Alright, time for rant #2 on the crowdfunding epidemic. Last article I touched on the celebrity kickstarter, this time I’m attacking those starving artists.
I have an issue with (some) smaller campaigns by filmmakers, artists, and musicians.
Art is about sacrifice. That isn’t supposed to be some deep philosophical statement, art is literally about sacrifice. Artists’ sacrifice their time to hone their craft which (mostly) goes unappreciated. Artists’ sacrifice their potential to pursue their dreams (sorry theater major but a business degree is definitely more rational). Finally, artists’ must sacrifice their OWN money, at least in the beginning.
Bands buy their instruments. Artists buy their canvasses. Budding filmmakers buy their lenses and light kits.
I receive multiple Kickstarter requests a year from filmmaker acquaintances asking for upwards of $10,000 to create their dramatic 5-minute student films. I believe that true filmmakers learn to work within their limitations. Robert Rodriguez’s first film, El Mariachi, was produced on a paltry $7,000 most of which came from Rodriguez sacrificing his body in medical testing centers. Admittedly, Rodriguez was given more money in post-production but that was after he had already completed his work.
The worst thing is that most people aren’t appealing to their audience or fans; their appealing to their friends for money. They are essentially asking their friends for an investment, only it’s worse, they don’t even have the gall to call to you up and feign interest in your life before sticking out their hand. At least Zach Braff is asking strangers to give money, instead of heaping on guilt every time they post their campaign on Facebook.
Perhaps the most egregious abuse of crowdfunding dripped down my newsfeed the other day. An acquaintance of mine was asking for thousands of dollars to simply move to another city. There was no film, novel or record being funded, she simply needed money to move away to pursue her “dream”. Really? Call me insensitive but I come from the school of thought that you should pay for your moving expenses yourself.
This is akin to me asking for $2,000 so I can pay my rent this month and eat pizza everyday. Because, you know, it’s a “dream” of mine to constantly be gorging on free pizza.
Shouldn’t we be earning our projects? Won’t you put your whole heart into a project if you saved for years to help it come to fruition?
Now, full disclosure. I am not a person who has practiced what they preached. Two years ago, a band I was in had recorded an album (on our dime) and we released it online. Several people asked for hard copies so we launched an indieagogo for $300 to print the record and ship to our “fans”. In retrospect, we probably should have just fronted the $300 and collected profit from the 30 cds we did in fact sell.
Additionally, a group I am in toyed with idea of starting a $100,000 Kickstarter to fund a 30-second, high quality CGI-centaur at the end of our comedy pilot. The rest of pilot is being shot on about $1,000 but we thought this would be a hilarious juxtaposition in production value. We understand that’s a big price-tag for a pretty flaccid joke, but like all other Kickstarter campaigns… it’s worth a try!
Finally, I want to say that I hold no ill-will towards every person who has funded their project through Kickstarter. Several wonderful things have been borne from crowdfunding and I’m sure there are more great things to come. I know people how have produced award winning films funded through the site. But I also know people who met their $10,000 goal three years ago and I haven’t seen a single frame of their film. Either because they weren’t ready or they weren’t good enough.
Before you start your Kickstarter, ask yourself, “Is this work really worth it? I am at the level where I can ask for money?”
Working within limitations can breed creativity. I implore everyone to first fund themselves. Hone your craft. Shoot the movie with a shitty mini-dv camera. Record the album on an 8-track recorder. Once you have a level of competency two things can happen.
1. People will offer you money to create without you even asking.
2. Your Kickstarter will attract individuals excited about a project, not just throwing money at their friends.
Creativity is a struggle, when you’re good enough you won’t need to beg for money.
It brings me back to this Ira Glass quote that I always turn to when struggling with any creative endeavor.
Crowdfunded rant over.
