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Human beings who are addicted to Blood. Funny, Sexy and Bloody. A new kind of love story (and not a remake of “Blacula”).

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS STOOD UP AND MADE A PLEDGE. WE ARE MAKING HISTORY TOGETHER.

Presenting Ms. Zarrah Abrahams – FEMALE LEAD on NEW SPIKE LEE JOINT

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TOP 4 MAJOR QUESTIONS 

I’m being asked and I’m responding to them the best way I know – with an HONEST ANSWER.

QUESTION #1 – Why are you on Kickstarter? You’re an established wealthy Filmmaker!

I’m an Indie Filmmaker and I will always be an Indie Filmmaker. Indie Filmmakers are always in search of financing because their work, their vision sometimes does not coincide with Studio Pictures. But I do put my own money in my films. I self-financed RED HOOK SUMMER. My fee for MALCOLM X was put back into the budget. The truth is I’ve been doing KICKSTARTER before there was KICKSTARTER, there was no Internet. Social Media was writing letters, making phone calls, beating the bushes. I’m now using TECHNOLOGY with what I’ve been doing.

I had to do a PRE-KICKSTARTER Campaign to get my first feature SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT done way back in 1985. The budget was $175,000. I Had to do a PRE-KICKSTARTER Campaign to get MALCOLM X finished in 1991 when the production ran out of money.

It was people like: PRINCE, JANET JACKSON, TRACY CHAPMAN, PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ, MS. WINFREY, MAGIC JOHNSON AND MICHAEL JORDAN who STOOD UP, came to our rescue so you could see the MALCOLM X on screen we envisioned. I daresay without that PRE-KICKSTARTER approach Denzel’s epic performance in it’s entirety would not have seen the light of day. I say this all to say, what we are doing on KICKSTARTER is not new. Indie Filmmmakers need MONEY to do their ART. The ARTFORM of FILM COSTS MONEY. We are appealing to people who have enjoyed and supported my work in the past and would like it to continue into the FUTURE.

QUESTION #2 – You have never backed anyone on KICKSTARTER so why should we expect you to support us.

For the past 15 years I’ve been a Professor of Film at The NYU Graduate Film School and the Artistic Director for the last 5. What people do not know is that I’ve had a SPIKE LEE PRODUCTION FUND to assist NYU GRAD FILM STUDENTS with grants to do their FILMS. Since the 1989/90 NYU School Year I have given out Production Grants to 44 NYU GRAD FILM students totally over $300,000.

I did not give back KICKSTARTER in the past because I was backing my NYU students. Now that I’m on KICKSTARTER that will change. This narrative that I’m greedy, do not support, care or nurture young Filmmakers is so far from the truth it’s not even funny. I would not be teaching FILM for as long as I have if I didn’t care about young Filmmakers.

QUESTION #3 – Spike, you on KICKSTARTER is hurting the young filmmakers.

This is another fallacy. The fact of the matter is I’m bringing exposure to KICKSTARTER, backers to KICKSTARTER who have never even heard of KICKSTARTER before. The same was true of the VERONICA MARS and ZACH BRAFF’S projects. There was also a study done that had data to prove we did not hurt the young filmmakers on KICKSTARTER either.

QUESTION #4 – Why are you not more forthcoming on the Details of your KICKSTARTER Project?

The reason I have not disclosed more info on the story is because: It’s a THRILLER. In order for a film of this type to work the less details the better for this Film to work with the Audience, they can’t know a whole lot before they sit down in a Theatre to see it. Yeah I know, I’m asking for BACKERS for a film they don’t know a lot about. My answer to that is TRUST ME. I hope you have seen some things over the past 3 decades making FILMS that can earn your TRUST.

What I can tell you is this. I have never made a film like this and it excites me very much. I’m doing a semi-genre film about ADDICTION. These people are ADDICTED to BLOOD. Yet however they are not VAMPIRES. It’s going to be SEXY, HUMOROUS and BLOODY. To me that’s a unique combination.

I hope my answers to your questions have been provided the information you asked for. I totally understand how strange it might seem to look for me, Spike Lee on KICKSTARTER asking for BACKERS. I say – welcome to THE WORLD OF CROWDFUNDING. Whether you like it or not it is not going away. The FUTURE is here.

I deeply appreciate everyone and I mean everyone who has stood up, backed our PROJECT so we can MAKE HISTORY.

Peace and Love,
Spike Lee – Filmmaker

—UPDATE—

One Sheets of my films have been added to the Rewards. Check out the images of the one sheets HERE and the prices are listed in the Rewards to the right.

We’ve also added a $10 Reward of a Postcard from one of my various films signed by me. As well as a Vintage Patch from the MALCOLM X crew jackets signed by me at the same price (as pictured below).

We’ve pulled more items from our vaults. Grab yourself a 40 Acres Patch signed by Spike, an Uplift the Race the Construction of SCHOOL DAZE book signed by Spike, or a Gift Pack of Items signed by Spike – a Spike’s Joint Bag, a Vintage Malcolm X Patch, a Postcard from one of his various films, as well as a tweet from Spike and Behind the Scenes Project Updates.

Vintage American flag MALCOLM X patch custom made for the Official Crew Jackets signed by Spike.

NEW T-shirt is up for your $40 pledge

One of Four X American Flags used in the opening credits of the epic MALCOLM X. (dimensions: 13″ x 14″)

MO’ BETTER BLUES 23rd Anniversary Rewards – Vintage Pin (1.5″ x 2.25″) and the film’s companion Book

***Join the great Raphael Saadiq and Spike for a one time recording session in his own LA studio. As we observe him record the songs from our Film.***

Since Saadiq’s early days with the groundbreaking 80’s soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone! the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer has carried the torch for old school R&B. In addition to releasing critically acclaimed solo albums like Ray Ray and Instant Vintage (nominated for five GRAMMYs), for the last two decades Saadiq has worked behind the scenes as a celebrated producer, collaborator and sideman for big-time acts like D’Angelo, John Legend, Joss Stone, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dogg, Earth, Wind and Fire and the list goes on and on. Now, at the peak of his creativity Saadiq is finally ready to soak up the spotlight alone with Stone Rollin’ [his fourth studio album]. [Source]

–NEW ITEMS ADDED—

Five custom designed Jordans by world renowned designer, Van Monroe. We pick the Jordan and you pick the Joint. Here are two examples of his work.

Risks and challengesLearn about accountability on Kickstarter

 

Please look at my body of work over the past three decades. If we are successful in attaining our goal of $1,250,000, this new Spike Lee Joint will get made. You can count on it. Only an Act of God can stop this. And dat’s da “100% guaranteed” truth, Ruth.

 

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