Not Currently Funding | Offering: Reg CF
Live Not By Lies
1,888 people raised $895,240*
Overview
Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher is a New York Times Bestseller that has sold more than 200,000 copies.
The best-selling book has enthusiastic supporters among some of the most influential voices in the media.
This is a challenging and inspiring examination of the rise of soft-totalitarianism in our society and the call for people of faith to lead the charge in standing up against oppression.
Nova Roma is partnering with Rod Dreher and Angel Studios to create a multi-part documentary series that will adapt and expand on the topics and stories covered in the best selling book.
You can join in this movement and help share the timely message of this book by investing in the docuseries adaptation of the book. We have come to the crowd to raise funds for the production.
The battle for truth has just begun.
The survivors of Soviet Communism have a warning for us: The seeds of totalitarianism are sprouting in our society today. Live Not By Lies, based on the bestselling book of the same name, is a docuseries giving voice to the living survivors of the USSR and their fears about our future. It will be a cinematic, moving, and educational series that encourages hope and inspiration amidst our contemporary struggles. This episodic documentary will follow Live Not By Lies author Rod Dreher to Europe and beyond, where he’ll walk us through the streets of 20th century Soviet terror and interview the men and women who survived the deadliest century the world has ever known. We will learn from their stories, in order to better equip ourselves, as people of faith, to resist the lies that constantly confront us.
What Will This Series Be Like?
Many times when people hear the alarm, they dismiss it: “The Soviet dystopian nightmare will never happen here,” they say. But this is because they imagine 1984 by George Orwell: gulags, secret police and firing squads. What they fail to recognize is that soft-totalitarianism, the brand put forth in the classic novel Brave New World, is already prevalent today. It takes the form of small lies that we are forced to agree with in order to get along in mainstream society. It has even seeped into our churches and begun to erode our faith.
We believe this documentary is critically important for our times. As we listen to the stories of those who have experienced totalitarianism firsthand, we will learn from their stories, in order to better equip ourselves, as people of faith, to resist the lies that constantly confront us.
Other Projects Team Members Have Worked On
Rod Dreher
Author | Executive Producer
Rod Dreher is the bestselling author of five books, including Live Not By Lies and The Benedict Option, both of which have been translated into over ten languages. He has written and edited for the New York Post, The Dallas Morning News, and The American Conservative, among others. He is currently contributing to his popular daily substack “Rod Dreher’s Diary,” and writing about politics, culture, and foreign affairs for The European Conservative. Dreher is also a visiting fellow at The Danube Institute, a think tank in Budapest, where he lives.
Isaiah Smallman
Director
Isaiah is an accomplished producer, writer, and director with films that have played major festivals such as Sundance (Dayveon in 2017 and Never Goin Back in 2018), SXSW (Hunter Gatherer in 2016), Tribeca and Berlin and sold to distributors like Netflix, Amazon, and A24. In 2021, Isaiah sold Rollers, his first feature as a director, to Level 33 Entertainment. He is currently finishing post production on a feature documentary about his experiences growing up as a missionary kid in a struggling neighborhood of west Baltimore called Sandtown.
RJ Moeller
Producer
With a background in journalism, academic research, and developing sought-after IP based on historical narratives, RJ is an entrepreneurial producer with an eye for great material and a track record bringing important stories to life. RJ produced the documentary No Safe Spaces, which was one of 2019’s highest grossing docs of the year and has previously produced live events which have sold over 750,000 tickets. He has also managed Social Media & PR for A-list talent and well-known cultural personalities including Dennis Prager. He previously set up the Dodge Brothers scripted series with Alcon Entertainment attached to finance and produce, about the birth of the auto industry in Detroit. He also recently sold a sitcom to ABC about SEC Football personality Paul Finebaum. He produced the Babylon Bee’s first-ever live comedy event in Dallas in 2023, produced the digital series on free market economics “No Free Lunch” for National Review and recently wrapped production on a feature documentary for Blaze Media.
The Challenge
Making a well-produced, multi-episode docuseries requires hundreds of collaborators, creators, expert editors, and top talent. That’s why Live Not By Lies and Nova Roma - a company with a broad background in film, TV, live events, PR, journalism, and more – entered into an agreement with Angel Studios to be their distribution partner.
Angel Studios has a track record of working outside of traditional studio paths so the filmmakers of Live Not By Lies won’t have to compromise their vision or surrender creative control to industry trends.
The Angel Studios Model
Angel Studios is a film studio platform that helps creators come together with viewers to create high-quality TV and film. Producers like us use the Angel Studios platform to pitch TV content to you, and then you—the audience—choose which projects qualify to be potentially distributed by Angel Studios. Additionally, the audience can invest in a project through Angel Funding (Angel Studios’ affiliated crowdfunding portal) and, if the project is successful, share in some of the returns of that project.* Other creators using this model have shown that, when projects are done right, they can reach millions of people.** That includes productions like The Chosen, which has commenced paying a 120% distribution of their investors’ original investment.***
* There is no guarantee that Live Not By Lies will be profitable or that an investment in Live Not By Lies will result in a return of your investment. Any such investment is subject to significant risk, including the risk of loss of your entire investment. You should not invest more than you can afford to lose.
** Viewership of a production does not guarantee the commercial success or profitability of the production or the company creating it.
*** The entity and team that created The Chosen are different to those creating Live Not By Lies, and the success of The Chosen is not indicative of the success of Live Not By Lies. Not all creators that have partnered with Angel Studios and Angel Funding have issued a return to their investors.
