Distributor Mercury Media plans to used an innovative funding model to move into production for the first time, with a film about Manchester United.

The doc specialist will trail the campaign by supporters consortium The Red Knights to force Manchester United owners the Glazer family into selling the sports giant.

The company is aiming to raise around half of the £120,000-150,000 needed for the documentary, titled Green & Gold Revolution, through crowd sourcing.

It will invite the 160,000 members of the Manchester United Supporter’s Trust to donate anything up to £650 online, while it is hoped that other fans will also contribute. The rest of the cash will be raised through pre-sales.

“This is our first real toe into production,” said Mercury Media chief executive Tim Sparke. “We want to be involved in making docs and I would like to think we will doing one or two big projects a year.”

Norwegian broadcaster TV2 has already agreed to acquire the doc, while Sparke is also in conversations with a UK outfit. Green & Gold Revolution will be executive produced by Sparke and directed by Anna Edwards.

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