Monday, March 18, 2013

Come on, now, sugar... Bring it on, bring it on, yeah

Where things were at as I was writing this post.

A long time ago, we used to be friends... and Veronica Mars was one of the best shows on television. Its first season was sublime, its second season was great, and the third season... well, OK, not so great, but it had its moments. I recorded the two last episodes and decided to watch them back to back, and when I watched the final one, I realized I'd somehow watched them out of order! And... wait... nope. No, I didn't. THAT IS HOW THE SHOW ENDED. Worst series finale. Not ever, but close.

But... that means it's the perfect show, left open (I swear it ended mid-sentence) where we still have all these characters whose lives have continued and we can figure out what's happened to all of them. Veronica, Logan, Weevil, Keith... some of my all-time favourite TV characters.

As many of you know (and if you follow me on Facebook, you would have seen me geeking out about it all last week over there), there is now a Kickstarter campaign announced last week to raise $2 million for a Veronica Mars movie! Within 12 hours of its announcement, the money was raised (?!) and fans went berserk. As did, presumably, everyone involved in the project. Now they're promising explosions, car chases, and perhaps a Bollywood number if the donations continue. Originally I donated only $10 because it wouldn't take donations any higher than that from Canadians, and I sent a query to Rob Thomas through the campaign site asking why Canadians wouldn't be privy to their incentives, like t-shirts and copies of the film, and (if you have a lot of extra dough lying around) speaking roles in the film! I wasn't the only one, because within a day they'd changed the parameters and now it's open to Canadians. Not obviously so — when I went in to increase my donation, it told me I couldn't do so unless I was an American, so I told it that I was, and it let me pass (according to Thomas, we can do that, and when it comes time to get the rewards, they will be shipped to Canada... I hope he's right!)

As of this writing, with 25 days left in the campaign, they've raised $3.6 million, and new incentives are added every day. They're being careful — they're not offering 100 speaking roles to people for fear it'll probably come off as an amateur high school production — but there are still plenty of opportunities to feel like a part of history, while ensuring your favourite show gets made into a movie. What a unique and amazing fan opportunity!

So head on over and make your pledge. And watch the video, where you see all of the actors in a little movie talking about why they need to do this film (it's hilarious, especially the "Keith Mars" bits). Honestly, I believe it's that little clip that has garnered all the money from fans. It's one thing to be assured everyone is on board: it's quite another to SEE them on board.

All I can say it, as I mentioned on Facebook, I sort of hope that Joss Whedon never tries a Kickstarter campaign that offers speaking roles as incentives, or I'll have to mortgage my house.


9 comments:

shobiz said...

I watched this show just two years ago on Netflix and loved it, but hated the unfinished nature of the ending. SO excited for the movie -- I pledged what I could afford. Watching the show after the fact and after LOST, I especially appreciated the LOST references, like when The Numbers appeared on a fortune cookie fortune, or the time Keith mentioned officers Kitsis and Horowitz. Knowing that VM was LOST's time-slot rival makes those Easter eggs all the more awesome.

Nikki Stafford said...

shobiz: When Keith Mars is in the police station and yells, "Kitsis! Horowitz!" to call over two of the cops, I cheered. To this day, it's probably my favourite Lost shout-out on any show. ;)

shobiz said...

Mine, too! Because you had to be a genuine Lost nerd to get that one! :)

Old Darth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Old Darth said...

I'm very excited for this as well.

The first season of Veronica Mars maybe one of the most perfect TV seasons ever.

I'm flabbergasted about the controversy the Kickstarter campaign has kicked up.

Page48 said...

Of course, everyone who has ever felt wronged by the expiry of their favourite show will clamour for a Kickstarter campaign, but most are bound to be disappointed.

One guy making noises that I like to hear is Zachary Levi thinking (and Tweeting) out loud about how to breathe new life into "Chuck". I'm fully up for that.

For now, I'm just glad that it appears to be game on for Veronica. Kristen Bell, like Jennifer Garner and SMG, is someone who has done nothing that I'm interested in since her show went off the air, so, like Olivia Dunham, I just want to go back to before.

Allison said...

I'm so excited for this! I really hope it turns out well!! I heard Logan hasn't signed on for it yet though. Is that true?

Nikki Stafford said...

Allison: You heard wrong; he's absolutely involved, yay! If you follow the Kickstarter link I posted, you can see him in the video, too.

Ofudoumyou said...

who from the original tv show ISNT in the movie? (main characters, I mean)