Yesterday, filmmaker and actor
Zach Braff launched a Kickstarter funding campaign
for his new movie, “Wish I Was Here.” Predictably, it raised two things: the hackles of critics, and a lot of cash in a short amount of time.
First, the hackles part. Some wondered why a film starring Braff and Emmy-winning "Big Bang Theory" actor Jim Parsons would struggle to get investors. Others argue that Kickstarter is intended for noble causes, be they non-profits, struggling artists or people in need, such as comingsoon.com film critic Ed Douglas, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has no health insurance and, subsequently, a lot of bills to pay. (Douglas' fundraiser just met its $40,000 goal, via GiveForward, a site similar to Kickstarter.)
When relatively big projects by name stars resort to begging the public for money, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Braff's project is not without precedent – in March, the "Veronica Mars" film hit its $2 million goal in less than a day, and eventually capped out at $5.7 million. "Mars" fans want more, and they were willing to pony up. What chafes me about the "Mars" cash avalanche is that the film is actually a Warner Bros. project, and as I tweeted at the time, contributing to its Kickstarter effort is like throwing more coins in Scrooge McDuck's money bin (I know, I kind of mixed my Disney/WB metaphors there – sue me). It chafes me that the public has to essentially donate money to a billion-dollar studio so it can make a movie.
Braff’s pitch for the film is a bit cloying and annoying, and he goes on about how he didn’t want to bring the project to a studio that would make him compromise his artistic vision, and all that. He says “Wish I Was Here” will be in the same dramedy vein as his 2004 indie hit “Garden State,” which was cute at first blush, but has not aged well. I have no beef with the guy for wanting to pursue another project as writer/director/star – I’ll give it a chance – but playing to “Garden State” fans is irritating because it essentially asks those fans to help him now, and help him again later by buying a ticket to the movie. They don’t care; the incentive-laden fundraiser (contribute $1,000, and you’ll get tickets for two to an New York City premiere!) has already raised $1.5 million.
If you argue that the “Mars” and Braff projects are artistic endeavors, I won’t wholly disagree. But if the creative teams behind them deny that they want to turn a profit on the projects, I’ll scream bull puckey to the heavens. Some worry about the pending onslaught of Kickstarter projects on the horizon – will Disney have the chutzpah to threaten to mothball future “Star Wars” projects unless fans kick in a few of their hard-earned dollars? It may not come to that level of exploitation, but the threat looms.
On the other hand, you almost can’t blame the devoted cult of “Mars” and “Garden State” fans for want more, and haven’t been getting more in a long time. Although I understand that type of fandom, I don’t know if I’d give my money to such an ethically dubious Kickstarter campaign. However, I’ve come up with a list of five TV and film projects that might lure me to contribute a few dollars in advance:
5. The re-resurrection of "Futurama." This week, Matt Groening's animated sci-fi TV show was canceled for a second time, and its upcoming season will be its last for Comedy Central. Although the series totals seven seasons between the cable network and its original run on Fox, it doesn't feel like we've seen enough Bender and Zoidberg to satiate our desire for borderline-insane sci-fi satire.
Suggested incentive: Bender voice actor Joe DiMaggio will record a voicemail message for you. It will go, "Leave a message or bite my shiny metal ass!"
4. Bring back "Firefly." I'd consider contributing to this ONLY if Netflix, FX, Amazon, HBO, Showtime, Starz, AMC and every other network that might bring it back have stupidly passed on it, and if Joss Whedon - who created the upsettingly short-lived outer-space Western TV series - loses his hundreds of millions of "Avengers" dollars during one wild night in Vegas.
Suggested incentive: An official Browncoat brown coat for everyone who gives $200 or more. That's about the going rate for a leather bomber jacket these days, right?
3. One word: "Deadwood." It's the Greatest TV Show in History (That Isn't "The Simpsons"). I'd be tempted to give creator David Milch money even if he stopped me on the street and asked. A reunion of Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant and William Sanderson with Milch's profanity-laden Shakespearean dialogue would be difficult to resist.
Suggested incentive: A personalized video of McShane, in costume and character as Al Swearengen, thanking contributors - with multiple usage of the 10-letter C-word, of course.
2. Anything Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding-Refn want to do. "Drive" was such a masterpiece, I was throwing money at the screen as it unspooled, on the off chance it might urge the actor-director duo to work together again. Sure, they have another movie, "Only God Forgives," on the docket for 2013, and my fist pumpeth in anticipation for it, but I'd personally Kickstart any project they want if they'll become the next Tim Burton-Johnny Depp deathless creative compadres.
Suggested incentive: Gosling in character as Driver, leaving an outgoing voicemail message in which he says nothing.
1. Anything Werner Herzog wants to do. Because he's the greatest living filmmaker, and he attacks every documentary topic or borderline-insane fictional screenplay with such gusto, you can't help but love the guy. His films are like no other, and there will never be another like him. He dutifully churns out a movie or two every year, he never compromises his artistic vision, and they make just enough money to assure the next project will happen. He's been to Antarctica, Siberia, an actively erupting volcano, Death Row and the jungle (multiple times). He may go to the desert with Robert Pattinson next, you, I, we hope. His every film is an adventure, and "Stroszek," "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirre the Wrath of God" are some of the greatest, most daring, unconventional and challenging films ever made. I may just give the guy my checking account and routing number, if it'll help him continue.
Suggested incentive: A hug by Herzog. (Have I mentioned Herzog hugged me once? Ask me sometime and I'll tell you the story.) Or, Herzog will follow you around for a day and narrate your life in his trademark heavily accented voice, which is menacing and warm at the same time (just like his hug, and I would know).
Email: jserba@mlive.com or follow John Serba on Twitter