Then again, maybe not. It didn’t seem that there were many relevant lessons to be taken from these hugely successful campaigns. (Though, for the record, if we raise $2 million in the next two days, we’d be thrilled to create a Mystery of Marie Jocelyne video game, in addition to the documentary.)

Since people weren’t going to donate just because of our subject matter, we knew that we would really need to convey our vision for the film. Dan and I are confident that our film will be entertaining, suspenseful, hilarious, and thought-provoking, but that’s a little bit like a parent thinking their kid is smart, beautiful, charismatic, and definitely going to be President of the United States someday. We couldn’t just tell our audience that our film would be exciting and fun — we had to show them too. 

We had to figure out how tell this story in a way that would make it most compelling to the widest possible audience, and we had to figure it out now, before we were even finished shooting interviews. We had to learn how to compress the story of Marie — which spans multiple continents and the course of an entire lifetime — into a five-minute pitch. And we had to learn how to talk about myriad crazy stories without getting bogged down in the many tangential details.

And in addition to telling the story concisely, we knew we had to spend a little bit more time on our video than some people do. We couldn’t sit in front of the camera and read the synopsis — we had to make our video dynamic enough that that audiences could get a sense of how our film would be different from other documentaries. And we did that by taking some stylistic chances, creating some fun graphics, and using music and pacing to create a sense of suspense and urgency.  

The wonderful thing is that doing this work for our campaign has helped us to tighten our vision for the movie and understand what we need to make the final film work. And that, I think, is the gift that Kickstarter has given us. Beyond providing a platform for us to raise money, it has forced us to learn how to talk about and promote the film in the most effective way possible. And that’s something that I would recommend for any documentary filmmaker who’s trying to tell a story that doesn’t fit into the usual categories. 

We still have a long way to go in the next day, and I’m still terrified. But that said, no matter how challenging it might seem to undertake a crowdfunding campaign when you’re not sure exactly what crowd you should be aiming for, my advice would be: figure out what excites you about the project, and then figure out how to communicate that in the best way possible.  

Gnombre — The Lovable Hispanic Garden Gnome & Bobblehead, by Gnombre

In a post-Amelie world, it's easy to forget good ole David the Gnome, the lovable sylvan creature who graced my youth as a member of the Nick Jr. TV squad. Gnomes were never really my thing, but I had a soft spot for David and his secret world. Seems like Aram Chavez, Stephanie Walker, Vanessa Chavez and Duke Fonner had a similar experience... except totally different, because they always wondered why there were no hispanic gnomes. And so, Gnombre was born, a new gnome which adds some Latin flavor to the typically European gnome that we all know and love. Not gonna lie, really need this Gnombre hanging out on my desk. Seems like a real chill guy. — Mike M. 

Everett's BRAIN STORM, by Everett

Brain Storm was put together much like you'd expect a piece of science journalism to be: with numerous interviews with leading brain scientists, years of research at a facility for brain injury rehabilitation and education, and multiple public conversation sessions about the brain. But Brain Storm isn't the next cover story for Scientific American or Discover Mag, it's a dance performance, staged by Providence-based group Everett, a cross-disciplinary, cross-generational, and cross-cultural ensemble of dance and theater artists. Their work examines new developments in brain research and neurological revolutions, like the ability to map the spectrum of human emotions, beliefs, and tendencies. — Daniella J. 

The Annual Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival, by Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival

"Dancer/artist/entrepreneur" is not exactly the first phrase that might leap to mind if you're asked to consider women's role in popular hip-hop — but Michele Byrd-McPhee is on a mission to prove that the reality of this thriving sub-culture is way, way different. Her festival, which began in Philadelphia and recently relocated to New York, is produced by women, for women, and is (duh!) all about women. Each year, it gives center stage to an elite group of female artists from all over the world who are asked to exhibit work, teach, and perform. And let me be the first to say it: Damn, these ladies can dance! — Cassie M. 

Idle Thumbs Video Game Podcast, by Idle Thumbs

A few years back, Chris Remo, Jake Rodkin, and Sean Vanaman created a video game podcast called Idle Thumbs so they could share their conversations about the game industry beyond their close circle. Turns out a lot of people were just as interested in hearing what they had to say, tuning in weekly to listen as Chris, Jake, and Sean held candid, often humorous discussions about games and culture. Though they had a loyal audience, the costs of running the free podcast simply became too much. But fear not! The Idle Thumbs team is ready to stage a comeback, and offering exclusive music, games, and artwork as rewards. Based on the early enthusiasm of backers, looks like Idle Thumbs won't be idle for long. — Cindy A. 

Theft-Resistant Bike Light, by Gotham Bicycle Defense

If the last thing you want to be is the invisible jerk who's speeding down the Manhattan Bridge at midnight on a bike with no lights, Brad Geswein and Slava Menn have got you covered. After their friend had his bike lights stolen and was subsequently hit by a car, the two MIT grad school buddies decided to do their part in making city biking safer. So they've created The Defender — a bright, waterproof and virtually unstealable bike headlight that looks like the cylinder of a revolver. When I dream of bike safety (hey, it happens), I dream of this. — Nicole H. 

Martha Burns: Solo CD of Old Time Songs, by Martha Burns

I've been noticing (and definitely loving) a trend of lady folksters on Kickstarter. Martha Burns is the latest — I'm entirely taken with her sweet, simple story, her lovely voice, and her declaration that she sings, specifically, "very old songs."  ("Back when the phonograph was a brand new sensation!" "Songs that people traveled across mountains to record!") I love the way cultural ephemera can serve as catch-alls for historical anecdote. It's wonderful to find out about the world through a song that has been, and will continue to be, sung again and again and again. Comforting. — Cassie M.

Jesus, Don't Let Me Die Before I've Had Sex, by Matt Barber