broker-dealers
For the first time, everyday investors could legally buy equity in early-stage ventures through transparent, regulated platforms. While Reg CF has been widely used by technology startups and consumer brands, its potential for entertainment IP has only recently begun to be realized.
Enter Macguffin Co.: Curating Creativity as an Investable Asset
Macguffin Co. was founded on a simple idea: great stories deserve a better path to funding, and passionate investors deserve better access to them.
Rather than asking investors to gamble on unproven creators or undeveloped ideas, Macguffin Co. acts as a professional curator and developer of franchise concepts.
Here’s how the model works:
Curation and Development
Macguffin Co. identifies promising entertainment concepts and works with writers, designers, and producers to shape them into cohesive franchise properties.Community Investment via Reg CF
These curated projects are offered to the public through Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns hosted by SEC-approved third-party intermediaries. Investors participate on equal terms with full regulatory oversight.Turning Concepts into Real Media
Capital raised is used to transform raw ideas into tangible, market-ready assets—books, film pilots, video games, proof-of-concept materials, and more.Licensing and Monetization
Once developed, Macguffin Co. pursues licensing and distribution partnerships with established multimedia companies, creating opportunities for revenue and long-term franchise growth.
This structure blends the creative instincts of a studio with the discipline of an investment vehicle—giving investors exposure to professionally managed entertainment IP rather than one-off passion projects.
Benefits for Investors
Investing through Macguffin Co.’s Reg CF offerings provides several meaningful advantages:
Access to Pre-Vetted Projects: Investors aren’t left to evaluate scripts on their own; projects are selected and developed by experienced professionals.
Regulated Transparency: Offerings are conducted through SEC-compliant intermediaries with standardized disclosures.
Shared Risk, Shared Reward: A community of investors participates together rather than any single individual bearing the full burden.
Professional Execution: Funds are used specifically to create high-quality development materials that increase licensing value.
Potential Long-Term Participation: Successful franchises can generate ongoing revenue across multiple media formats.
Benefits for Creators and the Industry
The Macguffin Co. model doesn’t just help investors—it strengthens the creative ecosystem itself.
Creators gain access to funding and development resources that might otherwise be out of reach. Studios and distributors receive more polished, market-tested properties. And audiences ultimately benefit from a wider range of original stories making it to market.
A New Era of Participation
Entertainment has always been one of the world’s most exciting industries. What’s new is who gets to participate in its growth.
By combining the democratizing power of Regulation Crowdfunding with disciplined creative development, Macguffin Co. is helping transform early-stage entertainment IP from an insiders-only game into an accessible investment opportunity.
For investors who love great stories—and want the chance to be part of the next big franchise—there has never been a more interesting time to get involved.
Investing in early-stage ventures involves risk, but with the right structure, transparency, and expertise, it can also open the door to extraordinary possibilities. Macguffin Co. aims to be that doorway.
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This site, Macguffin.co, is a website owned and operated by The Macguffin Company. (“TMC”), which is a media franchise development company. TMC is neither a registered broker-dealer, investment advisor, nor funding portal. Nothing contained on this website should be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security by TMC. Any offering of securities that may be conducted in the future will be subject to terms and conditions that will be set forth in offering materials made available through one or more unaffiliated third-party websites hosted by licensed intermediaries/funding portals registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). TMC does not provide any investment advice or recommendations and do not provide any legal or tax advice concerning any Offerings. By accessing this site and any pages on this site, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as may be amended from time to time without notice.
Character Cards: Stella & Calvin
Stella
Stella Capella Cantori
Stella is intensely dedicated but plagued by self-doubt. She approaches her craft with almost religious devotion, yet harbors a deep-seated fear that she's merely adequate—never exceptional. Her perfectionism manifests as meticulous preparation and obsessive practice, often rehearsing the same phrase dozens of times. She's warm and supportive to others but maintains emotional barriers, rarely revealing her true anxieties. When stressed, she retreats into technical exercises rather than addressing emotional issues directly. Stella is driven by a complex blend of personal ambition and familial expectation. She desperately wants to validate her family's artistic legacy while simultaneously proving herself unique among them. She seeks recognition not just for herself but as vindication for generations of talented-but-overlooked Cantoris. Beneath her professional aspirations lies a deeper desire for genuine connection—to move audiences emotionally in ways her technically-skilled but emotionally-restrained family members never could. Stella struggles with the contradiction between her technical precision and emotional expression. She's torn between honoring traditional operatic techniques passed down through her family and embracing the diverse vocal styles she discovers throughout her journey. Her greatest internal battle is between her need for control and the artistic freedom that comes from vulnerability—she knows intellectually that great performances require emotional openness, but fears the loss of control this represents. She also wrestles with impostor syndrome, constantly questioning whether her talent is genuine or merely the product of relentless practice. Stella possesses remarkable technical skill and vocal range developed through years of disciplined practice. Her capacity for adaptation allows her to incorporate diverse vocal techniques into her repertoire. She has extraordinary perseverance, continuing to pursue her dream despite repeated setbacks. Her empathy makes her a supportive friend to Calvin and helps her connect with various musical communities during her travels. She's also highly observant, quickly picking up nuances in different vocal traditions and incorporating them into her own style. Stella's perfectionism often prevents her from taking risks or improvising. Her fear of failure manifests as stage anxiety that undermines her performances. She struggles with assertiveness, allowing others (like Dankworth) to take advantage of her. She has difficulty accepting criticism, often internalizing it as confirmation of her inadequacy rather than opportunity for growth. Her independence can become isolation—she rarely asks for help even when desperately needed. Her fear of flying represents her broader anxiety about losing control, which extends to her reluctance to fully emotionally invest in relationships. Stella begins as technically skilled but emotionally guarded, hiding behind perfectionism. Through her journey, she gradually learns to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in her performances. Each musical tradition she encounters teaches her something beyond technique—the yodelers show her joy, the Konnakol practitioners teach rhythm and presence, the throat singers demonstrate power, and the Shigin group reveals subtlety. Her relationship with Whistler helps her understand that true artistry can't be caged or controlled. By the story's conclusion, she's integrated these lessons, finding her unique voice and the confidence to share it authentically, no longer performing to prove her worth but to express her true self.
