You Want A VERONICA MARS Movie? Well, It’s Up To You
I'm usually not the person rallying for a reunion movie after my favorite shows have ended. I don't think the format makes sense for most stories, and I never want to spoil my memories of great writing with a subpar, obligatory reunion special. But I've always felt that Veronica Mars would make a great movie. The undisputed best first season has a very cinematic arc, and what makes the show so interesting is that noir mysteries are usually told as films, not TV shows.
And yeah, I miss Veronica Mars. I miss the blade-sharp writing and the offbeat tone and that distinctive palette of Neptune. And I miss the characters, all of them, but I most miss Veronica herself. She's fearless and brilliant, unapologetically flawed and like no other heroine on TV or in film. What I love about Veronica Mars is that she's not a marshmallow. She's an anvil, all jagged points and steel, and I like that. I like that she isn't sweet, and we still love her.
I'm burying the lede here. This morning, Veronica Mars (and, not for nothing, Party Down) creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Veronica Mars movie. Warner Bros. have given their blessing, as they've always shown interest in the film but feared lackluster fan response. Considering that the Kickstarter page has already reached $500k of a $2 million goal, I think we can put that worry to bed. Because of tight schedule conflicts between the principal players, they only have 30 days to reach this goal, but it doesn't look like that's going to be a problem. Any more money they make on top of the goal will just go toward making it a bigger movie.
Like any Kickstarter campaign, rewards are attached to donations, all the way up to getting a speaking role in the film and attending the premiere. They've apparently been working on this campaign secretly for over a year, as they filmed the below video in February 2012:
Goofy, sure, but I like it. I didn't cringe.
Obviously a movie is nothing without a good script, but Thomas has been working on his in earnest, and I like the sound of this:
Life has taken Veronica away from Neptune. In the years since spoiling Keith's chances to be reelected sheriff, Veronica hasn't taken a case. But something big is about to bring her back home and back to her calling. My goal is to include as many of your favorite characters as possible. It is, after all, time for Veronica’s 10-year high school reunion.
So, this is the biggest Kickstarter film campaign in history, and there are a couple of different ways to feel about that. Maybe it's greedy. This is a big movie with big names attached to it, and that doesn't seem to be in the intended spirit of Kickstarter. On the other hand, I like fan-funded projects. I like the idea of skipping the bullshit and getting the people what they want directly, much like Louis C.K. has done with his comedy specials. And man, these are some legitimately cool rewards.
Far be it from me to tell you what to do with your money. I can only tell you what I did with my money: I pledged $50 to get a DVD, a shooting script PDF, a digital copy and a t-shirt, but mostly I pledged because I want to see the Veronica Mars movie.
Also - never seen Veronica Mars? The first season, which is a complete story and a great one, is on sale for $12 on Amazon today (link below). Take the plunge!
