Sean Astin does Kickstarter

As part of his successful Kickstarter campaign, Sean Astin did numerous interviews and online chats, and took a few selfies to share with his backers. Here are a few fun pics and videos.

Sean did an interactive chat/interview with fans on October 29, hosted by Erica Pena Vest.

Sean Astin at the Alamo City Comic Con

Sean Astin attended the Alamo City Comic Con in San Antonio TX October 25-27, 2012, participating in the usual autograph signings, photo ops and Q&A session, also throwing in a quick run along the city's famed River Walk and an in-depth interview with Lisa Douglas. Let the many photos and videos commence!

Sean gives us a smoldering look!

Before the con started, Sean went for a run along San Antonio's River Walk.

Sean Astin discusses Kickstarter at FilmBreak's Fireside chat

On October 23, Sean Astin took part in a Fireside Chat hosted by FilmBreak to discuss his Kickstarter campaign to fund a second season of his political podcast, "Vox Populi: The Voice of the Occasionally Interested People." He honestly discussed the ins and outs of his Kickstarter project. Here are some photos and the video of the evening.

Sean Astin with another successful Kickstarter campaigner, Stephen Walden of Bosse Tools.

Sean Astin's Kickstarter campaign a resounding success!

Sean Astin's Kickstarter campaign to launch a second season of his political podcast "Vox Populi: The Voice of the Occasionally Interested People" was a resounding success, raising 220% of the initial funding goal of $30,000, and surpassing both stretch goals of $50,000 and $60,000. The final tally after the 30-day campaign was $66,104.

The money raised will be used to fund a second season of Vox Populi, including hiring a part-time staff including a producer, booker, social media expert and graphic artist, and to develop a mobile app for easier access to the show and its information.

With three hours to go, $62,662 had been pledged!

The increase in pledges the last few days was exponential!

For more information, visit:

• Kickstarter page
• Vox Populi web site
• Vox Populi Facebook page
• @HostVoxPopuli on Twitter

Sean Astin does parody "What Does the Vox Say?"

Joey Richter and Team Starkid join Sean Astin in a parody of the popular music video What the Fox Say to promote his Kickstarter Campaign. Check it out and then visit StartTheVox.com!

Press Release: Sean Astin Reaches Kickstarter Goal!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Sean Astin Personal PR

David Lust, Rogers & Cowan (310) 854-8133 davidl@rogersandcowan.com

Lana Rushing, Rushing PR (310) 428-1805 lana@rushingpr.com

SEAN ASTIN REACHES KICKSTARTER GOAL IN SUPPORT OF ONLINE POLITICAL RADIO SHOW VOX POPULI; ANNOUNCES NEW STRETCH GOALS TO INSPIRE FINAL DONATIONS

Astin Joins Other Celebrities -- Including Spike Lee and Zach Braff -- Who Have Turned to Crowdfunding for Important Projects

LOS ANGELES (October 24, 2013) – Popular film and television actor and political enthusiast Sean Astin has successfully reached his Kickstarter crowdfunding goal of $30,000 to help produce a second season of his online political radio show Vox Populi: Voice of the ‘Occasionally Interested’ People. The show first launched in May 2012 and has already streamed 31 two-hour episodes over the Internet, brilliantly matching guests with opposing viewpoints. The premise of the show is to use civil discourse to explore often hot-button topics. Astin expertly interviews notable subjects while effortlessly guiding the broader conversation, creating a unique and accessible model for political talk radio. 

Inspired by the recent buzz around crowdfunding, and having heard of other notable celebrities who have run successful campaigns, Astin turned to Kickstarter to raise funds for his passion project. “Crowdfunding is a great litmus test for any project,” Astin said. “It’s a powerful market research tool that help creators determine if there’s enough consumer interest in their project to justify moving forward -- myself included.” Astin’s campaign has raised $34,313 (and growing) from 375 backers, with an average donation of $90. 

“I’ve had to hustle from day one,” Astin commented. “I have literally contacted everyone I know to help drive awareness and donations for my campaign. I believe in it that much.” Astin recently partnered with FilmBreak, an integrated marketing and distribution platform for filmmakers and studios, to assist with strategy, branding and execution of the campaign. For instance, FilmBreak helped Astin to develop “stretch goals” – new fundraising goals beyond the original target – to incentivize new and existing backers to support the campaign. 

Now that he has exceeded his original target of $30,000 – which will be used to secure a physical infrastructure for the show, hire part-time staff and immediately produce a full second season of his show – Astin has introduced new goals. For instance, if he can reach $50,000, Astin will be able to hire a full-time producer, and if he reaches $60,000, he’ll be able to develop a Vox Populi app.   

At a recent event hosted by FilmBreak at Cross Campus in Santa Monica, Astin announced a slew of new rewards as well, including a sit-down chat over coffee for $500 (Los Angeles only), or a personal appearance at an event with a one-hour question-and-answer session and another one-hour event photo and autograph session for $10,000. “I know that experiential rewards are really compelling for my fans, and I’m willing to go to bat for my show and for them by offering these kinds of options,” Astin said. With just seven days to go in his campaign, Astin is hopeful that he can close out his campaign with complete success, and continue bringing Vox Populi to life.  

About Sean Astin

Sean Astin (born February 25, 1971) is an American film actor, director, voice artist and producer best known for his film roles as 'Samwise Gamgee' in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, 'Mikey Walsh' in "The Goonies," and the title character of "Rudy." In television, he appeared as 'Lynn McGill' in the fifth season of "24" and currently voices 'Raphael' in the Nickelodeon "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" TV series. Astin is currently in production for the much-anticipated series "The Strain" for FX based on Guillermo del Toro's Novel Series.