Calvin Meeks
Cal is a methodical overthinker with an analytical mind that excels at weather patterns but struggles with emotional risks. His passion for meteorology borders on gentle obsession, collecting weather data and maintaining meticulous records. Professionally curious and detail-oriented, he approaches problems with scientific precision but can get lost in analysis paralysis. Though socially awkward, his sincerity and reliability make him endearing. He's risk-averse to a fault in his personal life, often rehearsing conversations in his head that never make it to his lips. His anxiety manifests in fidgeting and stammering when nervous, yet he displays surprising courage when others are in danger. Cal's chemistry with Stella is built on quiet admiration and practical support rather than bold romantic gestures. He expresses affection by helping with her auditions and listening to her practice, finding comfort in their easy companionship. His meteorological metaphors for love ("You're like a day with high pressure, clear skies...") reveal his depth of feeling that he struggles to express directly. Around Stella, Cal's scientific precision gives way to endearing awkwardness—he's simultaneously more himself and more nervous. He sees qualities in her that others miss, appreciating her determination beyond her voice. Their relationship balances her expressive nature with his steadiness, creating a complementary dynamic where her artistic spirit meets his scientific mind. Cal's primary romantic obstacle is his own hesitation—he consistently finds reasons to delay confessing his feelings, second-guessing himself at every opportunity. His tendency to overthink transforms simple interactions into complex scenarios with multiple failure points. Professional insecurity compounds his romantic uncertainty; he believes he needs career success before deserving love. Cal's practical nature works against him romantically, as he struggles to translate analytical thinking into emotional expression. His fear of disrupting their friendship creates a comfortable but limiting status quo. Most significantly, Cal's perfectionism prevents him from acting until conditions are "ideal"—a standard that's perpetually out of reach in the unpredictable weather of human emotions. Cal and Stella's shared history revolves around mutual support in pursuing their dreams. He's helped her practice singing while she's thrown buckets of water on him for his weatherman audition videos. Their relationship has developed through late-night conversations in their apartment building, creating a foundation of trust and comfortable familiarity. They've established routines—she listens to his weather explanations while he attends her practice sessions. Cal has been Stella's constant supporter through her disappointments, while she's pushed him past his comfort zone by submitting his videos when he couldn't bring himself to do it. The gift of Whistler the parrot represents Cal's attempt to leave something meaningful with Stella before his career opportunity, though his accompanying note of feelings remained undelivered in his pocket. Cal and Stella's relationship is characterized by a balance of practical support and unspoken affection. He's her steady anchor amid career turbulence, while she provides the spontaneity his methodical life lacks. Their dynamic features comfortable silences and an intuitive understanding that transcends Cal's verbal awkwardness. He processes emotions slowly but feels them deeply, expressing care through acts of service rather than words. Cal respects Stella's ambitions without trying to fix her problems, offering a listening ear instead of solutions. Their relationship demonstrates complementary strengths—his attention to detail balances her big-picture thinking. Despite his romantic feelings, Cal maintains boundaries that preserve their friendship, creating a dynamic of meaningful restraint that eventually evolves into something deeper when circumstances finally push him beyond his comfort zone.
Press Room
Coming Soon
Concepts in Development
The Periodic Inscrutable
Arthur Trope
Don’t know about you, but I’m in need of a weekend. After prepping the entire canon for next week’s S-MCSS2 run, not to mention the debacle on Thurs, I’m due. Speaking of, I came across a bunch of non-canon material in the prepping this week. This one’s based on an abstract painting Artie did years ago called “Two Fish Pedaling a Tandem Bicycle in Opposite Directions”. Which is a pretty straightforward title now, but you should’ve seen the abstract. I’ll see if I can track down an image & run a side-by-side. I recall seeing it in a catalog once from the Tate Modern. Artie was painting a little in SF in the 80’s and he was connected in the LA art scene & a guy named Gagosian, who owns some galleries, got interested in his work & gave him a show. David Bowie bought 2 of his pieces, including the fish abstract & Artie ended up w an invite to hang a group of charcoal sketches at the Tate in London, next to a David Hockney exhibit. Technically it was next to the men’s room, over the water fountain, around the corner from Hockney. But it was the next collection you saw when you rounded the corner, if you were headed to the loo. Anyway, the painting doesn’t look at all like two fish on a tandem bicycle. It looks like a bad photocopy of a Rorschach test. The Times wrote a review & drew connections to Gloria Steinem & wondered whether it was a statement on feminism or anti-feminism. The Guardian said the collection “reached new heights in navel-gazing - except for the Hockneys, which are sublime”. But Artie was always fond of the piece, esp the title, & at some point he sketched this more literal version of 2 actual fish actually pedaling a tandem bike in opposite directions. He made it his personal logo, which means it’s on his business cards and he printed some t-shirts. He refers to it as his “family crest”. He titled the sketch ‘New Heights in Navel-Gazing’ bc now the old title doesn’t work bc it’s too literal. When Bowie passed away, Artie inquired about buying the painting back from his estate, but no one on the Bowie side knew anything about it. I suppose if, when we die, our souls turn out to be just single-panel comics, this’ll be Artie’s. -Ed.
