Financing / Crowdfunding : What's your tips for looking for Financing and CrowdFunding? by Rohit Kumar

Dan MaxXx thanks for the link. Looking forward for this discussion

Damian Lloyd I totally understand the sales funnel you are talking about. That's why I'm posting here to know what others approached to achieve that marketing campaign

Dan MaxXx Damian Lloyd I think you guys kind of went over board before understanding my current situation of life, why I'm interested to make my short film and be film maker. So there shouldn't be any ego fight on my post between anyone. I do understand what both of you guys are trying to explain, but each of the solutions you guys are talking about isn't going to work in my situation. Here is my current scenario if you guys want to read. https://www.stage32.com/lounge/promotion/New-film-maker-here-and-need-al...

So, I don't have a credit card or a property or bank balance or any of such. And I can't even take loans because I don't have things to put up for a loan and it doesn't work that way in India. We don't have a casino either to play as you are presuming. And on top of it, working culture in India is totally different than people outside form groups or troupe to work on any kind of films, even if it's simple $500 bare min budget film. Even if you are calling up to rent a camera or photographer or even any actor or few members, in India people are going to charge you for like $50 to $100. No one works for free here. Even I know what Damian is talking about product, since I have worked on with startups, but to even see it that way, you need a funding. Even any short film can be funded if it's made for a corporate promotion too.

I'm not that naive in film making. I have been part of the short film, ad film makers too. I just right now have a broken laptop which I'm using to write stories, script and work on my website geekyurchin to use it for building connections and raising funds to atleast get me into showing people what I can do by at least by making two short films. I'm going to include crowdfunding on my website for that reason. So is why I posted this.

So if you two guys, Dan and Damian got any personal issues, beyond this post, kindly request you two to talk to each other, sort things up rather then you know have this conflict of views drag you two apart. If you have a beer and sit and talk, these things are so trivial. I'm 34 year old, not 18 or 21 to deal this anymore and time is running out for me if I don't do a film soon. I'm someone who you can put in any team, I get along and work with them. Because for me my work what I do how I put effort is more important than just "What if" scenarios and I hate pointless fights.

If you guys got issues, it's actually good thing if you two team up and make a film, rather then show it on social media or you know these differences being wasted on chats.

or If you guys along with Beth Fox Heisinger got any help beyond which helps on my website or raise funds or reach me with right kind of people or even how to approach crowdfunding, that would be great suggestion which I love to listen to. Kindly read the link I shared to understand my situation please. You don't even need Beth or I to say how to sort things up I believe.

Please help for tips on crowdfunding or for my website how to make it better rather than fight for no reason.

Hi, Rohit. Sorry about this, I will delete it from your thread to allow it to return to its topic. Other members may have further suggestions and helpful advice for you too. :)

About raising funds, personally, I cannot offer you much advice or help with crowdfunding. But, RB, well, he’s written a book on crowdsourcing. Lol! It’s titled Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd by Richard Botto. It’s a great resource. :)

Over the years on S32, there have been various webinars and blog posts about the subject of fund raising. Many threads about it too. Perhaps do a search on the blog, maybe there is some information there that may be of some help to you? Also peruse webinars. Some choices there. And do a general search by topic in the Lounge; the search is located at the top. Type in a search topic and all related threads will be listed. Hopefully, some information will be helpful to you. :) Best to you!

Beth Fox Heisinger Thanks . This is what I was talking about, straight to the point rather then beating around bushes. I specifically mentioned like tips on how say if any film maker here approached crowdfunding and raised sufficient funds.

Damian Lloyd I believe that no one here is living in fools paradise where they post a crowdfunding campaign and people will go funding them. If someone is doing that, basically they are never done business. Like I said I have done business, so I do know what you are talking about. If you noticed I haven't asked for movie makers here to fund me. I was basically asking for tips on how they approached if they did. There is no hard cut rules for any film maker across any where in the world to follow a set rules or practices to raise money to make their films. Everyone's approach is different and it's good to learn new tricks, approach and know everyone's opinion rather than be hard way say, "This is how it works and nothing else". And I strongly believe people or audience of any kind aren't that naive to understand some innocence in anyone's approach if they do something vaguely to funds, it shows inexperience that's all. And it's good learning I would say if one does that. And I have crossed that stage of not being that naive too young kid.

Like I said, I have worked with startups and I do know how to do Growth Hacking and I'm sure many here understand those aspects too.

But if you done crowdfunding before and tried some things which worked for you do share. That is what I'm looking for if people here approached anything new, out of the usual and raised fund. That would interest me to know.

Thanks for the tips. Even if I was in US and knew about some other means like Dan MaxXx is talking about I would probably have done that already.

