Eric's Credit Community

To Whom It May Concern,

I have just finished coding a website that allows independent filmmakers to sell their films for instant download.  The site is now in alpha testing, and I expect it to be in beta testing by December or January.  I am looking to borrow $10,000 so that I can dedicate myself to the site for the next three months.

The Project:
My site sells "downloadable dvds"; these are interactive, high-quality digital files that can contain extra scenes, director's commentary, and other special features.  Downloading from my site is much faster than normal downloading, allowing users to get these large files quickly & reliably.  I started this site because of the difficulties independent filmmakers face getting their films distributed.  My goal is to help independent filmmakers make a living doing what they love, which is why I pay filmmakers 75% of the price every time their film is downloaded.

The Person:
Until a couple of years ago, I was a professional jazz musician with a math degree.  I've spent the last two years learning computer programming.  I taught myself C++, then worked for free for three months for a friend's startup programming in C++, then worked for that startup for pay for a year.  While I was working there, I started this project: I researched which language and which database would be best; learned PHP and MySQL on my own; designed and implemented the site; learned how to run a linux server; installed and configured enterprise software, for which I had to learn SOAP and build a SOAP server.  I have been full-time on this project for the last two months (I quit my job at the startup to work full-time on this project).  I love programming.  I love filmmaking (I'm just about to make my fourth short film).  My site is a labor of love.  I'd like this loan so that I can invest the next three months of my time in the site.  But if the site isn't successful, I plan on getting a job programming, and my resume will look awfully spiffy with the site on it.  

Budget:
I live on about $2500 per month.  My server costs me $250 per month.  I'll be buying Sorenson Squeeze for $550, and probably a new computer, a Mac, for about $2800.  I will also probably be working part-time doing computer programming with another friend's company, learning another programming language (but we just started negotiating pay for that, so that's not set in stone yet).

Past Income Details:
I put down my "verifiable last year's income" on the Prosper site: just over $19,000.  That is a pretty misleading representation of my income.  With my new background programming, I will definitely be able to get a job that pays well over $40,000.  But I've spent the last couple of years changing careers and donating my time so that I could learn.  That's why my income looks so low.  I haven't had any debt at all for about 10 years -- I paid off my student loans early, paid cash for my car, and have never had credit card debt.  I have an immaculate credit rating because I'm very responsible with money, and I wouldn't be borrowing this if I didn't think I could pay it back easily in a year or two.  

Thanks for reading my listing!