Have an idea for a photo project but short of money to get
if off the ground? Try Kickstarter.
Kickstarter
is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month,
tens of thousands of people pledge millions of dollars to all types of creative
projects all over the world.
Those who make pledges are not lending money that will be
paid back with interest, nor do they receive an equity share of your project.
Project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work, while backers
receive products, experiences that are unique to each project and the
satisfaction of helping creatives.
Project creators set a funding goal and a deadline for reaching
the goal. No money changes hands unless they reach the goal by the deadline.
This protects everyone involved. Creators are not expected to develop projects
without the necessary funds, so concepts can be tested without risk.
Gail Mooney is one of the people using this resource to fund
the editing of her video project, “Opening Our Eyes,” a film about people
making a positive difference in the world. To offer a sense of the project, Mooney's Kickstarter page provides a 10-minute
trailer and describes backer “rewards” at various pledge levels that begin at
$1.
With daughter Erin, Mooney had made a significant investment
in the project prior to using Kickstarter to raise additional funds. The two filmed
10 extraordinary people in Australia, Argentina, Nepal, Peru, Poland, Russia,
Thailand, Uganda and North America. These individuals work for various
foundations and are making a positive difference in the world, and the authors
intend to create short videos on each subject for their foundations’ Web sites,
as well as a feature-length documentary.
Mooney is now editing over 150 hours of footage shot on the
trip. She says, “I am a proficient editor and will be editing a rough cut of
the film myself. However, I know that the film will be that much stronger if I
hire a professional editor to edit the final cut. This will ultimately
give our documentary a better shot at wider distribution, the potential to be
seen by a larger audience and the power to inspire and motivate other change-makers.”
It is for this purpose that Mooney is seeking additional
funds through Kickstarter. Her goal is to raise $7,500 by January 5, 2011. So
far, 79 backers have pledged $5,335 toward this goal. Should the raised total
exceed the goal amount, half of any additional funds received after the goal is
met will be used to promote the film, and the other half will be donated to the
documentary subjects’ foundations.
Their ultimate goal for the film is for it to be seen by as
many people as possible in hopes that they too will be inspired and motivated
to create positive change in their own communities.