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Sean Astin on TORN Tuesdays

Sean Astin was a guest on theonering.net's TORN Tuesdays last evening, talking about politics, his Kickstarter project for his podcast Vox Populi: Voice of the Occasionally Interested People and a variety of other topics, including (of course!) The Lord of the Rings and its themes of loyalty and Christianity, Tolkien's language and more. Watch the show below.

TORN Tuesdays host Cliff Broadway and Sean Astin prepare for the broadcast.

Sean Astin radio interviews

Here are links to some of the radio interviews Sean Astin did recently promoting his Kickstarter campaign and the season 2 premiere of Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

October 9 Kickstarter promotion:

• Stephanie Miller Show 
• KZRR 94.1 Albuquerque NM 

October 11 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle promotion:

• KQTZ 105.9 Altus OK 
• KFRR 104.1 Fresno CA 
• WBZN 107.3 Bangor ME

October 17 Kickstarter promotion:

• JAMZ 93.1 Madison WI

Updated Oct 17, 2013

Are You a Fan of Sean Astin? Please Read.

Are you a fan of Sean Astin?

Is The Goonies the memory of your childhood, with adventure around every corner and treasure in the attic? Did Rudy show you that determination and persistence can win you your dreams? Did Samwise show that size is no indication of courage when there are love and loyalty in your heart? We should thank Sean for these incredible life lessons.

Did Doug’s lisp and pec dance make you laugh? Did Mister Smith make your heart ache? Did Billy Tepper set your heart racing? Dave, Lynn McGill, Twoflower, Harrison Bergeron, Raphael, Special Agent Oso… all these memorable characters and more were created by Sean Astin and have given us countless hour of entertainment. We should thank him for that.

Did Sean’s #run3rd campaign inspire you to live a healthier lifestyle, to get off the sofa and start walking or running? To eat healthier and exercise more? Did he #run3rd for YOU, with your cause in his heart? He is owed our deepest thanks for that.

Are you tired of the partisan politics and bickering? Do you want a place to hear the issues of the day discussed without rancor and shouting? Sean has an answer for that: his podcast “Vox Populi: The Voice of the Occasionally Interested People.” You can check it out here: http://toadhopnetwork.com/f/Vox. 

Now Sean has started a Kickstarter campaign to improve his show. This is something very close to his heart; it matters to him. You can check out the details and progress of his campaign, and the assorted and very cool rewards at http://startthevox.com. Please pledge. The amount doesn’t matter. Every dollar helps, though there is no way we can really repay him.

But this is a way to thank him.

http://startthevox.com

Thank you.

Sean Astin to run Chicago Marathon October 13

Sean Astin has run four LA Marathons and one San Francisco Marathon. On Sunday October 13, he will add Chicago to the list of cities that he has run 26.2 miles in.

Sean was interviewed via Skype on Chicago's WCIU-TV today. He talks not only about running, but his Vox Populi Kickstarter campaign as well.



He was also interviewed by the Chicago Sun Times:

Sean Astin of ‘Rudy,’ ‘Lord of the Rings’ fame ready for Chicago Marathon
By Mitch Dudek

People tend to recognize actor Sean Astin (think “Goonies,” “Rudy” or “Lord of the Rings”) in starting corals before marathons.

Press Release: Sean Astin Launches Kickstarter Crowd Sourcing Campaign

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 

WHO:	Popular film and television actor and political enthusiast, Sean Astin has just launched a crowd funding effort to raise $30,000 from Kickstarter to take his Vox Populi online political radio show to the next level. With the government shut down, average people are looking at elected officials and wondering why they aren't communicating. Astin's show is an example of how that can be effectively done.
WHAT:	The weekly show (Broadcast on the Toad­-Hop Network) brilliantly matches guests with opposing viewpoints. The premise of the show is to use civil discourse to explore often hot button topics. Sean expertly interviews notable subjects while effortlessly guiding the broader conversation, creating a unique model for political talk radio. Currently he has completed thirty-five 2 hour shows with 12,000-15,000 loyal listeners each week. The KickStarter, once funded, will help create a more fully produced listening and viewing experience, continuing the important conversations which cover politics, government and world events.
WHEN:	October 1, 2013 through October 30, 2013
WHERE:	Astin's Kickstarter fund can be found here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1537018232/vox-populi-voice-of-the-occasionally-interested-pe
MORE:	About Sean Astin: Sean Astin (born February 25, 1971) is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer best known for his film roles as 'Samwise Gamgee' in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, 'Mikey Walsh' in "The Goonies," and the title character of "Rudy." In television, he appeared as 'Lynn McGill' in the fifth season of "24" and currently voices 'Raphael' in the Nickelodeon "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" TV series. Astin is currently in production for the much anticipated series "The Strain" for FX based on Guillermo del Toro's Novel Series.

CONTACT: For interview requests or more information:
	David Lust	Vice President	Rogers & Cowan	davidl@rogersandcowan.com
	Sean Astin	Founder and Host	Vox Populi	seanastinvoxpopuli@gmail.com

Sean Astin's Vox Populi Kickstarter Project

Sean Astin has opened a Kickstarter Project to help fund advancements for his popular political podcast, "Vox Populi: The Voice of the Occasionally Interested People," which airs and is archived on toadhopnetwork.com/f/Vox

Sean explains how the funds will be used:



Here is Sean's personal message about the project: