FIENDSGIVING Crowdfunding Campaign Promises Backers Will Learn Filmmaking

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As a lifelong cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of horror and indie filmmaking, I find the upcoming project, Fiendsgiving, nothing short of exhilarating! Clarke Wolfe, a former TopMob contributor with an impressive resume, is taking us on a unique journey behind the scenes of independent filmmaking.

In the initial phase of crowdfunding campaigns, it was uncommon and innovative for independent films to seek funding from fans through donations. Today, this practice is more common. To truly make a project stand out, it needs to provide something extraordinary to backers, not just the standard digital copies, t-shirts, and posters. With Fiendsgiving, a holiday-themed slasher movie from writer-director Clarke Wolfe (previously associated with Malum) and producer-star Samm Levine (known for Freaks & Geeks and Inglourious Basterds), backers will receive, in essence, a tutorial on filmmaking.

Contributors to the Fiendsgiving Indiegogo campaign will have access to live streams from production meetings, special effects trials, and on-set filming, as well as post-production sessions in the editing room. The filmmakers will also share draft documents such as budget analyses and production checklists, offering contributors a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ups and downs of independent filmmaking.

Clarke Wolfe, the writer/director, openly acknowledges that our industry is at a turning point, where obtaining financing, even for filmmakers with extensive experience and projects within a micro-budget range, feels extremely difficult. However, this campaign presents us with an opportunity to offer uncommon access and information to cinephiles while also producing a holiday horror movie that fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy.

Previously associated with TopMob, where his love for horror never fades, Wolfe has transformed that passion into a thriving career encompassing hosting, writing, directing, and acting. On a recent episode of Laser Focus, you can hear Clarke discussing with me the process of bringing horror to life on screen. She mentioned that Fiendsgiving will draw inspiration from contemporary slasher films such as You’re Next and The Strangers, along with Bob Clark’s classic holiday horror, Black Christmas.

As a gamer, I’m helping out on a fundraising effort aiming to gather $50,000. This cash will be used to film the opening scene where Levine steps into the character of Xander, a slick tech mogul with a knack for complicated relationships. It’s Thanksgiving time, and he’s got a turbulent dinner planned with his mom, estranged sibling, and girlfriend Taylor who’s more like a part-time partner.

Wolfe and Levine, with their extensive experience on film sets, promise unique insights into the industry for backers. This includes exclusive access to behind-the-scenes glimpses, virtual interviews, and live streams of set days. Essentially, it’s like a specialized course in independent filmmaking, and as a bonus, it will also contribute to the creation of the opening scene of a slasher movie.

To back the “Friendsgiving” initiative, or for further details, check out the main Indiegogo site. Currently, the project stands at an 8% funding rate, with approximately a month remaining.

Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob, where he also hosts the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, delving into various aspects of pop culture. His movie and television reviews are easily accessible here. To keep up with his latest insights, follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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2024-11-27 21:32