During Permissionless Austin, the NiftyKit team had the privilege of sitting down with Carlo Lorenzo García, the creator behind "A Portrait of My Mother." In this engaging conversation, we delved deep into the captivating journey that birthed his remarkable project and examined the profound role storytelling NFTs play, particularly in how they're being harnessed to support his mother.

NiftyKit: Tell us about yourself and your background. What inspired you to start this project?

Carlo: Well, my journey began with a deep appreciation for communities and genuine people. I've always been inspired by the power of individuals coming together for a common cause. I saw how communities play a vital role in supporting each other, and I wanted to be part of that.

NiftyKit: What interested you about bringing your work into Web3/digital space?

Carlo: The digital space, particularly Web3, and NFTs, piqued my interest for several reasons. Firstly, the sheer magnitude of community involvement reminded me of the early days of social media, which was incredibly exciting. The strength and unity of a community in this space drew me in.

Moreover, the concept of creators benefiting from royalties has been a selling point for a while. It's still a significant benefit, as it supports artists and their work, both locally and globally. It offers a platform to share visions, socialize, and be human in a digital world.

The idea of the longevity and existence of artwork on the blockchain, beyond the conventional art world, was also intriguing. It opened up possibilities for the intersection of community and technology, ownership, and royalties, moving away from centralization.

NiftyKit: Let's delve into the art of "A Portrait of My Mother." What's being depicted in the artwork, and what was the process like?

Carlo: This project started a couple of years ago when I began working on it. My mother's life story is truly extraordinary. She was adopted as a child and lived as a slave until she was 18 when she managed to escape. She went on to become a mother herself.

I realized that while many stories and histories are told about famous people, my mom had a story before becoming a mother that deserves to be told. So, I embarked on a series of interviews that eventually turned into a script for a one-man show production. My mother approved of the script (we only had to remove one part), and we were going to produce it as a theater show.

We ended up filming it in our garage in one take, in real-time, while I painted and narrated her story. It's a tribute as a son to showcase her life, love, struggles, small accomplishments, and, most importantly, her ability to find joy even during the worst times.

Recently, my father passed away, leaving a mess for my mother to deal with. She was supposed to be retired, but she's been helping my father battle leukemia and lived as a live-in nurse. I have her story with the video, and I want her to have a fresh start and enjoy the rest of her life. This second release of the NFT holds a lot of meaning and positivity for us.

NiftyKit: Could you tell us more about your journey in the NFT space and why it made sense to do this project through a special NFT mint instead of a traditional fundraising method?

Carlo: Certainly! I've tried traditional fundraising methods in the past, like GoFundMe, but I wanted to take a different approach this time. I wanted to create token-gated access to the community through the blockchain. This project is deeply personal to me, as I want to share my mother's story.

By minting a special NFT, I can give the community not only access but also an educational and token-gated experience of the production. It's about retelling her life story in a compelling way. The funds raised through this NFT will help us relocate to a better place, closer to where her story began, and start fresh.

The NFT allows for donation, sharing, watching the video production, and even sharing pictures or stories of their own moms within the community. It's a unique way of storytelling where NFT access and interaction can change lives.

NiftyKit: We notice that this special NFT comes with token access to a special experience. Share what can be expected from this experience for the collectors of your drop.

Carlo: Absolutely. The NiftyKit has a mint page and apps that provide token-gated access. I wanted to keep it simple, with a single mint, and once you verify, you'll have permanent access to a 60-minute video that you can watch as many times as you like.

But it's not just about the video. Collectors will also have the opportunity to meet my mother, find similarities with their own mothers, and help keep her story alive through the token. It's an interactive performance art experience that goes beyond the traditional NFT model. It's about finding hope, faith, and strength together and becoming a part of our extended family.

NiftyKit: What are your thoughts on Performance Art as an NFT? Do you think people have seen enough of it or not at all? Are there any Performance Art NFTs that you've liked?

Carlo: Performance art as an NFT has tremendous potential. I believe we're just scratching the surface of what's possible. It adds a layer of interactivity and immersion that traditional art forms can't match. It's like the future of platforms like Netflix and Hulu, where you can interact with the writer, script, and the entire experience becomes collaborative.

We're all storytellers, and performance art in the NFT space allows us to entertain, engage, and create unique experiences. I don't think people have seen enough of it yet, and I'm excited to be part of this evolving medium.

NiftyKit: What is your short and long-term goal for this drop?

Carlo: We just opened the mint last Friday, on September 9th. The cost of minting is 0.008 ETH, which is roughly $12, the price of a movie ticket. In the short term, I hope to achieve as much as possible within the next 30 days. By November, my mother will be here, and this project will allow her to find herself as an individual, granting her the gift of freedom and independence.

In the long term, I anticipate metadata changes coming in the future, and we plan to continue delivering. We're even considering turning this project into a feature film, and the NFT holders who have supported us will somehow be part of that journey.

NiftyKit: Can you share more details on the project, how people can support it, and how it will benefit your mother?

Carlo: You can find me on Twitter with my doxxed handle, where I'm sharing updates and information. To support this project, you can visit NiftyKit and check out the Discover section. Enjoy the video with your friends and spread the word.

If you can't mint the NFT, please share it with friends who might be interested. It's not just about the digital collectible; it's about being part of a story, a digital collective, and making a difference on the blockchain.

We appreciate every bit of support, as it directly contributes to my mother's well-being and helps us all become part of a shared journey of hope, faith, and strength. Thank you for your support!

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