Filmmaking / Directing : Angel Investors by Lauran Childs

PS For anyone who doesn't know, 'Tangerine' was a hit at Sundance and picked up by Magnolia for a high six figure sum...

Hi Lauran! I'm in the same boat when it comes to finding investors for my film Code Name: Oblivion which is still in the development stage. http://www.facebook.com/codenameoblivion ... If I happen to come across investors for my film, I'll send them your way as well. Lauran, I wish you all the best with every aspect of your film. -- Timothy

Thanks, you too Timothy, will check your facebook out now!

Let's most definitely work together, Lauran, on our search for investors. In the next 2-3 months, I'm traveling to Seattle to visit with a few members of my cast. They are SAG-AFTRA actors who have connections who, then, have greater connections. I'm also going to Gig Harbor WA to meet a gentleman who knows what entities to contact regarding investors. I'll share with you what I find out.

When you click on the link, you will see my page that has a photo of a submarine and my lead actor's eyes. Also, it says Code Name:Oblivion

Thanks Timothy, yes let's keep in touch. Have a few ideas and will let you know what works. Thanks for link, will check later. Have a great day!

Hi Timothy, just clicked on your link again, now I get it - don't relate to Facebook pages too much, saw your page the other day and didn't take much in. Really like your smaller photo where the eyes are over the submarine, prefer it to the larger photo of just the submarine. How is your movie going? Feeling overwhelmed by angel investor information myself.

Ohh the Development process, what a pain. What are your stories about?

Mine's about a female contract killer in Miami who takes down a drug lord and falls in love. I'm going to direct this one, the next one's an animation and I don't expect to be making that.

What kind of feedback have you received on the script, Lauran?

Thanks for asking Shawn. Well let's say it's way improved, thanks to some very generous initial input from this site and elsewhere. I really took notice of what people said and enriched the story - now the feedback is that it's very exciting, and when is it getting made?

This is admittedly not my area of expertise as I'm not primarily in the indie market. In 15 years in Hollywood, I've never known anyone personally who has landed angel investors for a movie (it's possible that they have, but they haven't talked about it publicly). I think for any start-up in any industry, entertainment-related or not, to land angels, you most likely need a personal network of people with money to burn, who aren't too concerned about ROI, who are risk-tolerant. You're in Miami. I know a guy in Orlando who pulled financing together for an $800k movie (not from angels). It can be done. He's in real estate, and he went to a Top 10 MBA program, so he knows a lot of investment banker-type millionaires and could reach out to them for private equity. There is no business model for landing angels. So I would think the "fastest way" to an angel (if there is a fast way) is to connect with your rich friends and get introductions to people who have money to burn and want to invest in media properties. There is truly no beaten path.

When you succeed, you should truly write a book because you'll be able to sell it as a "how to" guide!!

Thanks Regina, just went back to this post and saw my initial comment didn't post. I really like that you said there's no model for angel investors, I like to just go ahead and do things and not keep to historical parameters or whatever. Don't know about the book, will keep you posted!

@Lauran, yep I mean because there's no biz model to get angels, it's hard to suggest advice for your original question, "what's the fastest/easiest way to get angels?" What are angels? People with money to burn, who want to get in at the ground floor of a start-up. How do you meet rich people? Through other rich people, alumni connections, etc. There is no "Sand Hill Road" of film angels. Check out Slated.com, which is not an angel site, and I think they need some bankable elements in your package.

Thanks Regina, yes joined Slated last week looks good.

Hi Lauren, Development is the worst, particularly now money for it is scarce to non-existent. You do have the bonus that strong female leads and female directors appear to be desirable at the moment, particularly in the indie sector, and by the brief outline you gave above you have something that should appeal to tradition mainstream audiences too which can only help your cause. I read the other day that Florida's tax incentives are gone, is that true? If so it might make getting things going that little bit harder. Have you heard of Seed & Spark (http://www.seedandspark.com)? It's a reward based crowd funding platform dedicated to film and might be a good place to start. The guys over at Slated.com consider crowd funding vital (to prove market interest) along with a strong package. You could look at other forms of crowd funding too such as equity. Not sure about US based ones but www.crowdcube.com is a UK based site which will give you an idea. It works similarly to traditional investors i.e. ROI is critical but sources the crowd. Spain just announced massive incentives recently so if you can find a Spanish talent to work with who could access that money you might consider that route with the added bonus of opening up to the European Spanish speaking market too. I'm based in Scotland (nothing here looks like Miami lol) but there is always co-production potential this side of the pond too for the right project. I hope the above is of some help and good luck!!! Neil

Hi Neil, I heard that too, and the way things are going I may well make this movie on next to nothing with an IPhone. This is exciting though, and if the winds of change are really turning toward women, great. Yes I think my movie will definitely appeal to mainstream because it's got some great fight scenes in it, some amazing characters etc. Am working on doing a cover for 'Killer Eyes' today, will post later!

Hey Neil just saw your last comment re. Spain and CrowdCube.com, will look this up, thanks!

I'd make it with the iPhone.

Ok made a working movie poster on Prints Made Easy - great site - but they don't allow you to copy your images to PDF anymore, so here's the link if you care to look -http://design.printsmadeeasy.com/design/t397lNLhgZ Would love to know if you do or don't like it!

Hi Lauren, Just took a look at your first draft poster. Great job! I have a couple of suggestions I think would help. 1) It took my eye a few moments to find the subject. Not long but long enough for me to consciously notice. I'd suggest moving the POA of the subject more to the left 2) The film is called "Killer EyeS" and yet I can only see one eye of the subject... really picky I know but I noticed and others will too. I shouldn't be thinking that when looking at your poster. If eyes are in the title I suspect they are important. 3) This is probably the biggest point. There is no "pop" to the image. It's very monochromatic. If that was the idea then great but personally I'd add contrast to make the subject stand out. A full coloured background or at least a splash of colour on the back wall. Blood perhaps? I'd also do something with the area around the face as at the moment everything melts together. Finally 4) I would move the title up a bit. Not across her chest of course but up a bit from where it is. Perhaps zoom into the photo more to allow you to do it. The title is literally the LAST thing I noticed! Hope this helps. Neil

Thanks very much Neil, I'm definitely going to mull over what you said. This is what I put together just to use now, it won't be the final image, just a working thing and am definitely taking what you said into account - particularly the two eye thing; things like that get at me too. Here's the image I'll put around for now - yes only slightly different!

You're very welcome. I had another thought about it just yesterday. If you create space on the right hand side you could always move the title there vertically. In fact it could be where the "splatter" is placed. Good luck with it all and do keep in touch.

There was some great feedback for you Lauran. I'm not sure even extremely wealthy people have 'money to burn' unless they have a personal agenda or desire to be attached to finance a project. A final thought. Make absolutely sure the script is sharp and polished as possible. If you do get a golden ticket (funding) it would be the tell all for future funding. Best of luck to you in in the project.

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Hi Lauran, Have you thought about crowdfunding instead of an investor? We have a fantastic webinar coming up on how to crowdfund, taught by a successful crowdfunding campaigner. You can read more about it here: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-To-Use-Crowfundfunding-To-Turn-Your... There's another great webinar available for immediate download on the 5 ways to find financing for your film. It's taught by a 30 year industry expert, so you won't need to spend hours digging through stuff online. You can read more here: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/The-5-Secrets-to-Financing-Your-Next-In... Best of luck to you and your film!

I can fund USA filmmakers to get funding from $50k-$400k Must have a job for 2 years and a fico score of 650. I also provide consulting for projects $500k-$20 mil range and help develop pitch decks and businesses, that investors fund.