Beyond what may or may not have been a personal grudge-match between Dan and Damian. They both make good points about different aspects of fundraising.

However, I want to bear down on another point - I've seen some of your recent posts and you come across as a very passionate, driven person, with a huge desire to become a filmmaker. Kudos! That unswerving desire is the most important ingredient!

So go out and make that first film! Don't let anything - not your personal life or lack of money or anything - stop you! Make the film anyway you can, even if it's all by yourself on your old Samsung phone. Don't let anything stop you!

Will that film be perfect? No! But learn from it, and make another! Then another! You will get better and at some point you'll attract like-minded people. Because talent and hard work always attract talented hard workers. At some point, too, your network will include people who have some money - and you will have proven to them that you have what it takes to be successful.

Because the bottom line is, people invest in people. Whether it's your family who believe in you, or a major studio who believes in you. They are investing in YOU.

There are no shortcuts to this process - everyone who is successful has either invested their own time (blood and sweat) or their own money or both to get where they are.

Here's a little meme from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place) about how to break into the industry with no connections:

John Ellis Thanks for sharing this. I'm 34 year old now and since like 15+ years gone through this social ladder multiples times where many people are fighting against each other or dragging one other down. That's part of learning in a way. I'm not against Dan or Damian's view, like I said everyone have a different approach to make films in their own life experiences, demographies and many other situation.

Anyone can beautifully build a well structured planned ship but sinking it just requires one hole. And I have got so many holes in my ship so far in my experience because of many odd people and somehow I packed it up and constantly trying to up my ship/career. I'm trying to keep up my passion still. And I'm 100% sure I'm going to make good/decent films and take it up to Film Festivals and world around and prove my abilities through my films.

Congrats on what you've accomplished so far. I admire your passion for filmmaking and for learning the necessary steps to accomplish your goals. NETWORKING is one of the most important of these steps. Where do both beginners and pros show their films and rub shoulders with $$ producers and other filmmakers in India? Probably at film festivals. I checked "Film festivals in India" on Google and got 41 pages of results! FILM FESTIVALS are one of the key places you need to zero in on, my friend. You will probably also need a PITCH DECK to better share and sell your vision. Follow the directions Beth so kindly gave you and check out previous threads on pitch decks and similar topics you need to be familiar with. Best wishes, my friend!

Thanks Erik A. Jacobson.

In India, Film festivals are definitely great to build connections. I will surely will try. Though it wouldn't be easy to find producers there, because I have done that few times and somehow many come self funded and many don't even share contacts of producers fearing losing their cut. And my own friend who is film maker do run a film festival too, and he himself try to find producers to fund his film and still can't do that. That's ironical.but Independent film making in India is like so rough situation. It's worse you can say. Extremely under appreciated, and mostly those who get funds are like political connections or through big actors. I have reached to many producers on various platforms, but less help. And most kind of push one to be under the social ladder so that they can push one down. I was constantly told to work under one or other and this process in India is like basically not to let you lead anyway possible. That's what I have sen happening all the time.

I actually was working for a studio, where their work even though was mediocre and when I tried to help them out, their creative kind of hard to take it because of ego and even the CEO wanted to pay peanuts. So in a way I'm charged up to prove all of them who rejected, that I can still do it. And I'm sure I will show them what good a film can be done pretty soon. Thanks for seeing positives in me and guiding me through. Best of luck for you too.

You're welcome, Rohit. Did you see the most recent blog posts on fundraising and financing? Here's part one: https://www.stage32.com/blog/How-To-Find-Money-for-Movies-Fundraising. Perhaps give the two-part post a read. ;)

Thank you Beth Fox Heisinger I'm actually reading so many blogs there from many people and it's o helpful. Thank you for the link too, it's great and looking for second part

Rohit Kumar , have you explored financing/fundraising through the private sector yet?

Great point Damian Lloyd remind me of that classic quote, people are only tuned into Radio Station W.I.I.F.M. (WHATS IN IT FOR ME lol)

Hayward Crawford I'm constantly reaching out to different private studios too with proposals. Thanks for tip though.

Damian Lloyd Film producing is totally different from "Charity" and every film maker in here understands that pretty well. Did I mentioned looking for charity here? It's a common sense and if any producer is coming in with money they do understand they are investing up for films for a returm. And I mentioned this a millions times in many different ways and you constantly bring back the same thing without contributing anything new to this debate over and over again..

Every business is a risk taking act, be it films or any other and those who are involved in it know what they are getting into. And there are people who run away taking people's money and they are many good filmmakers here, considering I'm optimistic person who truly want to make good film which gives a good return. It's basic business sense and I think everyone knows it.