I’m going to go out on a limb. I am taking a risk, but that does not concern me. Filmmaking has never been about playing it safe.

The process of making movies has shifted in the last few years. Less movies are being made, yet there are still the same number of people out there, if not more, that want to see them. And they are willing to help in that process to get the movies made they want to see. It’s a new level of audience participation. I want to believe this process works, having donated myself to one such project on Kickstarter.

With sites like Kickstarter still in their infancy, the early results speak for themselves. People are willing to pay up front, even if only a few dollars each to see a movie get made, get their name listed in the credits, and get some cool swag while they’re at it.

Now here is my experiment and a short explanation of why I haven’t been posting much recently. I’ve been busy working from the ground up on a short film. The script is in its third draft, actors and crew have been recruited, locations locked in, estimated budgets set, and schedules made. Essentially, this is in pre-production.

What does “short” mean? It means it’ll be about 10 minutes long. Does that mean it will be boring, artsy, or trite? No. It’s a psychological horror/thriller that is, in a word, taut. I feel very strongly about this project and I also believe that the Internet is a powerful place with many people out there across the world who want to see good movies get made.

Why fund a short?

Again, this is an experiment, so I’m starting with the smallest possible project there is in film: the short. Something that can tell a good story and still be lean and mean without requiring hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in funding dollars and investment.

What’s it called?

The tentative title for now is called Veronica’s Haunt. It is a supernatural/psychological thriller set almost exclusively within a house.

What’s it about?

Veronica’s Haunt concerns a wife left alone in a new house that she and her husband have just moved into. But something else has moved in with them. Something not so friendly.

What’s the budget on this project?

The budget for this project is $1,000. No more, no less. That may not seem like a lot of money for a film, but again, this is an experiment in crowdsourcing a short film 10 minutes long. All of my time, the time of the crew and actors, editor, makeup artist, etc., is being donated for free.

It has truly amazed me how many professionals have stepped up to the plate for this project, and I hope to not disappoint them.

What does that pay for?

The budget for this film pays primarily for equipment rental, which accounts for almost half of the budget. That includes a decent lighting kit, c-stands, cabling, gels, and other consumables for the 2 days of shooting.

The rest of the budget covers lodging for the 2 principal actors overnight in town, as well as food (a crew travels on its stomach) and travel reimbursement of gas for the crew and actors.

So what do I do?

I’m glad you asked. I’m going to put up a PayPal donation link on the top right corner of this blog for this project. I am asking only for $10 donations. If you want to donate more, please do, but bear in mind that is what I believe the project is worth to an individual. I will make every effort to add incentives for those that do donate more.

There will also be a page dedicated to the progress on the film listed under “Films” on the top navigation menu.

What do I get for contributing?

Of course, you would get something back from this. I believe in making sure people do get their money’s worth.

A $5 donation will receive:

• Your name in the end credits
• A digital download copy

Donations of $10 or more receive:

• A limited edition DVD copy with extras. This version of the DVD will only be available to donors and include material not found anywhere else.
• Your name in the end credits and a mention here (if you so wish)
• Digital download copy

Donations of $25 or more will also get a copy of the production script, signed by cast and crew.

Donations of $100 or greater will receive a Blu-Ray edition of the movie in addition to everything else.

When do you start?

Originally we had planned to shoot in June, but due to circumstances this has been pushed back to mid-July. Given the timeframe involved, that’s where this idea came into play. We have roughly one month from this point to fund a short film for $1,000.

What are you going to do with this after it’s done?

For all donations of $10 or more, you will be able to see the movie on DVD. Since we are shooting in 1080p High Definition, I will also be making a few limited copies of this on Blu-Ray, which will also include the extras.

Eventually I will take this to some film festivals as well so even more people can see it, but only after every single donor has received their copy and has seen it first. Digital download copies will also be available at a very reasonable price after everything is said and done.

What happens if the funding goal isn’t reached?

If we’re really, really close to the $1,000 budget (within $100) we will go ahead and make it and I will try to fill in the gaps. If we’re off by more than $100, I will refund everybody with my thanks.

I don’t have a PayPal account. Can I still donate?

Of course. Donations through the Donate button can be made using checks, credit cards, or PayPal accounts. You do not need an account to make one.

I have another question that isn’t here. How do I ask?

Leave a comment below with your question. I want this to be as open a forum as possible. That way everyone else that might have that same question can get the answer.