With the considerably loud protestations made by some quarters regarding what is purported to be as unfair advantage to the crowdfunding mechanism of the Kickstarter platform of known personalities and celebrities, it is certainly food for thought how important the celebrity factor is in getting project funds. Kickstarter has been existing since 2009 for the primary reason of bringing together project creators and financial backers. The end goal is to see through the complete fruition of the project with the creator’s efforts and the financier’s funding.
What the Uproar Is All About
The highly successful funding of the movie “Veronica Mars” through the Kickstarter platform followed by like proposals from known personalities is creating a somewhat negative impression in the public’s mind. Rob Thomas raised $ 5.7 Million to film “Veronica Mars” starring Kristen Bell. Actor Zach Braff has raised at least $ 2.6 Million to make his own film. Spike Lee for himself recently reached his funding goals, thanks to 5,000 backers.
Is there anything wrong about this? Probably none, except for the possibility that these popular personalities are “competing” at an advantage with other creators who are technically “unknown”. Kickstarter however has pointed out that known personalities have actually done the platform a favor because of the attention and the participation these people have encouraged in giving financial pledges. It has reiterated its goal of helping all creative developers regardless of popularity status.
What Creators Can Expect from Kickstarter
The advantage of being part of Kickstarter does not begin and end with successful funding. Taking as an example the above-mentioned movie, it has already long surpassed its original funding goal of $ 2 Million but still continue to have additional backers. It has even come out with merchandise like stickers and t-shirts which they give as rewards to its supporters.
Other successfully-funded projects have moved on to the more commercial concerns like selling the finished products. Online stores like the ForeverGeek Kickstarter Store for one does not actually sell the products but directs those interested to the creator’s page. There is no doubt that the chance given to the public to buy Kickstarter products offer more advantage to product developers.
Celebrity Power
Going back to the question of how important the celebrity factor is in getting project funds, there must be an ounce of truth to the concerns being raised. That is if there is any truth to the news that Brendan Fraser‘s proposed Kickstarter project has achieved at least a million dollars in pledges, even without a project page in sight. I seriously doubt that an unknown individual can achieve that.
