Crowdfunding Narratives: Jamie and Jonathan

by Catherine Kirkpatrick


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If you don’t know about Kyle Mumford, you should. He’s one of those Bushwick creatives whose talents run across many disciplines. He’s a fantastic photographer and writer, but first and foremost a filmmaker, engaged right now in an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for his short “Jamie & Jonathan.”

If you hear “short” and think “small,” you’re wrong. Though quiet and unassuming, he hopes that by producing this version, he and his team can secure financing to turn the story into a feature film. I spoke with Mumford a while back when I needed quotes for an article on photography. We talked for an hour about B&W, analogue versus digital, and various cameras. Then I went home, watched some of his films on the Internet, and realized the guy has a whole world in his head, a slew of stories he is bent on bringing to life.

Clip from Jamie & Jonathan

Clip from Jamie & Jonathan

“Jamie & Jonathan” is one of them. Like the others, it reflects Mumford’s own childhood in run-down towns along the Jersey shore, his ongoing interest in father-son dynamics, and the challenges of young people growing up. It is about a failed writer, desperate for money, who gets a second shot at bonding with his son when he’s hired to drive the boy to a funeral. During the road trip, they bicker and butt heads, but also get to know each other and grow. While it sounds dark, the film is poignant and funny, and in the end, life-affirming. It has already been shot, but the daunting challenges of post-production and getting it to a wider audience remain.

Recently, we chatted via email about his long-term goals and the stresses of crowd funding.

AIB: Why a short?

KM: Short films showcase your work, presenting the short version of a longer story you are trying to tell, turning heads, attracting investors for a feature film. You are giving an example of what you can do.

AIB: Where does “Jamie & Jonathan” stand in relation to your other work?

KM: I feel that much of my past work was experimental, necessary to get to where I am now. A drama-comedy is something I couldn’t have pulled off four years ago. I didn’t have the experience to appreciate how in life tragedy is constantly blanketed by comedy. With this project, I was able to create something that feels 100% of what my creative voice wants to tell. More so than ever before.

AIB: With your Indiegogo campaign ending April 1st, you must be very busy.

KM: Crowd funding isn’t easy. You have a plan and are ready to go. But after the first week, everything slows up. One thing I’m doing differently is offering my services in film and editing. Helping others create a project, make a music video, short film, edit a project, etc. This is just starting to catch on. In the end, it’s a win/win situation where I apply my skills to a project of theirs, and they help complete my short film. You constantly have to keep thinking of new ideas and new angles. Luckily, I have a great team–my cast, crew, family, friends, and producer, Karli McGuiness.

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Production still from Jamie & Jonathan

“We understand,“ says McGuiness in a campaign video, "that anytime you’re giving to a crowd funding campaign, you’re putting a lot of faith in the artist’s hands.” A lot of people have a lot of faith in Mumford.

“Kyle is one of those artists who is almost there,” said his father, Chris, like “a car that is slightly stuck in snow and needs a little push to keep him traveling down the road of success. His work ethic is worth betting down on.”

Also his personal vision, which is remarkably mature for someone so young. Stay tuned.

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Jamie and Jonathan has so far received over $11,000 of it’s $16,000 goal and has been funded by 77 people. The Indiegogo campaign ends on April 1.

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