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By Sharon Calingasan
With FilmDoo currently involved in an exciting crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs, we thought we’d take the time to shout out some of the biggest and most popular films to get off the ground via crowdfunding, all of which embody a new, more democratic era of film production.
Kickstarter, known to be the world’s largest funding site for creative film projects, has become the go-to place for movies of various genres seeking not only a budget but also viewership and a strong following. We short-listed ten of the most successfully funded films that enjoyed a huge number of backers and popularity among movie buffs, and which we wouldn’t mind seeing on the FilmDoo site.
1. Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American neo-noir, comedy, mystery and drama film directed by American author, producer and screenwriter Rob Thomas and adapted from the critically-acclaimed television series of the same name. The character of Veronica Mars, a student who also moonlights as a private investigator, is played by Kristen Bell, an actress also known for her roles in Frozen and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie sees Veronica help out her ex-boyfriend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), when he is accused of murder. It also stars Krysten Ritter, Ryan Hansen and Francis Capra.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: This is a much loved television series-turned-film that’s sure to keep your adrenaline pumping thanks to the mystery element of the complex central case.
Amount raised – USD 5,702,153
2. Wish I Was Here
This American comedy-drama follows struggling actor, husband and father, Aidan Bloom (Zach Braff), at a major crossroad, prompting him to re-examine his life, family, faith and career. This is the second film from Braff as a director – following 2004’s acclaimed Garden State – and he also co-writes the screenplay along with his brother, Adam Braff. For her performance as Aidan’s wife Sarah, Kate Hudson was nominated for a Jupiter Award for Best International Actress.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: The movie merits consideration for its heartfelt performances, especially from Braff and Hudson. It’s a mix of comedy and drama that touches on real life issues.
Amount raised – USD 3,100,000
3. Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
A stylized thriller directed by Academy Award nominee Spike Lee, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus is about a wealthy anthropologist named Dr. Hess Greene (Stephen Tyrone Williams) who turns into a vampire after being stabbed by an ancient African dagger. This story about humans addicted to blood is an unofficial remake of the 1973 film, Ganja and Hess, an experimental horror flick directed and written by Bill Gunn.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: This movie is worth checking out not only because of its helmsman’s reputation but also because it tackles issues like addiction and exploitation from an unconventional angle.
Amount raised – USD 1,418,910
4. Under the Dog
This 2016 Japanese science fiction short directed by Masahiro Ando is an anime set in the year 2025 in Neo Tokyo, five years after a Tokyo Olympics terrorist attack. The United Nations forces an elite team of teenagers with special abilities (named “The Flowers”) to fight possible future threats. Along the way, the young Anthea Kallenberg (voiced by Asami Seto) discovers her real identity. The film is the story of this team’s struggle against their cruel fate and how they try to find hope even where there seemingly is none. Other voice talents in the movie include Rumi Okubo and Koki Uchiyama.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: We’d love to bring the film on Filmdoo because of its general appeal being a sci-fi anime thriller. Young and old people film fans alike can appreciate animes that boast an engaging story and interesting characters; elements that this sci-fi thriller succeeds in delivering.
Amount raised – USD 878, 028
5. Blue Like Jazz
Based on Donald Miller’s semi-autobiographical book of the same title, this film is about Don (Marshall Allman), a 19-year old sophomore who tries to escape from the grips of his religious upbringing by transferring to a progressive campus in Portland, Oregon. The movie is directed, written and produced by Steve Taylor, an American director and Christian musical artist. Other cast members include Claire Holt and Tania Raymonde.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: The movie merits discussion amongst Christians for its thoughtful content and the actors also give commendable performances that breathe humanity into the characters they portray.
Amount raised – USD 345,992
6. Minecraft: The Story of Mojang
This 2012 documentary directed by Paul Owens discusses the history of the Mojang game studio and its popular open-world creation, Minecraft. The film was produced by 2 Player Productions and features interviews by company personnel Markus Persson and Jens Bergenstein, plus a soundtrack created by Daniel Rosenfeld.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: It’s a film that discusses Minecraft’s role in education and how kids and adults learn to create various things and designs. And, of course, this is a must-see for Minecraft fans!
Amount raised – USD 210,297
7. The Price
This creatively stylized computer-generated film by Christopher Salmon is based on the short story of the same title from award-winning author Neil Gaiman, known for Coraline, Stardust and the Sandman comics. It’s a haunting story about a cat, the Devil and a family.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: It brings to the screen the signature style of Neil Gaiman, including a high level of allusiveness. This adds to the mystique of the movie and true-blue Gaiman followers will surely love it.
Amount raised – USD 161,774
8. My Reincarnation
Directed by acclaimed American filmmaker and producer Jennifer Fox, this 2011 documentary film follows the life of Tibetan spiritual master Namkhai Norbu who tries his best to preserve his spiritual tradition and his relationship with his western-born son, Yeshi Namkhai, who has no intentions of following in his father’s footsteps. It’s an endearing drama that tackles cultural survival, spirituality, aging, Buddhism and family, among other things. The film has been nominated by the News & Documentary Emmy Awards for Outstanding Informational Programming and for Best Documentary Feature at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: My Reincarnation gives an eye-opening account of the struggles and complexities of a cross-cultural family, including the complications a son can experience having a famous Tibetan-Buddhist master for a father. The patience and precious time dedicated to produce the footage of this documentary is also astounding.
Amount raised – USD 150, 456
9. Urbanized
Released in October 2011, this feature-length documentary directed by Gary Hustwit, an American indie filmmaker and photographer, tackles the design of cities. City planners, politicians and architects try to present a fresh perspective regarding the pros and cons of urban living. The film was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design or Animation from the Cinema Eye Honors Awards.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: The film inspires a conscious awareness of our surroundings and makes us appreciate the urban amenities that we enjoy, while at the same time delivering the revelation that every single person and citizen has the initiative to act on pressing issues concerning urban living.
Amount raised – USD 118, 505
10. I Am I
This 2013 feature film is about a woman named Rachel, played by Jocelyn Towne, who has to take the persona of her late mother in order to maintain normal conversations and a relationship with her delusional father Gene (Kevin Tighe). With Towne herself winning an Outstanding Achievement in Directing award from Newport Beach Film Festival, the film presents a fresh new take on issues like father-daughter relationships and the effects of amnesia.
Why it’s worth bringing to FilmDoo: I Am I is a heartwarming drama that gives viewers a glimpse of an unconventional relationship between a father and his daughter. It’s an eye-opening film that lends a deeper understanding to the struggles that family members have to go through when a parent or loved one is afflicted with Alzheimer’s or amnesia due to old age.
Amount raised – USD 111,965
Check out FilmDoo’s own crowdfunding campaign here.
Watch FilmDoo’s Crowdfunding Video below:
