Hey, Stage 32 Production Lounge!
As fellow creators navigating the exciting, sometimes bewildering, world of independent film and content production, a question frequently arises that I believe is central to our craft:
How do you, as producers, approach the critical task of securing project funding?
Specifically, are you the ones personally pounding the pavement, pitching to investors, and piecing together financial packages? Or do you typically engage Executive Producers whose primary role is to secure the necessary capital, allowing you to focus more intensely on the creative and logistical aspects of bringing the vision to life?
Let’s talk about it.
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Hi Sandra what I see since I started to producing more then beeing in other roles is that finding the founding is often the most difficult especially for us that we just started out. I found out that logistics and creativity are much easier to handle. And I think we all are in the same boat. One thing that I learned is that if you have a menainfuly project and a meaningful goal like have a big cast and crew of disabilities on set and promote that it attracts more donors.
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Thank you for sharing your experience Luisa Bott. I agree with you. I produced my first short and I funded myself. But for bigger projects, I was wondering if Indie producers invite an exec for the funding or they do also that. Thanks for your insight:))
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Sandra Isabel Correia that is really the question @everyone what do you guys do as producers how do you find founding? What resources are available and how to find them?
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It's a team effort with all producers using their connections wherever possible, with the producer overseeing or executing the financial package.
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Jack Binder ok that makes a lot of sense I just came to producing I am still a student at a film school and I am now a senior and I originally went there for cinematography and most of my connections are related to that department and not in producing. What can I do to find more connections for producing?
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Thank you Jack Binder :)) That’s what I had in mind :))
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I'd like to add that besides producers above the line creatives (writers, directors, dops etc.) have to help out as well, by bringing in warm contacts and network. It's not solely a producers obligation - as it is to difficult of a taks to begin with - investors know that most kind of filmproject flops. No matter how creative or well-known the creative team is.
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Willem Elzenga 2 Spot on.
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yeah that is truth and we all are supporting it and massage but what I see especially for us that are still students are connections are still a little limited at this Moment and I would love connect with more pekoe to have a bigger reach
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Luisa Bott To make more connections in producing, immerse yourself in the process and education. Here @Stage32 there are countless resources for expanding your understanding of production, financing, distribution, directing, screenwriting and more. Participate in webinars, go to film festivals, get onto a production set (be a production assistant - see the whole show), etc. There are multiple avenues to learning more about producing - the best being - NIke it. Just do it. Grab an iphone and start filming.
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thank you that is great adobe i will do taht for sure
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Most filmmakers in the early stages are the producers. To find investment, you need to demonstrate you can make money back. Then it's easy. If you cannot do that, you should only be spending your own money as it's a glorified hobby to build one's portfolio. My two cents.
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Some great points here. I do agree with Jack Binder in that in every project I'm involved with, it's an "all hands" situation. The more you know about all aspects of producing, the more valuable you are to a project. That includes the ins and outs of raising funding. As others have said here, your network is your net worth and relationship building should be treated as a job. Something you work on every single day. Also fully agree with Willem Elzenga 2 that it takes a village, but you also have to pick the right people you want to live in that village.
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I love that concept, Willem Elzenga 2. It's teamwork and the same final interest for everyone :) Thank you for sharing.
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Luisa Bott you have the best advice from Jack Binder, he speaks the truth. It's how I am learning also. Feel free to be an active Stage 32 member :)
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Your two cents are precious, Stephen Folker , as always :))
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Richard "RB" Botto, I totally agree 100%, and if you have a business background, experience will help you further. Thank you for passing by and sharing your wisdom with us.
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Sandra Isabel Correia Interesting question.