I'm gearing up to get my film career on track and plan to produce and direct a couple shorts in the following year. I came up with what I believe is an interesting and potentially clever way to raise money for the shorts and I need feedback on if I'm completely out in left field or if it's a good idea.
Problem: raising money for short films is almost futile because they won't make a profit.
Solution: since my long term plan involves making 2-3 shorts and then moving onto a feature film (already in pre-production), then perhaps I can offer a special package to people who choose to invest in the short films.
ie. Investor agrees to put $5,000 into short film. Because of that, he's now able to invest money in the feature film at double the rate of return. So let's assume Investor wants to put another $10,000 into the feature film (budgeted at $300,000), they would receive a return on the profits (if any) as if they had invested $20,000.
Ashley Lynch
www.gingerbreadgirlproductions.com
And what happens if you don't make the feature film? Does the investor get his money back?
The most important thing is that if you dont have experience then the chances are very less...very less....even if you give them the guarantee of their investments being safe (if you make the film and get less return then investment or you fail to make the film) even they they will be reluctant and they will prefer some one with experience...
adeel akhter
adeel akhter
Hi Ashley,
Well done for thinking outside the square! It's certainly difficult to raise money for film, especially shorts, and good on you for looking for a new way.
What an investor will want is a very clear and smart strategy that gives them a good chance of returns. Now, while it sounds nice that they will get more value for money on the feature - not so much so when you consider that features are almost as risky for investment as short films. It's a hard ask. $10,000 vs $20,000 still equals $0 if the film isn't profitable.
If you are going to get investors to agree, you therefore have to have a business plan that shows they will stand to make a good return financially OR appeal to something else the investors want. For example, a low budget Aussie feature film made a number of years ago, Russian Bride, was funded largely by the local Russian Jewish community as this minority group wanted to see their culture represented on screen. Whether they made money wasn't as important.
Be strategic - show how the short films will work to benefit the feature. I.e. its not for your "practice", but rather they are teasers to the feature (same topic / theme / tone) through which you have a strategy that will build a large eager audience who will then await release of the feature film - and even help spread the word online through social networking sites.
Combine these two thoughts - find a hot topic that people with money will get behind, and incorporate it into your films. E.g. The Age of Stupid is about global warming, and was financed by ordinary people croudsourcing because they believe this an important topic that needed an indie film to spread the word. You could make a few short films on a hot topic with the intention they go viral - this will stand a reasonable chance of being funded by a concerned individual or organisation - and if the shorts are successful, trade off on this success to make the feature.
Good luck 🙂
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For case studies and advice on innovative ways that indie filmmakers plan, finance, distribute, build audience and monetise their projects, stop by my blog - and contact me if you want your project profiled. http://yetanotherstrugglingwriter.blogspot.com
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For case studies and advice on innovative ways that indie filmmakers plan, finance, distribute, build audience and monetise their projects, stop by my blog - and contact me if you want your project profiled. http://yetanotherstrugglingwriter.blogspot.com
