Countdown for ‘Pogey Beach’
Crowd-funding campaign for P.E.I. movie has less than $15,000 left to raise by Wednesday’s deadline
The creators behind the popular P.E.I. web series “Just Passing Through” are hoping that fans will take another trip with them to “Pogey Beach”.
A crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter has so far raised $35,617, more than 71 per cent, of a $50,000 goal required to create feature film about the fictional P.E.I. beach.
After a successful campaign to fund the second season of “Just Passing Through”, director and co-creator Jeremy Larter said his goal was to hit the 75 per cent mark by the weekend.
“If we can get it to that with five days left, we know that people want to be a part of it and at that point they can smell it,” said Larter, a P.E.I. native now living in Toronto, during an interview earlier this week.
“It feels like when it gets that close, people take it upon themselves. They don’t want to see it fail.”
The campaign has until the evening of Wednesday, July 27, to raise the remaining amount, which was $14,383 as of Friday evening.
Donors will also receive rewards based on the amount they give, ranging from stickers and shirts to a thank-you in the credits, a speaking role in the movie and even the chance to be credited as an associate producer.
The film would be based on the fictional TV show and movie the characters watch throughout the web series, which has cultivated a devoted fanbase since its debut in 2012.
The “show-within-a-show” has also seemed to generate its own following, with a 10-minute short garnering more than 100,000 views on YouTube and individual clips being watched more than 600,000 times on Facebook.
Larter said the average Kickstarter contribution has also gone up this time around.
“There are more people going for lines in the show,” said Larter, who added the contributions will be refunded if the goal isn’t met. “It’s all or nothing.”
The other writers and co-creators include Larter’s brother Jason, Robbie Moses and Geoff Read.
The film, which promises to be the “greasiest, raunchiest movie ever made in Canada,” will also take some influence from the 1991 Patrick Swayze beach thriller, “Point Break”.
“There’s a lot of influence from that and the old beach movies from the ’60s,” said Larter. “It’s basically a way for us to kind of go totally ridiculous.”
Creating the movie also doesn’t mean the possibility of Writer and co-creator Robbie Moses shows off one of the shirts that will be given as a reward to fans who donate to the Kickstarter campaign to fund a “Pogey Beach” movie. Those familiar with “Just Passing Through” will recognize the Maritime Mafia from the web series’ first season. a third season of “Just Passing Through” is dead.
Larter said the group has been discussing the idea of a “Pogey Beach” movie since January 2014.
They hope it could reach some new fans, while also tying over “Just Passing Through” diehards until a new season is possibly made.
“We thought the movie had more potential to reach people who’ve never seen the show. It’s kind of the same audience but not totally the same,” said Larter. “If we can get another season of the show going, this would bridge that gap.” A 37-year-old man was arrested Thursday and is facing charges of producing marijuana and possessing it for the purpose of trafficking. The arrest is the result of an ongoing drug investigation. Kings District RCMP street-level drug unit used a warrant to search a residence in the community of Gairloch. Officers allege they seized approximately 175 marijuana plants, indoor and outdoor grow-operation equipment, as well as a quantity of harvested marijuana. The man was released on a promise to appear in provincial court at a later date. Summerside Police responded to a complaint of sexual assault in Rotary Friendship Park Wednesday. The call came in at about 1:30 p.m. A man reported that he was sitting in his vehicle eating lunch when he was approached by another man he didn’t know. The victim said the second man made small talk with him then suddenly reached into his vehicle and touched him inappropriately. The suspect then fled into the park. A 69-year-old Summerside area man was arrested a short time later by police. He will be appearing in court at a later date to answer to a charge of sexual assault. The suspect was released on conditions to have no contact with the victim and also to remain away from the Rotary Friendship Park.