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Roger Ebert documentary, ‘Life Itself,’ launches crowd-funding drive

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“Life Itself,” a documentary about the life of film critic Roger Ebert, launched a crowd-funding campaign Wednesday to raise $150,000 through the website Indiegogo.

The film, which is directed by “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James and produced by Martin Scorsese, is based on Ebert’s memoir of the same name.

In exchange for a $25 donation, supporters will receive a link to view “Life Itself” in advance of its theatrical release, which is planned for early 2014 under the CNN Films banner.

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James began production on the movie in December 2012, four months before Ebert died of cancer. Ebert had been an early champion of James’ career, praising “Hoop Dreams” as one of the best films of the 1990s.

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According to the film’s Indiegogo campaign page, “Life Itself” will include interviews with filmmakers Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, Ramin Bahrani, Gregory Nava, Ava DuVernay and Scorsese.

On the page, James said that the film is nearly finished and that the donations would go toward post-production expenses such as music and archival footage licensing, graphics and color correction.

If the campaign exceeds its $150,000 goal, the filmmakers said they will contribute toward charitable causes relevant to Ebert’s life as a battler of cancer and lover of film.

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