Will You Help Penn Jillette Make a Horror Film?
In the latest celebrity crowdfunding news, Penn Jillette has turned to Donald Trump’s crowdfunding site, FundAnything, to raise money for his film, “Director’s Cut,” Variety reports.
The actor-magician wrote the film, which — if it can raise enough money — will be directed by Adam Rifkin and produced by Jillette, Rifkin, and Jillette’s manager Peter Golden.
He’s already off to a good start. In the first day of his campaign — with the goal of raising $999,972 — Jillette has already raised more than $133,000 with 45 days to go.
“Help me — Hollywood won’t let me make ‘Director’s Cut,'” Jillette writes on the FundAnything page for the film. He continues:
“Director’s Cut” is a crazy idea for a movie. It’s different than anything you’ve seen before. It’s scary, funny, and very meta. I like movies that are scary, but I don’t want them to be dirt dumb. I want a movie that gets my blood racing, makes me laugh, but also gives me something to think about, with maybe a little sexy thrown in. Hollywood doesn’t make movies like that. They make torture porn and comedies but they don’t put them together. They make smart movies but… oh wait, no they don’t make smart movies, nevermind.
He said that the “movie is from my heart” and describes it as “a darkly comedic thriller with a twist. It’s two films in one. A suspense movie within a suspense movie.”
Jillette will star as a stalker obsessed with a young actress.
He’s offering all sorts of fun rewards for funders, including a VIP Penn and Teller Weekend for $525 — which, honestly, makes you wonder why he can’t fund the film himself. For just $20, you can get your name featured in the ending credits. Now that’s a deal!
Jillette has a history with Trump, having appeared as a contestant on the fifth season of Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Jillette and his longtime performing partner Teller recently produced “Tim’s Veneer,” the documentary about Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer, which Teller directed and will be released by Sony Classics.
Check out his FundAnything campaign video:
