Thread: Some suggestions for indie film financing. Paths that are proven to work, with links. For docs and low budget scripted (under $3mm) #screenwriting #writingcommunity #producing
Docs and docu-series: This is the greatest era in history for docs. Get on it! If you don’t have a fiscal sponsor yet- who gives investors a tax write-off and you get the money- look at siesociety.org I like Creative Visions and Partnerships for Change
Crowdfunding: is BYOC (bring your own crowd) really helps to have an investor match funds. It’s also a fulltime job. You need to seed the interest to surface the campaign on their site. Try for less money or a short if you haven’t done it before. Hire a campaign manager if u can
A mistake that filmmakers make is they eye big name film investors who get hit up a lot and are more likely to be unapproachable, too busy or unreachable. Look outside the film biz to other arenas. (@abigaildisney knows.) So let’s talk about what investors want:
Investors want different things. Some want first money out plus 10-20%. Some just want to know they made a difference and the impact. Some want the glamour and the awards fun. Some want legacy. Know your investor.
There’s a rule in Hollywood: never spend your own money. But people do self-fund their own projects. It’s not ideal as you really want to prove you have partners who believe in the project enough to fund it. There are great grants/contests like Impact Partners who funded ICARUS
Producers will use territory presales and shoot films where the film incentives are strong. Writers, don’t be precious about where your story is set. If producers find money, locations will change.
What kind of money, you ask? There’s “soft money” which means tax incentives, rebates and such- even free hotels or locations- this goes city by city and also country. Ireland has some of the best out there. Set all your productions in Ireland! screenireland.ie/funding/
One thing I teach in the Entertainment Business School is how to look for investors in your own back yard. Folks in your community who have boring, well paying jobs- like dentistry. When was the last time you talked to yours? Mine is a world traveler who loves movies :)
If you have a sound vision, script, cast, director and the budget is lower, you can also film outside the US for cheaper and then sell/distribute here for better profit margins. Netflix does this all day long. If the script is high concept all the better.
Indie financing is really hard. Investors may lose their money. Your best skillset to ensure they don’t is marketing- you want to control some ad spend and build an email list of fans- early. Very, very early. It’s never too early.
The film markets are a great place to network to find investors and backers. AFM, Berlin, Toronto. For whatever reason, people get wealthy in other industries and then want to get into film. Sales materials- decks, reels, trailers help you close them. Team up! Go in pairs.
These are just some of the things I teach in the Entertainment Business School. Doors close Dec 22nd for our next class so get your application in now! The am class is full already. Plus you get my 2022 vision workshop as a bonus: EntertainmentBusinessSchool.com
Now go get that money! Whether it’s for a short film, doc or feature, your dream is possible. Find your team and go for it! A great script and great people can be all it takes to succeed ✨
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