Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve got a great concept for a cartoon series but I’m broke! Would you invest your time and/or money to make this the next Sponge Bob with me?

Much as I would like to, I have to sadly decline the kind invitation. Like everybody else, I have to pay off my bills and make a living. So in short, I can be your mentor and advisor, but I do have to charge for anything I do for you.

Can I bombard you with questions for free?

My work demands a lot of time from me and there is only so much I can do outside what I am already so busy with. Still, I realize that a lot of folks need a helping hand in getting started on the cartoon business and I don’t want to ignore anyone just because I’m not getting paid. So to keep everyone happy I’ve come up with a very reasonable fee for anyone to pick my brains on any of the topics I am knowledgeable in. If there is anything I cannot give an answer to, I’ll gladly refund the money for that question. For more information, visit this page.

Why can’t I ask you questions first before paying you?

I have encountered instances where I am not paid after spending considerable time and effort. So to make things easier, I prefer to receive payment upfront and give you my best service following through.

What if I pay you and you can’t answer my questions?

If there are questions relevant to my scope of expertise I cannot answer, I will either spend more time to research for answers, call up my contacts for information or refund you your money. If you are asking me a question not within my scope of expertise or something I cannot answer due to conflicting interests with my businesses or projects, I will refund you your money.

Why do you impose a penalty for being late or changing the appointment time for the Skype Conference service?

A mentor-mentee relationship is a serious relationship, even though this is a temporary arrangement. My job during the time which you book me is to answer all your questions to the best of my ability and your job is to ask me all the right questions. If I am not strict with the time, my own schedule would be messed up, compromising my performance and responsibility towards other mentees.

Note – To understand the Terms of Usage for my Skype Conference service, please visit this page.

Can you recommend talents for my projects?

I do have a database of talents I have either worked or corresponded with. The best approach to this is for you to drop me an email at aldric@aldricchang.com and tell me what kind of talents you need. If I have the relevant talents I will inform you to make a payment and I will send you a compilation of their names and contacts.

You mentioned to be specific and non-ambiguous when asking you questions. What do you mean exactly?

Asking questions is both a skill and an art. You not only need to ask the right questions, but you need to structure and present them clearly so that whoever is answering you (in this case me) can give you answers which are just as clear.

In a nutshell, please be specific about what you are asking and zoom in on a micro area rather than focus on a big area.

Examples of unclear and ambiguous questions:

How do I produce a cartoon series?
This is ambiguous because this is a question that begs a thousand answers. I need to know exactly what you want to know, because there are so many elements that go into producing a cartoon series. Be specific. Ask me about where to raise funds, what kind of people you need to produce a series, what you need to produce a series, who you need to finance your cartoon series, how to pitch a concept to a studio, etc.

How much does it cost to produce a mobile application?
This is ambiguous unless you tell me what kind of application you want to produce and give me some examples. The best is if you can tell me the concept of what you want produced.

Examples of clear and specific questions:

- I have a concept for a cartoon series. How do I go about getting it noticed and produced by a studio?
- I want to know how to go about setting up appointments with studios and networks in MIPCOM.
- What should I prepare for a pitch to a network?
- Typically how do I fund a cartoon series?

Will your company consider buying out my concepts or designs?
My companies are currently at a stage where we concentrate on developing our own IP and providing work-for-hire services. There are much bigger fish in the market that do that as part of their business agenda. In short, no, we will not consider buying out any concepts or designs. But the services I offer can give you insight on how to go about getting them sold.