Fans Make All the Difference With the Internet

Earlier this week, the television show Veronica Mars which had been off the air since 2007 was in talks to start shooting a film to conclude the series. In order to fund their project and see if there was any fan support, they turned to Kickstarter which is a website that allows for people to show off their project idea and give incentives out, like if you donate $100 you get a signed t-shirt, for people to donate money to fund it. What's particularly interesting about the Veronica Mars film is that it reached its goal of $2 million within 24 hours and still has over a month before their donation period expires showing just how devoted the fans are to the franchise. What this really shows is just how easily the internet has made it for fans and artists/businesses to interact with their favourite shows or products. Not only could fans just interact with these people, such as through Twitter, but now they can actually influence the outcome of a products life.
   
Even though donations to support artists are nothing new, it's the idea and medium with which they do it that makes Kickstarter so interesting and fresh. With the added incentives for donating a certain amount, it makes the fans feel as if their donation means more than simply just throwing money at the idea and gives them a greater sense of involvement.

  

The participatory media of the internet in general have garnered a lot of responses from fans and due to this cult favourites like Arrested Development have been renewed for more episodes through funders like Netflix. So what does this say about the future of the internet? It shows just how easily something can go from just an idea to a reality if enough people feel it is worth their time. In the past this could never have been possible because without any sort of sponsored backing it was nearly impossible to organize the public in a way to get to this point.
   
Through the likes of Kickstarter we are beginning to see things which may have never seen the light of day be put up on the web for all the world to see and decide if they want it to be a reality. We've gone from just having online petitions for change to having the actual thing put in front of us with our own money being the one responsible for deciding whether it happens or not. The question is, are you in or are you out?