Three things:
1.) You need a video.
2.) You need way more information about the film and what you're going to do with the money.
3.) An awesome email of appreciation? That's good value
In my opinion if you're not ready to put together a serious campaign you should wait until you have some sort of footage (even if it's just a video of you explaining your project) and have properly thought through how you're going to approach the funding process.
Echoed.
There's a massive amount of work involved in a successful "Kickstarter" campaign. If you have only just started pre-production, then you shouldn't have a campaign. The project isn't ready. Things can change. They will change. You have to remember you're asking people to give you their hard earned cash. They pay bills, they have families to feed, pets to feed, doctors bills.
You're doing yourself an enormous discredit by pursuing a "Crowdfunding" campaign without following common procedure. The pitch, as it stands, is faceless.
People invest in PEOPLE, not ideas. I've spoken to KS/IGG reps, and they all say the same thing. They say it in their interviews, in their podcasts.
It's YOU that speaks loudest, not your project.
Personalise. This is why a "
Video Pitch" is key. We need to get to know you. We need to know WHY it is important that YOU are making this movie, and not somebody else. Story behind the story. We need to be inspired by your plans, by your organisation, and simply see your enthusiasm. This is the connection that successful campaigns have. If we connect with you, we connect with your project.
What will the money be used for? - Nobody is going invest until there is a solid plan for your budget. Until everything is in place. If you don't know. We don't know.
How did you come up with the figure?
This is important. Your figure has to match, and it has to be reasonable, because alot of backers are film-makers.
Set out your budget. How much for Locations, for Post, for Cast etc. Tell us
what it will cover. Tell us why
our backing is important.
If you're not sure. We're not sure. Your backers aren't sure. If they're going to give you their money, they need to know where it's going.
Your "Written Pitch" is clarification. I know backers who read that before they watch the video. So document everything. Make it interesting. Give us the facts.
Be Creative with your perks - You'll be surprised at how much importance the perks carry. People won't invest just for your perks. Unless it's a product. Check out this link below. "Joulies" has so many backers because their first perk IS the product. We like the guys. We like the product. If we invest, we get the product. It works. A massive success, and so simple.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/705847536/coffee-joulies-your-coffee-just-right?ref=live
Put enormous thought into all of your perks. The donations are small amounts, more often than not. A dollar, five dollars, ten dollars. Give them their moneys worth. Something funky. Unique. Take a while to think. It's important.
The perks are the deal breakers. There was a podcast from a guy who had a successful campaign. His "$500" perk, was a day on the set, a ticket to the premiere/afterparty, dinner with the cast and crew, accommodation/Expenses. She was a middle-aged woman, and it had always been her dream to be on set.
She arrrives. She was blown away. She hadn't realised how intense it was. It comes to the final scene. A romantic, emotional goodbye with the two leads. The director tells her to go sit beneath the camera. She does. The actors begin, the scene plays out. The Director looks over, just before he calls "CUT", and there she is, tears rolling down her face, smiling.
"
I've never imagined it to be so real. I can't thank you enough, I just, I can't believe it. Thank you so much. I'm on a film-set"
He wasn't a famous Director. It wasn't a famous cast. It was a movie with a budget of 50k.
Do you see what I mean? How important this is, and why it is important that your backers are to be given everything you can give them? You have to give them the best opportunity to FEEL involved.
They need to know you. They need to be on this journey with you. Make them feel involved. Be 100% sure that you KNOW where the money is going to. Be honest about yourself, and the project. Tell them about why YOU, and your crew, are making this project. Why is it important?
Getting your Campaign out there - This is
the most important factor in the whole process. This is were the hard work you've put into the pitch, the months of research, this is make or break.
Discover your target audience -
- Who are they?
- What do they like?
- What Movies do they watch?
- What blogs do they read?
- What websites do they visit?
- What forums do they visit?
Once you know this. Then you market your campaign. Track down the Bloggers, The websites, The local newspapers, the radio stations, and get your film out there to your audience.
It's alot of work.
I love that idea of "Thrift stores". We do exactly the same thing. We're good friends with a couple who owns a Vintage store. They costume our entire cast for £4 a day. We always treat them to dinner, we do everything for them. Commercials, Photographs for their websites, for their new lines.
You've got a good thing going, and the project sounds awesome.
Make this work.
We're all here to help you out, anytime you like.
Best of luck!
