If you are reading this article, then chances are that you grew up anxiously awaiting the moment when your parents would relinquish the comics section of the newspaper. Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, The Family Circus, Beetle Bailey . . . all of these and more provided hours of delight each week when we got our hands on the funny papers. While these titles have expanded in their own right, often being collected into hardcover volumes and trades, print newspapers are quickly becoming non-existent as news media (and cartoons) move toward the digital age. While we may be thankful that this new digital frontier has provided us with countless webcomics to enjoy, one can only wonder what will befall the newspaper cartoonists that we have idolized for all of these years. Unwilling to allow that question to go unanswered, cartoonist Dave Kellett (Sheldon, Drive, How to Make Webcomics) and Frederick Schroeder (twice-nominated Sundance cinematographer) have set out to create
Stripped will include over 90 interviews with cartoonists and creators including Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes), Jim Davis (Garfield), Cathy Guisewite (Cathy), Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Mike & Jerry (Penny Arcade), Matt Inman (The Oatmeal), Jeff Keane (The Family Circus), Ryan North (Dinosaur Comics), Lynn Johnston (FBOFW), Zach Weiner (SMBC), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac), Jeph Jacques (Questionable Content), Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), Bill Amend (Foxtrot), Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant), and more. In addition, the film will feature an original score by Dave Matthews Band's Stefan Lessard!
The great news about the documentary is that it is nearly complete; the filming, editing, and scoring have already been finished. The reason for this Kickstarter campaign is that Kellett and Schroeder very much hope to include licensed material within the documentary, including exclusive TV appearances and interviews by famous cartoonists, which can be quite costly. While this footage is not required to complete the film, the footage will undoubtedly add to the experience for viewers, who would have the opportunity to see interviews from private archives which have not been viewed in decades.
To see a preview of the film including a number of its exciting interviews, check out the below video.
Be sure to visit the STRIPPED Kickstarter page, and don't forget to check out the backer rewards, which include an exclusive version of the film with 10 extra minutes included, signed posters of the film, and a VIP invitation to the film's Los Angeles premiere! These are only a handful of the amazing rewards available and more will be added throughout the campaign. The campaign closes on Thursday, April 4th, so be sure to donate soon!
