Your Support Counts!

The fact that you’re here matters more than you might realize.

Being on this Substack, free or paid, is a form of support. You showed up. You said this story is worth following. That means something, and I don’t take it lightly.

If you’re on the free tier and you’ve been thinking about upgrading to paid, this is only a gentle nudge and nothing more. A paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) goes to helping me keep this project moving: research, materials, equipment, subscriptions, fees and eventually aid in travel when needed. If it’s not the right time, that’s completely fine. You being here counts!

There’s something else worth naming directly. Every subscriber becomes part of a number that matters when this project walks into a film studio. The question a studio asks isn’t just “is this a story that should be told?” It’s “who’s the audience?” A Substack audience is a pre-film audience. It’s proof! If you know a former Canal Zone resident who isn’t subscribed yet, getting them here is one of the most useful things you can do for this project.

Other ways to show support will be added to this post as they develop.

Here is a simple way to help get the word out there for the Canal Zone Documentary that takes less that a minute: a free social media profile frame tool! This is a way to show your connection to this project every time someone sees your photo on social media. There are four versions: three that says “Zonian Supporter,” one that states “Canal Zone Supporter.” Use one or all four!

Here’s how to get yours:

1. Go to card.canalzonedocumentary.com/frame

2. Choose your color

3. Upload your photo

4. Reposition carefully if needed — drag the image until your face sits where you want it

5. Download the finished image

6. Upload it as your profile photo on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or wherever you show up

That’s it. It’s a way to show your support for CZD!

This post will be updated as new ways to show support are added, So bookmark it if that’s your thing.

If you’d like to do more, there are a few other ways to support CZD directly:

Substack Tiers — Free subscribers get access to mostly everything published here. A paid subscription does something more — it helps funds the research, materials, and production costs that keep this project moving and it also gives access to articles where I do deeper dives. There's also a Founder tier for those who want to go further. Whatever level you're at, you're part of the pre-film audience that a studio will look at when deciding whether this documentary gets made.
How to upgrade: log into your account via a web browser (mobile apps may restrict upgrades), go to your account settings or open an email from CZD forwarded article, click Upgrade to paid, pick a monthly or annual plan, and enter your credit card details. That’s it.
Shop Canal Zone^® — Wearing CZD puts the project in front of people who have never heard of it. Every shirt, hat, or item that travels into the world is a quiet conversation starter. It's also another way to help fund the project while getting something you'll actually use.
Amazon Registry — This is a wish list of equipment and materials the project needs — hard drives for archiving footage and interviews, gear, and other production essentials. You purchase an item directly from Amazon and it ships to me. No cash changes hands. If you've ever wanted to contribute something tangible to the production itself, this is it.
Ko-fi — Ko-fi is a simple platform that lets you make a one-time contribution in any amount. Think of it as leaving something behind after a piece of content resonated with you. No subscription, no commitment. Just a direct, no-fuss way to say "this one mattered."
Zelle — Search CZDSupport in your Zelle app. If you already use Zelle through your bank — most major banks have it built into their mobile app under "Send Money" or "Pay" — you can send directly with no fees and nothing taken out. It arrives in full.
GoFundMe — In January 2027 I'm returning to the former Canal Zone for the first time in thirty years. This trip is a pre-production step: location scouting, videography, photography, networking with Zonians and filmmakers on the ground, and reconnecting with a place I haven't walked since I was young. One week of lodging has been generously provided by a contact by Andrew Efthimidias. The GoFundMe helps with everything else. Even $5 or $10 from enough people helps tremendously! Every contribution is a personal gift and I'm grateful for every one of them.

Every bit of it matters. Thank you for being here.