TORONTO – The Kickstarter campaign behind Corner Gas: The Movie reached its initial $100,000 goal less than 24 hours after its debut.
Launched Tuesday, the 30-day campaign to promote fan engagement and raise funds earmarked for exclusive fan rewards surpassed its goal at 9:26 AM ET Wednesday, with 723 fans world-wide pledging $100,000 to be part of movie-making history. Support came from dozens of countries in all, including Canada, the U.S., UK, Europe, Australia and as far afield as Oman, India, China, and Kyrgyzstan.
Some of the rewards purchased include:
– For $6000, one backer purchased a brief speaking role in the movie;
– For $2500, 10 backers purchased the opportunity to play a background role in the movie;
– For $1500, six backers purchased a VIP set visit and opportunity to meet the cast;
– For $750, three backers purchased the opportunity to provide the first and last name of a character in the movie; and
– For $750, one backer purchased a personalized voice message from Brent Butt.
Continuing through to June 18, the campaign’s next goal is to raise additional funds to enhance special and visual effects in the production, fly the cast to Cineplex premieres across Canada, create a behind-the-scenes documentary for the DVD, and maintain the Corner Gas set in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, as a tourist destination for one year.
"The way people have responded to this show has been blowing me away since that first episode. I thought nothing the fans could do would surprise me anymore. But to reach a month long target in one day is beyond incredible. Corner Gas fans blow my mind yet again," said creator/star/writer and executive producer Brent Butt, in the news release.
Corner Gas: The Movie begins production in Saskatchewan on June 23, 2014. The 90-minute feature film will open with a Cineplex exclusive theatrical debut followed by premieres on The Movie Network, CTV, and The Comedy Network, complemented by a special collector’s edition DVD available for purchase before the holidays.
