Brandjack News

By Quentin Langley

Zach Braff is a talented comic actor. I greatly enjoyed his work in Scrubs. The film, Garden State, which he wrote, produced and directed, as well as starred in, was very successful. I neither dispute his talent nor resent his financial success. But I don't see the slightest reason why I should give him money. That is not because I am especially stingy. I do give money away. I sponsor Reeta Kumari through Plan UK. The money that my wife and I send means that Reeta is able to stay in school, something which all too many girls in India are unable to do. I just can't see Zach Braff in quite the same light. Garden State took over $35 million, and I don't see any reason to make charitable donations to people who are that much richer than I am.

You may not have heard that Zach Braff is seeking such donations. Well, he is, via the fundraising website, KickStarter. KickStarter is a valuable service that enables marginal projects, such as artistic ventures, to raise money via crowdfunding. I am all for it. There are plans afoot to let start up businesses raise funds in similar ways. This is great. But Braff's venture is not seeking investors, it is seeking donors.

He wants to raise money without his artistic vision being compromised. He fears that "the money-men" would want too many changes to his script. The "money-men" are, of course, experienced investors with a lot of acumen about what will sell but, hey, it certainly seems possible that they would be over-cautious and pass up a risky project with potential returns as spectacular as Garden State – which cost just $2.5 million to make. If this were an investment, I might take a punt on Braff. He has a good record. Maybe he could earn me a good return. But it is not investment he is seeking, but donations.

For a donation, you might get your name mentioned in the film, or a visit to the set, or even appear as an extra. That last one is pretty cool, eh? Most films pay their extras. This one is charging them $2,500.

Good actor. Good filmmaker. Funny man. Definitely not worthy of any donation from me.