Veronica Mars was a short-lived TV mystery how (2004-2007) with a huge cult following— one that loved the show so much that the devoted fans of the crime drama about a female student who moonlights as a private investigator helped fund its silver screen debut.

The movie, which stars our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Kristen Bell, opens today in select theaters.

It has had quite the unprecedented, unconventional and film industry-changing run to get here.

Last year, screenwriter Rob Thomas turned to the crowd fund sourcing Kickstarter platform, an online hub that enables underfunded creatives with little resources and contacts to raise money for their projects from members of the public. Creatives share their plea with friends and the online community and supporters can pitch in from $2 to $5,000 or more to help make their dream come true. In exchange, donors get advanced copies of the product, autographed copies of movie posters or other benefits. They usually do not get a share in the profits that would come about from the project, however.

In record time, last year, 4 hours and 24 minutes, the Veronica Mars Movie campaign  raised $1 million. By the time the Kickstarter clock ended, 91,585 backers helped raise $5.5 million. It even got a million dollar donation from one source.

The movie shot last summer and will be available shortly after it leaves theaters in May. Bellyitch is giving away a copy of the movie of the Digital HD DVD to one lucky reader in the US or Canada!

ENTER BELOW!

But first, think you know all there is to know about Neptune, California? Test your Veronica Mars knowledge with all 3 levels of super-fan trivia and find out if you are the ultimate Marshmallow!

 (For those who don’t know, that is the term for Veronica Mars’ die hard fans)

Click below to test your knowledge • Veronica Mars: Purity Test Marshmallow Super-fan Trivia –