Kung Fury is Nostalgic '80s Action/Comedy Done Right
It's common to hear about Kickstarter campaigns gone awry for a multitude of reasons, especially in regards to independent films. However, a year and a half after its own campaign ended, Kung Fury was finally publicly released yesterday afternoon. Kung Fury gained popularity during its funding period thanks to its dedication to an over-exaggerated '80s aesthetic and enthusiasm you can only find by the most passionate artists.
Kung Fury could have been a mess. Many similar films sometimes focus too much on the "gimmick" and lose sight of creating an entertaining, fully-realized film in lieu of being as ridiculous as possible. Kung Fury has such moments, like a CGI T-Rex play fighting with a mecha golden eagle. However, Kung Fury is greater than the sum of its parts. Finally, a well-made Kickstarter film that actually lives up to the hype!
It's not everyday that a Kickstarter-funded film premieres at Cannes, yet that's what Kung Fury did earlier this month, paving the way for the next wave of indie films. There've been talks and discussion of adapting Kung Fury into a feature-length film, and while I don't think the short alone would be able to sustain a 90-minute film, it would nevertheless be a great opportunity to director/actor David Sandberg and his production team.
Watch Kung Fury below and let us know what you think! If you can't get enough from Kung Fury, you can check out the special Kung Fury-inspired video for David Hasselhoff's "True Survivor."
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[Interview] Elena Fortes (Ambulante)
Last month, we shared Ambulante's Kickstarter project, an operation to begin a rogue documentary tour around the U.S. in order to spread the word on documentary culture. Through the use of crowdfunding, Ambulante has been on a mission to advocate alternative filmmaking and storytelling rooted in non-fiction film, and has been using Kickstarter in attempts to raise $52,780, begin their documentary tour in California, and ultimately make the tour happen around the rest of the U.S. I was lucky to have the opportunity to speak to Elena Fortes, one of the founders of Ambulante, where we discussed how Ambulante got started, the status of their Kickstarter-funded documentary film festival project, how far internationally their documentary tours have reached out, and what it’s like working with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.
Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna Kickstart U.S. Documentary Tour
Gael García Bernal (Amores perros) and Diego Luna (Cesar Chavez) are on a mission to launch a rogue documentary tour across the U.S. in order to democratize documentary culture. The nonprofit group overseeing the project, Ambulante, is working on using Kickstarter in order to raise $52,780, begin their documentary tour in California, and ultimately get the ball rolling on initiating their tour across the United States.
The California-based pilot plan is centered on advocating the discovery of alternative filmmaking and storytelling rooted in non-fiction film. Ambulante will curate their screenings in outdoor and makeshift spaces between September 21st and October 4th, and screen films from all over the world, with special attention called to eclectic Mexican documentaries. Some of the documentaries they have been showing over the past ten years while touring in Mexico include Searching for Sugar Man, All Tomorrow’s Parties, and The Act of Killing.
Once the project comes together, Ambulante will program one free screening event and welcome filmmakers, subjects, and other guests to speak with audiences after the film. There are also plans set for after-parties and musical performances that will be free and open to the public. The funds raised on Kickstarter will contribute to projection fees, transportation costs, and the supplying of food and gas to Ambulante volunteers. Contributing to the campaign guarantees perks ranging from a private screening of never-before released short film, Revolucion, to spending time with Diego Luna at a backers only party right before the festival, receiving collectables, and being offered an apprenticeship with Pablo Cruz.
You have until July 17th to get this documentary tour funded. Check out a detailed video on Ambulante and their Kickstarter campaign below.
[kickstarter id="ambulantecalifornia/ambulante-create-a-rogue-documentary-tour-across-t"]
[Video] Create Your Soundtrack With The Jalapeno Beat Maker
In this day and age, there are so many tools out there to help you create the music that is trapped inside your head become a reality. Whether it's machines or software, there is something for everyone who has the need to create music, and now there is another option: The Jalapeno Beat Maker. The name fits the product because it really resembles a jalapeno, but also wants to help you create a soundtrack to your life.
The device is built to respond to your movements when you're engaged in activity such as snowboarding, skiing, or skating. What the Jalapeno does is remix music as you ride and do tricks, letting you mix up to four layers from Beat Farm's music library with tracks from your library or ones your created yourself. The device attaches to your board or yourself, wherever you want to put it, and creates mixes as you hit the slopes or while you have an intense dance session. If you're in the market for a beat maker or just want to try something like this out, head on to the project's Kickstarter for more info here.
