Film Tue May 14 2013

Hate the Zach Braff and Veronica Mars Kickstarter Stunts? Go Fund Party Time Party Time TODAY

By Jason Prechtel

Three weeks ago, actor/director Zach Braff launched a $2 million Kickstarter campaign to fund his upcoming self-produced film, Wish I Was Here. With a week and a half left to go until the deadline, the project is already overfunded by nearly $600,000...and this pales in comparison to the $5.7 million raked in by a Kickstarter campaign two months ago to crowdfund a movie based on TV show "Veronica Mars."

However, despite justifications from Kickstarter and Braff himself, many people have complained about these campaigns, arguing that celebrity crowdfunding takes attention and money from projects being created by visionaries with no name recognition or Hollywood connections.

So if you're into movies that blend comedy and drama (like Braff's 2004 hit, Garden State), but agree with the criticism over these campaigns, and also want the opportunity to help fund emerging filmmakers in the way Kickstarter was intended to be used, then Party Time Party Time could use your help.

Featuring a cast and crew of over 60 people from the Chicago sketch/improv community and music by local mash-up duo, The Hood Internet, Party Time Party Time is a feature-length "melanchomedy" about a thirtysomething man trying to escape the sadness of his recent divorce with -- you guessed it -- a party.

And judging from the teaser trailer, things only get weirder and wilder from there.

The film was written and directed by Marty Schousboe and Morgan Lord -- members of former iO Harold team Inkling, as well as the duo behind Sweathearts, who put on the boldest and most original performance I saw at last year's Chicago Sketchfest. In addition, each of them host monthly shows at the Upstairs Gallery and Cole's Bar, respectively, that showcase independently-produced Chicago comedy videos.

(Disclosure: Morgan and I both took a sketch/improv workshop last spring with Kevin McDonald of Kids In The Hall fame... if that's any indication of the sensibility likely to be found in this film.)

Compared to the $2 million minimum goals for Wish I Was Here and Veronica Mars, the folks behind Party Time Party Time are only asking for $21,500 -- nearly 99% less than these budgets. According to an interview with local comedy blog, The Steamroller, $21,500 is the most realistic minimum figure they calculated that they could fully fund the rest of their filming, post-production, and festival entry costs for (including Kickstarter's significant percentage cut). As I write this, they only need around $3,000 more to meet their goal.

But don't wait -- the Party Time Party Time Kickstarter campaign ends at 9:50am CST Wednesday.

So if you believe in a world where Chicago-based actors and comedians can bring a film to life without moving to New York/L.A. and being a part of a well-liked, serialized television show for several seasons, then you should strongly consider donating to Party Time Party Time.

That means you too, Zach.