Shelf Life successfully raised $35,000 (well, $34,579 here: http://www.indiegogo.com/ShelfLife) and totally from clicks provided by fans of the show. Ok, so what’s the show?
Shelf Life, produced by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, features the talents of Travis Willingham, Bryan Enk, Dee Bradley Baker, Tara Platt, Yuri Lowenthal, and Phil Morris. The description goes like this:
A web comedy about four action figures on a young boy’s shelf and no topic is off limits: sex, politics, gender, race, religion, and more from a pint sized perspective. Watch these toys, ahem – collectables, deal with big topics in their small way.
And if you’re thinking the same Phil Morris who’s father’s was the actor Greg Morris from Mission: Impossible, you’re right. This blogger interviewed Mr. Morris at The Night Of 100 Stars Oscar Party:
As to how the producers of Shelf Life were able to raise $35K via Kickstarter, Tara Platt said “I see way too many friends have a great idea and launch a Kickstarter, only to be discouraged by the dismal response. People can’t fund everything, and sifting thru the numerous choices is overwhelming, especially since the goal isn’t to just ask your close circle. You need to have a larger reach.” Lowenthal agrees, “I think the market is already saturated. You need to try and create a fanbase by providing them with—if not the final product, then something like it, so they know what they’d be getting into.”
Here are two episodes from their YouTube channel:
And Phil Morris plays “Black Velvet” in this episode:
Shelf Life is up for an award at the International Web TV Academy Awards at CES 2013.