Kickstarter vs Charity

As the Veronica Mars kickstarter project raced past its funding goal, I noticed a bunch of tweets begin appearing that were critical of the project.  They seemed to feel that funding the project above its goal was dumb and that the money could (and should) have been spent elsewhere.  The same was said of Amanda Palmer's kickstarter campaign.

There are two problems with this line of thinking.

1.  These goals are generally the bare minimum needed to fund the project.  Rob Thomas stated clearly that 2 Mill would be enough to fund it but that every dollar over that would be used to make a better film.  As of this morning, they're already trying to find ways to provide even more backer gifts to enhance the project.  The same was true of Amanda Palmer's album.  More money for the project means a better freaking project.  Since I'm one of many backing this, I'd like to see the best damn film possible for my money.

2.  I also donate to charities, pay my taxes, and support causes I believe in.  I buy products that promote my ideals, and it's no one's business what I spend my money on.  It's my money.  If I want to spend $100 to fund a movie, that's my prerogative.  Am I going to get $100 worth of stuff?  Probably not.  Will I get $100 worth of happiness?  I'm betting yes.  Am I shorting my taxes or charities to do this?  Nope.

Here's the thing that people are missing:  I'm giving my dollars directly to the artist to make their art.  They can make it the way they want, using their vision, and not having to bend to the whims of large corporations whose interests frequently don't align with those of the artist.  My contribution to and support of the project is my way of ensuring that the movie we get is the purest form of the artist's vision possible.

And you know what, even if the extra money is doing little more than lining the pockets of the artists involved, so what?  Don't artists deserve to be compensated?  Why do people have no problem paying a bookstore for a book when they know that the book is heavily marked up.  When they know that the publishing house who sold the book to the bookstore is only paying the author a small fraction of what they receive.  Why is that okay, but it's not okay for people to pay money directly to artists?

I hope the Kickstarter raises 10 million dollars.  And I hope that people keep on funding the art and other projects that they love.  Anyone who doesn't like it can criticize me all they want when they give up all non-essential foods, luxuries, and other comforts and donate their paychecks to charity.