Sundance 2014 acquisions

There is a decent number of Sundance acquisitions this year. The popular film festival occurring this weekend gave films from just about every genre. Acquisitions include:

• Magnolia and Paramount have picked up Happy Christmas. The film is directed by Joe Swanberg and stars Anna Kendrick, Lena Dunham, and Mark Webber. Magnolia previously released Swanberg's film, Drinking Buddies.

• Focus Features picked up the newest offering from Zach Braff, Wish I Was Here. Braff's follow-up to Garden State features Kate Hudson, Josh Gad, and Ashley Greene. It received overall positive reviews over the weekend. 

• Fox Searchlight acquired I Origins starring Michael Pitt and Brit Marling. 

• A24 picked up domestic rights for Laggies starring Chloe Moretz, Keira Knightley, and Sam Rockwell. This is another one that received overall positive reviews and is aiming for a Summer release. A24 also acquired Obvious Child. 

• Sony Pictures Classics picked up Whiplash starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons.

I might make it to Sundance one day...

Spike Lee moves to Kickstarter to raise $1.25 million

Director Spike Lee has turned to Kickstarter in an attempt to raise $1.25 million to fund an upcoming film project. His time limit? 30 days.

The current Kickstarter trend was started after musician Amanda Palmer, formerly of The Dresden Dolls, unexpectedly raised over $1 million (after setting a $100,000 goal) in May 2012 to fund her album Theatre Is Evil. Following suit were Kickstarter pushes for a long awaited Veronica Mars movie which raised $5 million and a push by Zach Braff who raised $3.1 million for his film I Wish I Was Here.
Depending on the project starter, you are able to win certain prizes for donating a certain amount of money. For the Amanda Palmer project you were able to win things such as having a personal dinner party with Palmer at your home or simply getting a signed art book. Spike Lee is offering a dinner and courtside seat to a New York Knicks game for a $10,000 donation to the project. For a $5,000 donation the backer will receive a producer credit and for $1,000 you can be an extra in the film. Lee stated, and I quote,

"Do you wish to see Human Beings dealing with each other on a Human Level? GET DOWN FOR THE CAUSE. How many more explosions with Ear splitting Sound Effects can you take? Nothing in Life is Free and if you want something you got to pay for it."

So in other words, if you want a project from Spike Lee you need to dig deep and donate money to him and pay up. As of right now, Lee's Kickstarter project has raised $29, 105.
Lee recently directed the upcoming American adaptation of Oldboy. A film in which he had a $30 million budget to work with and most likely will receive, or did receive, more than enough to back the film he is trying to fund via Kickstarter.  He also holds a current net worth of about $40 million as he and his production company, 40 Acres & A Mule, has produced 35 films since 1983.

As you might be able to tell, I think this is ridiculous. Spike Lee has studios bringing him in to direct and produce films on a steady basis, he has directed music videos for stars such as Michael Jackson and Public Enemy, and has courtside tickets for just about every Knicks home game which run about $800 a pop... but he wants our money to fund a movie? Fuck that. He has more than enough to fund it himself or get a studio to back him.