Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Up And Coming Indie Filmmaker SPIKE LEE Asking For $1.25 Millon On Kickstarter
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 22, 2013
Modified Jul 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 22, 2013
Modified Jul 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Connected, wealthy filmmaker points to own plaque featuring his body of work
According to this website that figures out celebrity net worths, Spike Lee is worth about $40 million. Even if that's off by tens of millions, it's safe to say that established filmmaker Spike Lee has a lot of money, and possibly even more connections. Also, corporate synergy. And even without all of that, he managed to bring his first films to life on on tight budgets, presumably in a way that didn't take away from his vision. So why does Spike Lee need your $1.25 million to make his new film? Well, because other famous people did it so why not—he explains in his Kickstarter video:
"Last week one of my [NYU] students told me about two big developments with Kickstarter. There was a tv show called Veronica Mars that was cancelled, they raised FIVE MILLION DOLLARS on Kickstarter... And then Zach Braff from Scrubs, he raised THREE MILLION DOLLARS for his film. So I heard about that, I said, 'Oh snap.' It's a very different climate now, the only way to ensure as an independent filmmaker that your vision gets on screen is if you bring the money to the table."
Below, you can watch his pitch—towards the end you can see him pointing out the long list of films he's successfully created without our help, on a huge plaque that's outside of his tony Fort Greene offices.
Here, again, is Kevin Smith's "PSA":
"As for funding the flick—we nearly Kickstarted the budget back in November (talked about at great length here). But now I'm feeling like that's not fair to real indie filmmakers who need the help. Unlike back when I made CLERKS in '91, I've GOT access to money now—so I should use that money and not suck any loot out of the crowd-funding marketplace that might otherwise go to some first-timer who can really use it. So if I can get away with it, I'm gonna try to pay for CLERKS III myself. As much as I love the crowd-funding model, that's an advancement in indie film that belongs to the next generation of artists. I started on my own dime, and if I'm allowed, I should finish on my own dime."
Spike, why not use the money to fund one of your student's projects?
Tagged
kickstarter
spike lee
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .