Welcome to Fund This, a new column here at Tubefilter. Each week, we’ll look at a planned web series or other online video project currently in search of funding on Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or any other similar crowdfunding sites. We’ll tell you what the series is all about and explain why it is worth your money. Do you have a project that’s currently being crowdfunded? Contact us to let us know and we may feature it in upcoming installments and check out previous installments right here.
Project Name: The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy – Season 2
Asking For: $55,000 on Indiegogo
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
Amount Raised Thus Far (At Time Of Post): $26,932
Days Remaining In Campaign (At Time Of Post): 11
Description: The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy is a modern digital series adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s book Peter and Wendy. The series shares the escapades of Peter Pan, a late-twenties comic book artist from Neverland, Ohio, who simply doesn’t want to grow up. But it’s this lack of forward motion that clashes with the interests of his ambitious best friend, Wendy Darling, who wants to grow up, get out of town, and experience life. With help from his friends Michael, John, Lily, and the fairy Tinkerbell, Peter will try to win Wendy’s heart and maybe find out along the way that growing up isn’t so bad after all.
Starring Kyle Walters and Paula Rhodes, The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy was successfully funded at $9,230 in December of 2013 on Kickstarter. All 24 episodes were released on EpicRobotTV, produced by Emmy-award winner Jenni Powell (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries), and written by Shawn DeLoache. The first season received great feedback and support from the fans; according to Rhodes in the season 2 pitch video, the show “had no bad comments on YouTube, which is kind of unheard of.” The cast and crew are now banking on that popularity in hopes that they can raise enough money for season 2 (and possibly 3, according to Rhodes) to finish the rest of the story.
Creator Bio: The idea for the series stemmed from Walters’s internal desire to stay a kid but outwardly needing to deal with the everyday necessities of his generation, like bills and jobs. “I’m still struggling to find that balance between childhood dreams and grown-up responsibilities,” he said in the season one pitch video. Peter Pan just seemed like a natural embodiment of that; Walters said, “What if that little guy had to be here, in the real world, and he was faced with his 30th birthday?”
Best Perk: While the VIP party is tempting, as is the J.M. Barrie painting you see on the set of season one, one of the best perks starts at $40. In addition to the season one DVD, exclusive updates, and thank-yous in the credits and in a personalized video from the cast, Walters will create a doodle for you of whatever he happens to be thinking of at that moment. Since he’s not just an actor but also an illustrator, this perk promises to be a one-of-a-kind item for a very fair donation!
Why You Should Fund It: The team working on this production couldn’t be more top-notch. Walters and Rhodes have previous experience in transmedia productions, which contributes to their obvious attachment to and fantastic representation of their characters. The supporting cast, which consists of Brennan Murray, Graham Kurtz, and Lovlee Carroll, is entertaining and well-picked. Finally, the series’ producer Jenni Powell has a long-standing history of producing behind her, having worked with DeFranco Inc., Felicia Day’s Geek & Sundry, as well as The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
Also, while season one explored the beginning stages of Peter and Wendy’s romantic relationship, it’s definitely not over. There’s more story the production team wants to explore. “It’s not complete in our hearts,” Walters said in the pitch video. And with so many uninspiring (even poor) examples of romantic relationships on the big screen/TV, there’s a lot of opportunity here for the creators to make something truly incredible.
