Chris Stuckmann, one of the most relevant names in YouTube film commentary, has broken a new record on the fundraising platform Kickstarter. His independent horror film, Shelby Oaks, has become the highest-funded film of its kind in Kickstarter’s history. As of this publication, he has raised over $711,000 from fans and supporters against an initial goal of only $250,000. Stuckmann and his team actually met the goal and then some very early, raising $251,000 within the first 24 hours of the Kickstarter launch.
There are many names in the vast YouTube landscape of film reviewers. But few have reached such credibility and exposure as Chris Stuckmann. He has been a reviewer of film and television on the popular platform for over a decade, having amassed nearly 2 million subscribers. Aside from analysis and grading of the newest hot film, Stuckmann has also written specials, shared personal stories, and often guest-starred on like-minded film channels such as Screen Junkies and Channel Awesome (where the Nostalgia Critic calls home).
He has also directed short films Auditorium 6 and Notes from Melanie and even toured the festival circuit. But his newest goal, and his dream nearly twenty years in the making, is coming to fruition. Stuckmann has made no secret about his long-standing desire to be a feature filmmaker one day. One could hypothesize that his YouTube journey was but a subconscious trek to this new landing spot. Chris Stuckmann has played the long game, and it is now metaphorically, and literally, paying off.
The Tangible (and Intangible) Value of this Project
Why is this important? Anyone who invests in mainstream movies, their stories, and their presentation knows that the “suits” in the high studio offices meddle in the movie-making process. It is a business, after all. Many times, that business sidesteps the creative process, being influenced by statistics, demographics, shareholdings, and box office receipts. If they feel a change should be made to a film’s production that will incur a higher return on investment, it might conflict with the original vision the filmmaker had intended.
Stuckmann wants to ensure he can avoid that completely; bucking the “Hollywood system” isn’t an easy road. But then again, the road of integrity and ownership isn’t easily paved. Stuckmann and his team understand that making a film your own way comes at a literal price in order to maintain full autonomy of the project. This makes him a champion in league with other filmmakers who wore the DIY cape as a badge of honor. And it seems, judging by the numbers, many supporters want to see Stuckmann succeed.
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But this journey is actually a two-pronged attack. The first part is a no-brainer: Shelby Oaks being filmed and released. But the second part – and a sticking point Stuckmann has made clear of its value – is showcasing the production side of making Shelby Oaks. Having zero knowledge about how to actually make a film when he was younger, Stuckmann wants to document the various facets of the filmmaking process. The endgame for this would be establishing a solid template that will inspire and educate young, eager filmmakers.
The Kickstarter campaign introduced stretch goals. Each goal would provide more tools for Stuckmann and crew to make the best that Shelby Oaks can be. The financial benchmarks that have been hit include access to practical effects, two dream locations, real police cars, lighting, and miscellaneous equipment. The last stretch goal made was $600,000. The previous two stretch goals, $750,000 and $1,000,000, will supply the crew with an extra shooting day, an abandoned house to shoot, an animal wrangler for a crucial scene, and a second camera to help expedite the shooting process.
So What’s In It for You?
Kickstarter has been a home for planted dreams to boom with community support for creative types since 2009. Stuckmann’s project has now cracked the top 20 highest Kickstarter projects funded. For backers of Shelby Oaks, Stuckmann and his partner Aaron B. Koontz have introduced many incentives. These rewards are tiered and vary by the value of a backer’s pledge amount. Some of these include exclusive interviews, commentary tracks, posters, Blu-ray or DVD copies, soundtrack, storyboard, pin, and digital script. There are even opportunities to purchase tickets for screeners in locations such as Austin and Los Angeles. The physical rewards will be available upon movie release, which is slated for July 2023. Subscribers to Chris Stuckmann’s YouTube channel can see Kickstarter updates at the tail end of his more recent review videos released in March 2022. Backers can see updates earlier via the Kickstarter app and have access to the Discord.
The synopsis of Shelby Oaks taken from the Kickstarter page:
“Shot as a traditional feature, but with some elements of found footage, Shelby Oaks is a horror film about missing paranormal investigators (the paranormal paranoids), the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later.
As Mia uncovers new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to her and Riley’s childhood.”
If you wish to support this project, the campaign can be found here. The fundraiser began in early March and concludes on March 26th.
