“Veronica Mars” fans just bought themselves a big-screen version of the cult favorite TV series.
A crowd-sourcing campaign on the Kickstarter website to raise $2 million for the project hit its goal in less than a day.
“Veronica Mars,” which starred Kristen Bell as a young sleuth, ended its three-season run in 2007. With Bell’s help, series creator Rob Thomas started the effort Wednesday to make a big-screen version.
More than 33,000 contributors had pledged $2.1 million as of Wednesday evening, and the total was still growing.
In his online pitch, Thomas promised, “The more money we raise, the cooler movie we can make.”
The movie is the fastest project yet to reach $1 million on Kickstarter, hitting the mark in 4 hours, 24 minutes. It’s also the most-funded film or video project to date, according to a spokesman for the site. Previous top movie fundraisers are the planned “The Goon” ($442,000) and “Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa” ($406,000), both animated.
Thomas said “Veronica Mars” owner Warner Bros. has given the project its blessing, and Bell and other cast members are ready to begin production this summer for a 2014 release. A studio spokesman said a limited release, meaning it may not be on thousands of screens or in every city, is likely at this point.
The fundraising campaign, which was confirmed by Thomas’ representative at United Talent Agency, ends April 12.
“You have banded together like the sassy little honey badgers you are and made this possibility happen,” Bell said in an online message, promising the “sleuthiest, snarkiest” movie possible.
Bell is back on TV in “House of Lies,” the Showtime series starring Don Cheadle.
She and several “Veronica Mars” cast members appear in a lighthearted video on Kickstarter in which they mull the prospect of reuniting.
The series averaged between 2.2 million and 2.5 million viewers in its two-year run on the now-defunct UPN and final season on the CW network. Those modest numbers are overshadowed by the intense fan devotion that has kept dreams of a movie alive.
Backers are eligible for various goodies, ranging from a PDF copy of the script to be sent on the day the film is released (for a $10 pledge) to naming rights to a character (for $8,000). An appearance in the movie, available to one $10,000 contributor, was snapped up.
Crowdsourcing has given filmmakers a new way to get always-elusive funding. At last month’s Academy Awards, the short documentary “Inocente” became the first Kickstarter-funded film to win an Oscar. It received $52,000 from 300 contributors.
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AP Business Writer Ryan Nakashima contributed to this report.
Biscuit Filmworks Signs Director Aerin Moreno For Her First Commercial Representation
Biscuit Filmworks has added Aerin Moreno to its directing roster for her first career commercial representation. Morenoโs visual style is rooted in dynamic storytelling, infectious choreography, and female-driven pop culture narratives.
Known for her high-energy music videos, Moreno has repeatedly collaborated with pop sensation Tate McRae and has also worked with artists including Tyla, Madison Beer, Sofi Tukker, Nessa Barrett, Marina, Damiano David, and Tinashe. Morenoโs ability to connect with artists, establish trust, and navigate each collaboration with care has been key to her success in the music video realm. Moreno brings this same creative energy to advertising, working with brands seeking to connect with audiences in fresh and meaningful ways.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Moreno fell in love with film at a young age and graduated from UCLA Film School. She quickly made a name for herself in the music video industry, standing out for her ability to direct and edit projects, and her intuitive sense of narrative pacing. In addition to music videos, she has also helmed short films like Lotusland and Grandmaโs Fall From Heaven, both of which explore themes of identity, relationships, and resilience with emotional depth and striking visuals.
โThe power of pop culture constantly excites me,โ said Moreno. โIt has such a lasting impact, especially on young people, and I love being a part of that. Delivering what an artist wants, pushing it a little further, and capturing the essence of who they are is my passion. When considering who to partner with, I kept returning to Biscuit because of the way they champion bold, creative visions.โ
โAerin has a remarkable understanding of cultural currency,โ... Read More