SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah filmmaker is literally starving for his art; the man fasted for 12 days to raise funds for and generate interest in his new movie.
Richard Dutcher directed the films “God’s Army," “Brigham City," “Falling” and others, but he said independent filmmaking isn’t what it was just a few years ago.
“The market place has just crashed,” he said. “It's very difficult for an independent filmmaker to make a film any more or to make money making a film.”
Dutcher’s latest project is called “The Boys at the Bar,” and he said he needs about $30,000 to make the film. With only 21 days remaining in his fundraising campaign, Dutcher made a decision that would prove hard to stomach: He decided to go on a hunger strike.
“This film, if I had been able to fund it myself I would have, but that's not possible,” he said. “And as a result it was a great learning experience for the 23 student producers to go out and raise the money for it, and these guys are starving artists. And I'm barely not starving. I'm a barely not starving artist."
Dutcher fasted for 12 days and lost 23 pounds before he called off the fast for health reasons. Dutcher said he’s glad he put himself through the ordeal.
Yeah it was worth it,” he said. “Did we make much money from the project this way? I don't think so, but it brought some notice to the film.”
