As I mentioned back in a post in April, KickStarter is a great way for filmmakers to raise funds for projects they’re working on. It’s also a good way to get the money to complete a larger version of a short film. IndieFlix filmmaker Gayle Kirschenbaum is currently on a mission to fund a longer version of her short documentary, “My Nose.”

Kyle Boynton: We love the dynamic between you and your Mom, how has this project changed the relationship?

Gayle Kirschenbaum: It has actually brought us closer. I was surprised to discover how thick my mom’s skin is. When the Washington Post featured us on the cover of their Style section, and the first line into it the journalist wrote if you have a mother like Gayle Kirschenbaum you should get yourself into psychoanalyst, my mother’s reaction was, “Great, I’m on the cover of the Washington Post. Bad press is better than no press.”

KB: Plastic surgery is a serious topic, yet you kept a humorous tone throughout the film. Was this important to you?

GK: Yes, absolutely. I think the most important thing in life is be able to laugh. To laugh at yourself, to laugh at what life shows us. I like to even see the humor in tragedy. That is all we have. Laughter is healing and when we smile and laugh we feel good inside.

KB: Was there any hesitation in putting your relationship on display?

GK: No, not all. And in fact, in this short film we barely touched the surface of our relationship. That you will see in depth in our feature documentary we are working on called My Nose: The Bigger Version.

KB: How do you feel about the short documentary genre?

GK: I think the short documentary is a great way of telling a wonderful short story. It keeps you focused on communicating one powerful message and is quite effective.

KB: Was it always your intention to use the short film to help fund the feature length?

GK: No, not at all. What actually happened was the short film was cut to together as a promo for a feature documentary and was selected as part of the IFP conference. It was at that time that Annette Insdorf, a film critic and academic at Columbia University, saw it. I was hoping she would introduce me to angel/EP who can finance the film. Instead she asked if I would mind if she started recommending it to film festivals. I told her it was a promo, and she told me it was a great short film and could only help me with the feature film. So I got a composer to create original music so I would own the music rights, and smacked on credits, and released it as a short. It took off and had a three-year run in the festivals and other venues worldwide, winning Best Film. And unexpectedly I became an “accidental therapist” helping others deal with a critical parent and transform difficult relationships. It became apparent that I needed to finish the feature film as soon as possible.

KB: Tell us about your KickerStarter campaign. How is it going so far?

GK: It took off really fast and furious. And then it slowed down. I heard this is the trend. We are working away, creating partnerships with several. We are getting a fair amount of press including Psychology Today, Boston Globe. Psych Central and many blogs. It’s a great way to create awareness for your project and find potential big money donors.

KB: What drew you to the site and would you recommend it for other filmmakers?

GK: Yes, I would recommend it but you need to be prepared and have a team put together. You can’t do everything yourself. And it’s a full time job. The folks at KickStarter told me that the shorter campaigns are more successful because there is a sense of urgency, and also their friends use social media to spread the word, and it goes viral.

KB: Quick–in 100 words or less, why should our readers donate to My Nose: The Bigger Version?

GK: Everybody has a mother and everybody has issues with a loved one. The film is universal. Due to the success and reaction to “My Nose,” I believe this film will have a tremendous impact and will not only entertain but heal many. They will learn how to resolve a relationship with a critical parent or loved one. The film will be widely seen and already has broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors waiting for it, including HBO where my previous films have premiered. We have outreach partners set up. Mom and I have opened our lives, shared our secrets in order to help others. HBO wrote, “I love your style. You have an infectious on-camera personality and your mother is a force.”

Thank you, Gayle! Best of luck on the campaign!

What about you readers? Want to take advantage of Kick Starter? Take a look at Gayle’s page and help support indie film! And if you haven’t seen “My Nose” yet, sign up for an IndieFlix membership and watch today!