Financing / Crowdfunding : Crowdfunding by Paulette Pearson

I'm currently trying patreon because I'm trying to build a fanbase for my upcoming web series. As for it being successful.. let me get back to you on that.

-G.R.B.

I ran a indiegogo campaign and raised $10,000. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/do-the-dance-a-documentary-film#/

Crowdfunding? Lots of work and a very little result in the end. Friends and family is a better bet and if you can demonstrate $$$$ back then package it for interested investors.

We have had 3 successful Kickstarter campaigns for Transylvania Television. The first we asked for $6000 and received $9000. The second, we asked for $10k and received about $12k. The third, we asked for $15k and received almost $20k. The campaigns were spread out over 6 years. Have a budget ready. Produce during your campaign, don't just wait for the money to come in. Give incentives to different tiers. Good luck.

Congrats to those who have done a successful crowdfunding campaigns! Hats off to you. I just launched mine over a week ago and it's really nerve-wracking. Well, I'll let you know in 3 weeks how we did, hopefully we'll at least meet our goal.

@ Ed Fletcher - Sounds very interesting, will this like a documentary or a film based on the real event and which length do you plan?

Paulette Pearson From all discussions in this forum I learned that Indiegogo and Kickstarter were the best platforms for crowdfunding. Good luck for your campaign and let us know how it worked!

I think campaigns might work for those who are looking for development money or for finishing funds - 10-20K or for small projects in the same money range but not in the category of even ULB. I wonder if anybody raised more than 100K- 500K and if yes how long it took to get it?

Thank you Dan MaxXx for clarification. I kinda new to that Crowdfunding process, I know lots a people who went through the process and didn't get satisfactory results, I never tried to raise money through that source and the more I'm learning about it, the more its a big NO from me for any purpose. I think traditional ways to raise funds with stars on board are easier. I stick to what I know the best.

I know Don Bluth got over $300K for just a sizzle reel for his new 2D animated project, but he's a big name in animation and he'd been successful before. As for other, smaller peeps, I'm not sure.

-G.R.B.

I recently discovered a finished campaign for kind of a family story. The aunt or grandmother of the director became a hero or famous for anything and because people loved the story and he could show a lot of material in his introducing video they donated over 200k, I think 250k or so.

This shows that you need either a touching story that others would love to watch and/or a project they want to become part of plus you have to come up with a proper and really enthusiastic video. As soon as you touch people you get the attention and if they can't donate they mostly at least forward the link to others.

Additionally, you really need a good network, a crowd for your crowdfunding to donate or to spread the campaign.

It's not funding. It's loans with personal liability. It's a trap.

Dan MaxXx Code 8 is project by Stephen Amell (Arrow) and Robbie Amell (Flash, Legends of Tomorrow) and yes, they are using their fanbase to crowdfund the project, which looks promising! Paulette Pearson Crowdfunding on Indiego-go & Kickstarter can work with the right marketing. I know several indie filmmakers in my area that use Indiego-go with much success. I've seen a few successful projects on GoFundMe too. Good luck!

Vitaly Kozlov is right, I almost got taken in by one of these scams. I've learned to be wary of people offering financing on the boards. Most real financiers don't offer it publicly, either you approach them or they approach you. :/ Sad but true.

-G.R.B.

Wow, what a story. But I really think that's true. You have to be an adventurer and take the risk. Maybe not in this way, but if you really want it and believe in your abilities you really try everything no matter the risk.

Richard Branson failed several times before he hit the jackpot as a result of Tubular Bells.

Indiegogo and Kickstarter are good crowdfunding platforms for you. But here's the thing - you have to nurture your campaign. What I mean is that you need to post updates on a regular basis along with new videos. You also need to email the folks that have contributed so they are engaged and excited...excited enough to tell their friends, too. Also, reach out regularly using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube during your campaign. That's how a successful crowdfunding campaign is conducted. There is a lot of good info out there to help you learn how to do crowdfund successfully. Good luck!

You can try Slated as well. https://www.slated.com/ (please note... I earn nothing off you clicking the link or signing up (which is free!)) You sign up, list projects (for a fee) and people find you or you find people... When you sign up the site gives you a handy little tour, too. Hope this helps!

^^^^^RE: Slated. I don't know anybody who would get funded through Slated. Nobody! That site has even more scammers/loan specialists than Stage 32 and they are sophisticated and with more foreign flavoir. They (Slated) want you to get their script coverage for a hefty fee (it's like they know how to judge your script and will award you points) and of course your whole project has to be fully packaged meaning - cast, producer, director, DP and SA on board. Slated specializes on script coverages for a fee. Stage 32 on pitching for a fee. Which one is the better deal for filmmakers? I hope you all know the answer.

Glad I haven't put anything up on slated, then.

-G.R.B.

Pavel if you want another platform with more resources for filmmakers try Film Specifics. But prepare to pay monthly 30 bucks for using it. They're not gonna finance your films but at least point you in a right direction.

That site is full of pro level filmmakers. A few newbies. No happy writers and start up actors. Mostly real producers and directors with IMDB credits. No investors and distributors. Its a step up from stage 32. Investors and distributors do not hang out on platforms and filmmaking sites. You will find them at film markets. Like AFM in November, or Cannes in May for example.

Pavel, investors are everywhere. You just need to know how to connect to those people. Find companies that need a tax reduction as difficult as to find a needle in a pile of hay.

Section 181 as far as I know was an option but it expired on December 31, 2016 and is unlikely to be renewed in the foreseeable future. You should check with your own accountant. There is nothing else you can offer your US investors, except to say that if the film is going to cost say $2m and you are going to film in a State that has good tax incentives, then they will receive a small portion of their investment back 3 or 4 months after production wraps and not have to wait until the film is released. Many States incentives are based on a cash back system while others are a tax credit that you then have to sell at a discount, usually between 80 to 90 cents on the dollar. If you want to check out which US States offer the best incentive and if it is cash or credit, you can check out the Entertainment Partners website - www.entertainmentpartners.com. And on that positive note I let the other chime on that matter, Pavel.

Also Pavel I wonder since you are from Moscow if there any private investors besides state run Goskino and Ministry of Culture of Russia who are interested in investing in films? Or it's still gas and oil biz as usual? I couldn't connect with any money in Moscow or Saint Petersburg. I've heard on a Russian TV back in May that Putin agreed to support animation biz in Russia and give 500 million for the development of that film industry. So questions here is who is going to share that sweet pie and what payback is expected? Кто Будет пилить этот бюджет и какие откаты предвидятся? Мельница, Союзмультфильм и министерство культуры? Откат 90 процентов? And on that other positive note I again let the others to chime on that matter too..

10 mill USD (roughly 500 Mill Rubles) is a decent budget considering Melnitsa making film between 3-7 for each film. I bet it's 50/50 when it comes to final stages of financing. Putin gave 500 mill USD. Where is the rest of the money?

For sure I will ask. Do you want me to mention your name? Powerful connection and source of finance and distribution.

^^^^Fantastic. What is the budget? Any money already on board?

I am in the middle of an ig campaign and having problems getting tech support around a formatting issue. May have to extend it to the 40 day max to meet my goal. It's a learning exp fer sure. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-virtual-guy-a-sci-fi-musical-comedy