CLBR Seg 1: KICKSTARTER AND INDIE FILM: FROM NEW YORK TO MARS

 

new york heartbeat

 

KICKSTARTER AND INDIE FILM: FROM NEW YORK TO MARS

From April 28, 2009 to January 2013 Kickstarter had:

  • Pledged $102.7 million for film through nearly 900,000 backers; and
  • Funded 8567 film projects
  • 86 projects have been released theatrically with 13 set for 2013 premiers
  • Five Kickstarter films have become Oscar nominees with one winner (Inocente for Documentary Short in 2013)
  • Kickstarter films have a major presence at indie film festivals such as Sundance, SXSW and Tribeca.

By far Kickstarter’s greatest success story is Veronica Mars, made with $5.7 million raised from Kickstarter, which has been named Variety’s 2014 Breakout Movie of the Year.  See infographic of top celebrity projects funded by Kickstarter.

Another success story is “A New York Heartbeat” (“NYHB”) which has its west coast premier Saturday at the NewFilmmakers LA festival.  NewFilmmakers LA Executive Director Larry Laboe and NYHB producer Laura Davis join us to discuss the Kickstarter phenomenon and the upcoming premier of NYHB

The film was well reviewed by the Pittsburgh press following its opening.  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette heralded the film, noting:

The two young actors at the heart of this romance set half a century ago have genuine on-screen chemistry that puts every other pairing on screen this year to shame. The fact that their relationship has more resonance and realism than the one between Superman and Lois Lane in “Man of Steel” at a fraction of the cost, is saying a lot about films today.

In a movie season thick with big budget critical disasters and box office disappointments, there’s something almost retro about “A New York Heartbeat’s” reliance on such old-fashioned cinematic virtues as a good story, sympathetic characters and a willingness to raise the emotional stakes in its bid to keep things interesting.

NYHB Trailer:

The film features Eric Roberts who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the intense 1985 “Runaway Train”.

Runaway Train Trailer:

Veronica Mars Trailer:

Since I often say Laura Mars instead of Veronica Mars . . . 

 

SHOUT OUTS

  • thnaksTo Michigan State fans, including CLBR Guest and IAB Vice President Mike Zaneis.
    Congrats on winning the Rose Bowl, but even greater praise is due for Michigan State having the class to run a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times thanking the city for their hospitality.  Considering the MSU alums include Lakers’ legend Magic Johnson and Dodger All-Stars Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey and Mike Marshall, I think the city might want to reciprocate with a thank you as in the Lansing State Journal.
  • To CLBR veteran Matt Neco and the team at DocStoc, a Silicon Beach star, on their acquisition by Intuit.