PETALING JAYA: Independent filmmaker James Lee wants to make the first feature-length film made available for free on YouTube.
But here’s the catch, the film entitled Zombie KL 24hrs can only be materialised once he gets 5,000 supporters to vote for his latest film project via the Webe community, Malaysia’s first fully-funded crowdbacking platform where Malaysians decide which projects get funded by Webe. The deadline is June 11.
At the moment, Lee only has 786 supporters, and thus needs some 4,000 “points” before his project can be approved and RM200,000 channeled towards making the film.
The Webe community platform is headed by James Choong.
“For a project to be approved, it must get 5,000 supporters within a stipulated time, and we are optimistic that Lee can meet the target,” said Choong, who with Lee, announced the film at Artisan Platform restaurant in Seksyen 13 here last Wednesday.
To vote, download the Webe community app from the Appstore and Google Play, sign up and vote for his project.
Fans are advised to be quick, for Lee has to meet the deadline.
Zombie KL 24hrs indirectly talks about race relations, as seen through Kuala Lumpur folk reacting to a zombie attack.
Lee said: “Webe community platform is part of the Webe digital service provider. It is a community project that aims to create meaningful change via films and other projects. It funds films which the public want and vote for online.
“We hope to start filming July, and have it uploaded on YouTube in September,” he added.
Lee has roped in Shamaine Othman and Gavin Yap as co-directors, and each of them will direct one half-hour segment of the 90-minute film.
“A movie in cinemas does not play forever, whereas a YouTube movie does,” said Lee.
He has chosen zombies as his film’s topic since he is a fan of gory horror films such as the Zombies films of the 1970s.
“I grew up acquiring a taste for scary movies, but more importantly I always believed in new and effective methods to bring our filmmakers to the world,” he added.
The Webe community application for Lee’s project is at https://community.webe.com.my/projects/kl24+zombies_p295