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This Joan Didion Kickstarter Raised $80K In 24 Hours
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 23, 2014
Modified Oct 23, 2014
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 23, 2014
Modified Oct 23, 2014
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Joan Didion's nephew, Griffin Dunne, is directing a documentary about "Aunt Joan," alongside filmmaker Susanne Rostock. It's the first documentary about Didion, and the two raised $80,000 on Kickstarter in one day for their project. Annabelle Dunne, Joan’s niece and the documentary’s producer, told us this afternoon, "We received more support and financing in 25 hours from Joan's readers than we have in 3 years of meetings with financiers and producers. It's been a total validation for our team and this project."
We Tell Ourselves Stories In Order to Live is the name of the doc, which will trace "the arc of Joan’s life through her own writings, and in her own voice. Our film will tell Joan’s story through passages she has chosen (and will read aloud) from her work, as her friends, family, colleagues and critics share their accounts of her remarkable life and writing." In addition to Didion herself, Patti Smith, Vanessa Redgrave, Allison Janney, Graydon Carter, Robert Silvers, and Bret Easton Ellis will also be interviewed for the film.
There will also be "rare and atmospheric film and stills used throughout, along with "rare archival from Joan’s personal life and family history."
Rewards for donations include a signed book by Didion, a pair of her iconic sunglasses from her personal collection (!), and her recipe book (delivered via PDF). With 29 days left, this one may break some crowdfunding records.
We would also support a Kickstarter to stop "why I'm leaving NYC" essays. [via Vulture]
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documentary
joan didion
kickstarter
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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