First Zach Braff, now Spike Lee. Renowned filmmakers find themselves fending off haters on account of jumping on the crowdfunding bus. Spike said, “Zach caught flack, ZachFlack, so this is not a surprise at all, … I just roll with the punches and keep goin’.”  Here, FIND staffers throw their voices into the debate.

More than supporting a “famous” filmmaker, I would support a filmmaker whose work I’ve admired before and who has difficulty bringing interesting and original material due to the pressure of the industry for financial success.  —Cristhian Barron, Senior Accountant

I think it speaks more towards the times we are in. When our top auteurs like Spike Lee need to resort to Kickstarter to raise funds for their films it points to the dearth in support for risky, provocative projects. The flip side of this is that film lovers have the opportunity to directly contribute to the creation of material they are passionate about. We have the freedom to choose what we believe in. —Evan Ward-Henninger, Membership Manager

Crowdfunding is about supporting artists you believe in. If you don’t agree with someone’s project, you don’t have to give them money. —Mike Piacentini, Data & Web Manager

Well-said Mel! I think Kickstarter plays many roles. Just as it helps filmmakers fundraise, it really helps them hone in on their audience, which in my opinion is the biggest win. Audiences should be allowed to support their projects/filmmakers regardless of their current fame or status in the industry. Saying that those filmmakers with “access” to other funds shouldnt post their they’re projects on Kickstarters is just saying that audience’s should be limited in the say, or access to content, and that’s just not cool! —Kady Kamakate, Executive Assistant

I don’t have a problem with Spike Lee raising financing on Kickstarter.  No one is forcing anyone to back his movie, so while he may be more famous that most on the crowdfunding site, why should he be restricted from raising financing from his fan-base? And if his participation brings more attention to Kickstarter and creates new crowdfunders who subsequently return to support other projects, then surely that’s a good thing. —Paul Cowling, Associate Director of Education

Let the market decide. For example:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/zosa-mamet-kickstarter-campaign-fails-article-1.1370612 —Will Slocombe, Events Coordinator

I think it really depends on the filmmaker and the type of project. If it’s David Lynch raising funds for his next masterpiece, which he is producing 100% independently and he offers a breakdown of where the funds will be allocated, then I’m fine with it. But if it’s Larry the Cable guy asking for millions of dollars for some god-awful movie he wants to make with his friends that could have been funded elsewhere and is going to make him a ridiculous amount of money, I’m not a fan. I know that seems like a double standard since David Lynch allegedly has a higher net worth than Larry the Cable Guy, but I think transparency is the most important factor when it comes to crowdfunding. What are you asking for and why and where, specifically, is it going? —Lee Jameson, Film Education Coordinator

Tell us, crowdfunders and fundees: should sites like Kickstarter be left to the “little guys”?