I think you're really taking it the wrong way. Jodorowsky isn't some franchise, constantly plundering his catalogue for new ways to rip us off; you say "merchandise", but it's not like there are El Topo coffee mugs or Santa Sangre plushies he's always pushing. The guy has always been very uncompromising with his work, and while that was able to get him financing 20, 30, 40 years ago, in today's film industry, it's not. So why not cut out the middle man and appeal directly to his fans?

Don't get me wrong-I respect his films that I've seen but I was angry because I see this as a manipulation of his fans. Granted there's no Holy Mountain coffee mugs but I still think he is wrong to ask his fans to fund his movie-In the music industry there are countless artists who completely self finance, distribute and promote their music-these people only ask their fans to buy their cds, dvds and go to their gigs. Why shouldn't it be enough for jodorowsky to accept fans already buy his films on dvd and self finance this project. Others have managed like the others said without seeing their fans as cash cows. I just think this is extremely wrong and should be discouraged

The scale of financing a movie is so much more than that of a music cd. The entire cost of recording and releasing a self-produced music cd would be easily eaten up by one day on a movie set. The comparison between the two isn't really a fair one.

Exactly. It costs relatively very little time and money to self-produce an album. Getting a film financed is a very different thing.

As someone who has played in a band for a number of years, and has recently taken an interest in independent film production, the costs are astronomically different. An album being recorded, produced and cds made will often cost around £400 if you do it cheap. Low end movie budgets average around £250,000 from script to distribution.

If an artist (in any regard) is struggling to finance his work, I don't think it is unreasonable to ask people who want to see your art, to help out if they can. People who have the money to spare and want to give it, are more than welcome. And in return, they get a special copy of the end product. Special and collector editions of films can often sell for massive amounts of money anyways, so I don't see the issue for dedicated fans to pay out, and also know that they helped a piece of art from a legendary director being made.

£400??? what planet are you living on?-Loreena Mckennitt, ani difranco and many others have been self-financing ALL their work since the 1980s-that's ALL cds, touring, multinational distribution of ALL their cds, recording costs, advertising etc. If they can manage to self sacrifice for their art and vision for decades then why can't jodorowsky find the funding for ONE movie. Instead he is manipulating his fans into giving him money and I don't care if I am the only one who says so.

Where's John Lennon when you need him? ;)

I'd like to see what Jodorowsky would come up with these days. I enjoyed José Mojica Marins' last film... although a lot of people didn't seem to.

Have you guys watched Tusk or The Rainbow Thief? Worth checking out?

Same here, man. I really enjoyed Embodiment of Evil. I thought it was very much in spirit with his early films.
I haven't seen Tusk or The Rainbow Thief; they're hard to get a hold of.