It's been a long strange trip since iconic musician Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995. He is possibly one of the best loved figures in American music via his work with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band. Director Malcolm Leo, whose work includes the quintessential Elvis documentary This Is Elvis (revered by many as one of the top ten music documentaries of all time) and films on The Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills & Nash, has had an unreleased filmed interview with Garcia from 1987 in his personal archives -- until now.

Jerry The Movie is being built around Leo's interview with Garcia at the height of his charm, brilliance and success. Drawing from this intimate interview as well as new interviews with Jerry's contemporaries, photographs and concert footage, Leo is creating a singular portrait of an American icon that graced our lives through music, art and the counter-culture of the sixties. Jerry opens up his heart and describes the things he believed in, valued and loved. The documentary will include unreleased footage, home movies and rare performances.

Producers Malcolm Leo and John Hartmann asked themselves "What would Jerry do?" to get this film released to the public and received their answer loud and clear. If Jerry were to seek financing for this film, he would go to the one place where he could always find support: the people. When the producers announced the project earlier this year, they were met with an outpouring of interest from fans who wanted to participate. That's where Kickstarter.com comes in.

The funding page and video featuring clips of Garcia speaking can be viewed at www.jerrythemovie.com.

Leo/Hartmann Productions has created an exciting Kickstarter rewards package that begins with having one's name added to the list of supporters for a pledge of $1. Other rewards provide t-shirts, posters, CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, box-sets, and tickets to private screenings, all the way up to an "Associate Producer" credit. The Kickstarter program will run through December 22nd.