One of the most popular open source programs on the internet has launched a project to crowd-fund a feature film.

Blender Foundation, the company behind the phenomenally popular 3D computer graphics software environment ‘Blender’, is looking for over half a million dollars to facilitate the massive group effort.

The Blender Institute will bring together twelve independent film studios from all over the world, including Australia, to contribute their own style and cultural influences.

The project is expected to take over 18 months, with up to eighty people participating full time, supported by a huge online community who will contribute heavily as well.

The money will come from a fundraising run and the sale of subscriptions to Blender’s archive of video lessons and independent films.

The crowd-funding is only a part of the total budget. Blender Institute says it already has 500,000 Euro in subsidies granted, has sponsors lined up for another 500,000, and has more sponsoring and subsidies in the pipeline.

Subscribers will be given full access to the whole production, while it develops, and the opportunity to suggest changes and edits to any part of the project along the way.

The film is about Michel; a lonely sheep longing to find a more interesting life. Writers say it will be a funny, absurdist and adventurous love story, directed by Mathieu Auvray.

Script development is currently ongoing and will continue until August.

More details are available from the official fundraising website. 

Blender has posted the following trailer;