Recently, I read on Facebook that a friend of mine from preschool had a project up on Kickstarter.  This triggered something in my mind, and I remembered hearing about two groups of friends from New York, also using Kickstarter to raise funds for their projects; one a music video for a band, the other for a documentary film about one of the great theatrical events of the past decade.

The first project is Locally Grown, “a comedy series that celebrated the quirky characters and funny situations that arise at a local farmers market.” Project creator Simon Hamlin tells about Locally Grown being “a project born out of my passion for local farmers markets.”  He goes on to explain about his family’s long history with Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market (the Hamlins are one of Seattle’s great multi-general families of restaurateurs).

Hamlin goes on to characterize the web-series as a satirical comedy that might best be described as Portlandia meets Modern Family, with some Arrested Development thrown-in; all set in a farmers market.”

I don’t know much, other than to say that I, for one, have been wearing the bejezus outta my Locally Grown t-shirt.

The second project is the production of the slick new video for “Face and Body” – the newest single from dance-floor dynamos THE ONES.  The video for “Face and Body” (from their eagerly anticipated new album Blast from the Past) will feature all of their friends, and will be shot by renowned videographer and photographer, Aaron Cobbett.

“Face and Body” is described as “a sexy turn for the runway and drop diva house single that needs a video.  No velvet ropes, no guest list.  By simply coming on in, listening to the music, and getting on the dance floor for the THE ONES, you can help Jojo Americo, Paul Alexander, and Nashom create something beautiful.

No theatrical production of the past decade more unanimously blew the minds of everyone who experienced it than did Arias with a Twist – the collaboration of the preternatural stage presence of performance artist Joey Arias, and the puppeteering mastery of Basil Twist.

Now, a documentary, Arias with a Twist: The Docufantasy, has been produced.  The film has literally moved audiences to tears, inspiring sold-out audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival to stand and cheer; even voting the film a coveted “Audience Award” prize.  Now, the producers need only to raise the monies necessary to acquire the necessary rights and permissions to use the films and television clips and the songs performed.

I think what makes me most happy about all of this is that something like Kickstarter is there for people to find the wherewithal to follow their creative bliss.  Well, that and the fact that I’m really honored to be friends with such creative entrepreneurs.

Kickstarter Projects
Locally Grown – Click HERE
“Face and Body” by THE ONES – Click HERE
Arias with a Twist: The Docufantasy – Click HERE

Get into it!