Livestream
Meet Rod Dreher | The Mind Behind ‘Live Not By Lies’
Live Not By Lies: A Conversation With Darren Tyler
FAQ
This is an equity investment, so you will own the company itself, which means if we make more seasons than one, you will have an interest in all of them and any other revenue source we create.
Angel Funding (VAS Portal, d.b.a. Angel Funding), is a regulation crowdfunding portal that helps filmmakers like us in the sale of securities. They primarily work with film production companies that want to raise money to fund their projects.
Angel Studios works with many of the same filmmakers to distribute their film projects once they have been produced. Angel Studios is the platform responsible for distributing shows like Dry Bar Comedy, The Tuttle Twins, and more.
We maintain the number of Preferred Units and Common Units and record them in our transfer agent's Company register - KoreConX (https://www.koreconx.com/). Please take the time to register an account on their platform, which is free, and you can update your details, transfer your shares, and download a certificate of ownership.
Our ability to offer our Units to the public is possible due to legislation known as the Jobs Act. This law limits the amount that investors can purchase based on your annual income and net worth. There is no limit, however, if you are an accredited investor. If you have additional questions regarding this limit, feel free to ask in our Q&A tool at the bottom of the main page of this offering.
Because you’re making an investment and not a donation. The escrow agent is subject to banking regulations when they hold your money, and we will need it for tax purposes.
Angel Studios is our distribution partner. They are the studio platform responsible for bringing you The Chosen, Dry Bar Comedy, Sound of Freedom, and more.
You may invest as many times as you would like until you reach your investment limit under Reg CF.
Yes, there is a way to do that - you should reach out to support@angelfunding.com to work with Angel Funding.
As part of Regulation CF, we are required to file annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We will also send out regular investor updates via email to let you know all the latest news of the company.
No. Investment in early-stage companies/shows is extremely risky, and you should consult with your independent financial advisor before making a decision on whether you want to invest. In any case, you should never invest more than you could afford to lose!
In the event that we do not reach our minimum target of $300,000, all the money invested will be returned to the investors.
Every country has its own securities laws. We are offering this Regulation CF round under the laws of the US and so we know what we need to do to allow US citizens to invest and be compliant with those laws. We don't have the resources to be able to identify and comply with the securities laws in other jurisdictions, so we limit investments to US citizens.
There is no subscription plan to buy securities and all purchases of our securities are a one time payment. Subscribers are simply other investors that have purchased the securities. A "subscription agreement" is a legal term for the contract between an investor (you) and the issuer (us), it details the offering of securities and explains your rights and responsibilities when deciding to purchase our securities.
Yes, you can now invest from one of these entities. Just select that option when moving through the checkout process.
Yes, but only for those investors investing larger amounts (due to the higher processing fee) of over $3,500.
Yes, we are happy to accept ACH transactions.
If you are a US citizen but living outside the US, there may be a way to invest. You will need to reach out to Angel Funding using the help tool below. If you are not a US citizen, then unfortunately, this offering is not open for you. However, we are excited to build a global community of investors, fans, friends, and followers and we have some exciting plans around opportunities for global involvement as we produce and eventually release our series. Please follow our social media channels to join us on this journey.
Unlike securities purchased on a stock market, such as the NYSE or Nasdaq, there is no public market for our units. Therefore, it is highly unlikely you will be able to sell your investment. However, you may receive distributions of cash from the project if it generates a profit.
Perks
$510.00 or more
Early Access and Inside Scoop
Early access to premium behind the scenes content including interviews with special guests, Q&A with filmmakers, and key filmmaker updates. Includes 3 Investor-only livestreams.
$2,520.00 or more
Name in Credits
Your name listed in the credits under “Special Thanks," plus RJ's secret dry-rub BBQ recipe, and a voicemail recording from Rod saying "leave a message and live not by lies." Plus all previous perks.
$5,040.00 or more
Signed Book
Get a copy of Live Not By Lies book signed by author Rod Dreher, as well as Isaiah's special gruel recipe. Includes all previous perks.
$9,990.00 or more
Signed Poster
Receive a limited-edition poster signed by the filmmaking team. Include all previous perks.
$25,200.00 or more
Limited Edition Coffee Table Book
We'll assemble and send you a behind the scenes coffee-table book, signed by the filmmaking team. Includes all the previous perks.
$49,980.00 or more
Zoom with Creative Team
Have a private zoom call with Rod Dreher and the filmmaking team, ask them all the questions you want about production and political philosophy (45 minute limit). Includes all previous perks.
$99,960.00 or more
VIP Guest at Premiere
Secure 2 VIP tickets to our in-person premiere, with personal introductions to Rod and the filmmakers. Includes all previous perks. Travel and lodging to the premiere not included, limited to first five investors at this level.
$250,020.00 or more
Set Visit and Associate Producer Credit
Get access for yourself and a plus one to visit the set during principle photography, including lunch or a Budapest pub crawl with the filmmakers! Also have an associate producer credit on the show and on IMDb. Includes all previous perks, limited to the first five investors at this level.
$500,040.00 or more
Executive Producer
Be listed as an executive producer for the series, including a credit on IMDb. Includes all previous perks, including the chance to secure one of the spot-limited perks at lower levels of investment.
$2,499,960.00 or more
Personalized Short Film
Isaiah Smallman (series director) will write and direct you a personal short film, dramatizing the worst, most embarrassing lie you have ever told ... OR Isaiah will get a tattoo of your face somewhere on his body (maximum size of 2 inches in width).
Offering
Not Currently Funding | Offering: Reg CF
Live Not By Lies
1,888 people raised $895,240*