This is exactly what incorporations were initially built for.
5 local businessmen want to build a ferry across the river. Nobody can afford it, or the risk. They all think it will benefit their community, their businesses, and maybe bring in a few bucks.
So they buy "shares", sharing the costs and the benefits.
I'd consider putting some cash towards a Whedon-backed production company, and then buy the DVD (though being an Aussie, I'm not sure if I can buy US shares). He might gain or lose money, I don't really care - it would be worth the risk just to see what he does.
unfortunately, some of the suggestions are coming dangerously close to what US securities laws were initially built for.
the kickstarter route, where fillion owns the property seems fine, but once you're talking about offering shares of a company to fans that would own the franchise, that's hard to see how that wouldn't be a violation of securities laws as an unregistered public offering.
"Legend of the Galactic Heroes" was produced in a similar fashion as a sprawling 110 episode animated series adapted from a series of novels. People in Japan paid money as a subscription, then got a videocassette in the mail. For a sufficiently rabid fanbase, it is indeed possible.
5 local businessmen want to build a ferry across the river. Nobody can afford it, or the risk. They all think it will benefit their community, their businesses, and maybe bring in a few bucks.
So they buy "shares", sharing the costs and the benefits.
I'd consider putting some cash towards a Whedon-backed production company, and then buy the DVD (though being an Aussie, I'm not sure if I can buy US shares). He might gain or lose money, I don't really care - it would be worth the risk just to see what he does.