Producing : More on the Zach Braff/Kickstarter controversy by Richard "RB" Botto

I definitely feel this takes away for struggling and up and coming filmmakers. he's loaded with money and he can easily get sponsored.

The debate rages on, I-Esha. You are certainly not in the minority with that opinion.

He gets millions while completely capable and talented people trying to raise 10K for an indy short film struggle. It's sad to see crowd funding taken advantage of that way.

Maybe someone should come up with a Kickstarter-a-like for professionals so that every investor gets a profit share and not offers of being unpaid extras etc

Mike...At the moment, offering a return on an investment through a crowdfunding site is illegal in the States. However, there have been proposals drafted and passed to the SEC for review. I would imagine there will be a sea change in the crowdfunding arena somewhere in the next 6-12 months.

i say if you can get your project funded im all for it!

Ah right not up on US Law re crowdfunding... mind you not up on UK Law re that either. I would assume that things will change though, it'd be crazy not to.

I view this from a slightly different perspective. Yes, Zack Braff is rich and could probably finance his film with his own money. But should he really have to? Making a film is akin to starting a new business; if Warren Buffet decides to go into a new business, we expect him to get financed - maybe a loan from a bank, or private investors. We don't expect him to lay out millions of dollars of his own money, and we certainly don't judge him for it. It's smart business. To me, KS is the same. Zack wants to make a movie (start a business), but that's a risk filled proposition. Is he really expected to put every dime he has into each film he makes and then home that he doesn't end up broke? Part of his financing is coming from private contributors (KS) and part of it is coming from overseas sales. I really don't see an issue with this.

Completely agree, Robin. A rising tide floats all boats.

Although it can be frustrating for the small fish trying to raise funds, I doubt that his project will actually take away from the small projects. The people who donated to his project did so because of him more than the actual love of the project. What it did do was bring a bigger awareness to kickstarter amongst film fans that hopefully we as filmmakers can use to further our arts and visions. He, as well as any other big name stars who use the platform should encourage their followers to invest in other projects that interest them, and we, the true independent community should all help each other as well.

I'm on-board with Kevin Smith. If you have access to the funds, use that. A bank gets interest and obviously, if he's able to fund the rest of the film, then maybe he finds the money in product placement or elsewhere, that won't impede on his storyline. He has a name, if used correctly, could generate the money, outside of kickstarter. I'm happy Kevin Smith didn't go this route and I don't think it's right that other celebs go this route. James Franco, not too long ago, was sharing a crowdsourcing link for an inner-city dance troupe, or something, and I totally dug that. The money wasn't going to him, he was just promoting it. I realize, no one can be just as wonderful as he is, but still. :)

I found it odd that he'd get his money this way, but wasn't sure how I felt about it, if it was fair or not for smaller indie producers. Then I mentioned it to an indie producer friend of mine, Zachary Matz, who produced City Island. It didn't bother him in the least that Zach Braff did this. He wasn't concerned for the indie producer in getting crowdfunding at all after this happened. So here's an indie producer and he doesn't feel threatened by it. I found that interesting. Made me worry about it much less.

But it's not about him taking funds away from true indie filmmakers. It's about what happens when this is over used by big Hollywood, like the bigger festivals. Or when the government looks closer and decides to regulate it.

What kind of regulations would they use?

It's very easy they could label this "investing" and not donating.

So then it would get taxed on I'm guessing? Which would mean less people would want to be involved.

I find it ironic that there is so much backlash over Zach Braff using Kickstarter and yet I haven't heard the same complaints about the Veronica Mars movie, which is owned by a studio that has far more money than Zach Braff and could easily fund the whole movie. Yet when Zach wants to do a film separate from the studio system he gets raked over the coals for getting money the same way the studio did. Personally, I think these celebrities are bringing much needed awareness to the concept of crowdfunding. I constantly meet people who STILL haven't ever heard of it before. The more word spreads about crowdfunding, the better for us independent filmmakers. I'm excited about this turn of events, but I think crowdfunding still has a way to go before it's a common household word.

Can't and won't knock any artist trying to move his/her craft forward. I wish all who dive into kickstarter, indiegogo or any other financial-backing source, appealing for a green-light -- "good luck to you", (whether it be from general audience to corporations or banking institutions). It IS hard out there to get heard, seen or even acknowledged... I know. Been trying for 60 years! But I must be doing something right -- love life, feel/look 35 years of age, still dream and make new stuff daily!

Laura, Actually your question about non profits and raising funds for it... Is a yes...as long as you get the tax exemption status eventually... That is the critical point... But lots of non profits do this... As they start out...if they do not get the status, the funds are returned...

Understood... It is not an easy decision or task..there are expenses, commitment, time, coordination, blood, sweat, worry... And risks...as you well stated.

Zach has brought KS to the attention of thousands of people who may not have heard of KS before which in turn has given light to smaller projects now and just increase traffic and possibility if new funders looking to contribute to some great projects.

Here's a quote from the Kickstarter blog talking about how big projects help us littler guys. The numbers speak for themselves. "The Veronica Mars and Zach Braff projects have brought tens of thousands of new people to Kickstarter. 63% of those people had never backed a project before. Thousands of them have since gone on to back other projects, with more than $400,000 pledged to 2,200 projects so far. Nearly 40% of that has gone to other film projects. We’ve seen this happen before. Last year we wrote a post called Blockbuster Effects that detailed the same phenomenon in the Games and Comics categories. Two big projects brought tons of new people to Kickstarter who went on to back more than 1,000 other projects in the following weeks, pledging more than $1 million. Projects bring new backers to other projects."

Good share, Amanda...Thank you.