Driving Jersey producer Steve Rogers often uses road metaphors for the series he created 7 years ago. “It’s unavoidable,” Rogers said, “with a name like Driving Jersey, it’s practically expected.” This year, the show’s fifth on PBS (NJTV), Rogers said was some of the “toughest miles” they’ve driven in years. “We had a lot of great adventures out on the road, but it really took its toll on our wheels and left our tank nearly empty.” That’s why the guys from the Emmy nominated series are asking for some help. “Unlike most PBS programs,” Rogers said, “we’re not sponsored by a long list of corporations. We get by on our own dime, which means we have complete freedom, but it also means when we’re hit with major expenses we’re in jeopardy of stalling.”
Rogers and his crew are reaching out to their friends, fans and former subjects and asking them to contribute what they can through the crowd-funding website Kickstarter. “This is only the second time we’ve appealed to the public for help in our seven year run.” The first fundraiser for Driving Jersey concluded in the days just after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. “Because we had no power,” Rogers said, “I was in the dark, in my car texting friends and family, asking them to spread the word and share our need.” Rogers recalled hearing from a former crew-mate in those dark days after the super storm. “He reached out to me through text and explained that he would do whatever it took to help us reach our goal, because he felt like our work would be important to people after the high-water subsided, after the debris settled.”
Kickstarter.com only releases funds raised, to projects that reach the goal they set for themselves. Fortunately for Rogers and his team, the goal was achieved and Driving Jersey devoted three episodes to chronicling the human aspects of the aftermath of Sandy. “That was important to us,” Rogers said, “we really mean it when we say this is a people project, so doing what we could to help people and highlight the tragedy and need that was out there, was us trying to directly connect the dots of gratitude we had for people helping us.” Driving Jersey is currently in production on its fifth season for PBS and the funds that the project needs is, in Rogers’ words, “to fuel our mission to complete this season and to get us rolling along on our sixth.”
Rogers explained that in 2015 the project’s vehicle went down and a new camera and other equipment was needed as well. “It happens … you go along for awhile without an issue and then everything seems to go, all in the same year. We’re just hoping that fans and friends care enough and enjoy the show enough to give what they can. Without that support,” Rogers concluded, “it’s likely that the show will go on indefinite hiatus … basically, we’ll be in the front yard on cinder-blocks.”
Those interested in contributing can go to: http://kck.st/1Ovy6Xr.
For more information about Driving Jersey or to follow the progress of the fundraiser, go to www.DrivingJersey.com or check them out on Facebook. Driving Jersey appears on PBS on NJTV in NJ, NY, PA, CT and DE to over 2.2 million households.