Filmmakers resort to unusual means to secure funding

It seems that, these days, even artists with significant international reputations have to do some lateral thinking when it comes to funding their projects. While the major movie studios aim their output primarily at younger viewers, appealing to teenage vampire fans, frat boys and, most particularly, to the pester power of young children, less commercial projects suffer.

David Lynch has, unsurprisingly, never considered himself part of the Hollywood establishment. His most conventional offering, 1986’s Blue Velvet, sparked to life with the discovery of a severed ear and led viewers on a tortuous route through an edgy nightmare, conducted by the satanic presence of the psychopathic Frank Booth.

By the time Inland Empire was released 20 years later, Lynch had reverted to his trademark non-linear style; multiple identities and actors in rabbit suits abounded.

It therefore surprised nobody – not even his hardcore of fanatical followers – that when the subject of a major documentary to celebrate his demented genius was mooted, the Hollywood moneymen were pointedly mute.

Lynch, who famously took on a paper round in his thirties to fund his first feature film, the still notorious Eraserhead, has never flinched from resorting to unusual means to finance his creations, and was determined to find a way around the thorny issue of funding the documentary, which has the working title Lynch Three.

Fans are being asked to provide US$50 each, for which they will be given an abstract self-portrait or a t-shirt featuring the print by Lynch, who is also a talented artist and cartoonist, furniture designer and composer. Those who donate to the project will also be given the opportunity to submit questions for Lynch, which might be used in the finished film.

Producer Jon Nguyen adds, “Not only are we looking for financial support, but we’re also very interested in connecting with his fans for feedback and input. There are so many questions that we would like to ask David and building a network of his fans enables us to reach out to them and hear what they would like to ask him if they could hold the camera.”

www.davidlynch.com

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