Filmmakers behind The Apprentice, a biographical drama starring Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump, have resorted to crowdfunding to support its theatrical release.
Ahead of the movie’s October 11 release, the producers have launched a Kickstarter campaign called Release the Apprentice. Crowdfunding is a very unusual route for major releases, but according to a press release which has been seen by Variety, The Apprentice writers believe their movie is dealing with a particular set of circumstances that are unparalleled.
It wants to “keep the film in as many theatres for as long as possible,” which wouldn’t be necessary if old distribution methods were going to work.
Previously, indie studio Briarcliff Entertainment said it planned to release The Apprentice for US audiences less than a month before Trump takes on Kamala Harris in the country’s presidential election.
The Apprentice by Ali Abbasi is a 1970s-set drama about the early years of Trump’s business career, including his thorny relationship with notorious New York City prosecutor Roy Cohn-a part played by Jeremy Strong.
The film has been embroiled in scandal since its first showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, owing largely to a salacious scene of Trump raping his then-wife Ivana, played by Maria Bakalova. In fact, this very scene has both backlash and significant media attention going for the film, making it one of the more talked-about titles at the festival. The Trump campaign tried to block the release of the film in May.
Rewards for donors to the Kickstarter campaign come in a number of different tiers. For example, a pledge of $25 enables backers to stream the film after it has been released in theaters, and a donation of $100 secures the name of the donor in a special section of the end credits of the film.
Higher-level pledges include more unique memorabilia, such as one of three real toupees worn by Stan during filming, for those willing to pledge a bit more significantly. Also included are the VIP tickets to attend the movie’s premiere in New York City.
The film “is first and foremost humanist,” according to its executive producer Amy Baer. The film tries to give a story that is in great contrast to the polarized political manner that Trump has been portrayed. She affirms it is the human story behind the controversial figure, and not the political noise, which the film has focused on.
