Actor Zach Braff came under fire a year ago when he asked his fans for contribution through Kickstarter to fund a movie he wanted to make.
Braff was heavily criticized since the actor was reported to have a net worth of millions but is seeking donations from his fans. According to Braff at the Zurich Film Festival, "I was completely taken aback by the criticism. I was expecting a conversation because it's a fascinating and new model."
Zach Braff wrote last April 2013, "The truth is, it's very hard to get small, personal films made without sacrificing some aspect of your artistic integrity (final-cut, casting, minuscule budgets). The supporters of mine across the globe who back this film project will not only get to see something that wouldn't have been made otherwise, but they'll get to do so knowing they made it happen."
According to Screen Daily, Braff also said that, "I felt that a lot of the criticism was unfair and uninformed. It was frustrating having the debate with people who didn't have all the analytics and facts. I knew that we were driving new people to Kickstarter who then invested in other projects, for example. The bonus was on me to explain why someone like me couldn't get a film made in the traditional way."
Braff also announced at that time that he was launching a campaign via Kickstarter to raise funds to shoot a new film, Wish I Was Here. Luckily enough for the filmmaker, his project was quickly filled and successfully made $2 million in three days on Kickstarter.
For the cast of the movie, Braff got Kate Hudson, Joey King and Jim Parsons. The movie started screening this past summer and had gotten mixed reviews from critics, but ultimately positive feedback from its viewers. The movie, Wish I Was Here, earned $3.6 million in its limited theatrical run. The film debuted in theaters last September 26.
Zachary Braff, 39, is an American actor, director and screenwriter. Braff became known for his role on the series Scrubs as Dr. John Dorian which started on 2001. Three year later, Braff made his directorial debut with Garden State which made over $35 million at the box office and was highly praised by critics. The film was produced for only $2.5 million.
