Garden State – the retrospectively middling romantic dramedy synonymous with screaming into the abyss, the music of The Shins and the most manic pixie dream girl performance ever – probably hasn’t aged as well as we thought it would when it was was first released ten years ago. Peter Sarsgaard was great (Peter Sarsgard is always great) but is wiped wholly from memory by that one blank expression Zach Braff does where it looks like he’s about to say something important but doesn’t and a few sloppily written character moments which seemed on point at the time but now just seem lazy, weird and empty. Case in point? Zach Braff crying one tear into a paper cup is just terrible and that ending where he’s all like yeah nah let’s stay together and not split up because “I need to work on me” is something I can do with you anyway duh! just seems rushed, forced and unnecessary.
Still, Zach Braff is confident that this is art the world needs more of. But he needs your help to make it! Braff, emboldened by the thunderous ka-chings emanating from the recent Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign, has launched a similarly ambitious crowdfunding plea for the purposes of sourcing $2m minimum for round two of First World Problems Starring Me, Zach Braff which this time will focus on a downtrodden dude in his 30s.
Braff explains:
“I was about to sign a typical financing deal in order to get the money to make “Wish I Was Here,” my follow up to “Garden State.” It would have involved making a lot of sacrifices I think would have ultimately hurt the film. I’ve been a backer for several projects on Kickstarter and thought the concept was fascinating and revolutionary for artists and innovators of all kinds. But I didn’t imagine it could work on larger-scale projects. I was wrong. After I saw the incredible way “Veronica Mars” fans rallied around Kristen Bell and her show’s creator Rob Thomas, I couldn’t help but think (like I’m sure so many other independent filmmakers did) maybe there is a new way to finance smaller, personal films that didn’t involve signing away all your artistic control.”
If you’re still not convinced, here’s a video message which basically argues that you should give a millionaire actor/director your money to ensure he secures full creative control of his passion project.
Do that here.
