‘Mad Heidi’ Raises $2 Million From Crowd Investment, Tests New Distribution Model (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentIn the first leg of what it hopes is an industry revolution, Zurich-based A Film Company has raised north of $2 million in crowd investment from 560 people across 19 counties to co-finance “Mad Heidi,” an action-adventure horror comedy reimagining of the Swiss icon.The OTT re-set includes portraying the Swiss icon Hedi as she’s never been seen before – with smocked dress, puffed sleeves, apron and pigtails, yes, but as a badass, kick-ass rebel with the brute strength to slice an opponent in two, top to toe, with a battle axe, for example.

In industrial terms, however, the change goes even further as “Mad Heidi” departs from traditional film models not only in financing but also distribution.

Starring Casper Van Dien (“Starship Troopers”) and David Schofield (“Gladiator,” “Pirates of the Carribbean”), the English-language movie, with a total $3.5 million budget, is now readying for the second and most radical part of the experiment: Exclusive global release day and date on madheidi.com, a dedicated website created by A Film Company, during a three-month exclusive window.