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[Via Beat Farm]
Kickstarter amassed $480 million in funds last year
I've been a huge supporter of Kickstarter for a few years, throwing some cash towards a large number of video game, comic, and film projects. With the growing success of crowdfunding projects, many mainstream artists have turned to the service to fund their projects, from the Veronica Mars film adaptation to Elzhi's new album, as well as many, many independent studios and companies funding their dream projects.
Recently, Kickstarter released their statistics from 2013, and they're very lofty numbers. Three million people across 214 different countries pledged $480 million to various projects last year, with close to 20,000 projects (19,911 projects to be exact) being successfully funded. Crowdfunding has seen a growth in popularity in recent years, with Kickstarter and IndieGoGo being the top two services offered. 2014 should be an even bigger and better year for aspiring creatives.
[via Kickstarter]
[Trailer] Kung Fury
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There's been a noted love for all things '80s recently. From a small scale (ShowYouSuck's Dude Bro is a love letter to the synth-heavy decade) to a larger scale (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Miami Connection's re-release, etc.), our growing obsession with the '80s vibe has pervaded pop culture sensibilities. Art is cyclical, and oftentimes only appreciated after the fact with nostalgia also playing a huge role in our "newfound" obsessions. I'm not the biggest fan of the '80s, but I can't deny how cool some of the art was.
Kung Fury is an independent, low-budget '80s-inspired action film directed by Swedish director David Sandberg that brings together everything stereotypically '80s from the Miami setting, the renegade cop archetype, typical'80s garb and accessories, et al. However, the spin on the film involves the protagonist, the titular Kung Fury, traveling back in time (thanks to a Nintendo Power Glove, no less) to kill Adolf Hitler (who is known for his nickname, Kung Fuhrer). However, he's sent too far back in time, with scenes showing him and a Viking lady riding a dinosaur.
There's no qualms to it: Kung Fury is a through and through B-movie, and it may not be for everybody. However, if you enjoy films that don't take themselves too seriously and allow them to be made entirely out of fun and passion, this is the film for you. With Sandberg's background in commercials and music videos, he has the know-how to create a proper project.
Currently, Kung Fury has a Kickstarter campaign for the film to be released in its 30-minute entirety. The plan is for the 30-minute short to serve as a concept for Sandberg and his production team to pitch it to potential distributors in hopes of expanding on the concept for a feature-length film. I've already put my money where my mouth is, so hopefully others will find something to like in Kung Fury (and really, what's not to love?) and donate some scratch.
[Video] PA1 Wall Speaker System with Dual Stereo Pairing
Brought to you by design boutique comes the PA1 Wall Speaker System with a dual stereo pairing that is wireless running via Bluetooth. The speaker can be mounted to the wall without the messy wiring or can fit on a stand. It also works as an individual speaker or can be paired together to fit your musical needs. To turn it on, all you simply have to do is press one button and you're connected to your device, with access up to five devices. The PA1 Wall Speaker System is currently running a Kickstarter campaign. You can learn more about the PA1 here.
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[Via StudioProper]
Elzhi Turns to Kickstarter for Next Album
Talk about independent. Detroit MC Elzhi announced today that he will fund his next project strictly off the crowd-source funding site Kickstarter. Elzhi is underground to those not in the know and one of the low-key hottest artists in the Midwest to those who do. Having first hit the scene on J Dilla's milestone project, Welcome to Detroit, the artfully thoughtful MC has gone out to carve out an interesting lane in the vast hip-hop landscape today. Respected by his peers enough to remix Nas' groundbreaking album Illmatic and underground enough to get respect from those not in the limelight, Elzhi is certainly in a unique position.
With this in mind, the Kickstarter campaign makes a good deal of sense for Elzhi. In an atmosphere in which artists from Mac Miller to Chance The Rapper are keeping hands out of their pockets by staying independent and making music on their own terms, all an artist needs is some funds-because recording sessions cost money regardless if you release the end result for free on the internet. Check out Elzhi's Kickstarter video and break out your wallet to help make this project come to fruition. More below.
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