A curated list of active, worthy Kickstarter campaigns that you can back today.
by Andrea Kszystyniak
photo courtesy of Mutiny of Colours
The beauty of creating art and journalism during the age of crowdfunding is the sheer possibility of it. Little known and pet projects can grow into something much bigger. A pipe dream can become reality — as long as other people think your idea is as cool as you do.
There are quite a few kick-butt film projects looking for some love on Kickstarter right now. Documentary filmmakers, directors and storytellers are digging deep to tell the stories of former prisoners, transgender activists and more. These film projects delve into unexplored areas, be it the history of a one-hit wonder group or the perils of being a street artist in Iran. Donations to these Kickstarter campaigns will snag you cool perks, such as a poster screen printed by the lead singer of Chumbawamba. We’ve rounded up five live Kickstarter film and video projects you should consider backing today.
1. I Get Knocked Down (The Untold Story of Chumbawamba)
Dunstan Bruce, vocalist for one-hit wonder group Chumbawamba, is on a mission to tell the story of the British anarchist pop stars who created one of the top hit singles of the ‘90s, entirely by accident. Bruce is hoping to raise nearly $63,000 to gather stories from his fellow band members and cover the group’s roughly 30-year history. Despite having one of the top songs of the decade, Bruce does not have much cash left. The group donated most of its money to causes the members believed in, including anarchist radio stations and community centers in Europe. Donators will get prizes such as a copy of the film and the movie poster, screen printed by Bruce himself.
CAMPAIGN ENDS: July 31, 2015
2. Life After Life
Director Tamara Perkins first got involved with the prison system when she began teaching yoga at San Quentin prison in 2006. The men she was working with asked for help telling their stories after she had been working there awhile. Perkins began to research the realities of the prison system in the U.S. and was outraged by what she saw. One in 31 Americans are currently under correctional control, she said. And one in three black men will be incarcerated in their lifetime. The film was a way for her to take action. “Life After Life” follows three men as they return to the world after spending years behind bars. Perkins has been working on the film for more than eight years and needs more financial support to film additional interviews and mix sound for the film. Perks include a one-hour Skype chat with Perkins centered on how to conduct intimate interviews as well as postcards, a download of the film and tote bags.
CAMPAIGN ENDS: July 22, 2015
3. Susan Gapka: A Documentary Film
Early in her life, Canadian transgender activist Susan Gapka was on-again, off-again homeless as she struggled with her gender identity. She lived on the streets for more than 10 years before she was able to find stable housing and transition.
Now, Gapka is an influential member of the transgender community in Canada. In 2012, she pushed for the protection of gender identity and gender expression under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. Susan Gapka, directed by independent filmmaker Lisa Rideout, tells Susan’s life story. But it also follows Gapka as she returns to her hometown of Toronto, a place she tried to forget. The $19,000 raised by this campaign will help the filmmakers purchase necessary equipment.
CAMPAIGN ENDS: August 6, 2015
4. Mutiny of Colours: Saving Street Art
In the United States, if you’re caught creating street art and graffiti, you might get a small fine and minimal jail time. But according to the directors of “Mutiny of Colours,” in Iran, street artists may face imprisonment or even the death penalty. Graffiti artists are accused of promoting Satanism. Mutiny of Colours, directed by Zeinab Tabrizy and Paliz Khoshdel, follows Iranian street artists as they create work and dodge the police. Artists Lady Green, Sot, Omet and others let filmmakers follow them as they draw graffiti and participate in interviews, clad in masks to obscure their faces. Tabrizy and Khoshdel hope to change the public perception of street artists; they believe the Iranian government has it all wrong. The filmmakers have set up a Kickstarter to raise $50,000 to complete production of the film. They hope to distribute it internationally. Backers will receive copies of the film as well as art from the featured artists.
CAMPAIGN ENDS: July 30, 2015
5. “Cocked”
Noelle Stewart and Courtney Renee Stallings were tired of seeing the same tired roles for women at casting calls: the girl next door or characters that are “pretty but down to earth.” Male roles often center more around personality, where women’s are often focused around how they look So the actors created Flashes and Floaters Productions to craft their own movies. The pair is on a mission to release their first short film, “Cocked” about two hitwomen who must try to remain friends despite being on a mission to hunt and kill someone. They want to inspire women to write their own roles and eclipse the all-too-limited criteria Hollywood casting directors often consider. The budget is relatively low; Stallings and Stewart are seeking to raise $7,000 to pay the cast and crew and assist with any post-production or equipment costs.
CAMPAIGN ENDS: July 22, 2015
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Andrea is a Rhode Island-born journalist, living in Omaha, Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter for lots of talk about hip-hop, gin and her cat, Scout.
