Crowdfunding used to be a last resort for projects that couldn’t raise money any other way. But in the movie business over the past year, a growing number of accomplished directors, producers and screenwriters have turned to the masses to avoid the hassle of dealing with overbearing studios. While contributions are technically considered donations, backers are rewarded with everything from free digital downloads to dinner with the directors. (An art print by Colin Fix, shown at right, is a gift for donors who give $60 or more to Zach Braff’s new project.) Some moviemakers even give backers small roles in their movies. The enticements are working: In the past two months, two movie projects have raised more than $1 million each from ordinary fans. Here are some of the most talked-about film projects that moviegoers are making possible.
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