The Muppet Mindset: I AM BIG BIRD Needs Your Help!

Jul 19, 2012

I AM BIG BIRD Needs Your Help!

Awhile back we found out that the awesome team of filmmakers over at Copper Pot Pictures are working tirelessly to create I Am Big Bird, an upcoming documentary telling the life story of Muppeteer Caroll Spinney, who of course has performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street for over 43 years. The film is moving forward wonderfully, working its way towards post production.

Of course, money is a major part of making a film like this, and Copper Pot is in a rare situation where they need quite a bit. Besides the cost of post production, editing, filming, and other regular expenses, I Am Big Bird requires even more money to pay for the rights to rare clips featuring appearances by Big Bird or Oscar on television shows. This is where we come in! Two days ago, the filmmakers launched their I Am Big Bird Kickstarter Campaign to raise $100,000 to finish the film. If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter, it's an online fund-raising service which allows anyone and everyone to donate anywhere from $1 to any amount. Since the campaign launched on Tuesday, they have raised over $28,000 with nearly 200 backers, which is already more than a quarter of the way to their goal!

Of course, that's still not all the way, which is why we here at The Muppet Mindset are rallying the Muppet fan troops to help bring the campaign through to the end! Every donation counts--even $1 donations. Heck, if every one of our Facebook and Twitter followers donated $1, the film would raise nearly $10,000 more. But don't worry, you aren't donating for nothing. Every donation comes with an incentive for donating. Check out these amazing options below:

$1 or more: All pledges receive exclusive access to the private production blog through the course of production
$15 or more: A digital download of the film’s soundtrack, plus access to the production blog
$25 or more: A DVD of the film, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$50 or more: A BluRay disc and digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$100 or more: A DVD or BluRay signed by Caroll Spinney, a digital download of the film and soundtrack, plus access to the production blog
$250 or more: Exclusive invitation to a 60-minute group video chat with Caroll Spinney, moderated by the I AM BIG BIRD filmmakers, a DVD or BluRay signed by Caroll Spinney, a digital download of the film and soundtrack, plus access to the production blog
$350 or more: A signed 2-disc special edition DVD or BluRay, which includes cover art designed by Caroll Spinney, commentary from Caroll and the filmmakers, deleted scenes and Caroll’s never-before-seen short films, plus an invitation to the video chat, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$500 or more: A custom one-sheet of the alternate I AM BIG BIRD film poster designed by Caroll Spinney (the only time the poster will be available to the public), signed by Caroll, plus an invitation to the video chat, the 2-disc special edition DVD or BluRay, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$1000 or more: An original, signed sketch by the hand of Caroll Spinney, plus an invitation to the video chat, the signed alternate I AM BIG BIRD film poster, the 2-disc special edition DVD or BluRay, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$5000 or more: Tickets for backer and guest to attend the New York premiere of I AM BIG BIRD (travel expenses are responsibility of the backer), plus a sketch from Caroll, an invitation to the video chat, the signed alternate I AM BIG BIRD film poster, the 2-disc special edition DVD or BluRay, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog
$10,000 or more: A private dinner for the backer and guest with Caroll Spinney in New York, premiere tickets for backer and guest (travel expenses for both events are the responsibility of the backer), plus a sketch from Caroll, an invitation to the video chat, the signed alternate I AM BIG BIRD film poster, the 2-disc special edition DVD or BluRay, a digital download of the film and soundtrack and access to the production blog

See? Just $25 ensures you a DVD copy of the film! Plus, any donation of $100 or more gets you Caroll Spinney's autograph! And if you have $10,000 to spend to help out Caroll Spinney... you get to have a private dinner with him PLUS go to the premiere of the film! Can you say worth it? Doesn't get much better than that.

So please, help out our friends at Copper Pot Pictures and our longtime hero Caroll Spinney and donate, even just $1, to I Am Big Bird. You know Big Bird would want you to (and Oscar wouldn't want you to... but do it anyway)!