Yes, sure, I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
And Firefly.
And Arrested Development.
But Veronica Mars for me was a show that just fucking clicked, man, it totally tweaked my narrative nipples in a way I can’t describe even now, years later. Its crimetastic and detective-flavored snark-witted drama just tickled all my parts. The first season of that show was for me a nearly impeccable season of television, showcasing the power of really finely wrought storytelling in and out of the medium. Bonus points: Kristen Bell!
They’ve been trying to make a movie for years.
And folks have kept hope alive.
Which is silly, really.
OR WAS IT?
*crash of thunder*
Because now, holy crap, they’re going right to Kickstarter to see if they can crowdfund a Veronica Mars movie. I know someone is probably going to say that a film like this made by people of this caliber doesn’t need Kickstarter and isn’t crowdfunding for little projects and blah blah blah, but for my mileage, this is one of the many uses for the Kickstarter platform. It’s a small-budget movie-sized continuation of a television show on a small network that has been off the air for years and has continually failed to find the funding it needed within the rigors of the system. So, why not escape the system? Why not let fans be the generative driver?
To my mind, projects like this — particularly when they’re successful — don’t exploit the crowdsourcing paradigm but rather reveal the value of it.
Anyway, fuck it, whatever. Point is:
VERONICA MARS MOVIE.
That sound you hear from where you’re sitting is my giddy, violent squeeing.
And I don’t squee easily, peeps.
Here’s a link to the Kickstarter. (Don’t tell anyone, but I was totally the first pledge. No, really. I don’t know how the hell that happened, nor does it matter but SHUT UP LET ME HAVE THIS.) At the very least, watch the amusing video. Did I mention Kristen Bell?
Gregory Lynn says:
And now I wish Kickstarter had been around when Firefly was cancelled.
March 13, 2013 — 11:34 AM
TheMariaLima says:
Yeah, I totally backed it. What a no-brainer.
March 13, 2013 — 11:40 AM
Jason Seas (@jasonseas) says:
You weren’t the $10,000 backer for the speaking role were you? That one apparently went pretty quickly. 😛
March 13, 2013 — 11:42 AM
Jon Stoffel (@StoffelJD) says:
Oh, man. Chuck would blow that waiter scene wide open with his intense beard-faced gaze. “Your… check, sir?” At the very least, he would wind up as a suspect for sheer wild-eyed Pennsyltuckian-ness.
March 13, 2013 — 1:24 PM
Cat York says:
I want to like this comment.
March 13, 2013 — 2:26 PM
Sheryl Nantus says:
*Kermit-flail*
Yes! Yes! Yes!
*notices odd looks*
*slinks away*
March 13, 2013 — 11:42 AM
Camille says:
No odd looks here. I flail a la Kermit avec toi!
March 14, 2013 — 6:35 PM
Joi (@Joi_the_Artist) says:
My only regret is that I can only pledge $50. Veronica Mars is one of the greatest TV characters of all time. (Also, I totally teared up when the actor who played Logan named his real-life daughter Lily.)
March 13, 2013 — 11:43 AM
Louise Sorensen says:
Interesting. A good example of ‘if something isn’t working for you, try something else.’
I do wish they’d had kickstarter for Firefly.
I never saw Veronica Mars but I’d help spread the word about the project.
Can you tweet me the link at louise3anne on twitter and I’ll RT it?
March 13, 2013 — 11:54 AM
Jen McAndrews says:
Totally agree with you on this. Great way for fans who want more and creators willing to provide to make awesome happen.
March 13, 2013 — 11:55 AM
Aline Carriere (@Jedlight) says:
I was beginning to wonder if anyone squeed anymore.
Now even more people will hear about Kickstarter, which means more funding for the little guys, too. Yay!
March 13, 2013 — 11:59 AM
Joe Petty says:
I totally squeed, I loved this show. I’m glad I got to back it.
March 14, 2013 — 11:46 AM
pheasentsong says:
I have never seen Veronica Mars, I hope the project is successful! Just wanted to say you made my day with the Sloth Thing though….that is so funny and so cute, and I can totally relate!!
March 13, 2013 — 12:07 PM
Wendy says:
Thank you, so, so, so much for posting about this! I LOVED Veronica Mars and had lost all hope for a movie because it had been mentioned so many times but nothing ever came of it. I’m a backer and I can’t wait to see pledge amount skyrocket as more people find out.
March 13, 2013 — 12:42 PM
Tia Kalla (@tiakall) says:
I know nothing of the show, but wow, that’s ambitious and I hope it succeeds. (It’s at something close to 600k right now, so odds are looking good. Scratch that, it’s at 609k and goes up every time I look at it.) It could set a good example for other producers of cult classics to go out on a limb and give it a try. (Because c’mon, am I the only one that wants a Samurai Jack film?)
March 13, 2013 — 1:24 PM
terribleminds says:
It’s at 600k and it still has 30 days left, so I think it’s in good shape to make it!
— c.
March 13, 2013 — 1:25 PM
Jenna Bird (@jbird_writing) says:
Wow! I took a look and it’s breached the $800k mark already. I hope this turns out excellently well for the fans. I’ve never seen the show, but listed as it is with those above… I will have to check it out. I echo the sentiment about Firefly (but, Fox would not have been as kind as WB is being with the rights – at least, that’s how their behavior has struck me).
March 13, 2013 — 2:16 PM
Jenna Avery says:
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing this. I just contributed. And it’s well over $1M already. Very cool. As far as Firefly goes, it ain’t over ’til it’s over. Everyone involved wants to do more Firefly. Maybe an example like this will get them to take notice of a way to make it happen. (There was a whole “help nathan buy firefly” kerfuffle last year-ish that didn’t take but it was a crowdfunding thing.)
March 13, 2013 — 3:15 PM
Chelsea says:
I actually saw this on Facebook and freaked out like a crazy person. I love Kristen Bell and Veronica Mars so much and it’s great that they are finding a way to fund it outside of the usual ways. Hopefully other TV shows that are being cancelled or already were will try this too.
March 13, 2013 — 3:33 PM
L says:
It’s happening! Squeeing! I love thee, interwebs.
March 14, 2013 — 12:03 AM
Chelsea says:
It only took about ten hours but we are already at 2 million we needed, it’s a go!!!!! Just remember to keep donating so the movie can be even better.
March 14, 2013 — 12:09 AM
Jeff Xilon says:
Wow, I’ve never got around to checking out this show, but I’d happily kick in $10 or more just for the fact that you can get a copy of the shooting script. That’s really cool thing if you’re interested in writing for movies.
Also, in my opinion the only way to “exploit” crowd-sourcing is to be dishonest about what you’re going to do with the money or if you make a plea for funds for something you never actually intend to do (i.e. commit actual fraud). I’ve always thought that those who argue otherwise are insulting the intelligence of the people who pledge their money to projects. People don’t need self-appointed arbiters of acceptable crowd-sourcing to protect them from themselves. Also, I don’t need those ass-hats deciding what is “indie” enough for me to be allowed to give them my money. Last I checked I earned it, and I’ll spend it how I please.
March 14, 2013 — 3:35 AM
AJ says:
The Kickstarter is currently above the $2.5 million mark. It’s going pretty strong! I expect them to definitely hit $4 million before the project ends.
March 14, 2013 — 7:31 AM