Crowdfunding the Statue of Liberty The story behind Angel Studios’ logo goes hand-in-hand with the history of the Statue of Liberty. Stay with us, we’ll explain. In 1865, French activist Édouard de Laboulaye had the idea to gift the United States a massive statue from France. As a politician and poet, Laboulaye was a strong supporter of America and its founding principles of independence and liberty. He wanted this statue to serve as a commemoration of the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and as a celebration of the recent abolition of slavery in the United States. French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi quickly caught wind of Laboulaye’s declaration and began brainstorming a vision for what would later be known as Liberty Enlightening the World, or the Statue of Liberty. While France promised to fund the construction of the statue, America promised to secure its location and fund the pedestal it would stand on. Fundraising efforts were successful in France, but the United States was struggling to uphold their end of the bargain. In an effort to boost publicity, Bartholdi sent the Statue of Liberty’s arm and torch to Philadelphia for America’s centennial celebration in 1876. In addition, dozens of auctions, art exhibits, and theatrical events were organized to garner support—but the American public was not rallying around the cause. Statue of Liberty Torch Just as raising funds was nearing a breaking point, the New York World publisher Joseph Pulitzer took matters into his own hands and started a fundraising campaign in his newspaper asking readers to donate to the cause. In exchange for donating as little as $1, he printed each donor's name in the newspaper. Not only were the funds for the statue’s pedestal secured, but this marked the beginning of what we now call crowdfunding. On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators. Statue of Liberty Angel Studios and the Statue of Liberty Just like the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of light and hope for the world, Angel Studios’ mission is to share stories that amplify light. And just as the Statue of Liberty was the original crowdfunding project in the United States, Angel Studios utilizes a crowdfunding model where investors like yourself determine what shows we make. As such, Angel Studios' logo is inspired by the Statue of Liberty. If you look close, you’ll notice several similarities: The blue-green robes of liberty in the background The copper letters representing the original color of the statue Lady Liberty’s crown outlined in the movie lights Angel Studios Logo Angel Studios Logo with Crown We aren’t the first in the film industry to draw inspiration from the Statue of Liberty. When acclaimed Hollywood film director Frank Capra (known for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It’s a Wonderful Life) arrived by ship from Italy in New York Harbor in 1903, he remembered being completely enthralled by the State of Liberty. In fact, he recalled his father saying, “Ciccio, look! Look at that! That's the greatest light since the star of Bethlehem! That's the light of freedom! Remember that.” That sentiment beautifully articulates what Angel Studios seeks to bring to the film industry: Stories infused with light and hope that viewers from all around the world can enjoy. That’s why Angel Studios’ musical theme is taken from a line in “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” to instill a sense of empowerment and inspiration to all those who hear it. As Angel Studios continues to expand its reach, we will always stay anchored to our founding principles and true to our mission to stand as a beacon of light to the world.
