Earlier this year, I talked briefly about companies like Kickstarter, PledgeMusic and SliceThePie.com and how they have changed the model for gaining funding and financing for creative projects, especially in terms of music and entertainment. Just recently, I was introduced by a friend of mine to a documentary project that, as of this past week, had gained all of the necessary funding it needed to get on the road to making this project a reality. The name of the documentary is “Maree V. State” and it details Sydney Maree, once one of the world’s fastest runners and whose career serves as a metaphor for the growth and evolution of South Africa, from Apartheid to the present day, and beyond. Straight from the pages of the Kickstarter and filmmaker Pele Maree (son of Sydney Maree): “This feature-length documentary traces the parallels between Maree’s personal story and the historical, political and cultural contexts within which his life can be understood. Of particular interest are the ways in which his experiences can reveal inconvenient national truths, which have been covered up or subsumed in official histories and collective memory.”

No, this is not a music project, but it is a creative documentary that used the platform of Kickstarter to gain the necessary financing to begin productions of the film. And truthfully, it’s really a great example of how the Do-It-Yourself culture has permeated so many parts of our society, especially music, film, art and other creative avenues. What’s great about a project like “Maree V. State” is that it has the intention of informing and educating the public about an issue that is all too common in our world today, and has been for a long time. But what’s even greater is the fact that the filmmaker did not wait around for funding and did not feel the need to go the standard route of trying to access the necessary money to make his dream a reality: he went out and did it himself, and thus far has been greatly successful. And truthfully, this is just a sign of the times. Now, I’m not saying that everyone that uses a website like Kickstarter will be automatically successful in their endeavors to create their art and convey their message. It probably took Pele Maree and his team a lot of work, a lot of patience, a lot of networking and a few sleepless nights to even get to this point. But the overall point is that the effort was made, and because of that effort, Maree has successfully raised over $10,000 for “Maree V. State”

So, music makers, songwriters, entrepreneurs, marketing and creative professionals and all others looking to make their ideas turn real, take note: you may want to use the example of “Maree V. State” as a shining example of what can be accomplished these days funding-wise if you just stick with it, try different avenues, stay open-minded and stay passionate about what you’re doing. Making sure you do all of these things may just result in those much-needed finances coming your way sooner than you think.

For more information on the documentary project “Maree V. State” please visit the official website, as well as the Official Kickstarter page by clicking here.