(screen shot from that time my roomie and I watched the counter turn to $2M in less than 12 hours)
Can we talk crowd funding for a minute?
Has anyone else jumped on the band wagon?
I have backed quite a few projects and most have met their goals.
My #1 favorite was the Veronica Mars Movie Kickstarter. The moment I heard about it I threw some money into the pot and watched as the magic happened. The goal was reached in less than 12 hours. My roommate and I were glued to that Kickstarter counter all day watching it skyrocket and then turn the magic 2 million.
Backers were treated with fun rewards (t-shirts, stickers, shooting script) as well as exclusive content and the inside scoop while the movie was cast, filmed, edited and then distributed and shown to the world. Lots of cast videos and photos. We got a download of the movie on the day it was released in theaters. It was all kinds of fun.
The moment of truth was, of course, the movie itself. It was fantastic. Quite sure I'm looking at it with V-Mars loving glasses, but as a fan it did not disappoint. I've watched it more times than I would like to admit....cough...cough. And I'm still getting updates and emails even thought the movie has already been finished and released.
I love the part of feeling like I can choose what I want to see. I got in a discussion with someone about how they didn't think it was fair asking people for money for movies because most of the time they get studio funding. Or it is wrong for famous actors who have a large bank fund to ask others for money to get their passion project made . Those crowd funders didn't get a producer credit or any compensation for their investment.
I disagree. I wanted a Veronica Mars movie for years. I was presented with a chance to make it happen costing me only a few dollars out of my pocket. I would have spent money to see it in theaters and buy it, so why not put that money up front and make sure it gets made. I don't care about getting credit for it. I cared more about making sure it actually got made. So, sure, I'll send over $35 to back a project I want to see. It's my money. My money talks louder when I back something before it gets made than the $12 I give the theater to sit and watch the finished project. You better believe that all of Hollywood took notice of the V-Mars project. I'm sure they were intimidated too.
Remember, your money has a voice that can almost be louder than your actual words. Where you choose to spend it says quite a bit about you. This is something I have learned (and am still learning) the only way I can, by giving. I still have a long way to go. But I never want to be one of those people who says, "I'll give more when I have more." Nope. If I'm not giving now towards the things I am passionate about then I certainly won't later. Even more than movies or books or passion projects, this rings true for all the orphans I sponsor and the organizations that do good things across the world and my own church. My money speaks loudly. Even if it does seem like a measly amount compared to what other give.
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