Welcome to the Fund This column! Each week, we’ll look at a planned web series or other online video project currently in search of funding on 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: Peacekeepers
Asking For: $17,000 on Indiegogo
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Amount Raised Thus Far (At Time Of Post): $5,365
Days Remaining In Campaign (At Time Of Post): 23
Description: A project about bustling twenty-somethings who protect New York City from tragic occurrences is looking to fund its first season. Peacekeepers, a sci-fi thriller, is seeking $17,000 on Indiegogo, with which its team hopes to shoot two full-length episodes.
Peacekeepers, created by Charlie Reeves, stars co-creator Maria Makenna as Alana, a titular peacekeeper whose omnipotent boss texts her about deadly accidents that will happen in the near future. Alana must race across the city to avert disaster, all while evading enemies who hope to interfere with her tasks and maintaining a social life at the same time. The first episode of the series has already been produced, and it is available on Vimeo:
The $17,000 figure set as Peacekeepers’ fundraising goal will cover two additional episodes, but as Reeves explains in the project’s pitch video, he hopes to ultimately fund three additional episodes, each one costing $8,500.
Creator Bio: Reeves has a fair number of TV credits under his belt; among other shows, he has worked on Law & Order, Gotham, and The Knick. He has digital experience, too, having worked as a writer on the acclaimed web series Whatever This Is.
Best Perk: Backers who contribute $100 can appear as an extra in the show. “You could be somebody who dies or somebody who looks super surprised about somebody dying or somebody really grateful to not die,” reads the perk’s description.
Why You Should Fund It: It is always easier to evaluate crowdfunding campaigns that have already shot their pilot episodes, and Peacekeepers’ pilot is a real knockout. It’s a crafty, well-paced episode that makes good use of its New York City locations and uses some mild special effects to build tension and engage viewers. The cast, led by Makenna, deliver fine performances.
We’re hardly the only publication that digs Peacekeepers. Indiewire named the pilot its “Project of the Month” in November 2014, and more recently, it earned a Webby Award nomination in the Drama: Long Form or Series category. That’s a lot of praise for a pilot, but when you watch what Reeves and his team have put together, you’ll see the hype–and understand why funding Peacekeepers is a good idea.
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