If TV Fans Can Fund A Movie, Why Can t We Fund a Movie Sequel?

Given the recent success of the Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign, do film fans have a realistic chance of funding their dream sequels? If so, here are a few suggestions.

By now, news of the record-breaking Veronica Mars Kickstarter has spread across theglobe. And why not? It's a great story. Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell, the creator andstar of Veronica Mars, the beloved television series with a massive fanbase (second indevotion only to Whedonites), took to Kickstarter to raise funds for a film continuation ofthe show. Their initial goal was 2 million dollarsthe highest goal ever set for a projecton the crowdfunding siteand in a mere 10 hours, they had reached it. What's more,there are still 28 days to go until the campaign ends on Friday, April 12. The numbers arecontinuing to climb (now at more than 3 million dollars) with more than 50,000 backerscontributing.

What makes the Veronica Mars movie experiment so unique (along with its exclusive rewardswhich mayprove to be probelmaticdown the line)is that it not only has anestablished fan base but a guaranteed distribution, including limited theatrical screeningsand VOD. The unprecedented success of the Veronica Mars film venture highlightsthe potential of Kickstarter and other crowdfunding mechanisms with the potential tochange the industry. Certainly Warner Brothers, the studio owning the rights to the series, is enjoying the ultimate win-win. They pay no money up front, and Rob Thomas' andKristen Bell's heartfelt campaign provides free publicity. Even casual viewers of theVeronica Mars series, like me, now have a reason to get reacquainted with the show and amotivation to see the movie.

The impressive results of the Veronica Mars experiment potentially signal a new era forthe development of film projects, one that directly involves the fans. Already producerslike Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daises and Wonderfalls) and Shawn Ryan (Terriers) areshowing interest in possibly resurrecting their series by making a final film for the fans.You can bet if David Milch was on Twitter, fans would be bombarding him with questionsabout those infamous Deadwood movies (which were never made) that were supposedto tie up the series after its abrupt cancellation. At least Veronica Marsdevotees will be able to enjoy a few more hours with their beloved Logan, Wallace, Mac,and of course, Veronica.

So what does this mean for film fans? If the creators of cancelled TV series can raisecash for a wrap-up film, can filmmakers could do the same for beloved films that didnot do quite enough box office to merit a studio-funded sequel? It all comes down to thenumbers, and as Veronica Mars shows, the potential is certainly there for filmmakers torally their fanbase to help them continue the stories they left unfinished. In my dreamworld, Joe Carnahan's sequel to Narc, with Ray Liotta reprising his role as Henry Oak,would already be in fan-funded and in production

I'm also reminded of the hilarious horror comedy, Bubba Ho-tep, starring Ossie Davisand the iconic Bruce Campbell. Directed by genre legend Don Coscarelli (Phantasm,The Beastmaster), this now-cult classic almost spawned an immediate sequelBubbaNosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampireswhich started as a joke but soon became apossibility when fans demanded it. Though the film never entered production due tobudget issues, creative differences, and what have you, Campbell, Coscarelli and evenPaul Giamatti were all attached to the project at some point. Perhaps someday soonBubba Ho-tep fans and Don Coscarelli (who has repeatedly voiced his interested in thesequel) will unite on Kickstarter to make their dreams a reality.

Filmmakers have always known that fans can be a powerful force, but the success of RobThomas and the Veronica Mars on Kickstarter takes the impact of devoted followers to awhole new level.

LINK:	http://www.tribecafilm.com/future-of-film/514395c5c07f5de0de000005-if-...
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