Well, I’ve done something monumentally stupid and potentially embarrassing but I couldn’t resist. Would you like to help me create a movie of the life of King Richard III? Oh, you would? Maybe it’s not so stupid after all!
I have created a Kickstarter project to ask for funding to make a movie of the life of King Richard III which will present facts to counter the Shakespearean monopoly on his story. The script is based upon my novel Loyalty and will seek to present Richard as a real man, not a saint but not Shakespeare’s twisted villain either. We will follow him as he desperately tries to make his way through one of the most complex and deadly periods of English history.
Here is the link to the project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559714318/loyalty-the-story-of-king-richard-iii
It has amazed me that a film like this has never been attempted. When the remains of this infamous king were uncovered in 2012 and confirmed as his in February 2013, I was convinced a Hollywood epic was on the way. Perhaps even a whole raft of them. I waited. Then I waited some more. Then I wondered what I was waiting for and decided it was time, with your help, to try and make this happen.
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a crowd funding platform. Any idea can be created as a project and the project requests funding from those interested to meet a target to facilitate the aim of the project. In this case the project is our movie and I am asking for your help to make it happen.
How It Works
Firstly, your risk is limited. If the project doesn’t reach its funding target, no one contributes anything. At that point all pledges are cancelled. You only pay anything if the project attains its target and the film is going to be made. The target for this is huge. In terms of movie budgets it is tiny, the smallest amount my research suggests is feasible to make a film worth making, but in terms of the real world, it is a vast sum. Still, I wanted to have a go at telling this important and fascinating story which could reach out further than anyone has before to press for a re-examination of this king’s lost reputation.
Whilst the project will collapse if underfunded, it can be oversubscribed. If the target is reached pledges can still be made and the amount is unlimited. So, if this project is overfunded, the budget for the film goes up and it will be even bigger and better.
For each level of contribution there is an associated reward to thank you for the pledge and to offer an incentive. I have been cautious not to make those rewards expensive or undeliverable because this is really about making the movie and that is where the money will need to go to be successful.
What Are The Risks?
The most obvious risk is that I have never made a movie before and the budget it very tight. However, I wouldn’t be asking for your help if I didn’t really and truly believe that this is an achievable goal and an opportunity to be seized. Through attention to detail and to the budget we could make a superb film that will redefine the reputation of King Richard III around the world for generations to come. Is that worth a pledge you won’t have to pay if the project fails to meet its funding goal? That is up to you. It takes a couple of minutes to sign up and pledge if you want to be a part of this. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask me.
So there it is. I did it. The project’s success is now firmly in your hands. Please spread the word as widely as you are able. Tell everyone! Together we can recreate the final, glorious cavalry charge of King Richard III and his knights to send a shiver down spines around the world.
Matt
Matt's History Blog 