Remember... The Road Hard Campaign

While the rest of us were stuffing our fat faces and getting hammered at a cookout, Adam Carolla was beginning to lay the foundation to his next movie, Road Hard. On July 3rd Carolla launched a crowdfunding campaign on Donald Trump’s FundAnything.com, a rival to the well known Kickstarter. Carolla looks to follow up his exceptional boxing movie, The Hammer, with another well received hit. The budget of that film was $1 million, so he set his Fund Anything goal for just that, $1 million. While his fans began chipping in and helping the cause Carolla also chipped in with some funny content and some fun rewards for contributors. It’s safe to say that the Fund Anything Road Hard campaign was a fun ride for both Carolla and his fans.

And there is still more to come...

The campaign kicked off early in July with an appearance by Adam on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he announced his plans for his next film.

The only early details that were really provided to the fans he was asking for financial help from, was that it would be about a comedian that had served his time on the road and had a TV deal that was paying the bills while he was able to be with his family. Then when the TV deal dried up he was forced back out on the road. He referenced guys like Bobcat Goldthwait that were forced to go back out on the road after already proving themselves, to dance for the drunken crowds that remember the old you.

While I’m sure people would have contributed regardless, obviously the best way to go is provide rewards for certain levels of contribution. Just a few of which included; a pdf of the screenplay, an advanced dvd, followed by Carolla on Twitter for a year, your name in the ending credits, a role in the film, tickets to the premiere, private stand up shows, lunch with Adam, and visiting the set.

He also announced that his writing partner from The Hammer, Kevin Hench, would be on board for Road Hard.

After releasing the full version of the Cranston video…

Just two days after posting that video, and just 10 days after this campaign began Carolla had raised $500,000, halfway to his goal.

On July 14th, one day after hitting the $500k mark, Carolla posted some more details as to the script of his new film...

“What is Road Hard?

Stand-up comedian Bruce Madsen is Prometheus, chained to a rock, having his liver pecked out by eagles. Only in his case the rock is the depressing circuit of comedy clubs he can’t escape and his tormentors are the endless carnival of nickel-and-dime club owners, horrible emcees and retarded TSA agents that populate the torture chamber comics call “the road.” Bruce has one simple question: What the hell happened? It seemed like just yesterday his TV show was a hit, he had a hot young bride and his phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Like his mythological Greek forebear, Bruce was bringing fire from the Gods to the masses then taking it to a whole new level by using that fire to light his farts on national television. Showbiz, baby. But the never-ending money train veered off course somewhere in the switching yard and Bruce ended up in an Econo Lodge in Addison, Texas, headlining a half-empty club, trying to cobble together his alimony payments and a college fund for his daughter. Maybe it’s just the box of wine and Nicorette talking, but Bruce is hearing a voice loud and clear. He must get off the road. Road Hard is the story of that journey. “

They announced some of the other cast members around this time as well. They announced that David Alan Grier would have a role, Illeana Douglas would play his wife, and Larry Miller would play his agent James Babydoll Dixon.

Carolla found himself already halfway to his goal before he really even said what it was about or who was in it. When he did finally it provided the fans with more confidence, as well as some laughs, as they looked to push onward to their goal of $1 million.

On July 23rd they surpassed the $700,000 mark and released another video with Bryan Cranston this time with a bunch of outtakes from the original, that may contain even more laughs than the actual video.

As a little celebration Carolla and his crew put together a roast on Twitter. Fans as well as Carolla’s comedian buddies were asked to roast Carolla and the film with the hashtag #RoadHard. If you missed it, hop on the Twitter machine and find some of those jokes, it will be worth it, trust me.

As far as my personal opinion goes, I can’t wait. I will admit the bias in my opinion by saying I am a contributor myself. Nothing big time, but I felt the need to contribute to someone I trust to create a film I will admire. The Hammer was great. Actually I should go back and misspell his name a few times maybe he’ll mention us on the podcast.