Fund The Culture You Love With The Gift Of Crowdfunding

How do we make it better?  How do we make our indie film infrastructure work for more filmmakers and more diverse audiences?

How do we improve things as individuals as well as a community?

This is the season of giving and that’s not a bad place for us to start.  I have always liked the idea of buying local, of buying direct — be it from the farmers, artisans, or owner/operators.  I have lamented the loss of more intimate connection that all of our innovation delivers.  I have always hated shopping and have enjoyed how the internet kept me out of stores, but there have been some stores, notably book stores, video stores, and record shops, that I enjoyed and now miss dearly.  The only online phenomenon that gives me the same rush I got when I discovered from those “stores of old” something I did not know about and simply needed to have is… crowdfunding sites.  

There is such a unique pleasure in making something happen.  It is an even greater pleasure when you give  to an artist that you admire.  

This gift giving season I am going to give to twelve artists via their crowdfunding campaigns.  I hope you do the same.  

I wish when I give I could give twice, in that I often don’t even want the perk so much and would love to be able to give that immediately to another friend, who in turn might be inspired to also contribute to the campaign, and then also give the perk to another friend, whom might too… well, you get the idea, right?

So consider this my own personal campaign.  I want us all to give 12 times this season.  I am going to.  That’s my pledge. If you do let’s share it on twitter under the #12DaysOfCrowd hashtag.

Here’s what I have done so far. Some have already hit their goals, but that should not stop you from giving. Others need you now:

1. Hal Hartley’s NED RIFLE http://kck.st/18SN1B4 Goal hit!
2. Alex Winter’s DEEP WEB http://kck.st/I4X0hm Goal hit!
3. Steve James’ LIFE ITSELF http://igg.me/at/EbertMovie
4. Beth B’s EXPOSED http://kck.st/17zlbQt Goal hit!
5. Mat Kladney’s The San Francisco Bicycle System (okay, this one is not a film, but it is a great idea!)  http://kck.st/1cYZDdG Goal hit!
6. Alejandra Tomei and Alberto Coucerio of ANIMAS-FILM ‘s stop motion animation short AUTOMATIC FITNESS http://igg.me/at/stop-motion Goal hit!
7. Gillian Robespierre’s OBVIOUS CHILD (A Sundance world premiere) http://kck.st/1fbQYGt (Until Jan 14th to hit the goal!)
8. Sam Green’s live doc THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS http://kck.st/JcJTe3 (Until Jan 8th to hit goal)
9. Rumur Films’ WHO TOOK JOHNNY? (A Slamdance world premiere)  http://kck.st/18R7aZA (Until Jan 10 to hit goal)
10. Detroit’s Heidelberg Project Art House Restoration project (again, not a film, but something I have long admired) http://igg.me/at/HPLegacy Goal hit!
11. ?

And if you have suggestions for the other days of giving, please leave a suggestion below, along with a brief explanation of why you think this is a good idea.

This post is actually Part Two of my One Day Plan to make IndieFilm Better Simply By Being Kind & Generous.  Read Part One here.