A fascinating transformation in how film and TV projects are financed is taking place in Hollywood. Kickstarter is becoming the place where actors make their case for funding, and then average people use their purchasing power to fund — or not fund — the project with as little as a $10 donation. Last month, a “Veronica Mars” project raised $5.7 million. Actor Zach Braff is the latest to harness the marketplace for his work. In doing so, he bypassed traditional financiers and risked failure and humiliation in a very public forum.
Zach Braff has reached his $2 million goal in the first four days of his Kickstarter campaign to raise funds from fans for the drama “Wish I Was Here.”
The campaign crossed the $2 million mark shortly before noon Saturday, 26 days before its closing date, with backing from over 28,000 fans.
So why did Braff choose this new venue?
I was about to sign a typical financing deal to get the money to make ‘Wish I Was Here,’ my follow up to ‘Garden State,’” he said on the campaign page. ” It would have involved making a lot of sacrifices I think would have ultimately hurt the film. I’ve been a backer for several projects on Kickstarter and thought the concept was fascinating and revolutionary for artists and innovators of all kinds. But I didn’t imagine it could work on larger-scale projects. I was wrong.”
I know nothing about this actor or about the worthiness of his project. But I admire his willingness to innovate and take risks. Can this model be used to fund a blockbuster? Stay tuned. What is sad is that people who are willing to do things like this have become the subject of criticism and envy in this country. They aren’t paying “their fair share,” say the progressives. What a shame that so many fail to appreciate the producers and the risk takers — the people we should admire for their success.
