How to raise $400k: Curious Film’s Taika Waititi succeeds in kickstarting an American release
Curious commercial director Taika Waititi has kickstarted his way to the American release of his vampire film, What We Do in the Shadows.
In January, Taika (Boy, Eagle vs. Shark) and co-creator Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) launched a campaign to raise $400,000. This week they secured the last $4,000 they need to release their film in 70 cities across the USA and Canada.
To get the campaign off the ground, they fist gave people a taste of their humor with a video encouraging donations.
Those pledging $3,000 or more are promised roles as extras in the pair’s next directorial project. For $50 or more, donors received a Shadows Cooking Apron, for $10 a PDF of the final script, and for $1 you got a digital high five.
A “first-of-its-kind” documentary, What We Do in the Shadows takes a bite out of all the clichés and misconceptions surrounding vampires by showing the night-to-night lives of four flatmates trying to get by and live their undead lives. The film has already been released to great critical acclaim at Sundance, SXSX, Berlin, and Toronto Film Festivals (where it won a TIFF People’s Choice Award).
Says Peter Grasse, president, Curious: “Taika is an formidable talent. Inspiring in his output and charmingly entertaining in person. He’s a joy to work with. His films are hysterical and his commercials hilarious.”
This week in Australia, Waititi’s #Hello Beer, via Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, was named a finalist at AWARD in both Craft for Direction of Branded Content and as well as Film for Commercials under 30s. His work for Clemenger BBDO Wellington, ‘Tinnyvision’, is a finalist for both Interactive Film and Mobile Branded Content.
Also this week, at NZ’s Axis awards, Waititi’s ‘Tinnyvision’ was named a finalist for Direction in Film Craft as well as Digital Craft Use of Video, Digital and Interactive Mobile & Innovation, and Long Form Branded Entertainment.
In October last year, Waititi’s ‘Most Epic Safety Video Ever’ for Air New Zealand topped YouTube’s Most Watched List with over 14 million views.
Earlier in 2014, Waititi’s ‘Blazed’ won gold across the award circuit making Curious the most awarded Australasian production company at Cannes.
What We Do in the Shadows opens in the USA and Canada this month.